A year ago, Chappell Roan was virtually unknown. Today, this queer artist’s songs have well over a billion streams on online platforms. Her success Good Luck, Babe! ranks in the top 10 of Billboard. One even wonders why Osheaga scheduled his performance for Saturday afternoon, rather than in the evening. Decoding a phenomenon.
Internet explosion
Chappell Roan is the viral musical phenomenon of 2024, according to Thomas Leblanc, columnist at Ici Première and producer of Homopop evenings. “She started from almost nothing by releasing her album in September 2023 and she is now performing shows in front of tens of thousands of people,” he says. Leblanc compares the newcomer’s trajectory to Lady Gaga’s early days. “Chappell doesn’t yet have a radio hit of the magnitude of Poker facebut there’s something about the speed of her success that reminds me of Gaga.”
Drag singer
Another characteristic that brings Chappell Roan closer to the singer of Born This Way, This one offers looks that mark the imagination: exuberant outfits, eccentric makeup, creation of a public persona. Choices undoubtedly influenced by the codes of drag.
PHOTO AMY HARRIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Chappell Roan performing at Bonnaroo, Tennessee, in June
While some voices question the fact that a cisgender woman like her transforms into a drag queen and not a drag king, others are outright critical of her borrowings from drag aesthetics. Rita Baga disagrees.
“She’s not just a fan who appropriates our art, but an artist who uses her platform to promote our art. She often hosts local drag shows. In fact, she’s a drag baby!”
Gisèle Lullaby is equally open. “She’s a queer woman who is part of our community,” says the Quebecer. “As a drag queen, we are inspired by women, so it’s like a full circle. We’ve never said anything against Lady Gaga, so I don’t see why people would start complaining about Chappell Roan.”
A community behind her
While Chappell Roan has fans from all walks of life, it’s safe to say that the LGBTQ+ community has a real cult following for the hit singer-songwriter. Femininonomenon, Hot To Go!, Pink Pony Club, Casual And Red Wine Supernova (which all rank in the top 100 of Billboard this week). And for good reason: her songs often talk about lesbian love, without hiding behind an ambiguous subtext.
« C’est l’fun qu’elle embrasse sa queerness, dit Thomas Leblanc. En tant qu’homme gai, le fait qu’elle traite d’amours entre femmes n’est pas l’élément central de mon rapport avec elle ; je tripe surtout sur sa musique et ses performances. Mais pour les lesbiennes et les femmes queers, c’est très important ! »
Extrait de Good Luck, Babe !
Sororité musicale
Les foules qui se sont déplacées au Centre Bell pour voir Olivia Rodrigo en mars ont eu droit à un avant-goût de l’univers de Chappell Roan, qui offrait la première partie. « Elle est dans l’orbite de Rodrigo, avec qui elle partage le même producteur [Dan Nigro] “, specifies Thomas Leblanc.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Olivia Rodrigo on stage at the Bell Centre last March
The two singers also have in common very colorful lyrics, strong melodies and a powerful voice. “I really like her energy, the sensitivity of her voice, her style that recalls both Stevie Nicks and the Canadian Carly Rae Jepsen,” Leblanc emphasizes. “Her energy attracts both Generation Z and young millennials who still go to festivals.”
New darling of festivals
From Coachella to Lollapalooza, to Osheaga this weekend, Chappell Roan’s summer is filled with appearances at major festivals where she’s building up fans. “There’s something going on live with her, you can see it in the images that are circulating abundantly on social media,” notes Thomas Leblanc.
Images that are going viral thanks to the singer’s stage presence and her looks. “A bit like Lady Gaga in her early days, Chappell Roan’s every appearance comes with a memorable look that she won’t repeat,” says the columnist.
PHOTO CHONA KASINGER, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
Chappell Roan performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle last July
The interest in her is growing so much that festivals are having to rethink their strategies. Singer Ke$ha volunteered to swap times with the young sensation at Lollapalooza in Chicago this Thursday. San Francisco’s Outside Lands event will have her on the main stage in about ten days. Will Osheaga do the same with her performance on Saturday, scheduled for… 3:30 p.m.?
Nick Farkas, vice president of programming at promoter evenko, explained to The Gazette that it’s not as simple as it sounds. “If we move Chappell Roan later in the schedule, someone else has to play earlier,” he said. “The only way that’s going to happen is if someone cancels.” It’s a safe bet that many festival-goers will be praying for this unlikely turnaround to happen.
Chappell Roan at Osheaga on August 3, 3:30 p.m.
Check out the Osheaga show page