Chappell Roan has just released her 14th single ‘The Giver’, and I couldn’t be more excited. As the world gains another hit from our Midwest Princess it feels like, yet again, queer-pop-girlies are so back. And this time it’s even better; Roan’s gone country. It goes without saying that this new era for Chappell Roan is exceedingly highly anticipated, and ‘The Giver’ is just a signpost of the beginning of an entirely new moment in Roan’s career.

Written by Roan herself and produced by Dan Nigro, the song strays away from the pop style she has become renowned for, as she instead dips her toes into the country genre. In an interview with Kelleigh Bannen for Today’s Country Radio on Apple Music, Roan explained; “Yes, I’m gay, and yes I am ultra pop, yes I’m a drag queen – that can also be [someone] who can perform a country song.” This feels irrevocably true of ‘The Giver’ – Chappell Roan makes the genre her own, subverting heteronormative country-song cliches, creating yet another lesbian anthem to add to her roster.

Despite already being performed on Saturday Night Live months prior to its release, this new single was still highly anticipated by Roan’s following (myself included) as it marks the newest release since Roan’s four-time-platinum smash-hit ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ and a new chapter after her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Not only this, but the marketing for the song has been nothing short of spectacular – billboards with a real number you can call to hear snippets of the song on have been plastered all across the U.S, and seeing Roan’s array of distinct personas (including a plumber, lawyer, builder, dentist, and more) has been amusing and created even more hype in the lead up to the song’s release.

A melody of fiddles and all the typical country instrumentals you would expect from a country anthem create the backing track for the song. Despite sounding obviously country, it still has the distinct Chappell Roan ultra-pop energy that she brings to all her other releases, making the song a stand out not only in her discography, but the country genre as a whole.

Roan isn’t afraid to be outright with her lyrics, and this song is no exception. Some of my favourite lyrics include the already iconic “I get the job done” (the line Roan focused her marketing around), “ain’t no country boy quitter” and “good luck finding a man who has the means to rhinestone cowgirl all night long.” The witty lyrics provide a more amusing approach to the genre, establishing Roan as not only a brilliant writer but as someone who is experimental in her songwriting. And, as is the case with almost all her catchy songs, I already have the entirety of the lyrics seared into my brain.

The bridge between the second and third chorus is one of my favourite moments of the song, although I do miss the interjection of Roan brazenly saying “all you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right. Well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right,” which she included on her Saturday Night Live rendition of the song.

Overall, this single has only made me even more excited to see what Chappell Roan will do next, and I have no doubt in my mind that ‘The Giver’ will be on repeat in my house until her next release.

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