By Ruby Sayar (she/her), 17 years old, editor
December 11, 2024
You’ve probably already heard of Chappell. Chappell Roan, that is. An American singer and songwriter whose popularity has skyrocketed thanks to her song “Good Luck, Babe!” going viral, he has become a superstar.
The first time I heard “Good luck, baby!” in the background of an Instagram post, but people had been praising me for Roan’s music even before that. I finally heard their most recent album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” and, to say the least, the hype was well-founded. Not only are the melodies catchy, but their lyrics tell a story: of oppression, difficult romantic endeavors, finding yourself, living your dreams, and so much more. This is why Roan’s music has resonated with me and I think it has resonated with teenagers around the world.
Additionally, Roan is open about her identity as a lesbian, which helps inspire LGBTQ+ teens who can find comfort and relate to her music. Her honesty and storytelling is what makes her such an impactful representative for LGBTQ+ people.
Seen, heard and understood
In light of the recent United States presidential election, visibility and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth is essential to our social progress as a country. Music like Roan’s provides us with an outlet to feel seen, heard, and understood. When LGBTQ+ teens have public figures to look up to, we can feel inspired to talk about our experiences and stand up for ourselves. It also establishes a way for cishet (cisgender and straight) people to understand some of what it is like to be LGBTQ+ and perhaps even relate to the emotions shown in the music and lyrics.
Good luck, baby!
For example, “Good luck, honey!” It’s about being in a romantic relationship with someone who is afraid to be true to themselves about their sexual orientation. It is also about compulsory heterosexuality, which refers to the idea that heterosexuality is assumed and imposed on people as the norm, regardless of whether or not they fit that identity. These ideas are prevalent and can deeply affect teenagers as we discover who we are and what we want.
For me, “Good luck, honey!” It’s not hateful. The song feels sad and melancholic about a lost romance, and maybe even angry, but not at the person who’s afraid to come out. Instead, Roan expresses his anger at social pressures to be heterosexual while also saying that it is necessary to know one’s worth in any relationship.
The importance of LGBTQ+ representation
“Good luck, baby!” isn’t Roan’s only song that deals with such important and relatable topics (for LGBTQ+ people and beyond). Her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” explores concepts ranging from learning to be proud of who you are despite what others think of you (“Pink Pony Club”) to the experience of falling in love with a person when He only wants a casual relationship (“Casual”).
LGBTQ+ representation in media like pop music is crucial to informing and helping people become more tolerant. Chappell Roan’s contributions have been immeasurable. Authentic representation of lesbians and WLW (“Women who love women,” a catch-all phrase describing people who identify as women who experience romantic and/or sexual attraction to other women) is particularly important due to sexism and current misogyny. Lesbians are often portrayed in stereotypical and objectifying ways in music and film, among other media; having music like Roan’s helps counteract that.
Check out Chappell Roan’s music on all streaming platforms and continue to support LGBTQ+ artists!
