Chappell Roan [EDIT]

One Liner:  Feels like the future mega-star act of the year

Wikipedia Genre:  Synth pop, dark pop

Home: Willard, Missouri

Poster Position: 4
Both Weekends.
Sunday at 6:45.

AmEx Stage.

Thoughts:  [edit] - as expected, this is going to be a massive show, so they moved her from the early Saturday slot to a late Sunday slot.  Which was met with a lot of anger on the socials from the folks who had already bought Saturday tickets just to get to see her, and now are stuck with DUAL IPA and CAAMP instead of their beloved pink pony party.  So, this is Sunday night now!

Fascinating.  I had never heard of her in my life, but literally this morning this e-mail for parents that pops into my e-mail inbox here and there talked about her.  And there she is on the poster.  Here is what the newsletter had to say: "Chappell (pronounced “Chapel”) Roan, self-proclaimed as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist,” is having an extremely successful year.  Roan’s popularity really took off when she began opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS World Tour.” She’s maybe most famous for her drag queen-inspired look, as well as how explicitly gay her lyrics are. While the drag makeup might be a costume of sorts, part of the draw of artists like Chappell Roan is their unapologetic authenticity and the way they use their on-stage personas to express their “true selves.” Teens in particular love the eclectic artist, with her song “HOT TO GO!” and its associated dance being a TikTok staple."  Well, there you go!

My personal first impression is of a super poppy Kate Bush or like a fun time Lana Del Rey who isn't so depressed all the time.  Just one album - 2023's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.  But her brand new single is her most streamed by a good bit.  "Good Luck, Babe!" has 179.7 million streams.

"Last Christmas" vibes there are the tip.  A little shrill, but I also kinda dig it, and the lyrics are pain in an 80's roller rink package.  

Oh, hey, a tiny desk!  She's big time!

How does she make so much sound without opening her mouth.  I am actually struck and stopped to watch her sing that first song.  Goddamn.  Some gay Taylor Swift thing going on there with those lyrics.  I wonder if the real drag folks get mad that she is co-opting their look?  I wonder if she would have the excitement if she just looked normal?  I mean, I think her voice is great and her lyrics are super good, but I just wonder.

Real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz and she is originally from a small town outside of Springfield, Missouri.  The stage name Chappell Roan is in honor of her grandfather Dennis K. Chappell, and his favorite song "The Strawberry Roan" by Curley Fletcher.  Never heard of Curley Fletcher - hold please - nope, not on Spotify.  But a version of that song by Marty Robbins is out there.  Pretty solid.  Good pick grandpa!  She apparently lived in a real deal trailer park and was raised very conservative and Christian.  She started playing piano and auditioned for America's Got Talent without success, but then she started uploading covers to YouTube and getting label attention.

"Red Wine Supernova" has some pretty explicitly sexy lyrics too.  "Femininomenon" has a little Ke$ha to it.  "Pink Pony Club" is silly fun too.  Wikipedia claims that was one of her first singles, which helped her get attention, but Spotify doesn't have an old version it just has one from 2022.  Hmmm.  "My Kink is Karma" has Taylor Swift vibes with a set of story lyrics and that move of pausing the music to let her spout some words for a sec.  That "Red Wine Supernova" one is the second-biggest streamer with 112 million streams.

She's kind of won me over here.  I'm not much for the pop stuff or the poptimism movement, but I really think her energy and lyrics make her something special.  I have this feeling that she will be the insane stage pileup of the weekend, like Lizzo a few years back or the Lumineers years ago.  I'd go check it out if the timing works.