After the Afterparty

"**After The Afterparty**" is a song by Charli XCX featuring rapper Lil Yachty.  It was released on October 28th, 2016 as the formerly intended lead single from XCX's scrapped third studio album.

## Background

In an interview for iHeart Radio, XCX said that the inspiration for the song when she was at "two months of solid partying" and thought that she should "chill" now. She then went back into the studio and wrote the song with some friends. The goal of the song for Charli was making the "biggest, boldest and loudest pop song ever".

The collaboration came about after Charli XCX contacted Lil Yachty via Twitter DM, and learned that he was a fan of her previous album, 2014's **Sucker**. "It annoys me when people are like, 'Oh he can't rap,'" she said of the Atlanta rhymer to Beats 1's Zane Lowe. "We're not in a time where rappers are all about having the best all time flow, or that old school flow. I love the way that he raps but I also love the way that he presents himself in his videos and that he's this creative force."

Charli previously teased the song on Twitter using a string of emojis. She premiered the lyrics on Genius.

This was the last song that Charli wrote for her scrapped third studio album - it followed a couple months of heavy partying. She told Radio.com: "It was just the conclusion to my [air quotes] 'research,' let's call it, into making a party record. I just wanted to make the most party, pop, powerful party jam ever, so I went for that."

## Theme

In the track she sings about partying all day, every day, and gives a shout-out to fellow party girl Rihanna. Charli XCX said the song is about "partying through eternity, into the afterlife and forever after! Everyone's invited – Lil Yachty, all the angels; everybody in the entire world," she added, "just bring some champagne, though."

## Critical reception

Ailbhe Malone of *The Irish Times* called the song "a turned-up banger, similar to "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus", but also claiming that it had a "layer of modernist gloss" due to the input of SOPHIE. Laura Snapes of *Pitchfork* described the song's "neon nihilism and aggressive self-possession are the drivers of Charli’s career rather than its destructors" and commented on Charli's vocals at the end of track beginning to "slip and stutter". NME named it the tenth best song of 2016 on their year-end list.

## Music Video

The music video for "After the Afterparty" was released on 30 October 2016. The video was directed by Diane Martel, and features XCX and Yachty partying with people dressed as zombies and other creatures for Halloween. About the video, Charli said: "The song is about partying into the afterlife and nobody does that better than zombies – they're the ultimate party monsters. We shot through the night for two days straight and I'm so pleased that some of my musical collaborators on the album turned into the undead and stepped into XCX world, especially for this video."

## Lyrics

[Intro: Charli XCX]

After the after the party we're gonna keep it going

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

[Verse 1: Charli XCX]

I think it's almost 4 AM but baby I'm still feeling just fine

Ice all up in a plastic cup and I'ma keep on sipping all night, yeah

I might've kissed a thousand lips but maybe that's just all in my mind

Some people never understand the way we live but we're living life

[Pre-Chorus: Charli XCX]

Uh huh, hey, uh huh, Monday to Sunday, it's never too late

So everyone say, "We don't wanna stop!"

[Chorus: Charli XCX]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it all again

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We're all in love

We're all in love

[Verse 2: Charli XCX]

I'm hangin' on my best friend's couch and my clothes are all on the floor

I got glitter in my underwear like it was Studio 54, yeah

I can't remember why I love it, but I need it baby, clap, bring on the encore

Let's pour another drink, the glasses go \*clink\*

Yeah, we're always up for one more

[Pre-Chorus: Charli XCX]

Uh huh, hey, uh huh, Monday to Sunday, it's never too late

So everyone say, "We don't wanna stop!"

[Chorus: Charli XCX + Lil Yatchy]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbors might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, afterparty

We're gonna stay 'til mornin', stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it again, oh yeah

[Verse 3: Lil Yachty]

The party just ended but I'm not done with you

My folks are out of town, we got a crib with a view

Come over, bring a couple friends, I keep mine with me

Shout out to Whitney, she was so wicked

The party was so crazy, the party was so crazy

Tomorrow I'll be lazy but I'll spend it with you baby

[Bridge: Charli XCX]

Monday to Sunday doing it our way

RiRi on replay, cheers to the weekday

We're all in, we're all in love, yeah

Drop, drop, drop, drop, drop

And we do it like ice cream for dinner

Bucket of liqueur, we're getting sicker

Don't need Ibiza

We're all in, we're all in love, yeah

Drop, drop, drop, drop, drop

And we do it like

Monday to Sunday doing it our way

RiRi on replay, cheers to the weekday

We're all in, we're all in love, yeah

[Chorus: Charli XCX]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it all again

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We're all in, we're all in love, yeah

[Outro: Charli XCX]

Monday to Sunday doing it our way

RiRi on replay, cheers to the weekday

We're all in, we're all in love, yeah

## Remixes and Versions

### After The Afterparty (Remixes)

Two remix EP's were released for the single, one with an acoustic version and a Alan Welker Remix, another with a collection of 4 remixes. In total these are all the official remixes of the single:

1. After The Afterparty - Jax Jones Remix
2. After The Afterparty - Danny L Harle Remix
3. After The Afterparty - Chocolate Puma Remix
4. After The Afterparty - Vice Remix
5. After The Afterparty - Alan Walker Remix
6. After The Afterparty - Alan Walker Remix [featuring Lil Yachty]

### VIP Mix

On February 2017, Charli released the "VIP Mix" of the single. The version takes off the majority of the original verses, and replaces Lil Yachty for the 3 UK divas, Raye, rising rapper Stefflon Don and Rita Ora (who's last collab with Charli was the single "Doing It".

[Intro: Stefflon Don, Raye]

Uh, Don

R.I.P, XCX

[Verse 1: Stefflon Don, Raye & Rita Ora]

After the afterparty

We ah wine and-a spend we money

We ah style and ah pop the champagne

We poppin, we poppin that big champagne

Hey Charli, when you back from LA?

We gonna do another afterparty

We're just four bad girls from the UK

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah yeah

[Pre-Chorus: Stefflon Don & Raye]

Somebody might know where you come from

Some other white girl might say London

We got Raye-sy and the Don Don

[Chorus: Charli XCX]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it all again

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We're all in love

We're all in love

[Verse 2: Rita Ora]

Pull up in my fresh whip, got Steffy on my left

We're stashin' that crown

Charli, Charli, where the party?

Rent a black 'Rari, raising that trunk

I'm so in love with him, my god, it's just the life we livin'

Clap, bring on the encore

Let's pull up at the side, hop out of my ride

Cause we know we're up for one more

[Pre-Chorus: Stefflon Don & Raye]

Somebody might know where you come from

Some other white girl might say London

We got Raye-sy and the Don Don

[Chorus: Charli XCX]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it all again

[Bridge: Raye]

Seven, seven AM

And the house is still runnin'

When the sun is coming up

Glitter, glitter in my hair

And my shoes and my teeth

And I think I found the one

I can't stand up, walk straight, talk right

Can you pour me one more?

(Can you pour me one more?)

All my girls, pretty boys

We gon' go 'til we hit the floor

Then, after the afterparty

We're gonna keep it going

We're gonna rip it up

The neighbours might complain

[Chorus: Charli XCX]

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna keep it goin'

We're gonna rip it up, the neighbours might complain

'Cause after the afterparty, we're gonna stay 'til mornin'

Then when the time is up, we'll do it all again

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We're all in love

We're all in love

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

We're all in love

We're all in love

### Acoustic Version

An acoustic piano version of the song was released on January 2017, this version features more soft vocals from Charli and the Lil Yachty featured is removed from the track.

## Live Performances

In November 2016, XCX sang "After the Afterparty" during the finale of The X Factor Australia. On February 8th, 2017, XCX also performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She also performed the song on multiple televised concerts and festivals and some minor award shows.

Charli XCX After The Afterparty The X Factor Australia 2016Charli XCX After the Afterparty on Sunrise AustraliaCharli XCX - Boom Clap + After The Afterparty - 21st Asian Television AwardsCharli XCX - After The Afterparty (LIVE) The KISS Haunted House PartyCharli XCX "After The Afterparty" LIVE at Hennessy Artistry 2017
## Charts

 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)
 Ireland (IRMA)
 New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)
 Scotland (Official Charts Company)
 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)
 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)

## References

<references>

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl1wya64jbM
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/charli\_xcx/status/784466069079687169
3. ↑ https://genius.com/Charli-xcx-after-the-afterparty-lyrics#about
4. ↑ https://www.songfacts.com/facts/charli-xcx/after-the-afterparty
5. ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/1923922/watch-charli-xcx-a-motionless-a-g-cook-bring-new-song-bounce-to-jimmy-kimmel/video/