Lyrical Loverg.urls: The Juxtaposing Heartbreak Ballads of Brat Summer

Summer 2024: When Lover G.URLs Danced in Neon Green and Sang the Blues

As autumn settles in and we reflect on the summer just gone, for many of those who are constantly online, the imagery evoked is of a time tinted with a very particular hexadecimal shade of neon green. Known for its playful, carefree party-girl atmosphere, “brat summer” was defined by a vibrant, feel-good vibe reminiscent of a nightclub. The trend followed the immediate success of Charli XCX’s album brat, whose influence we’ve explored multiple times at G.URL. Suffice to say, brat left an indelible mark on the cultural zeitgeist. It’s fascinating, then, that during its luminous green reign, a slew of other significant female artists released albums that, while not directly challenging brat, offered a stark contrast to its carefree atmosphere. Here, we look at some of the more melancholic releases of the summer of 2024.

On the 3rd of May, Dua Lipa’s third studio album Radical Optimism was unveiled, passionately chronicling the trials of love. Dua effortlessly encapsulates the enchantment, euphoria, risk, and heartbreak that often accompanies modern relationships. The album’s blend of her stunning vocals and Tame Impala’s production support makes it her finest work to date. This may be a biased opinion, but there’s no denying the album’s power. I had just entered a major transitional period marked by heartache when the album was released, and its psychedelic yet upbeat tone provided catharsis during a time when most other media felt too painful to engage with. The tracks “Training Season,” “These Walls,” “Whatcha Doing,” “French Exit,” and “Falling Forever” gradually helped me come to terms with my situation, but “Anything For Love” stood out most, offering a mantra that resonated deeply.

Romantic love is often portrayed as both beautiful and agonising, and Radical Optimism deftly captures this duality. The album’s namesake, radical optimism, encapsulates the hopeful yet hopeless nature of love, distinguishing between doing “anything for love” and accepting uncomfortable truths or tolerating unhealthy behaviours. The tone of the album conveys the whimsical and open-hearted nature of a “lovergirl,” while also promoting boundaries and self-respect. It balances the optimism of romantic pursuit with the necessity of putting oneself first.

Just a few weeks later, on the 17th of May, Billie Eilish released her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. It arrived as a counterpoint to Radical Optimism, marking the transition from spring into summer with a more sombre breakup soundtrack. Standout tracks such as “SKINNY,” “CHIHIRO,” “WILDFLOWER,” “THE GREATEST,” and “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE” guided listeners through themes of grief and introspection. Of particular note is “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” a song that, while more upbeat than others on the album, carries a devastating weight within its lyrics. The song explores the concept of total devotion and the bittersweet realisation that love alone may not be enough to sustain a relationship.

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The phrase “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” conveys both the beauty of shared experiences and the danger of clinging too tightly to an idealised connection. The lyrics reflect a lover’s longing and the fear that their feelings may not be entirely reciprocated, with cracks beginning to show in the song’s dreamy imagery. Yet, this juxtaposition is what gives the song its depth, capturing the tension between holding on and the need to let go. The album’s final track, “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE,” explores the liberation found in relinquishing the idea of a soulmate and rediscovering oneself in the process.

The trend of melancholic releases wasn’t limited to mainstream pop. On the 12th of June, Clairo’s Charm was released, instantly becoming a quintessential album for the “lovergirls.” It detailed the intricacies of loving deeply in a way that resonated profoundly. Songs like “Sexy to Someone,” “Add Up My Love,” and “Thank You” delivered an emotional impact that was hard to shake off. The same day, Remi Wolf dropped Big Ideas, capturing both the joys of summer romance and the devastation that can follow, with tracks like “Cinderella” providing a lighter touch, while “When I Thought of You” and “Alone in Miami” cut deeper. The season ended with Beabadoobee’s release of This Is How Tomorrow Moves on the 9th of August, a reflective album focused on the complexities of love, with “This Is How It Went” standing out as a powerful closing track.

While 2024’s summer may be remembered as the season of brat, punctuated by Charli XCX’s June 4th release, its carefree party vibe coexisted with the more introspective offerings from other artists. The juxtaposition between the brash fun of brat and the vulnerability displayed in these other albums isn’t a rivalry; in fact, it reveals the multifaceted nature of young women today. The “brat summer” vibe didn’t exclude the deeper emotions explored by artists like Billie Eilish and Clairo; instead, it embraced the idea that there’s room for both carefree escapism and introspective reflection. As modern romance becomes increasingly complex, and femininity remains influenced by the pressures of technology and social expectations, it’s empowering to see how the music of summer 2024 gave voice to both sides of the spectrum.

Sometimes, girls don’t just want to have fun—they need to. However, brat summer proved that through the all the party girl vibes it’s possible and even cathartic to simultaneously hold a space for the more somber lovergirl troubles that come with them.