Her name is Chappell, but you can call her Princess
This week’s WCW is none other than the Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan. I’m super excited to finally be writing this after writing down in my notes in February that she would be the next WCW. I was introduced to the lovely Chappell Roan for the first time during the fall of 2024 and I am forever indebted to my amazing Spotify algorithm. The way I discover new artists is typically finding a new song and then listening to that song’s radio on Spotify. This is how I found Chappell’s 2024 single “Good Luck, Babe!”
Not many people know, but my favorite genre of music seems to be queer white women in their 20s and for good reason! This song was fun within the first few seconds as the beat began with a bouncy sort of windows down, sunglasses on type of vibe. The vocals were alluring and became very much intoxicating as I reached the chorus. The message was relatable. Feelings not being reciprocated… or even worse feelings being reciprocated, but the actions are the total opposite of what we both know to be true. And then as the song neared its ending Miss Chappell had the nerve to slow down the song paying homage (don’t know if she actually was or not, but whatever it’s my blog) to the classic slowed+reverb approach that is so common in Hip Hop and sometimes R&B. This part of the song definitely is technically simple, but the feeling it creates is a big deal. I remember feeling an emotional shift. It’s like a wake up call. I thought it was magic and that’s when I was like, “yeh, let’s make sure we add this song to a playlist so we never lose it.”
While I really enjoyed this song, I never dove further into Chappell Roan’s discography. THEN THE GRAMMYS HAPPENED! Chappell does not take her appearances lightly as seen on her NPR Tiny Desk Concert and then again at the Grammys. I had no idea who she was, but was intrigued – which means Chappell, her stylist, and makeup team did their job perfectly. AND THEN I HEARD PINK PONY CLUB… and I don’t think it’s just about hearing this song, but it was also seeing her perform it. It was so perfect to me. The set design was so fun, it was so exciting, it was risque, it was edgy – all the things I live for. With all of that being present, this performance was also very vulnerable. It was so real and again very relatable – knowing that what you want in your heart will disappoint a lot of the people you love. And oh my gurshhhh she can singggg. Like really well! I went to sleep that night replaying her performance in my mind. The very next morning I hopped in my car and headed to work pressing play on track 1 of her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – FEMININOMENON! BRILLIANT. That is the single word I have to describe that song and opening up an album. It’s slow and sentimental, but then it’s very not that at all. Now it’s sexy and exciting, but then it switches back – but then it’s a part again. BRILLIANT! I listened to the entire album 3 times front to back that day. I listened to this album front to back at least once a day for the next 2 weeks after. A perfect album by no stretch of the imagination. Chappell is very vulnerable and honest with us in her music. She’s having her fun while learning lessons the hard way sometimes and she is very self aware. I of course also listened to every song she has released on Spotify and the material she puts out is consistently great. She is a wonderful songwriter and I think her storytelling is one of my favorite things about her. Her song “Casual” is one of my favorites and it definitely displays her talented storytelling. I feel that “My Kink Is Karma” and “Coffee” are other examples of Chappell effectively telling her stories through song. She does a wonderful job putting the listener in her shoes. In several of her songs, it is very easy to picture the restaurant or the bar that she is describing in her song.
To conclude what deserves to be a 10 page essay – Chappell Roan is absolutely breathtaking and I am 100% the newest initiate in her cult. I will be buying The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess on vinyl. Chappell’s passion for song and songwriting, her passion for connecting with people, her vulnerability, her unapologetic authenticity, her whimsical spirit and her makeup have already achieved so much and I just can’t wait to see what more she does. 10s across the board for this woman. She’s definitely been my most listened to artist this year and I’m pretty sure I am single handedly keeping Pink Pony Club at the top of the charts. Thank you for reading and if you have never listened to Chappell Roan…after you move on from this article, clear your mind of expectations and biases and listen to any of the songs I mentioned in this post – just choose the name that jumps out at you most. If you don’t like it, at least now you know. If you do, you're welcome! WE LOVE YOU CHAPPELL ! BYE ; )
