Charli XCX and Taylor Swift: Pop Stars or Pop Rivals? By: Myles Barnwell

After Charli XCX released her dance-pop hit BRAT, fans instantly started analyzing the lyrics. Charli’s cult following have come to speculations that songs off the album are about certain peers in the industry, like the track “Von Dutch” being about singer FKA Twigs or the track “So I” being about the strong connection with music production pioneer Sophie Xeon. But one track has stood out to the public, “Sympathy is a Knife”.

The Cosmopolitan Newspaper explained, “Charli released her album BRAT, and fans theorized that the track “Sympathy is a Knife: alluded to her friendship with Taylor Swift, with lyrics like. “I couldn’t even be her if I tried” and, “This one girl taps my insecurities / Don’t know if its real or if I’m spiraling.”  Taylor and Charli have had a good relationship in the past, Charli covering Taylors hit “Shake it off” or Charli coming on tour with Taylor, has something shifted? 

The Variety suggested, “The two singers appeared to be on healthy ground last fall when Swift praised Charli’s songwriting in a New York Magazine cover story on Charli and her album, “Brat.” But now social media is convinced that Swift has her knives out for Charli on “Actually Romantic,” where Swift calls out a singer who bashed her as a “Boring Barbie” while on cocaine. This singer also congratulated one of Swift’s ex-boyfriends when he ghosted Swift. The internet is now wondering: are Swift and Charli feuding?” Now, fans are wondering if that friendship has soured. Online discussion grew louder after Charli was heard describing Taylor as a “Boring Barbie,” while Swift released a song on her latest album that some fans believe is about Charli. So, how do fans of either artist perceive this situation?

Coach Ivy, a coach and teacher at Hillgrove Highs School, when asked how they reacted to the situation, she explained “I honestly don’t know if Charli XCX and Taylor Swift have a lot of issues with one another, and I don’t think Taylor Swift would get that up in arms about one comment being made…”  Reflecting on the broader celebrity world and why fans are so invested, she noted, “I think it's just a need to feel involved. And people build up a lot of investment in the lives of celebrities, unfortunately, and they can kind of feel- they feel like they're part of them.

David Adams, another coach and teacher at Hillgrove said, “I have heard that Charli XCX compared Taylor Swift to a "Boring Barbie". He continued, “I think if you are going to say comments about someone, if you're going to criticize other artists and say that they are boring or a boring barbie -- meaning that it seems she is kind of shallow and kind of materialistic kind of thing. Then I think your black lash is not unwarranted. It’s okay if you don’t like her music but you don’t have to be mean about it.”

Having a large following and a high podium in the music industry has its repercussions. People have been gossiping about Taylor Since her debut in 2006! Fans, haters, and bystanders can say what they want to say, but the charts never lie.

On the issue of artist competition, Adams explained, “We're very lucky to live in a time of her being at her prime because, I mean, she's being compared to The Beatles and Michael Jackson and all these record selling artists. Whether we like her or not she is one of a kind. And I think it is unfortunate if a record label is comparing one of their artists to trying to make Taylor Swift, records and numbers and sales. Not everybody is going to do that. She is kind of, like I said, once in a lifetime thing. So, I think competition can become unhealthy in that way.” The music industry pushes their best-new artists out, but years later they become burnt out and just a husk living in the shadow of the acme of their career.

From mysterious, shady lyrics to online theories, the alleged feud between Taylor Swift and Charli XCX has become major talking point in pop culture. Some say its real tension; others see it as overblown internet gossip.

No matter the truth, one thing’s clear, people love a good pop star rivalry, and as long as fans keep talking, Charli and Taylor will stay out in the spotlight.