Chappell Roanis one of today’s hottest artists. At just 27 years old, she’s already released several iconic songs, such as “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club.” The Missouri native first burst onto the scene in 2023 with her hit debut album,The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,thus ushering in a breath of fresh air in the music industry. Not only does Roan’s art-pop genre set her apart from today’s artists, but her refreshing candor and unique look do, too. And now, as she gears up to release her second studio album along with a three-city tour, Roan has released “The Subway”. It’s already been hailed by fans and critics alike as one of her most captivating songs, but the meaning behind it is even more fascinating.
Chappell Roan Describes “The Subway” As An Ode To Her Love Of New York City
Pop singer Chappell Roan first rose to fame after the release of her 2024 hit single “Good Luck, Babe!” The song peaked at number four on theBillboard Hot 100chart and has since accumulated over six hundred million streams on Spotify. Her extravagant performances, notably atCoachellaandThe Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,significantly contributed to the single’s success. These efforts, along with others, resulted in her winning the award forBest New Artist at the 2024MTV Video Music Awardsand later winning aGrammy Awardagain for Best New Artistin 2025. And on August 1,the pop star released her highly anticipated song “The Subway,“which is her second single off her upcoming sophomore albumCR2.Roan initially debuted the song in 2024 when she performed at the Governor’s Ball.But now that “The Subway” has been officially released, it is regaining attention and praise from listeners, with Pitchfork hailing it as a “melancholy blush of ’80s dream-pop and indie rock”.
The song’s first verse: “I saw your green hair / Beauty mark next to your mouth / There on the subway / I nearly had a breakdown / A few weeks later / Somebody wore your perfume / It almost killed me / I had to leave the room” is perhaps the most striking lyrics throughout the over-four-minute song. But according to Roan, there is more to the song than just detailing a breakup with a lover, as it is also an ode to another love of the singer’s. Speaking at the 2024 Bonnaroo festival, Chappell said “The Subway” “…encompasses everything I love about New York City with the hope, heartbreak and healing that it has to offer us all. To me it kind of feels like ‘Casual'’s cousin.”
On Instagram, Roan also relayed how much the song meant to her, stating “I’m very proud of this song and what a journey she has been on.” In addition to the song’s release, Roan also treated fans to a music video which features her parading around in fantasy-themed versions of several places around New York City. In a press release about the video, Chappell stated about the music video and song, “The cliche of ‘the girl that got away’ barely scratches the surface for me with this song. I wrote it as I was stumbling around New York with a broken heart and I kept envisioning us on every street, fire escape, coffee shop, park and yes… the subway.”
Chappell Roan Says These Legendary Rock Stars Are Her Biggest Musical Influences
These two artists and more are what inspire pop’s Midwest Princess.
Chappell Roan Reveals Who Inspired Her Performances
When Chappell Roan first performed The Subway for audiences in 2024 at the Governors Ball in New York City, she made waves, as always, for her extravagant attire and heartfelt performance. The star was painted with full green body paint and dressed as the Statue of Liberty as she sang soulfully. But just who inspired the 27-year-old?
As reported by Women’s Wear Daily,Roan’s fashion on and off-stage is inspired by drag queens and drag art.“My stylist Genesis Webb and I pull from drag, horror movies, burlesque, theater.…I love looking pretty and scary,” Roan said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June 2024.
As for her stage presence,Roan cites iconic pop stars like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.She revealed this in her 2018 interview with ANCHR magazine, saying, “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé really inspire me with their stage presence. They are both so confident and really own the stage and connect with the crowd so well. I hope to be like them one day.“The Missouri native also named P!nk as another one of her musical and stage inspirations.She revealed to the publication that she first became a fan of the singer when her mother gifted her her first CD, which was by P!nk, titledMissundaztood. Roan added that she would listen to the album constantly and watch her performances on TV.
