RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Charli xcx joined The Strokes to perform vocals for an Is This It classic during the band’s headline set at San Francisco’s Outside Lands on Saturday (Aug. 8)
The Essex-born musician joined Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas on the mic for “Take It Or Leave It” from the group’s 2001 debut, with Casablancas describing her as “a superstar” during the guest appearance.
During his introduction, which was captured in fan videos , Casablancas also jokingly referenced the fact that Charli’s new LP, Music, Fashion, Film , was released on the same day as The Strokes’ seventh studio album, Reality Awaits , on July 24. “We had a great battle,” he congratulated her. “You defeated us.”
Music, Fashion, Film landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 , while Reality Awaits arrived at No. 13. “Charli Motherf–king xcx,” Casablancas continued as she left the stage. “Yup, she won. She won by a lot. She’s a giant pop star, in our defense.”
Charli performed at the festival the previous night in her second festival headline performance since the release of the LP. She had debuted her new stage show at Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago on July 31.
The Strokes performed a career-spanning show during its Outside Lands set, with a number of tracks from Is This It , 2003’s Room on Fire and two new songs from Reality Awaits (“Dine N’Dash,” “Going Shopping”).
Charli has spoken about her love of The Strokes in previous interviews, recently telling W Mag that “I’ll Try Anything Once” — a stripped-back alternative version of the band’s 2006 song “You Only Live Once” – was a song that makes her cry. “It’s really a heartbreaking song,” she told the publication.
It wasn’t the only guest appearance Charli made at Outside Lands, however. She also made a cameo during Djo’s performance of his song “Charlie’s Garden” earlier on Saturday. In the original version of the track, Joe Keery’s Stranger Things costar Charlie Heaton leaves a voicemail apologizing for flaking out on a catch-up.
During Djo’s set, he switched it up with Charli xcx instead leaving a message.”Hey, Djo, it’s Charli. I had no idea that you’d written a song about me,” she said in the pre-recorded segment. “That is, like, so sweet of you. I’m honored. Anyways, call me back after the show and we can talk about it. Bye!”
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