Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
Chappell Roan released a new song entitled “The Giver,” which dips into the country scene. This song was released as a single on Mar. 13th. It uses traditional country instruments and sound while diverting from country genre norms through queer storytelling.
While country songs typically retain white, male, and heterosexual themes, Roan sings about queer intimacy and defies societal expectations surrounding country music. She sings, “’Cause, baby, I deliver / Ain’t no country boy quitter.” These lyrics assert her own strength while dismissing the predictability of conventional country masculinity. Roan’s unapologetic approach positions her as a refreshing and transformative voice within country music, reflecting an evolving landscape where diverse experiences find representation. Her music invites listeners to embrace authenticity and explore new dimensions of love, identity, and empowerment in a genre that’s traditionally slower to adapt.
“The Giver” was first performed live during her appearance as a guest on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in November. She began the night performing one of her hit songs, “Pink Pony Club,” and surprised the audience later in the evening by performing the unreleased song. “All you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right, well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right. She gets the job done.” Roan said mid-song during her SNL performance.
Roan’s new single has received the utmost praise. Atwood magazine reported, “Chappell Roan has delivered another impressive, amusing, and undeniable anthem in ‘The Giver.’” Moreover, many die hard fans of Chappell Roan are praising the song. One eighteen-year-old Chappell fan, Emily Caragliano, commented on the new song. “The topic itself is rather lewd, but she makes it so fun and joyous for everyone involved,” Caragliano said. “It shows this really fun persona she’s created—‘charming’ is truly the perfect word to describe it. She is able to let her audience in on such a fun world with her works. With Roan, she doesn’t hypersexualize the rather lewd content she sings about, like other artists would. She is able to create an intriguing juxtaposition between the lyrics and the melody.”
While it’s rare to find any critics of Chappell Roan nowadays, back in September the entire music industry was shocked by Roan’s behavior as an artist. Roan has been extremely open about what she believes in and how she feels since rising to fame. Many saw her as the first, authentic artist because of this. The most notable example of Roan being seen as authentic was during the 2024 MTV Awards. A paparazzo screamed at Roan to, “Shut the f— up”. She immediately turned, pointed her finger, and replied, “You shut the f— up.” This comment received praise from many individuals, claiming that Roan is the first to begin dismantling issues within the industry. Others disagreed, saying that this remark was unnecessary and she should just do what she’s told as an artist.
Any industry regarding extreme fame has its issues, and Chappell seems like she’s one of the few trying to fight for respect for celebrities. She was even quoted saying that she would quit singing if fame became too dangerous. She advocates for the safety and freedom of artists, which is reflected in her switch to country. While many remain in the genre that made them famous, Roan demonstrates to other musicians that branching out is worthwhile. There is no obligation to follow the expectations of producers or fans and musicians can validly produce music that aligns with their personal goals. Her approach highlights the success that comes from advocating for one’s own artistic path.
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