In 2017, Chappelle Rowan released her first full-length album School Nights. Now that she has achieved unprecedented fame with her acclaimed 2023 album The rise and fall of a Midwestern princess, It’s only right that we take a look at her early work. Chappelle always had the potential to be a star, but she started out with a darker, singer-songwriter-type aesthetic, which is very different from her current persona.
At first, there was little about her. However, Chappelle has a rough but rounded vocal style, which almost contradicts itself, setting her apart from Lorde. She expertly utilizes her vocal fluctuations to create a unique vocal experience. While Chappelle Rowan has become the princess of pop music, let’s not forget the talented queen she has always been.
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“Good Hurt,” “Meantime,” and “Bad For You” prove proves that Chappelle Rowan always had the skills
Full School nights The EP showcases Chappell Roan’s range and songwriting abilities, but the highlights are those “Good Mischief,” “In the Meantime” and “Bad for You.” She burst onto the scene with a strong belt and dark-colored rhythms but can get softer at times.
An example of this is in “In the Meantime,” where she alternates between a full, round voice and rougher, quieter vocals. Her songwriting is also raw and real on the EP. While she tackles similar themes here and on her full-length album, the songs continue School Nights became darker and deeper, stripped of the frills and embellishments of its current theatrical persona.
I keep my doubts in the back of my mind / And I still love you in the meantime / Stop me while I figure it outShe sings in the first verse. There’s a sense of being on the cusp of something, but also in its shadow. She’s skeptical about the potential relationship as she’s not sure whether she likes the person or not. So, instead, she will “love you in the meantime,” in the space between loving and not loving.
Will we see more of this darkness in future projects?
“Bad For You” is a lyrically and melodically powerful track that takes listeners deep into this dark character. This song is sexy yet sacred as she sings Tie your fingers around my neck, it’s a pleasure I can’t stand. and Subhanallah Subhanallah / Forgive me, I like to be bad for you.
Chappelle Rowan started out on the dark side, as evidenced by the aesthetics of her debut EP. She’s transitioned into a glamorous persona that has appeased the pop world with her uniqueness, but there’s something authentic and fun about the way she initially presented herself. While her stage persona has allowed her to grow into her identity in an incredible way to watch, we can’t help but miss a bit of that darkness.
Featured Image by Dana Jacobs/Film Magic
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