Katseye have released 'Bel Air', a previously unreleased Charli xcx track, as track four on their EP WILD. The song, originally written by Charli xcx in 2013 for her sophomore album SUCKER, was never officially released by Charli but leaked online and became a fan-favourite unreleased track. It even underwent a production phase with the late artist SOPHIE. Now, Katseye have completely reworked it for their global audience.
Key changes in Katseye's version
The most significant change is the addition of a pre-chorus, which was never documented for Charli's version. Daniela sings: "Stood and watched your car leaving / Struck by silver 'til you were out of sight / I could feel my heart bleeding / Thought you'd be the death of me, but..." Katseye also added a bridge.
Other lyric changes are noticeable but slight. For example, Katseye sing, "Can't get you off my radar / My head is spinning, time in retrograde / Still falling for you, still running from you," whereas Charli sang, "Can't get you off my radar / You're lost inside my heart, I can't escape / I'm falling for you, I'm running from you."
Verse-by-verse comparison
At the end of the first verse, Katseye sing "If we could just rewind us for a day / I'd drive you up to Bel Air / We wouldn't be the ones who got away," but Charli sang: "If I could lock you up and have my way / I'd drive you up to Bel Air / Let's escape, come here next to me, oh."
One of the most notable changes is that Charli ended her second verse with the lyric, "And drown inside the pool out on the deck," but Katseye end the verse with "Pretend we could survive another year," which is a lighter lyric and suits Katseye's audience better.
Full lyrics: Katseye's 'Bel Air'
VERSE 1: [Megan, Yoonchae] I saw you in the mirror / Been stuck inside my mind since Saturday / Can't get you off my radar / My head is spinning, time in retrograde / Still falling for you, still running from you / If we could just rewind us for a day / I'd drive you up to Bel Air / We wouldn't be the ones who got away
PRE-CHORUS: [Daniela] Stood and watched your car leaving / Struck by silver 'til you were out of sight / I could feel my heart bleeding / Thought you'd be the death of me, but
CHORUS: [Lara, Sophia] When you were mine / We said we'd run away / Away from here, and disappear / We'd leave it all behind / When you were mine / You gave me paradise / Then took the key, now, look at me / I'm leaving you behind
VERSE 2: [Yoonchae, Megan] My eyes are getting hazy / I hear you whisper words into my ears / I'm on the edge of crazy / Letting my pillow kiss away my tears / Still falling for ya, still running from ya / But I know what we'd do if you were here / I'd drive you up to Bel Air / Pretend we could survive another year
CHORUS: [Lara, Sophia] When you were mine / We said we'd run away / Away from here, and disappear / We'd leave it all behind / When you were mine / You gave me paradise / Then took the key, now, look at me / I'm leaving you behind
BRIDGE: [Megan] Oh-oh, oh-oh / Oh-oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, oh / Oh-oh, oh-oh / Oh-oh, oh, oh-oh, oh, oh (Ah, ah, ah)
CHORUS: [Lara, Sophia] When you were mine / We said we'd run away / Away from here, and disappear / We'd leave it all behind / When you were mine / You gave me paradise / Then took the key, now, look at me / I'm leaving you behind
Full lyrics: Charli xcx's original
VERSE 1: I saw you in the mirror / You been stuck inside my mind since Saturday / Can't get you off my radar / You're lost inside my heart, I can't escape / I'm falling for you, I'm running from you / If I could lock you up and have my way / I'd drive you up to Bel Air / Let's escape, come here next to me, oh
CHORUS: If you were mine / We'd take a holiday away from here / But you don't care / I never crossed your mind / Time passes by / Alone in paradise / You'll always be a fantasy / I never crossed your mind
VERSE 2: My heart is getting hazy / I wish you'd whisper words into my ears / I know I sound so crazy / I want to keep you close to kiss my tears / I'm callin' for ya, I dial your number / But you never pick up when it's my name / So I drive up to Bel Air / And drown inside the pool out on the deck
CHORUS: If you were mine / We'd take a holiday away from here / But you don't care / I never crossed your mind / Time passes by / Alone in paradise / You'll always be a fantasy / I never crossed your mind
OUTRO: Oh-oh-oh / Ah-ah-oh-ah-ah-ah-ah-oh-ah-oh-ah / Ah-ah-oh-ah-ah-oh / Ah-ah-oh-ah-ah-ah-ah-oh-ah-oh-ah
For more music news, including details on Taylor Swift's re-recordings, Ariana Grande's tour setlist, and Olivia Rodrigo's lyric changes, visit Capital's website.
