Whilst being second-billed under Green Day, Charli XCX arguably had one of the most talked-about sets of Coachella, with some even calling it “Bratchella”. Her set was an ode to an era that has defined the last year in music. Her cultural impact as a hyperpop pioneer left a mark on Summer 2024, ultimately being branded as ‘Brat Summer”.
However, her Coachella set ended with her saying goodbye to ‘Brat’ with “maybe it’s time for a different kind of summer” and a ‘Brat’ flag being burned on the screen behind her.
Although she wasn’t a headliner, her set brought everything a headline slot should: A-list guests like Billie Eilish and Lorde, energy and actually being able to make a Coachella crowd dance.
At her Coachella after-party she wore a “Miss Should Have Been Headliner” sash which sparked controversy, with some fans calling this a direct hit at Saturday headliners Green Day. This was quickly settled when Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wore a green ‘Brat’ cap at their Weekend 2 set and guitarist Tre Cool wore a sash saying “Actual Headliner” which Charli reposted with the caption “obsessed”.
Following the ‘feud’ between Charli XCX and Green day, online discourse begs the question of what actually makes a headliner?
First and foremost, it’s safe to say that Coachella is a unique festival compared to others around the world.
Once a festival that strived for musical breakthroughs, it now feels a massive shift has occurred;it is now seen as a social media phenomenon. Influencer culture has impacted the festival in a way that has taken away from the music, and now there is a mass focus on “viral” moments, and creating controversial moments on social media.
Therefore, in order to cement their status as a Coachella headliner the act must have a major star persona, one that will get people excited and create these talking points on platforms like TikTok.
However, I feel Coachella is still committed to musical diversity and this can be seen throughout the lineup from the range of small and big acts that adorn it. This is even evident in the headline slots for this year, featuring pop, punk and Post Malone’s new switch from rap to country.
For these reasons I feel Charli XCX would have been a perfect addition to the headline slots for Coachella. She has had a massive year following the success of ‘Brat” and her headlining Coachella would be the perfect way to celebrate her journey to where she has now cemented herself as a pioneer in pop music.
2024 was a big year for new female artists in pop music like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. Charli headlining Coachella would have been the perfect way to celebrate women in music and the impact women had on music in 2024.
Charli is a perfect fit for Coachella, her cultural impact is undeniable, from ‘Brat Summer’ to the colour green, she has created many viral moments this year which would coincide with the trending nature of the music festival.
However, Green Day represent other aspects vital to a headliner slot.They are in every way a legacy act, and an iconic punk band familiar to people of all ages. They attract a different audience to Coachella whose main focus of the weekend would be the music, and not the stereotypical influencer.
Festivals like Coachella prioritise commercial success not just the celebration of music, therefore headliners must be able to bring in a range of audiences, in order to suffice ticket sales. A high status act like Green Day achieves this as their brand identity resonates with many people, for example their precedence for political messaging within their music speaks to people of all ages.
What’s safe to say is both Green Day and Charli have cult followings; it is clear that regardless of their “feud” both solidify themselves as worthy of the headline slot.
Image credit: Getty Images
