Shining in her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Chappell Roan has created a name for herself. Her rise to pop stardom isn’t much different from those you hear mainstream, but she has faced adversity, making her sound, style, and personality unique to others.
For Roan, it started in Atlantic Records when she was only 17. Her debut single, “Die Young,” began her pathway for her art, her voice within the midst of queer pop idols. Her youth’s soft, melodic voice showcases that she could rise to fame by finding her unique style, and she did, once TikTok reached this incredible artist. The contrast between “Die Young” and any of her most recent music demonstrates a shift of tone in her voice, how she captivates the listener with higher vocals, as well as lyric choices that she now indicates as more pop and vibrant than sad and depressing. This change shows how she finds herself and her voice, which I think is a big step to take in the music industry and is one of the main reasons she has been so successful.
For many young people on TikTok, they’ve heard of Chappell Roan, especially her most recent single, “Good Luck, Babe!” This song showcases her range and how her voice transcends through multitudes of genres. This single was how I was introduced to Roan, and I truly fell in love with her message, her voice, and what she brings to the table, ultimately an incredible voice with very pop-funk songs that demonstrates homage to 80’s music.
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” is a 14-track album with a runtime of 49 minutes. This album showcases a diverse sound, all having either a sad, happy, or scream-worthy tone, but in the end all-revolving into a theme of love, lust, and longing for a significant other in a queer relationship. Although I find this entire album to be a masterpiece, these seven songs had the biggest impact on both my life and the music industry.
Femininomenon
The album starts perfectly; with a twist. When you listen to the intro you believe it will be a sad ballad, but it transitions into a very upbeat tempo. In “Femininomenon,” (although, the title is a mouthful) Roan brings up the topic of how she thinks that a man won’t be able to satisfy her needs when it comes to romantic and sexual relations and that only a woman will be able to “hit it like rom-pom-pom-pom” and “get it hot like Papa John” (which are some of my favorite lyrics). Whether by yourself or in a group of friends, this song can bring you to your feet and make you dance your heart out.
After Midnight
When you think of “After Midnight,” you probably wouldn’t expect an upbeat song. I honestly didn’t and it caught me by surprise, which I loved. This cheerful tune reflects on the nightlife, how clubbing and partying ‘after midnight’ is what makes life worth living, exploring new things, and finding joy in taking risks. This song made me want to just dance the night away, and I love the way she sings, “I kinda wanna kiss your girlfriend if you don’t mind.” It shows the risks Roan is willing to take to have a good time and to live life to the fullest, no matter the circumstances.
Casual
“Casual,” is one of those songs that gets you in your feels and makes you want to curl into a ball and never leave your room. That’s exactly what I did when I listened to it for the first time. This song is truly a sad, slow ballad and one of the most heartfelt songs I’ve heard in a while. The meaning behind “Casual,” is sort of self-explanatory, being in a relationship, or in this case a situationship, that is casual for the other person, but to you, it means everything. This song became popular on TikTok, especially because of the lyrics, “I ****** you in the bathroom when we went to dinner. Your parents are at the table, and you wonder why I’m bitter.” This shows that although Roan was giving her everything to this other person, even during intimacy, those feelings weren’t reciprocated, except when it was most convenient to them.
HOT TO GO!
Now to the most upbeat, glitter-gel-pen song on this album, “HOT TO GO!” This song will just make you want to dance, jump, scream, and feel all those feelings, no matter where you are. It also happens to be one of her most streamed songs, a true fan favorite at concerts by showcasing a cheerleading-style beat, and was even included in a Target commercial, showcasing how fast she was gaining success. “HOT TO GO!” has also peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the end of the week of October 5, 2024. With its catchy lyrics and fun choreography (especially done on TikToks and on tour), one of my favorite lyrics has to be, “And baby, don’t you like this beat? I made it so you’d sleep with me. It’s like a hundred ninety-nine degrees, when you’re doing it with me, doing it with me.” This song demonstrates how much fun listening to music can be making those concert tickets well worth it.
My Kink is Karma
When I first listened to “My Kink is Karma,” it wasn’t in my top 5, but now that I’ve gone back and listened to it, I can confidently say that it is my #3 on this album. This song brings up how she hopes that her ex will face consequences, and ultimately receive karma from what they’ve done during their relationship and how that it is a ‘kink’ for her. Representing that she is glad that her ex is doing horrible, which I think is a very valid, yet toxic feeling to have, which she acknowledges by telling INTO, a newsletter online, “Ah, it feels so nice that my ex is doing horrible! Which is insanely toxic.” While it is an upbeat song, I would say that the lyrics are bittersweet and angsty which I would say is one of the reasons why I grew to love this song.
Kaleidoscope
The title of this song caught my eye, but it didn’t end up being what I expected it to be. I imagined “Kaleidoscope” to have a vibrant tone to it based on the title, but it was the complete opposite and I loved it. The soft vocals with the piano bring it such a comforting feeling and the combination of the sorrowful lyrics makes it even better. This song showcases her range, how she can be both a drag, and pop princess, and how she creates songs that will make you cry in your bedroom. “Kaleidoscope” ties back to the theme of queer love and relationships, but in this instance, it’s about falling in love with a friend, specifically a female friend, and about it not always working out because ‘love is a kaleidoscope,’ meaning that for me, it creates an image of longing for that reciprocated love which I think showcases dark and soulful colors, such as burgundy and maroon. Some of my favorite lyrics in this song are “Every color of the rainbow, don’t be afraid to hold it close. It’s never just a shape alone, love is a kaleidoscope.” The comparison of love to a kaleidoscope shows how we shouldn’t be afraid to express our feelings and emotions because that is what makes love extremely beautiful.
Pink Pony Club
We’ve finally reached the epitome of myself in a song, “Pink Pony Club.” This song I would say is the most significant for me in this entire album. This song talks about a ‘Pink Pony Club,’ which is a fictitious gay bar in West Hollywood, CA. Roan created this song and the idea of this club because she dreams of performing and dancing at this gay club even at the expense of her mother, which she knows she wouldn’t be happy about. This song truly speaks volumes, even through its upbeat melody, it brings a deep-felt message, about being queer in a place where it is unusual to express those feelings or even mention them. As someone who finds themselves in a similar situation, I wish I could also experience being at the ‘Pink Pony Club,’ not feeling ashamed of what I feel and ultimately recognizing that I am not ‘strange’ for whoever I love.
Chappell Roan truly outdid herself with “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” which I definitely believe deserves an 11/10. She encapsulates the feelings of queer joy in her music and makes it all ‘glittery’ with her fun music videos and amazing stage presence. She has spoken and created a platform for those who can’t, creating a safe space for anyone and everyone.
