Charli XCX, B2b | Bangerz N Bopz

In the 91st edition of Bangerz N Bopz (2024), we highlight “B2b” performed by Charli XCX featuring Tinashe.  

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 91^st edition of Bangerz N Bopz (2024), we break down “B2b” performed by Charli XCX featuring Tinashe.

“Back to back to back to back to back to back to back.” Ooh-wee, that’s seven backs! Charli XCX leaves no doubt what her song “B2b” stands for – back to back! It originally appeared on her iconic, Grammy-nominated 2024 album, Brat.  “B2b” reappears, in remixed form, as the 12^th track on Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.  Charli enlists the services of another sickening artist, Tinashe.  “B2b” benefits from its seek production (Finn Keane and LIOHN) with an ill groove and bright synths. The chorus, excerpted above, is simple but infectious.

Beyond the chorus, Charli XCX delivers confident yet easygoing vocals. “I travel ‘round the world to fifteen countries in four days,” she sings in the first verse, adding, “I’m fuckin’ tired, but I love it and I’m not complainin’ / Oh, shit, I kinda made it.” Indeed, Charli! In the second verse, she moves beyond pitch to chanted lines, gassing up Tinashe (“‘Cause we made ‘em ‘Boom Clap,’ made ‘em get ‘2 On’”).  Expectedly, Tinashe provides a fabulous guest appearance, ‘bringing the heat’ as always in the third verse:

“Boutta run it back
The way my ass look in these jeans, I’m boutta throw it back (Back, back)
When they see us out here winning, they get so mad
Now I’m feeling on myself, I don’t know how to act (Act, act, act, act).”

Word! “B2b” is the sugar honey iced tea! Notably, the remix is shorter than the original by nearly 30 seconds.  It doesn’t matter – Charli XCX and Tinashe ‘do the damn thing,’ back to back to back!

Charli XCX // Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat // Atlantic // 2024

Charli XCX, B2b: Bangerz N Bopz No. 91 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]