This fall, Chappell Roan’s immensely successful late bloomer of a debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, turned 3 years old. In human terms this record would only be a toddler, but for myself and the rest of Chappell’s fans it feels as though ages have passed since the release of a full album. She has since released three singles; the synthy eldest, “Good Luck, Babe!”; the pop country middle child, “The Giver”; and the yearnful baby of the trio, “The Subway”. But rather than obsessively lingering on these newer releases, nowadays I find myself turning back to the album that put her at the top of the charts and the front of everyone’s minds.
It took three years for Chappell to get the support she needed to produce and release the entirety of Midwest Princess. The first single that would later be on the album was “Pink Pony Club”, released in April of 2020. Not long after came “California”. After that, “Naked in Manhattan”. Then “Femininomenon”. And on and on. All as singles and all with a music video, visualizer, or surprisingly beautiful lyric video in the case of “California”. By the time the Midwest Princess was fully released on September 22nd, 2023, 9 out of the album’s 14 tracks had already been singles. Then in 2024, Chappell went viral. She did a Valentine’s Day themed live performance on The Late Show in February, an NPR Tiny Desk Concert in March, and opened for Olivia Rodrigo from February to April. She released “Good Luck, Babe” and promptly sang it live on The Tonight Show in full swan regalia. That summer, her Coachella and Lollapalooza daytime sets were posted all over social media where they reached millions of people across the world. It was after this explosion in popularity that many people, including myself, found The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Album Ranking
14 – “Picture You”
13 – “My Kink is Karma”
12 – “After Midnight”
11 – “Naked in Manhattan”
10 – “Femininomenon”
9 – “Coffee”
8 – “Guilty Pleasure”
7 – “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl”
6 – “HOT TO GO!”
5 – “Casual”
4 – “Red Wine Supernova”
3 – “Kaleidoscope”
This piano and violin-laden ballad describes in painful beauty the experience of falling into unrequited love with a friend. The song’s mournful atmosphere is reflected in the live performance video published at the end of March 2023. The YouTube comments on that video show something incredibly special about Chappell’s songwriting; people of all ages and backgrounds can connect on a deep emotional level with her art and each other over shared experiences and universal feelings.
2 – “California”
The lyrics reflect Chappell’s experiences as a Los Angeles transplant desperately trying to get her foot in the door of the music industry, relayed with deep emotion. Though not as flashy as the belted high notes of Red Wine Supernova, Chappell’s gentle, rhythmic vocals on this track blow me away every time I hear it. The production begins as simple as possible before slowly adding piano, guitar, synth, and eventually horns to the mix. The pounding drums are reminiscent of Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love and bring an epic quality to the song.
1 – “Pink Pony Club”
The oldest and most popular song from Midwest Princess, Pink Pony Club is a queer anthem written about Chappell’s first experience at a gay bar in West Hollywood called The Abbey. The lyrics shift between the perspectives of a disapproving Southern mother and her rebellious daughter who’s gone to Santa Monica to be a dancer at the eponymous Pink Pony Club. Though it starts with a somber piano section, the additions of synth and electric guitar early on build up to an explosive and joyful climax.
P.S. If you haven’t looked at her full discography, you may want to check out “Love Me Anyway”, released between Pink Pony Club and California. It’s a lovely 80s-inspired love song and a personal favorite of mine.
Edited and Reviewed by Clarence Clark
