Charli XCX and Lorde work it out on the remix at Number 1

The BRAT era has been one of the most refreshing eras in recent memory. The sixth studio album by Charli XCX, it features production from Charli XCX's longtime producer A.G. Cook and herself, and features a distinct and honest writing style that has been met with universal acclaim. The album track “girl, so confusing” explores Charli’s relationship with a then unnamed female singer, with online fans speculating it being about Lorde, with whom Charli allegedly feuded. To everyone’s surprise, the two worked it out on the remix, as Lorde hopped on “The girl, so confusing version with lorde”. Open and upfront, the two work out their differences and find common ground. It debuts atop Number 1 with the biggest opening numbers of the year behind Roxy Dekker. It earns Charli XCX her long-awaited second Number 1, her first being “Fancy” with Iggy Azelea back in 2014. Lorde earns her even longer-awaited first ever Number 1, although she came close back in the day with “Royals” at #2.

Soaring up the chart is “The Boy Is Mine” by Ariana Grande, boosted by a remix that takes us straight back to 1998. The third single from Ariana her album Endless Sunshine has been revamped to homage a certified classic: “The Boy Is Mine” by Brandy and Monica. With triple platinum status and five big weeks at Number 1, the song was the second biggest hit of 1998 and shot both Brandy and Monica to new heights of fame. It is great to have the ladies back on the chart, joining Ariana on the remix. It has earned Brandy her first Top 40-entry in more than six years and Monica her first in twenty-five years. Coincidentally, Brandy her last chart hit was a reworking of her 1994-hit “I Wanna Be Down", namely “I Could Be Wrong” with Lucas & Steve.

The Little Mix journey has been interesting and tumultuous so far. Since the all-conquering girl group broke up in 2022, three out of four have already released solo music, with Jade holing out. It’s resulted in similar successes: Jesy’s “Boyz”, Leigh-Anne’s “Don’t Say Love” and Perrie’s “Forget About Us” all debuted at Number 1. Despite big opening figures, all these debut songs lacked longevity, failing to match the platinum successes they enjoyed together. The follow-ups to their solo Number 1s proved to fare even worse, failing to enter the Top 10 or dropping off the chart after only a few weeks. Leigh-Anne did manage to earn a second Top 3-hit with “My Love”. Perrie now returns with her second single as a solo artist: the summer-sounding “Tears”. Her debut hit “Forget About Us” currently ranks as the best-scoring Little Mix-solo song so far, although it does not fare much better that the others’. Hoping to break the sophomore slump Jesy and Leigh-Anne suffered from, “Tears” starts off its journey at #14: an even lower debut than Leigh-Anne’s “My Love” or Jesy her ”Bad Thing”.

Two other singles debut on this week’s chart. Antoon debuts at #35 with the upbeat “Ça Va”. Another self-produced song, it features The Opposites’ rapper Big2, who has been Antoon his mentor since the early days of his career and was featured on the platinum Top 3-song “Leuk”. He is also supported by Bilal Wahib who has been scoring a steady string of Top 40-hits as a featured artists, mostly on tracks by Zoë Tauran. Further down is indie darling Chappel Roan her 2023-song “Hot To Go!”, which went viral after “Good Luck Babe!” became her breakout hit. That song currently returns to the Top 10 for a fourth week. We’re witnessing the rise of a new pop girl.

With the first half of 2024 nearly over, it is time to rank the biggest-scoring singles of this year so far. Topping this ranking, is the disqualified Dutch Eurovision entry “Europapa” by Joost. The hardcore-influenced hit was an immediate success, debuting at Number 1, and staying there for five big weeks. It returned to the top for a sixth week amidst the Eurovision chaos. It’s currently amassed over 90,000 points, certified double-platinum. Noah Kahan comes in at second place with his breakout Number 1 “Stick Season”. His follow-up Top 10-singles, including a collab with Sam Fender, performed greatly as well. Sabrina Carpenter ranks third so far with her long awaited big breakout hit “Espresso”, having notched up six big weeks at Number 1. The Top 10 furthermore sees entries of Beyoncé, two Dua Lipa singles and Roxy Dekker.

Newly certified

“You & Me” – Goldband

Biggest songs of 2024 so far

1. “Europapa” – Joost
2. “Stick Season” – Noah Kahan
3. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
4. “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Beyoncé
5. “Sugardaddy” – Roxy Dekker
6. “Training Season” – Dua Lipa
7. “Homesick” – Noah Kahan & Sam Fender
8. “End of Beginning” – Djo
9. “Too Sweet” – Hozier
10. “Houdini” – Dua Lipa