Music Review: Charli XCX "Break The Rules"

Charli XCX

Break The Rules

Album: Sucker

Year: 2014

         Charli XCX wants to grow up fast in the flippant   “Break The Rules.”

          A school bell rings, followed by clandestine synths, setting a    It’s three am and the city is still lit up. Her friend tells her she’s hungry and wants something to eat now. They walk around the city to find 24 hour Chinese diner. It amazes her that while she’s supposed to be sleeping there is a lot to explore. They finish and walk to the subway. Her friend keeps nudging her to keep her awake. On the subway, a thirtysomething gives her a dirty look. Charli XCX gives her the finger and returns to her conversation with her friend. Why wait to get older to experience everything? (“Electric lights/Blow my mind/But I feel all right/Never stop, it's how we ride/Coming up until we die/You catch my eye/Bitch, you wanna fly?/I'm so alive/Never stop it's how we ride/Coming up until we die.”)

               The alarm on her phone goes off, letting her know it’s six am. She shuts it off and goes back to sleep. History and math aren’t going anywhere. The English language hasn’t really changed. She won’t miss anything in one day. Despite the nausea and the spinning, it was worth it. (“I don't wanna go to school/I just wanna break the rules/Boys and girls across the world/Putting on our dancing shoes/Going to the discotheque/Getting high and getting wrecked/I don't wanna go to school/I just wanna break the rules/I don't wanna go to school/I just wanna break the rules/Boys and girls across the world/Putting on our dancing shoes/Going to the discotheque/Getting high and getting wrecked/I don't wanna go to school/I just wanna break the rules.”)

            She’s known around the clubs. They love her. She has friends everywhere she goes. She wouldn’t have such an interesting life if she had her nose stuck in books all day. (“I'm such a star/Queen Boulevard/Blaze through the dark/Never stop it's how we ride/Coming up until we die.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

               In the bridge, she decides she’s going to play in the city. She hasn’t landed a club gig yet. However, she’ll entertain the people walking down the street. She perfects her outfit and puts her sunglasses on. She grabs her guitar case and heads for the subway. (“Get my guitar/Sunglasses on/So light it up/Never stop it's how we ride/Coming up until we die.”)

              The chorus is sung again.

             She “na na’s” to end the single.

               Charli XCX’s cheeky vocals throw her jacket over her shoulder as the as the principal is yelling at her. She has the immature confidence that cockiness brings. She’s seemed to take note of Avril Lavigne’s mistakes and why it didn’t work. She’s an approachable and fun-loving while only being bitchy to authority figures.

                 The  shameless  “Break The Rules” wants to live life right now.