Chappell Roan’s Album is the Summer Escape I Didn’t Know I Needed

It’s not always clear what the album of the summer will be until summer is almost over. Admittedly, tastes vary — some favor party girl Charli XCX’s Brat while others are celebrating Ice Spice’s Y2K!.

But the single record that’s been in obsessive rotation in my car since late June — when my kids aren’t with me — is Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Yes, I know the record was released in 2023, and that many of its best singles came out long before that. Yet because this summer is the first time I heard the album, it counts as new in my book.

Here’s the story: I discovered Chappell Roan while mindlessly scrolling through Instagram in early June. First, it was a social media ad for Google Pixel. Then, I came upon her NPR Tiny Desk concert. Now I stream the album as therapy — it’s my sweet summer escape and the soundtrack to my self-care.

I doubt I am the only Gen X mom who feels this way. Chappell Roan fever has swept the nation, with the artist’s authentic, cheeky, and flirtatious persona — coupled with some seriously Kate Bush-level vocal chops. Watching Roan belt out “Red Wine Supernova” — dolled up and dressed in a French Revolution ballgown or a wrestling costume — makes me want to dance, sing, and quit working. 

So why is this otherwise ordinary girl hitting in such a big way at this moment? 

Of course, talent the biggest thing. It’s obvious, but true, that you need to have a spectacular voice to make it in pop music (or at least an above-average one). The natural ability to engage and entertain others is critical.

W Magazine’s assessment captures her appeal: “Her music is a flashy, gaudy, and bold mosaic of pop — showcasing a range that swings between the low, melancholy tones of Karen Carpenter or Lana Del Rey to the in-your-face messiness and humor of a 2010s Kesha hit.”

Roan’s song “Femininomenon” exemplifies this. It’s catchy, a little wacky, and total fun.

Timing is, perhaps, even more important than voice. Roan played sidewalks and small outdoor music fests for years after being dropped by her label). She was on the brink of giving up before scoring an opening gig for Olivia Rodrigo’s tour in 2023.. Soon after, her song “Pink Pony Club”— a tune about leaving your small town for LA — finally caught on. 

And it’s that song that makes Roan so relatable and appealing. When she cries, “God, what have you done?!” we feel the ache in her mother’s heart. The baby girl is now chasing the Los Angeles night lights. Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” deals with a similar theme. But Miley Cyrus was a famous star already when she released it. Roan’s tune is super relatable to young, everyday dream chasers who still haven’t made it yet.

It’s also easy to love someone who brings a much-needed dose of positive energy to a dismal world. Roan was born in a flyover state and celebrates overlooked gender minorities and drag queen culture — two things that are being attacked by conservatives every day. 

There’s also the badass factor, or whether your music feels fresh and cool, like it’s meeting the moment. “Red Wine Supernova” is the coy, sexy sequel to Katy Perry’s 2008 hit, “I Kissed a Girl”— a direct, flirtatious come-on wrapped in a fresh, summery bouquet. But while Perry’s tune is cute, Roan knows what girls like her really want — a bit more of that squeaky magic.

Notably, singer-songwriter girls will find it easy to play and sing along to “Red Wine Supernova.” All you need is a few power chords and, perhaps, a long vocal warmup to hit those high notes.

And while Roan’s latest synth-pop sizzler “Good Luck Babe” doesn’t have the same chutzpah, it’s still fantastic. I can only hope this fall brings us more songs like that one, the swoonworthy “Casual,” or the sexy revenge tune “My Kink Is Karma.” But for now, I plan to ride out the rest of the summer with this record.

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.