The Imperfect Feminine: Camila, Charli, and Sabrina
Jul 2, 2024
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Camila Cabello, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter dive into femininity in their music. From female friendship to the female ego, they explore themes through catchy tracks like 'Chanel No.5' and 'Please Please Please'. The hosts dissect the cultural impact and unique sonic elements present in their songs, showcasing how these artists are reshaping the portrayal of femininity in pop music.
Camila Cabello's 'Chanel No.5' reflects an ungrounded vibe with esoteric lyrics, showcasing a departure towards hyperpop.
Charli XCX's 'Girl So Confusing' addresses female friendships candidly, emphasizing emotional honesty and authentic expression.
Deep dives
Camila Cabello's Evolution in CXOXO Album
Camila Cabello's latest album, CXOXO showcases a departure from her previous sound, moving towards hyperpop with heavy autotune and glitched-out samples. The ballad-style single, 'Chanel No. 5', highlights an ungrounded vibe with esoteric lyrics. The album reflects a shift towards creating a vibe over clear understanding, making it challenging to decipher the lyrics. Camila's lyrics, like in 'CXOXO', present a complex and almost puzzling narrative, providing a new direction in her musical journey.
Charli XCX's Candid Exploration in 'Girl so Confusing'
Charli XCX's track, 'Girl So Confusing', delves into the complexities of female friendships and candidly addresses the challenges women face, such as passive competition and maintaining relationships. The remix featuring Lorde further intensifies the candid nature of the song, with impactful rhyming moments and direct communication. The lyrics, devoid of subtext, focus on authentic expression and emotional honesty surrounding female relationships.
Sabrina Carpenter's hit song, 'Please, Please, Please', navigates the bewildering complexities of relationships, specifically expressing vulnerability and ego preservation. The track strikes a balance between country and disco pop, blending pathos with an edgy undertone. Through heartfelt phrasing and harmonic movement, the song evokes an uncomfortable yet compelling narrative of uncertain emotional terrain.
Feminine Phenomenon in Pop Music Trends
The recent surge of female-centric themes highlights a feminine phenomenon in current pop music, with artists like Camila Cabello, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter exploring various dimensions of femininity. Their songs reflect a broader cultural moment celebrating the female experience and expressing different facets of womanhood through candid portrayals, emotional depth, and authentic storytelling. The trend resonates with audiences by offering nuanced reflections on femininity and the diverse experiences of women in today's music landscape.
The first half of 2024 has been for the “pop girlie.” It seems like every majorartist who’s dominated the discourse this year has been a woman, ostensibly making music about what it means to be a woman. There’s Camila Cabello's "Chanel no.5,” Lorde and Charli XCX working out the labyrinth of emotions that come with female friendship on the “Girl, so confusing” remix, and Sabrina Carpenter’s ode to the female ego, “Please Please Please." On this episode, Charlie, Nate, and Reanna – with some insight from journalist Ilana Kaplan – unpack these tracks at length, exploring what these artists are saying about femininity, and by extension, themselves.
Songs discussed:
Camila Cabello – Chanel No.5
Camila Cabello – I LUV IT (ft. Playboi Carti)
Camila Cabello – DREAM-GIRLS
Charli XCX – Girl, so confusing
Charli XCX, Lorde – The girl, so confusing version with lorde