After almost a decade in the music industry, Chappell Roan remained a hidden gem to those who knew her, a beacon of glitz and glam amidst the underground artists dreaming of breaking into the mainstream. Fast-forward to September 2024, a year on from the release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and all her hard work has paid off – if multiple songs leading the charts, a viral set at Coachella, and winning the Best New Artist at the VMAs is anything to go by, it’s fair to say that Chappell Roan has made it.
As the first notes of ‘Femininomenon’ ring throughout the venue, it’s clear just how long these fans have waited for Roan to arrive in Glasgow. Decorated in camouflage and tiaras (a homage to the show’s Midwest Princess theme), the crowd erupts, ready to embrace the silliness and sass of her opening number. This enthusiasm rarely dulls throughout the night, and as the singer teaches her YMCA-esque dance before ‘HOT TO GO!’, she is quickly assured that any tutorial is unnecessary as the crowd mirrors her moves with passion and precision.
Roan’s brand is camp, carefree, and a little bit messy, and it is this authenticity and unwillingness to play by the rules that allow her to carve out a lane that’s entirely her own. Her set-up is humble, with only her and her band decorating the stage, but this rustic feel only adds to the extravagance of her show. ‘Red Wine Supernova’ packs an extra punch live thanks to its playful call-and-response and Roan’s impressive high-notes, while ‘My Kink is Karma’ – to which she dedicates “not to my ex, but to yours” – gets a much-welcomed makeover with grittier guitars and strobe lighting.
Never shying away from celebrating her queerness, Roan has been considered the leader of a “lesbian pop renaissance” and wants to ensure her shows are a safe space for fans. “Bring whoever you want to bring, kiss whoever you want to kiss, and dress however you want to dress,” she tells the crowd, and this invitation to just be is refreshing. ‘Picture You’ is intimate yet theatrical as she twirls the hair of a green wig that sits atop her mic stand, and 80s-inspired ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ is a cathartic burst as she throws herself to the stage, letting out her frustrations at an ex-girlfriend. It’s evident that this empowerment means a lot to fans who sing every word back to her with adoration.
As more of her music continues to hit the charts, it’s hard to know what Roan will end with, but it is ‘Pink Pony Club’ that steals the coveted spot. An anthem about a girl who dreams of leaving Tennessee to perform at a drag bar on Santa Monica Boulevard, the build-up is euphoric, and what stands out most is the sense of unity within the crowd, the acknowledgement that Roan has created something so special and healing that is hard to put into words until you’ve truly experienced it yourself.
It is evident that Chappell Roan has reached a place where feels unapologetically herself – watching her feel this free on stage is infectious, and it’s hard to not feel at home, too.
Editor-in-Chief.
Fourth year English and Creative Writing and Politics and International Relations student.
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