Tour documentaries have long been a window into the high-octane world of pop, capturing the energy and chaos of several musicians’ lives on the road. Yet, not every artist aligns with the traditional format of such offerings. Charli XCX, known for her bold, genre-defying tracks, appears to be one of them, as she recently spoke about her challenges with these films.

Her comments highlight a growing tension between the conventional portrayal of music stardom and the reality of artists who resist being carefully packaged for audiences.

Charli XCX shared in her latest Vanity Fair cover interview that she struggles with the typical structure of tour documentaries. She divulged that her "problem with a lot of musician documentaries" is that they often frame artists as overcoming obstacles to emerge as heroes, a narrative that does not reflect her own experiences. While she acknowledged that this journey may be the reality of others, she explained that her path in music has been different, making it difficult for her story to fit into the conventional mold. She therefore even turned down a tour documentary, she revealed.

Notably, while musician documentaries are not Charli XCX’s style, she does not mind mockumentaries. The singer is set to star in The Moment, a fictional tale of a pop star gearing up to headline her first tour. The A24 film, directed by Aidan Zamiri and co-starring Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette, Isaac Cole Powell, Kate Berlant, and more, is set to release sometime next year. As Charli XCX prepares for the next chapter in her journey, meanwhile, her Vanity Fair statement about tour spectacles draws added attention for a significant reason.

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Could Charli XCX have aimed at her supposed foe, Taylor Swift, with her opinions on creations circling a musician’s life amid the latter set to release one?

On Monday, October 13, Taylor Swift announced a six-part docuseries, The End of an Era, set to premiere on Disney+ in three instalments this December, offering an intimate behind-the-scenes look at her record-breaking Eras Tour. Alongside it, she revealed a concert film, The Eras Tour: The Final Show, featuring the full ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ set. Charli XCX’s remarks to Vanity Fair, however, would predate Swift’s announcement, considering the time taken for a cover interview and the publication of it, so they cannot be said to be aimed at her.

Ultimately, while the timing of Charli XCX’s comments coincides with Taylor Swift’s announcements, it is clear her observations reflect a personal perspective rather than a pointed critique. Her candid take on the limits of traditional tour documentaries underscores a larger conversation about how pop stars’ lives are portrayed, and who gets to define that narrative. As both artists continue to push creative boundaries in their own ways, fans are reminded that not every story fits neatly into the expected frame, and sometimes breaking the mold is exactly the point.

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Do you agree with Charli XCX’s take on musician documentaries? Let us know in the comments.