“PINK PONY GIRL”
Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
By: Ruby Voge
If asked, most people would have no idea who Reginald Dwight, Katheryn Hudson, or Steffanie Germanotta are. Elton John, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga, on the other hand, are some of the most well-known musical names in the world.
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz is just a girl from Willard, Missouri. But Chappell Roan is a go-go dancer in West Hollywood, a “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” in her song of the same name, and an “unhinged cheerleader,” to quote a promotional video for her August 2023 single “HOT TO GO.”
Her 2020 single “Pink Pony Club” charts the trajectory of both Roan’s real-life career and her pop personality’s character, a “pink pony girl.”
“I know you wanted me to stay/ But I can’t ignore the crazy visions of me in LA/ And I heard that there’s a special place/ Where boys and girls can all be queens every single day”
Roan’s debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, was released on September 23 of this year. It features nine songs that had previously been released as singles, as well as five new additions: “After Midnight,” “Coffee,” “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “Picture You,” and “Guilty Pleasure.”
The name of the record brings to mind the iconic 1972 David Bowie album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
Roan’s stage persona is also reminiscent of the many characters that Bowie inhabited throughout his career, including Ziggy Stardust, a pinstripe-jumpsuit-wearing alien rockstar brought to Earth.
The influences of similarly chameleonic artists such as Lady Gaga and Elton John are on display not only in Roan’s music but also in her neverendingly energetic live performances and impeccably designed music videos.
Her ornate costumes and campy aesthetic include bedazzled pink cowboy hats, elaborate metallic makeup, fishnets, glitter, sequins, and feathers galore.
The over-the-top glam is also reminiscent of drag queens, whom Roan often features in her concerts. The character of Chappell Roan is, in itself, a drag persona.
Roan’s lyrics heavily explore themes of queerness, relationships, and sex, often including playful wordplay and clever innuendos. Roan shines the brightest when accompanied by her signature synthy, electronic pop sound, which allows her to showcase her powerhouse vocals.
“Naked in Manhattan,” an ecstatic anthem about a sexual awakening, features some of Roan’s best Gen-Z references.
“Pisces, who knew that we were so aligned?/ When I sing that Lana song, it makes you cry/ Mean Girls, we watch it every night/ And we both have a crush on Regina George.”
“Red Wine Supernova,” which is paired with Roan playing the character of “Playboy Brigitte Bardot” is the quintessence of her witty pen.
“Well, back at my house, I got a California king/ Okay, maybe it’s a twin bed/ And some roommates (don’t worry we’re cool)/ I heard you like magic, I got a wand and a rabbit”
The album also features a handful of slower ballads that pack a gut-punch, including “Casual,” “Coffee,” and “Kaleidoscope.”
“Casual” is the clear standout of the trio, with its heartbreakingly personal lyrics and a darker sound, which Roan says was inspired by the 90s band Mazzy Star.
“Knee deep in the passenger seat and you’re eating me out/ Is it casual now?/ Two weeks and your mom invites me to her house on Long Beach/ Is it casual now?”
The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess is an impressive debut, a perfect blend of undeniably danceable anthems and deeply personal ballads.
Roan is currently on the European portion of her Midwest Princess Tour, with upcoming performances in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, and London. Roan will also be opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour, which will run from February through August of 2024.
As Jem Aswad said in a March Variety review, “There’s a feeling you recognize when a new-ish artist’s career is about to blast off.”
It’s clear that Chappell Roan’s success is just beginning. Now, the only question is, who will she become next?