She's Tastefully Obscene - And You Should Listen

Listen… It's not every day I write an entire article about a musician or celebrity because I could honestly care less about them. But, for the first time in a very long time, I am starting to get excited about modern music.

The last year or so has been explosive on the music scene, with many talented artists exploding onto the scene. Unfortunately, many of them repeat the same cookie-cutter bullshit that every other in-genre artist is using to build their music. Don't believe me? Watch these two videos on YouTube that highlight the problem.

All Modern Music Sounds the Same.

But this is different. When I say Tastefully Obscene, you really need to listen carefully to the unique blend of musical styles in the album. ?What Album? The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan.

Like most people, the first time I heard a Chappell Roan song was probably her 2024 song, 'Good Luck, Babe,' – which had such a unique, non-formulaic sound with its blend of electronic beats and powerful vocals that I had to listen to more, which brought me to her album from last year.

If you get easily offended by "bad words" or "adult topics," stop here. You won't like it because Chappell brings raw, unfiltered energy to the scene.

14 Songs About Sex, Relationships & Love

She brings raw, unfiltered energy about topics everyone reading this article should be familiar with

Very rarely does an artist release what can only be described as a concept album where every single song has its own unique sound to it, with what is likely probably one of the industry's largest instrument collections on an album, including 1980s synth, strings, horns, wind instruments and everything else you could want.

While her album doesn't specifically sample songs that I recognize, she does a great job of borrowing style from other artists. For example, the intro to Pink Pony Club sounds very similar to the intro of "I Will Survive" By Gloria Gaynor, and I can almost but not quite figure out some of her other song influences on this album.

She brings raw, unfiltered energy about topics everyone reading this article should be familiar with – sex. Oops, did I say a bad word? How about felatio? Did I trigger the moderators yet?

The album shows Chappell's vocal range, creativity and artistry in a way that isn't comparable to modern music, except maybe Billie Eilish.

Right from the first song, Femininomenon, you get hooked. The song is just fun and unique, but I wonder if it'll ever end up on the radio. Each verse of the song builds from the energy of the previous song, with changes to the chorus each time.

This Isn't Just Coffee

Chappell's music isn't just coffee. It's like high-octane Death Wish Coffee Company coffee. Her style beautifully blends taboo topics (along other things) with scores that seem completely natural and make your ears perk up the first few times you hear songs about what adults do in parked cars in dark places, and that's what keeps it interesting.

The album is a high-energy, diverse mix of dance-style music, acoustic ballads, and electronic beats that will keep you entertained and your head bobbing with each song.

A Modern Girl

No, Chappell isn't the first musician to sing about taboo topics. Madonna's done it, Hailee Steinfeld has done it, Rihanna's done it. No, it's not just women who sing about sex – DNCE's debut song, "Cake by the Ocean," and Harry Styles's "Watermelon Sugar" are modern examples of musicians doing the same shit everyone else does.

Formulaic pop music without substance or soul.

The difference here is that she isn't using innuendo and isn't following the pop formula to make music that sounds like everyone else. I'd put her lyrical style and wardrobe in the same camp as Lady Gaga – evolved for a new era but with a rawness and authenticity that sets her apart.

You could compare Sabrina Carpenter's lyrical choices to Chappell Roan, in how she stuffs in random curse words and sings about sexual topics – but Sabrina still follows the standard pop-princess formula. She is distancing herself from the Disney world like Miley Cyrus did when she broke free of the mouse's handcuffs, but it's still the same old formula. Don't think I'm throwing shade at Sabrina either. She is amazingly talented.

Chappell's music doesn't pull punches. Let's call a spade a spade and Chappell a Super Ultra Modern Girl.

A Guilty Pleasure

Her music has become a not-so-secret guilty pleasure of mine, and I frequently introduce her music to others who follow suit. She's addicting.

But here is the thing… I don't know if the fine folks over at Wasserman Live , Atlantic Records & Island Records (or whoever is handling her these days) know what they have on their hands. ?They found the diamond in the dirt– and it really doesn't need to be polished – it already shines bright.

I'm a marketer. I'm a strategist. I spot opportunities that others miss. And I'm hoping the people behind the scenes helping Chappell build her empire know what kind of licensable opportunities they have to diversify her empire. The Roanverse – if I can call it that.

I see three opportunities to build tangible, licensable "stuff" in just one song.? The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess has so much going for it that it's hard not to see.

I'm hoping they see what I see.

If you haven't checked out her album yet, and you've read this far, chances are you aren't offended by the subject matter and have probably already started listening. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?

#ChappellRoan #music #roanverse #musicindustry