Since Spotify introduced her to my âDiscover Weeklyâ album a few months ago, Iâve had a growing obsession with the queer artist named Chappell Roan. With over a million listeners on Spotify already, what better time to talk about this artist who I think is going to make big waves in the music scene!
Who is Chappell Roan?
With her shock of fiery red hair, Chappell Roan is a 25 year-old American singer and songwriter who recently debuted their first album called The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess. This dynamic album has a mixture of certified club bangers and soft, dreamy ballads. Chappellâs style is a bit over the topâbut thatâs what fans love about her! She fully embraces who she is and isnât afraid to be different!Â
This cowgirl adorned in glitter is definitely someone to take note of. In an interview with The Washington Post she talks about what it was like growing up queer in a homophobic Christian community. What ultimately led to her finding herself was donning the drag persona under the stage name Chappell Roan. According to an interview she did with The Rolling Stone magazine, the name is to honour her deceased grandfather and his favourite song.Â
Chappell is on âThe Midwest Princess Tourâ as we speak. Sheâs known for going all out in her music videos and live showsâthis girl loves a good theme. To spice things up, each show has a theme based on a song on the album. She even creates these handy inspiration boards to help inspire fans to dress up!
You mightâve also heard this name in relation to popstar Olivia Rodrigo, as the two are touring together for a portion of Rodrigoâs tour, âGUTSâ, which will feature Chappell as the opener for several shows, including multiple Canadian venues like Montreal, QB, and Toronto, ON. Rodrigoâs tour starts on February 23, 2024, with Chappell, and the two will tour together until April 1st, 2024. Fun fact: Both artists use the same producer, Dan Nigro, for their albums.Â
So, without further ado, letâs delve into the album!
âThe Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princessâ Album Breakdown
- Feminonmenon (explicit)
-
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess kicks us off with a dynamic song. It starts slow with a string instrument and warm vocals, before picking up the beat and becoming one you can dance to. Memorable lines include âGet it hot like Papa Johnâ and âyouâre folding his laundry/ got what you wanted, so stop feeling sorryâ This song speaks to feeling restrained as a woman by what we are expected to do and men who are disappointing.
- Red Wine Supernova
-
This is the first song I ever heard of Chappellâs, and I was immediately hooked! Arguably, also one of my favourites. Itâs speak-sing style with delicious callouts and ad libs mixed with layered vocals makes this song perfect for singing loudly with your friends! Ultimately it characterizes the experience of catching feelings for another girl in a lighthearted and comedic way. If you want to see Chappell dressed as a playboy bunny, check out her music video here!
- After Midnight
-
“After Midnight” is an easy-to-listen-to pop song thatâs still sprinkled with frisky lyrics like: âI kinda wanna kiss your girlfriend if you don’t mind/ I love a little dramaâ This song is about the narrator wanting to be more wild and spontaneous while also feeling held back by the unspoken expectations around her.
- Coffee
-
As a subdued piano ballad, and a good one at that, the symbolism here about what âCoffeeâ means is layered thick. Lines like: “Nowhere else is safe, every place leads back to your place” lets us understand the songâs storyline where we learn about a failed romantic relationship with the narrator revisiting locations where they used to meet. With a solid conclusion, we realize that the narrator no longer wants to meet for coffee at all.
- Casual (explicit)
-
If youâve ever wanted more from a romantic partner and they havenât reciprocated, then this song is for you! With punchy lyrics: âKnee deep in the passenger seat and you’re eating me out/ Is it casual now?â How can I not be invested! The music video for this song is experimental and features Chappell making out with a mermaid, and honestly, while Iâm here for the plot, Iâm here for mermaid-core too.
- Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
-
âNever waste a Friday night on a first dateâ This flirty dance-floor number is upfront about empowerment and self-expression. But ultimately, itâs really about finding a genuine connection with a girl to sweep you off your feet! Featuring space-makeup check out the video for the song here.
- HOT TO GO!
-
Listen up if you like to shake your tush! Giving hard YMCA dance vibes, thereâs an actual dance you can learn to this beat. If you want to master it check out the music video here! The infectious energy of this song encourages listeners to feel confident and empowered in the decisions they make that bring them joy. Alluding again to pleasure and passion, the heat of this song is sure to melt the house down!
- My Kink Is Karma
-
Ranking high on my list of favourites, this one is all about good ol-fashioned karma! Sprinkled with lyrics about getting off to your exâs downfall, this song gives satisfaction all around. So, not only does the music video go so seriously hard, but the song is just legit a badass anthem to help you move on from that toxic ex-someone.
- Picture You
-
Based on fantasy and obsession, this song is filled with immersive visuals, with the person of desire filling the landscape; however, it seems that the feeling isnât totally mutualâŠsobbing. With hard-hitting emotional lines like: âDo you picture me like I picture you?/ Am I in the frame from your point of view?â I canât help but feel my heartstrings tugged at throughout this devastating love song.Â
- Kaleidoscope
-
“Kaleidoscope” is another ballad with reflective lyrics like: âLove is a kaleidoscope, how it works, weâll never knowâ but ultimately itâs about how love is constantly changing. Mixing emotions like nostalgia, confusion, and hope, we see how the narrator is affected by a past relationship. You can watch Chappell perform it live here.
- Pink Pony Club
-
With the music video for this song having over 1.1 million views, you can safely say itâs worth watching and a banger. Quoting VMagazine, this song is a âballad that chronicles the tale of a girl who chases her dream of being a stripper.â But itâs also about self-acceptance, wanting more in life, and ultimately, finding the place where you belong. I attest that this one is worth listening to.
- Naked in Manhattan (explicit)
-
In theme with the title, this song is about being vulnerable. Starting off with a cute phone call recording, we are introduced a girl and her crush playing with temptation. The âwill they or wonât theyâ idea is represented in the lyrics: âAn inch away from more than just friendsâ With a fire pre-chorus this oneâs worth checking out! The music video for this song is filmed in the 2000s camcorder style.
- California
-
Throwing me back in my feels, this song is about the singerâs aspirations to be a star but feeling like they are letting their younger self down. Itâs about belonging and that sense of home that, while most of us miss, we donât want to go back to, seen in emotional lines like: âThought Iâd be cool in California/ Iâd make you proudâ For a cute insider fan moment keep an eye out for the photo album of Chappell as a little girl in the official “California” lyric video.
- Guilty Pleasure
-
Explicitly about intimate desires and fantasies, this song reflects on how we all get up to a little naughty business every now and thenâand we shouldnât feel bad about it! With a bouncy beat, this song builds to beautiful vocalizations without any words, but the emotions emote anyways, and Iâm here for it.
If youâve made it this farâgo you! Hereâs a sweet treat for reading all the way. đ
If you still havenât listened to the album yet, seriously what are you doing? Go! Itâs right here, waiting for you!