Your Midwest Princess: Chappell Roan’s Gov Ball Reign
There’s making an entrance, and then there is coming out of a big apple dressed as the Statue of Liberty with a joint in hand. It goes without saying that Chappell Roan has mastered the art of introducing herself to a crowd.
“I am here in full drag today as the biggest queen of all,” she announced. While the choice to become Lady Liberty was campy and fun, Chappell recognized the seriousness of the image she was portraying.
In an emotional call for the rights of all oppressed communities, she explained that liberty means liberty for ALL. This tied into her revealing that she rejected an invitation from the White House to perform for pride due to them missing the mark on assuring freedom for everyone. Chappell truly encompassed what Liberty really means, and did not take the depth of what she was representing lightly. Many people talk about separating the artist from the art. With Chappell, the two are intrinsically linked. She is a performer who cares about her art and the world it impacts.
Chappell’s set itself was a transportation to her kingdom, featuring her bigger singles like Hot to Go! And Good Luck, Babe! and other favorites like My Kink is Karma, Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, Casual, and my karaoke song of choice, Red Wine Supernova. Femininomenon, Pink Pony Club, and, of course, Naked in Manhattan, were also on the star-studded set list.
For Gov Ball, Chappell pulled out all the stops. From debuting a new song to an outfit change into a taxi dress to somehow only minimally sweating off the green paint covering her entire body, the crowd was kept on their toes. So was Chappell, with a level of stamina that can only be admired and envied. She was running around the stage, conveying such emotion through her expressions and movements, down to the smallest hand gesture or look to the crowd.
“It’s just crazy when we bought tickets for this we’d prob be barricade, and now she’s blown up,” said Nor, a Chappell fan donned in a pastel pink “My Kink is Karma” tank top.
If you’ve seen the video posted by Rolling Stone of the bird’s eye view of Chappell’s set, you’ll know they’re right. Chappell Roan has gone from being pop’s best-kept secret to amassing a cult following before the music industry’s eyes.
Maybe one of the most impressive aspects of Chappell Roan’s live performance is the fact that she maintains such a deep level of intimacy even though the magnitude of her fame continues to grow. The connectivity to the crowd and energy that she exhibited throughout her whole set was unmatched and is seldom found at that caliber.
“She needs to be scientifically studied,” said Gracie, a fan from Massachusetts.
Chappell’s talent and dedication to her craft is something that is so appreciated and cherished by her fan base, and it extends into the crowd energy at large. Everyone I met at her set was so kind and so happy to be there. Whether they were a die-hard fan or had never heard of Chappell, everyone in the crowd was invested by the end. I met a fan named Jonathan who had listened to Chappell for a while and was dying to hear Casual, and we both screamed when the song began. I met another festival goer named Will who was there to get barricade for SZA, but stayed for the Hot to Go dance, which we taught him just minutes before Chappell took the stage.
The Midwest Princess has begun a reign that looks to be long-standing. Gov Ball has officially been conquered, and there is so much more to come. Chappell Roan is going to be the name on every pop music listener’s lips… or ears. Regardless, it’s time to start learning the Hot to Go dance if you haven’t already.
