Charli XCX: 'Wuthering heights an all original movie soundtrack
- Hannah McAuliffe
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
In the words of Charli XCX this albums mood is that of a 'tortured romantic' focusing on the visceral, emotional and often brutal elements to this story.
This past Valentines weekend delivered a double cultural moment: a fresh adaptation, or more so an interpretation, of Emily Brontës 1847 classic of Wuthering Heights and alongside that Charli XCX's first album release since the pop culture movement that was Brat. With "Wall of Sound", "House", and "Chains of Love" serving as the main singles within the album, the track list conveys all the emotions of self-destructive love, obsession and embodies the toxic dynamic of Catherine and Heathcliff.
In the words of Finn Keane, songwriter and repeat collaborator in the creation of Charli's music, the soundtrack for Emerald Fennels "Wuthering heights" was the perfect pivot after their Brat summer. After Charli declared that the Brat era had officially come to an end in September of last year, although with the release of 'The moment' this week Brat appears to be alive and well, Keane stated it was around that time that himself and Charli fell in love with the script for the movie.
The album and the film itself both begin with the Track of "House" (ft. John Cale), which serves as a gothic, industrial track with John Cale reciting a poem written by himself. House highlights the central theme of entrapment with the chorus "I think I'm gonna die in this house" that has caught TikTok's attention, and in the buildup to the albums release was being used for anything but movie promotion. The repeated lyric and the instrumental behind it builds the unsettling and suffocating nature of the inspiration behind this album.
The theme of romance being both addictive and equally as dangerous continues with "Chains of Love" as it highlights the obsessive and co-dependent nature of the main relationship. The lyric of "the chains of love won't break" mirror the inescapable, binding bond between the characters.
My personal favourite track amongst the twelve has to be "Dying for You" as it gives a fast-paced alternative/indie pop nature with strong electropop and Dance Pop elements. It was guaranteed to be the release that was going to get stuck in peoples heads and become the most used on social media as it carries this upbeat energy alongside its dark lyrics. Dying for You , has appeared to be the one you're still able to feel deeply, as it frantically tells a story of self destructive love, but also is perfect to make a TikTok dance to.
This Album is Gothic, Fresh , Unnerving, exciting and distinctly Charli, as her sound remains consistent whilst she encapsulates the energy and the themes that come with watching the film. I would recommend listening to the album all the way through and if you can I would also recommend seeing the film.
I would also like to give a special mention to a track within the movies soundtrack that was not one by Charli XCX but Folk singer and songwriter Olivia Chaney. Olivia provided the song 'Dark Eyed Sailor' that immediately set the perfect tone for the scene it was placed amongst, and deserves all the attention for this beautiful song that has supported every emotion provoking edit post release.
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