Charli XCX is a mastermind when it comes to the electro-pop music category. In 2024, her “Brat Summer” phenomenon took over the world which helped her gain her first Grammy win. As Charli’s popularity continues to skyrocket, so has her older music. “party 4 u”, a song teased in 2017, then eventually released in 2020 on Charli’s how i’m feeling right now album has resurfaced, particularly on TikTok, and gained a massive fanbase. The song has caused a widespread analysis among the community, many questioning the song’s themes and storyline.
“party 4 u”, at its core, is about longing for a person. Genius claims, “Charli uses the concept of throwing an entire party solely for one person as an allegory for the extent she would go to simply to have the chance to spend time with the object of her affections.” Within the first verse, Charli describes what she has done for the person. “1000 pink balloons. DJ with your favorite tunes. Birthday cake in August, but you were born 19th of June.”
When discussing the musicality of the song, it is safe to say that the production value is what adds the emotional aspect to the song. There is a bass-line that rattles throughout the beginning of the song. The bass-line brings you to a moment where you might be dissociating at a party; thinking about that special person. The moment starts soft and quiet, but as we progress through the song, the production becomes louder, giving the piece more emotion as if we can feel Charli’s anxiety about the person’s arrival. There is also layering of the voices in the song, which adds depth to the production. The layering echoes throughout the piece and makes you feel the loneliness Charli is exhibiting. The juxtaposition of sharp vs soft throughout the song displays the internal conflict in Charli’s head.
The narrator repeats the hook, “I only threw this party for you…I was hoping for you to come through.” As the song progresses and goes into the bridge, the repeated lyric turns into “Party on you. Party on you. Party on you,” which is supposed to represent the moment you realize the person you want to be around, is not coming to the party.
Analysis of the bridge has become a popular trend on TikTok. Many users claim, “it feels like high school English class.” One user stated, “For me it’s that feeling when you know there is nothing left to say or do. It’s over.” Some users compare it to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby; specifically comparing the song to the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Some users make fan edits of their favorite movie or TV show characters that display themes of illusion vs. reality. Personally, my favorite TikTok edit has got to be between Marianne and Connell, two characters from Normal People.
My personal interpretation of the bridge is the moment when the lights are flashing in the bar, and you wish that the person you’ve been longing for would just walk in the room. You could imagine them there, standing across from you. Maybe they would give you a wave or a small smile or maybe they would walk up to you. But when the illusion goes away, it is just you, in a crowded room, unable to crack a smile on your face.
To end the debate on TikTok, Charli XCX posted her own analysis stating “this is actually the moment you realize that that one person isn’t ever coming to your party so you stand in the middle of the room, tears briefly fill your eyes but then you wipe them away, pretend you’re okay and proceed to get unbelievably f**ked up and then spend the next week feeling completely ashamed of yourself xx.”
During the bridge, you can tell the emotion of Charli as the music begins to disintegrate. Charli’s voice gets swallowed by the production and there are more little glitches added throughout the end of the song. The lyrics, “I wish you’d get here, kiss my face. Instead, you’re somewhere far away,” represent Charli’s utter heartbreak over the situation.
Overall, the song is an absolute masterpiece. The pop song parties through loneliness, making it an incredible party anthem. While Charli has stated the true meaning, I believe the song can be interpreted in many ways due to the emotional aspects it holds. It is truly a beautiful take on longing and affection, which makes the song utterly catchy.
As someone who has been a long time Charli fan, I am so happy that she is gaining the credit she deserves. Her music is much more than bubblegum pop radio music. It carries true meaning within the lyricism and production of the music. I hope that people listen to more of Charli’s older music. If I were to predict the next song that may resurface it would be “Track 10”, which is another absolute banger from Charli’s discography. Charli XCX is a powerhouse in the music industry right now and I cannot wait to see what post-Brat era will bring.