Charli XCX’s essential tracks

If there’s one thing that’s certain about a Charli XCX show, it’s that she’s going to make you dance so hard that your butt claps. She’s torn up the stages at Reading Festival before but that doesn’t mean you know what she’s going to pull out of the bag now.

Sure, you can expect big beats, huge singalongs, maybe even some lasers or confetti cannons but you never really know what’s going to happen at a Charli XCX show until it’s been done.

If you’re not up to speed on Charli’s biggest hits, you’ve got a little bit of time before she takes to the Main Stage on Friday at this year’s Reading Festival and like your fairy festival angels that we are, we’re counting down some of her best songs so you can sing along.

1 – After The Afterparty feat Lil Yachty

The video for this is like The Walking Dead: Valentine’s Edition, and we’re not mad about it.

2 – Unlock It feat Kim Petras and Jay Park

Taken from her 2017 album ‘Pop 2’, ‘Unlock It’ is the definition of a pure bop. The ‘beautiful’ followed by the XCX whisper makes us smile every time.

3 – Sucker

F**K YOU! SUCKER! If you’re not singing this about your ex in the campsite at 4am, you’re a better person than us.

4 – Vroom Vroom

“All my life, I’ve been waiting for a good time, good time.” Obviously hadn’t been to Reading when writing this song, had you, hun?

5 – Track 10

An actual masterpiece. Beethoven is shaking.

6 – 5 In The Morning

This goes HARD, also relatable – if we’re not still ballin’ at 5 in the morning we’re just sweating in our tents.

7 – Boom Clap

You know, that one that was everywhere in 2014 because it was used in The Fault In Our Stars and we all cried. Just us? Okay then.

8 – Boys

‘Boys’ was probably one of the most giffable videos in history and for those eagle-eyed Reading and Leeds fans features Dan from Bastille and Frank Carter who are both set to blow your minds this year too.

Charli’s ‘Boys’ flips the male gaze on its head putting men into the stereotypical scenarios that men are often seen in.

9 – Girls Night Out

2017 Charli : “Sorry that I missed your party […] I was busy thinking ’bout boys”

2018 Charli “It’s a Girls night out, no boys”

10 – 1999

Take us back to 1999 where the only thing we had to worry about was what colour hair scrunchy to wear and which smelly gel pen we were going to write our notes in. *sigh*

11 – I Love It

We couldn’t stick to just 10 essentials when this absolute party classic was missing. Technically, it’s Icona Pop featuring Charli, but guess what? I DON’T CARE, I LOVE IT.

Got your tickets to this year’s festival yet? No? We don’t even want to know what’s wrong with you tbh, just sort yourself out before someone else notices too.