Charli XCX: The Artist Bringing Us Into the Future
She promised to take us into the future and she most certainly did. Charli XCX pulled up to Terminal 5 in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen prepared to give the show of a lifetime to all her angels.
Charli’s performance comes after the release of her latest album, aptly titled, “Charli.” In this 2019 album, Charli XCX releases to the world a package of her most genuine and heartfelt emotions and experiences. Throughout the 15 track album, spanning 51 minutes, she exudes confidence, vulnerability, and sensitivity, compassion, while experimenting with new sounds and fine-tuning her signature ones. Charli’s long list of featured artists include Christine and the Queens, Sky Ferreira, Troye Sivan, Clairo, and Yaeji. Frequent collaborators such as Kim Petras, Tommy Cash, CupcakKe, Brooke Candy, and Pablo Vittar also appear on the album. Two of the most interesting and surprising collaborations to see Charli teaming up with are the newly chart-topping artist, Lizzo (heard on the track, Blame It On Your Love), and the New Orleans native, queen of bounce, Big Freedia (featured in Shake It alongside CupcakKe, Brooke Candy, and Pablo Vittar).
Unlike some artists, Charli XCX’s live performance is the visual experience that perfectly embodies her music. From the entrance to the exit, there is high energy all throughout. At approximately 9:17 PM, the stage blackens, then lights up in all colors imaginable. Two giant cube-like displays hurl color into the crowd, causing a frenzy. Amidst the rising smoke, an angel’s voice begins to sing “Next Level Charli”—the first track off the new album. Within half-of-a minute, the angel herself, Charli XCX struts to the front of the stage in her first of three looks for the night. During the first few lines of the opening song, confetti bursts into the air; every person in the sold-out crowd is either recording the moment or living in it, joyously. For the next hour, Charli runs through a 20 song setlist, filled with all the tracks from Charli, as well as previous records. One of the most notable moments comes during Vroom Vroom—the original single which shot Charli into stardom. A whole group of dancers, drag queens, gender non-conforming, and queer artists take to the stage, performing alongside Charli. Charli is hugely supportive of LGBTQ+ communities, and this special moment, which includes a personal message of support and gratitude further demonstrates it.
Throughout the night, Charli keeps her angels hyped to the max. Amidst strobe lights, lasers, and numerous stage effects, she performs fan favorites such as Gone, White Mercedes, and Shake It. Ending with the futuristic 2099, Charli leads us into the future as she exits the stage, finishing her main set. But the party is not over yet. As the crowd begins to make their way to the exit, Charli returns to the stage for a surprise encore. With just as much energy as in the beginning, Charli makes the night feel endless. The 4 track miniset includes her chart-topping smash, I Love It, and her nostalgic, dance-pop bop, 1999. She doesn’t forget to venture off the stage and into the crowd to be as close as possible to her admiring angels.
At a Charli XCX concert, all people are celebrated and accepted. Everyone at Terminal 5 came to worship, obeying the tenets of creativity, expression, identity, and most importantly, the love of music. The electro-pop, alternative, free-flowing, and futuristic music of Charli XCX produces the best combination of dance, sounds, and visual performance.
Thank you, Charli, for throwing the best party in town that night.
