Rating: 9.5/10
Since the pop star’s surprising rise to stardom early last year, Chappell Roan hasn’t lost her momentum.
Since releasing her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Roan has accumulated 45 million Spotify listeners, performed at Coachella and headlined Lollapalooza.
Roan also performed on Saturday Night Live in November 2024, where she debuted her new single, “The Giver.”
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Three months later, she began advertising the single with billboards of five unique personas inspired by different occupations. Each billboard displayed the witty slogan, “I get the job done.”
The song was finally released Thursday, with its lyric video coming out a day later. It’s already reinventing the country genre.
While the country genre is a first for her, Roan is no stranger to working with different sounds. Her first album ranged from hyper-pop, synth-driven tracks to slower ballads. Most importantly, she was able to stay true to queer elements in her music.
The single starts with a catchy fiddle tune reminiscent of mainstream country. However, unlike typical country, the song is about how she could swoon a woman better than any countryman.
“Ain’t got antlers on my walls/ but I sure know mating calls/ From the stalls in the bars on a Friday night,” Roan sings. “And other boys may need a map/ But I can close my eyes/ And have you wrapped around my fingers like that.”
What makes the song memorable is its irony. Roan takes traditional folk elements and mixes them with sexual innuendos that challenge country stereotypes.
The longer the song plays, the catchier it becomes, especially between the build-up from the bridge to the chorus. In it, Roan sings to her lover about how well she can love her compared to men.
“Ain’t no country boy quitter/ I get the job done,” Roan sings.
“The Giver” has instrumentals that make the listener want to get up and line dance along with every lyric. The strong percussion and aforementioned fiddle make an iconic duo, leaving the audience wanting more once the song ends.
Roan said in an interview with E! News that she decided to experiment with country music, not only because it reminded her of Missouri, her home state, but because she wanted to do something fun.
“It’s campy and fun,” Roan said.
“The Giver” strongly indicates that Roan’s second album will be as promising as her first. Roan’s artistic choices for this single offer a refreshing perspective from the pop artist that will hopefully carry over to the rest of the album.
