The cheering of thousands and the waving of pink bandanas and cowboy hats in the air is the picturesque view of one of Chappell Roan’s shows. The newest pop sensation started as a small artist back in 2014, rebranding to “Chappell Roan” in 2017. Roan’s persona is very outspoken, taking inspiration from drag culture. Roan’s debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” released back in September 2023. Still, she received a massive boost in popularity after her single (also featured on the album) “HOT TO GO!” began trending, as well as the release of “Good Luck, Babe!” in April 2024. Aberdeen Quillen, a junior at BVH, shares why she believes the public has been so hooked on Roan’s music.
“I think a crave for something new, something different is definitely making her an outlier in the music scene. She also used to be a struggling artist so to see her rise from indie artist to regular person to super star makes her more relative than other random people who just kinda pop onto the scene,” Quillen said.
As seen in a viral clip taken before her career took off, what started as a girl playing a song about queer liberation (“Pink Pony Club”) to a small audience in a public park, became a girl singing the same song to a crowd of thousands. When it comes to fame, the public enjoys rooting for the underdogs and the bragging rights that come with liking an artist before they become well-known. Roan’s transparency regarding her identity as a lesbian, and how she supports her community, has also drawn people towards her. Saphira Mensinger, a senior at BVH, shares how this affects pop as a whole.
“I feel that it is really helpful to have queer pop music because a lot of pop music is very straight. There’s like the association of pop music and straight teen girls who are boy crazy,” Mensinger said. “I do not know a lot about queer pop but I know that she is a very big icon of queer pop music currently.”
Having such an openly queer person in the spotlight helps the LGBTQ community feel seen. Roan including those themes in her art creates more representation for young and older queer folk alike. However, this doesn’t mean that only people from those communities can relate to her music. Susana Gonzalez, a junior at BVH, shares how Roan’s music makes her feel.
“I enjoy that in her lyrics she does not really care. Whatever she feels is what she feels, [she is not afraid to express herself] and I [personally believe] that is relatable as well for other people to listen to. She has been heartbroken, I can relate to that even though I am not [in the LGBTQ community],” Gonzalez said.
Roan’s discography varies from fun, hyper songs (“Femininomenon”) , to more melancholic and sad tracks (“Casual”). The way her music sounds is a significant part of why she’s become so beloved, but her success also heavily involves the character of “Chappell Roan.” Roan fully embraces being a performer, and her brand revolves around it. Mensinger explains what exactly is charming about the personality Roan portrays.
“I [believe] that she has a very unique look and character, that people really love her persona that she has, of how upbeat and happy she is. She is very passionate about what she is doing and that is very clear,” Mensinger said. You can see that when she does back out of shows, because obviously that is going to hurt her reputation and hurt her chances of fame. But, she is still going to be able to make music, and that is what she cares about.”
Roan’s character and authenticity draws listeners in, to not just care about her music, but to care about her beliefs and the way she conducts herself as a person. But, as Mensinger mentioned, Roan has recently faced backlash for canceling festival appearances. Roan’s withdrawal from the ‘All Things Go Music Festival’ in New York and Washington has caused many fans to doubt her dedication to her career, as well as to question whether or not she really cares about the people who listen to her music. Quillen shares her perspective on the situation.
“People need to walk in her shoes and understand how such a thing can be tiring, although Chappell in the future should know her limit so as to avoid disappointing lots of people. No shade to her because all this is still fairly new to her,” Quillen said.
The spotlight on Roan has increased at an extremely fast pace, and as someone who is not used to having such a level of popularity, it has taken its toll. Roan has also been vocal about her mental health journey, as she was diagnosed with Bipolar II and Depression. Another way Roan has been advocating for her own mental health is by expressing her boundaries and safety concerns online. According to Mensinger, some of these boundaries include refraining from using her legal name and disrupting her in public. This discussion has also sparked controversy, and even outrage. Mensinger provides insight on how the publics’ reaction to Roan’s request for privacy, reflects on our societies in general.
“I do [believe that] she has a point, I think that as a society we have really parasocial relationships with celebrities. She did not go through the process many celebrities go through in becoming that famous icon, it was a very quick boom for her so it is valid that she is going to have a very strong boundary and reaction to it. It is worth considering that those boundaries should be universally applicable,” Mensinger said. “Like, some of the things she says, calling her Chappell Roan and not her actual legal name. Not going up to her family, and not [disturbing] her in public. Those are all reasonable boundaries that should be associated with all celebrities.”
Celebrity culture is heavily intertwined with the relationship between the fan and the artist. Fans tend to idolize their favorite public figures, which can lead to the disconnect between the rose colored lens of pop-culture versus reality. People can easily forget that celebrities used to be like them, normal people trying to live their lives. Roan’s statements online include her addressing certain things she believed to be breaches in her own privacy, such as personal information being leaked. She speaks out about her concerns in hopes that more people will become aware of how their behavior regarding celebrities can come off as strange. However, it is also important to consider how fans may feel about the matter. Gonzalez mentions how the situation is a bit more complicated than it might seem.
“Honestly, I do not [see it as] that big of a deal. Yeah, she said what she said, but like at the end of the day we do not know what she was going through. She would not be where she is today without her fans, but, I [am not sure]. There [are] both sides [to] the story,” Gonzalez said.
Despite the multi-faceted nature of the discussions surrounding Roan in recent months, her career continues to grow exponentially. Roan’s use of drag aesthetic within her character of “Chappell Roan”, her mannerisms and the way she dresses, has also caused the culture to become more wide-spread. Roan has created a recognizable brand, but what happens when the drag inspirations she draws from, and her own personal aesthetic, melt into one in the same in the public eye? Mensinger shares her thoughts on how the public’s perception of Roan can be both a positive and a negative.
“There’s a big moment right now surrounding her, which is amazing because it brings attention to drag and popularized it in a time where there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding its place in American culture. She is a positive drag influence, but for some people she becomes their only representation of drag.”
Throughout Roan’s massive rise this past year, there seems to always be a negative that comes with a positive. Although Roan’s style has become easily recognizable, some fans have started to disconnect it from the full picture of what drag has historically been. Fame as an artist can create opportunities to share messages and themes within songs, to express the way the artist feels. Roan has done just that, and despite the negativity surrounding her recently, her career doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
“I think she is going to last for quite some time because [of] the way she writes her songs and the lyrics [to] the beat of them. [Also] because of how she presents herself, I [believe] she will last, even though right now she is getting “canceled” or whatever. I think people will get over it and she will release a new album and it will be just as good,” Gonzalez said.
