Tag: Chappell Roan

Some Thoughts On Chappell Roan

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Something weird is going on with rising pop star Chappell Roan. She first recently go into trouble for not supporting Kamala Harris in an unambiguous manner. Now, this weekend, she apparently has pulled out of some music festival or something.

I’m just too lazy to do even the most basic of research on this matter.

This is all happening on the heels of her obviously becoming a bit overwhelmed by her abrupt rise to fame. She is, at the moment, probably the biggest pop star in the world.

I remember talking about her obsessively to anyone who would listen a number of months ago. I kept telling everyone she would be 2024’s breakout artist and I think the trendline for the last few months have proven me correct.

Anyway, I wish her the best. I understand her struggles with mental health and, as such, I can only be so hard on her if she needs a break.

Chappell Roan Should Be The Breakout Pop Star Of 2024

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

If there is any justice in this world, Chappell Roan will be the biggest pop music star of 2024. As an old man, her music reminds the pop music I heard on the radio in the mid 1980s.

Chappell Roan

When I’m in a good mood, I like to think that maybe her potential popularity may be part of a broader cultural vibe shift. There are a number of other acts like IDLES, The Last Dinner Party and So Good who are bubbling up that seem to indicate that tastes may be changing.

It’s possible.

Of course, all of this is happening in the context of the rise of AI, Apple Vision Pro and the possibility of a fucking political “Fourth Turning” in late 2024, early 2025 and it definitely seems as though we may wake up at some point in 2025 to a New Era.

As I’ve said before, one of the biggest differences between South Korea and the United States is things change every day in South Korea, but take years and years to in the States. And I think late 2024, early 2025 could see us all lurch into a new, unknown world.

The forces for that kind of stuff to happen are definitely building. And the potential of Chappell Roan to blow up with traditional pop music may be a sign that such things may happen.

Chappell Roan Is A New Madonna

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I don’t know what to say about Chappell Roan, but “WOW!”

Chappell Roan

I’ve seen the future of pop rock and her name is Chappell Roan to paraphrase the old quote about Bruce Springsteen. Roan is so fucking good. She’s a breath of fresh air in her uniqueness and creativity.

The only person I can compare her to is Lady Gaga. She doesn’t have the pipes that Lady Gaga does, but she can sing well and produce a very (raunchy) American Bandstand type of song that I remember from my youth.

Madonna 1984

Come to think of it, maybe it’s not Lady Gaga I should compare Roan to, but Madonna. I say this because Roan is over-the-top sexual and she has a very 1984 Madonna aesthetic to her. And Madonna back the day was more about dancing and lyrics than she was about how well she could actually sing.

So. Yeah. Going forward, I think Roan could blow up to Madonna-levels of success pretty quick.

The Advent of New Cultural Era?

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

It definitely seems as though we’re — a last — experiencing something of a vibe shift. There are a number of new musical acts that are actually, well, good. There’s IDLES, So Good, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo just to name a few who are really interesting and actually make music that serve the audience really well.

Another thing I’ve noticed is a growing number of young people on Tik-Tok doing “fit checks” where they look like a person from between 1968 and 1972. I haven’t seen anyone dressing like this out in the wild, but everything old is new again, so it seems possible that Tik-Tok might cause these isolated instances to spread across the country.

Chappell Roan
At the same time, technology is also lurching forward with the rise of AI and the Apple Vision Pro.

Put all these developments together and it definitely seems that we’re on the cusp of leaving the 20-odd year Post-911 era. A lot will depend on, of course, what happens with the election.

If Trump wins, there’s a good chance that there could be a rather amazing, severe break with the past one way or another. Either because we become a full blow MAGA Nazi autocracy, or, oh boy, we depose Trump then have a civil war because Red States get mad and leave the Union in a huff.

But it does seem as though the post-911 era is fading, if nothing else. The confluence of tech change along with cultural changes definitely seems to indicate that this is the case.

I’m Really Impressed By Chappell Roan

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Chappell Roan has got to be one of the best new artists I’ve discovered of late. She is so, so good. Her music is in the sweetspot of pop rock music that we just don’t have enough of these days.

Chappell Roan
Her stuff definitely “has a beat and you can dance to it” as they used to say.

In fact, I’m surprised she not bigger. She’s just so, so good. Some of her tracks are so easy to dance to in that old fashion pop rock dance way that I really miss. I know if I was still a DJ in Seoul I would play the shit out of some of her songs.

I have to note that some of her songs are a bit….graphic. I don’t know how much of that is I’m just an old man and how much of that is true. And, yet, lulz, all good lyrics are really honest so you can’t really hold it against her too much.