No ‘Sucker’: Charli XCX Performs New Wave Version Of ‘Boom Clap’ On ‘SNL’
Charli XCX is having herself a breakout year. The British pop singer, whose previous hits were made famous by artists like Icona Pop, has finally made her way into the mainstream, thanks to the hit song “Boom Clap,” which the 22-year-old British performed last night on Saturday Night Live.
Behind her sophomore album, Sucker, which is set to be released Tuesday, Charli has performed at a multitude of awards shows, including the EMAs, the VMAs, and the AMAs, before finally landing one of the most coveted music gigs in the industry. According to Rolling Stone, the singer even updated her most iconic hit to-date specifically for this performance.
“Her smash hit Boom Clap,’ [has] been around for over six months now, but Charli updated the track with a new wave gleam,” the review states. “‘Boom Clap’ has always been a lighters-in-the-air moment, but the ‘SNL’ performance made it worthy of a prom in a John Hughes movie.”
Rolling Stone has joined the masses in hyping up Charli XCX as the next big pop superstar, with the musical chops to back up her ferocious on stage persona. They even named Sucker one of their Best 50 Albums of 2014.
“Charli XCX is the pop star 2014 was waiting for: a badass songwriting savant who’s the most fun girl in any room she steps into. The 22-year-old Brit came into her own with Sucker, a middle-finger-waving teenage riot packed into 13 punky gems. It’s a dance party, a mosh pit and a feminist rally – Charli’s definitely in charge.”
Despite such critical acclaim however, Charli XCX revealed to MTV News recently that she still had butterflies before the SNL gig.
“It’s been hyped up so much… I think I’m going to like, vomit on the stage,” she told MTV News reporter Christina Garibaldi while discussing the show on the red carpet before the Jingle Ball concert in NYC Friday night. “Of course I’m nervous, it’s ‘SNL!'”
Previous to Sucker, Charli XCX was better known behind the scenes as the singer songwriter responsible for Icona Pop’s 2013 smash hit single “I Love It,” not to mention the vocal track on Iggy Azalea‘s breakout song “Fancy.” But now, it’s her time in the spotlight.
“I make pop music, but I do it on my own terms,” Charli told NPR during a recent interview. “I’ll never play the game, so to speak, just for success. I’ll always follow my heart and make the music I want to make.”
Watch Charli XCX on SNL below:
[Charli XCX image via NPR]
