10 essential Chappell Roan songs you need to hear

Chappell Roan is making a gutsy, vibrant place for herself in contemporary pop, providing a sound that is both theatrically majestic and emotionally charged. Her sound is like a splash of paint, a bright, uncompromising, and personality-filled splash. Regardless of whether your tastes run to quick wits, sincere storytelling, or power-rock anthems, Roan's discography has something truly one-of-a-kind.

Tracks like Good Luck, Babe! are attitude-streaked and hook-smart swagger, and Pink Pony Club is an anthem of independence of self-awareness clothed in glittering synths. Red Wine Supernova becomes more low-key and ethereal, showing her skill as both writer and singer.

If you've been woked, psyched, or shocked by her songs, now's the time to put yours in the spotlight. Your votes bring light to what makes Chappell Roan one of the most interesting voices in pop right now.

Though Chappell Roan may only have a single full-length album under her belt, the superb The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, she's already built a distinctive presence in the realm of pop. Alternating between a nuanced tango on commercial accessibility and artistic experimentation, her songs unite irrepressibly singable hooks with unflinching, often inflammatory words.

With a small discography, her tracks have a deep impact on listeners, resisting boundaries as well as offering sheer replay value by the bucketload. She's built a loyal constituency by embracing both her melodramatic sensibility and raw honesty, being both pop misfit and rising star at the same time.

With each release, she demonstrates that shock is all part of her appeal, and whatever comes next will be just as fearless and memorable.

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Here are the most popular Chappell Roan songs

Chappell Roan has built a fan base in subtle ways with music that is as bold and colorful as she is. Her best songs combine theatrical pop, honest storytelling, and unapologetic self-expression. From soaring choruses to stark lyrical passages, the songs show the depth that sets her apart in modern music.

Whatever the reason is that you're so addicted to the drama, the facts, or sheer hookiness, these favorites demonstrate how far her influence extends in pop.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised!

1) Guilty Pleasure (September 22, 2023)

Chappell Roan concludes her The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess with Guilty Pleasure, a song that perfectly encapsulates her ability to balance humor with heart. Where much of the album's second half settles into slower, moodier fare, this closer shoots the energy up again with Chappell Roan's dramatic flair and wit.

Instead of being a throwaway or gimmick track, Guilty Pleasure demonstrates her capacity to close strong, fun, daring, and wholly self-referential. It's a testament that Roan doesn't merely write pop music; she sings it with a wink and a jab so that even her most winking moments come off as unforgettable.

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2) Pink Pony Club (April 3, 2020)

Tentatively held as one of Chappell Roan's canon songs, Pink Pony Club is an encapsulation of her self-identification as a queer pop icon and storyteller. Inspired by an actual trip to a queer nightclub in 2018, the song oozes freedom and self-discovery and, accordingly, is acutely intimate yet completely accessible.

Compared to the emotional weight of Casual, the song is ultimately one of empowerment, evolving from a gentle start into an unabashed anthem. Released all those years ago, in 2020, before the rest of her breakout music, it provided an introduction to how she'd soon rise to great heights, carrying the emotional span of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess with grace.

Its consistent increase in popularity, especially as of 2023 and 2024, has only increased its position further as a crowd favorite and the focal point of any live act.

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3) Casual

Chappell Roan's Casual captures the unfiltered emotional terrain of contemporary romance, especially in LGBTQ+ circles, where the absurdities of casual dating necessarily intersect with vulnerability. The song's articulation of evanescent connections and sorrow has resonance that transcends its particular setting, speaking to anyone who's had to navigate the world of online dating or unspoken agreements.

Despite its explicit, vivid lyrics, there's a poignancy to how Roan mixes humor with sorrow, illustrating that within the world of brief encounters, emotional complexity can find a home. This balance of unapologetic honesty and accessibility is what has caused her music to resonate so universally, crossing over any one identity or experience.

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4) Good Luck, Babe!

Chappell Roan's self-named first record, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, was a wild welcome mat to a promising star on the rise, but Good Luck, Babe! is career-defining work so far for the young songwriter. The disc is filled to the brim with sing-songy singles, but this cuts to the bone and ear so well that everything that Roan has to offer as an artist.

Its powerful chorus grows more intense with every play, and its bridge, upon which she declares, "You know I hate to say it, but I told you so," is desperation that harmoniously flows into its climactic breakdown. Its hook and its deeper emotional material make Good Luck, Babe! It sounds like the apotheosis of Roan's style, a song that fluidly brings together the lyrical material and a haunting melody.

It's no exaggeration to state this song is among the decade's standout pop moments so far, solidifying Roan's spot at the very top of her game.

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5) Red Wine Supernova

Red Wine Supernova stands as a standout track, offering an instant burst of energy that defines the essence of the album. Its irresistible melody and witty, memorable lyrics make it impossible to ignore. The hooky song verse flows seamlessly into a mind-blowing chorus, and the song is thus a squeakily clean pop anthem throughout.

And with the backing of a graphically interesting video, the song proceeds to make it self-evident that Chappell Roan is indeed a great artist.

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6) My Kink Is Karma

My Kink Is Karma is one of Chappell Roan's most raw and unapologetically confrontational tracks. The track delves into the complexity of post-breakup emotions. While the lyrics might sound heartless on paper, Roan's singing makes them something oddly powerful, tapping into a twisted sense of cleansing.

Whether you've ever reveled in the messy aftermath of a breakup or found yourself on the receiving end of that cold indifference, this song hits hard, making it one of the most daring and memorable moments on The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. It's an unsettling yet undeniably captivating piece of pop, and, quite frankly, one of her best.

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7) Femininomenon

Femininomenon opens Chappell Roan's album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess with unashamed pizzazz, establishing the tone for what's to come. Confidence seeps from every note, as Roan owns up to the absurdity and renders it completely necessary.

With lyrics such as "Hit it like rom-pom-pom-pom" and playful interludes in which she calls herself out, the song offers pure camp, combining humor with agency.

The song unapologetically revels in women's power, mocks contemporary love, and is infused with playful humor that captivates you from beat one. It's a confident, unforgettable start, guaranteeing that once you're in, you're all in for the wild ride of the next 13 tracks of the album! It's very much evident that though Chappell Roan doesn't have many tracks in her bag, what she has is groundbreaking!

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8) Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl

While Chappell Roan's discography remains in expansion, her ascent has been meteoric, especially in 2024, as her first album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, picked up plenty of momentum. While the depth of her catalog is lacking, it's filled with instant classics that present her energetic craftsmanship.

One such jewel is Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, which is perhaps not the album's most discussed track but shines with its upbeat and fun attitude. An '80s throwback, it features a blend of infectious, kitschy elements that render it both attitude and charm.

It might not share the same limelight as some of the album's more popular tracks, but its catchy, genre-bending sound has its place as one of Chappell Roan's earlier, memorable songs.

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9) Naked In Manhattan

Naked in Manhattan, as the 12th track on Chappell Roan's album, is a prime example of how a deep cut can remain effective even in the back half of a pop album. Even though it is placed near the end of the 14-track album, it keeps the momentum going with a catchy, upbeat pop sound that continues to keep the energy going without missing a beat.

What makes this song so unforgettable is its brash, repetitive hook in which Chappell Roan croons "Touch me" a whopping 39 times over three and a half minutes, a count that nearly matches the over-the-top energy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

With Chappell Roan's drag queen-inspired style, it's difficult not to interpret a wink to the campy culture, although the nod to 'Mean Girls' is more overt. Though the repetition may appear overdone, it's this same aspect that gives the song an unforgettably catchy and brashly confident feel.

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10) Hot To Go!

Hot To Go! is a get-in-your-face, high-energy party song that grabs your attention from the start. With its infectious beat and open brag of self-assurance, the song was an instant party anthem classic, bringing an electric energy to the party like no other. It is the attitude of living life in the moment and being assured, and thus the perfect soundtrack for anyone looking to own the dance floor.

A true empowerment test, the song has solidified itself as a modern classic tune in music.

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Chappell Roan's sound is a powerful mix of unapologetic energy, emotional resonance, and unapologetic truth. Each release is a new vision for pop, pairing catchy hooks with words that talk about empowerment, self-acceptance, and freedom in every sense.

Her unique voice and skill for crafting both anthemic and emotionally resonant ballads make her stand out in a sea of overpopulated musical seas. With her career yet to be spun, Chappell Roan is already a pop phenomenon who not only charts the way ahead for the future of music but also creates an unbeatable impression on people by being fearless of the music.

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