That was six years ago. On September 22, 25-year-old Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, better known as Chappell Roan, released her debut album, The Rise and Fall of the Midwest Princess (2023), to release her first college project in six years (2017). Roan has grown tremendously artistically since then. As the black and white cover suggests, the EP’s anger is subdued; No interesting s were found, although the sound of the Amstutz hunt was very rich.
Returning to the present day, where the art of those early days is unknown. Amstutz was deeply affected by the bed, and Amstutz changed his grief. In The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Queen, the stage character Chappell Roan, whom Amstutz describes as a “drag queen version,” breaks loose in every sense of the word: vaguely sarcastic, romantic, and cheerful.
Even when tackling harrowing themes like heartbreak and homesickness, it never stops there with. While many people think that growing up as a pop star requires moving from simple happiness to “adult” melancholy, Roan turns that narrative on its head. that his triumphant happiness means who he is is more depressed than in his teenage years.
The most important step in the origin story of the Midwestern princess is the fictional “Pink Pony Club.” The song recalls Roan’s first experience at a gay bar in West Hollywood after moving from his hometown of Willard, Mo. They shared it in an interview with Headliner magazine. The first few words of Elephant’s Elephant immediately transport us to the piano bar. Ironically, this safe house from , called the Pink Pony Club, is also fondly remembered: “And I heard there’s a special place / Where all the girls and boys can be queens any day.”
After the haunting crimson line of the first line, the chorus of the song describes the hero taking his life. Even though this small-town dancer has the opportunity to live in a place that celebrates his gay identity and passion for performing, the bridge shows that he still thinks positively about his hometown. Similarly, on “California,” Roan is seen shouting loudly for his hometown, with drums echoing his running track: “I miss the times in Missouri /
My town is dying.”
Roan’s cheerful confidence vibrates throughout the album as he plays with humor but swagger. On the seductive track ‘Red Wine Supernova’, Roan’s tremulous voice jumps over the backing track. Where this trend comes from: “HOT!” Using a giggly, cheerleader-like shouting chorus backed by creamy synths and thumping hats to make you scream at the top of your lungs from the spirit of the
football game is downright silly.
Don’t be fooled by the Ritz and rhinestones; Roan’s highly theatrical performance does not prevent him from establishing a deep connection with his audience. She creates a safe space for free expression by mimicking the feeling of dancing at the Pink Pony Club for her audience. By daring to accept desire as an irreducible part of his nature, Roan invites his listeners to embrace their bold side so they feel the need to remain repressed, if not entirely hidden.
Even as Roan’s positivity wanes, he remains brave in the face of bad moods. We see this in the unique background lines ‘Coffee’ and ‘Casual’. The first is a gentle ballad featuring Roan’s wailing voice, describing a relationship that passes in the blink of an eye, cut and broken, and the difficulties of trying to escape someone who turns into a normal, scary person. Coffee is a good metaphor for Roan’s feelings towards the person he loves: He has anger but is still addicted.
“Casual,” on the other hand, perfectly captures the ironic bite and pinch with emotional investment. Although Roan is ashamed of being a “loser…clinging on,” the chorus reveals that he is not guilty of going too far; in her opinion, her boyfriend’s claim that he is “carefree” is unfounded (“It’s been two weeks and your mom invited me to your house in Long Beach / Is it casual anymore?”). Moments later,
the singer takes off her pink glasses, and a dreamy chorus floats through Roan’s head as he sniffs the wreckage. Although scary, “Everyday” is the first stage of catharsis; When Roan finally gets those longing words off his chest, we breathe with him. Then a tearful Roan reapplied her mascara, adjusted her tiara, and continued walking.
Like ‘Casual’, ‘Kaleidoscope’ and ‘Naked in Manhattan’ it explores the theme of defining relationships, albeit in different ways. Roan’s stripped-down piano ballad ‘Kaleidoscope’ is on the album, except for the bright colors the title suggests. Here, Roan walks the fine line between friendship and love before quickly returning to platonic status. Roan’s comforting, padded high-rise dress reassures her friend of their strong relationship, regardless of its boundaries: “It’s not just one shape / Love is a kaleidoscope.”
Although “Naked in Manhattan” is very optimistic, it is also rooted in hope. While the rest of the record features Roan enjoying sexuality without fear or anxiety, this song shows the fear that often accompanies the first experience. Still, Roan reassures his girlfriend with flirty words and loud music: “I know you want it, baby, you can do it.” His artistry shines through in these two
lines; no matter the pace or style, its story remains magnificent.
