I can’t believe you actually said to me
“I’m the one who made you”
Who do you really think you are?
You know you’re making this more complicated than before
You know you’re making me hate you more than I’ve ever done before
‘Cause there’s no way that you’re allowed to say
That you built me up ’cause I was already made this way
Oh, look what you’ve done now
Just back down, yeah, back down (yes, back down)
‘Cause I don’t want you and your skinny jeans hanging around (just get out)
I was made to apologize but I didn’t mean it (of course I didn’t)
‘Cause that T-shirt that you got me
I don’t want it, you can keep it (is that your facts?)
We messed it up, yeah (we got mashed up)
Both too proud to back down from the battle (from the battle)
Now we’ve got our neons on and our glowsticks out, trying to fight it out
To see who’s more individual (ha)
But we know that’s what it’s about, yeah
So, what you gonna do when I leave you
You’ll have no one who wants to play along with your silly little rules
‘Cause you look up to someone much older
And bolder who barely knows you
They only want to talk to you so they can steal
Your cardigans and your Air Force Ones
Oh, look what you’ve done now
Just back down, yeah, back down (yes, back down)
‘Cause I don’t want you and your skinny jeans hanging around (just get out)
I was made to apologize but I didn’t mean it (of course I didn’t)
‘Cause that T-shirt that you got me
I don’t want it, you can keep it (is that your fact)
We messed it up, yeah (we got mashed up)
Both too proud to back down from the battle (from the battle)
Now we’ve got our neons on and our glowsticks out, trying to fight it out
To see who’s more individual
You got your glowsticks and all of your, you know
Your flashy little things
You’ve got your Spider-Man stickers, your brown hair, your polka-dots
But just leave it out
Leave it out
I told you, we’re both the same
Both as catty as each other
Do you remember when we went to see that band
We couldn’t stand and dance around ’cause you got us seated tickets
And oh, remember when we used to hold hands
Skip along and try to get our Converse dirty like
I remember when you used to call my name
And we’d play them cheatin’ games behind people’s backs
But we lost that in the neon competition
That’s what it was really about, oh
(Game over)
Unpacking Neon Fashion And Glowstix
Charli XCX’s “Neon Fashion And Glowstix” dives deep into the complexities of young relationships, individuality, and the clash of egos. The song uses vivid imagery, like neon lights and glowsticks, to symbolize the competitive, attention-seeking world the characters inhabit. Charli’s sharp lyrics call out a partner who claims to have “made” her, challenging notions of influence and authenticity. The playful references to skinny jeans, T-shirts, and youthful rebellion paint a picture of a scene filled with style battles and personal pride.
Individuality vs. Imitation
At its core, the track is about the struggle to stand out while being entangled in a relationship that blurs the lines between copying and being original. Charli’s witty lines and nostalgic callbacks to shared memories reveal how competition and stubbornness can erode connections. The closing lines suggest that, ultimately, the rivalry was more about proving uniqueness than about love itself—a “neon competition” where no one truly wins.
Song Credits
Artist: Charli XCX
Songwriters: Charlotte Aitchison
Release Year: 2008