Ever since she opened for twenty-four tour dates of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts World Tour,” Chappell Roan has become a trending artist in today’s music industry. After releasing numerous singles, Roan released her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess on September 22nd, 2023. Since hitting the charts, she’s been considered one of 2024’s musical icons, and “no longer just ‘your favorite artist’s favorite artist,’” according to NBC News.
In The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Roan proudly expresses her sexuality through her lyrics, along with other other themes that come with her identity: feminine appreciation, sex, pining, the mislabeling of relationships, and her family’s view on her sexuality. Despite the heavy and controversial topics she sings about, Roan pairs her lyrics with upbeat synth-pop music; the result is an album of catchy songs that will make you want to get up and dance. Some songs on this album also experiment with slower tempos and more emotional instrumentals, using piano and acoustic guitar, which accompany powerful, melancholic vocals.
What the listener might like about this album as well is Roan’s diverse and pleasantly interesting use of her voice. Throughout the album, she sings in many different ranges and octaves, from a soft voice in “Coffee,” to falsetto in “Kaleidoscope,” to yodeling in “Guilty Pleasure” and chanting lyrics in “HOT TO GO!” Roan also experiments with impressive jumps between octaves. In “My Kink Is Karma,” she sings, “People say I’m jealous, but my kink is watching you ruin your life,” when she switches from speaking the first line, to falsetto in the second line. Roan also sings heavenly falsettos in the chorus and bridge of “Picture You.”
Lyrics are a crucial aspect of Roan’s music, because they can help the listener understand the story behind the song. With that said, Roan’s lyricism in this album is extremely impactful. In “Pink Pony Club,” Roan sings about moving from Conservative Tennessee to California, where she can confidently express herself without her mother’s constant judgment. Roan sings, “Won’t make my mama proud […] I know she’s gonna scream […] God, what have you done.” Through these three lines, listeners learn that Roan’s mother isn’t approving of her decision to move to California to chase her dreams and to be her true self.
In conclusion, I’d give The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess 4.5 out of 5 Falcon Stars. Personally, I enjoyed this album because of its lyrical authenticity, its upbeat dance music, and Roan’s eccentric vocal style. Chappell Roan’s music might not be for everyone—it has wild and unpredictable rhythms, but also beautiful and powerful vocals. Before listening to this album, I had low expectations, but I ended up loving it. The same might go for you, so I say give it a listen. After all, as Chappell Roan says herself: she’s “your favorite artist’s favorite artist.”
