Intern’s Corner
One of the artists who has gained the most traction and attention this year has been Chappell Roan. If you have heard “H-O-T T-O G-O, you can take me hot to go” and thought that was catchy and wondered who sings that song; it’s Chappell Roan.
Her 2023 record “HOT TO GO!” started climbing the charts after she opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her most recent tour. Eventually the song peaked at number 16 on the US charts, went viral on social media, and sent her into the stratosphere.
The song is infectious. From the funky synths and booming drums on the instrumental, to the cheerleader chorus and catchy lyrics, it is impossibly hard to detach this song from your brain.
“HOT TO GO!” is featured in her latest album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which has been going viral online with music reviewers and influencers reviewing and listening to the album this year even though it was released in 2023. Her album was slept on by the majority of music listeners until it started gaining traction, and people started realizing the terrific body of work she put out.
Pop music is back to leading all other genres, and Chappell Roan’s album shows why this can be a good thing. It is a unique album where Roan showcases her tremendous singing talent and wears her influences on her sleeve in a way that pays homage to the greats of pop.
There are parts of this album where you can see the influences of Lana Del Rey, ABBA, and more translated into Roan’s style and imaginative storytelling. Her vocal range on this album is amazing, with the likes of Cindy Lauper coming to mind as a comparison. What makes this album special is that no matter who you compare parts of this album to, it does not take away from this being Roan’s album.
The album starts out with an upbeat banger in “Feminominon” and transitions quickly into one of the best vocal performances on the album in the song “Red Wine Supernova.” “Coffee” and “Casual” pair together nicely with some linear and descriptive storytelling that puts you in her shoes and leaves nothing to the imagination, while still being eloquent and creative.
You would have to pick this album apart to find a low point, as every song remains enjoyable in its own way. The production on this album is good, and the few times it lacks an inspired instrumental, Roan makes up for it with her vocal performances. She does not miss on this album.
Her ability to go from her head voice to her chest voice and switch between the two is impressive versatility which is rarely seen in music in general. It would not be an outlandish statement to call Roan a generational talent in singing, with no signs of her letting up.
“Pink Pony Club” is a standout on this album for many reasons. Aside from sounding like the best hypothetical collaboration between ABBA and A.G. Cook, this song pries your eyes open to a story about staying true to yourself in volatile conditions.
She talks about how she can still hear her parents’ voices asking her what went wrong with her when she is just trying to be herself. She finds solace in the safe places in her life, while still realizing that there are people who do not get the luxury of a break from torment, and cannot outwardly be themselves.
Writing about this song does not do it justice. You really have to put this song on to fully understand why not just this song or album is special, but why this artist is special. Once you press play, the contrast of the upbeat instrumental and the harrowing yet heartwarming vocals and storytelling will immerse you in her world.
Impeccable vocals, inspirational storytelling, and a bright future for pop music are the big takeaways from this album. There are more songs that I didn’t touch on that are fantastic listens. You can really hit play from anywhere and find something enjoyable.
Chappell Roan already has the voice to be a global sensation. If she can keep pushing the envelope and evolving in her music, it will be hard not to know who Chappell Roan is.
