Chappell Roan’s latest model of song releases is all about the slow burn. She played her unreleased country pop single “The Giver” on Saturday Night Live in custom pink gingham in November 2024, but “The Giver” wasn’t officially released until March. Before that, Chappell, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, performed another secret track, “The Subway,” at Gov Ball in New York City. The wait makes us pine for her music, but it also forces us to appreciate it when it arrives, playing it over and over.
The “HOT TO GO!” pop star is known for her ability to move a crowd to dance and for her brutal honesty. When Chappell performs, it’s a party, but we have to remember that many of our Midwest Princess’s lyrics are about loss. She moves away to find that chasing your dreams means balancing homesickness (“California”). Managing the end of a relationship means giving up small moments that could lead to more heartbreak (“Coffee”). “The Subway” is no different.
The NYC-inspired song about a lost love is officially out now, and it has us thinking about the many fleeting moments when we might cross paths with future or past loved ones without knowing. Chappell sings about her ex, hoping for closure and the relief that will come when she finally fades back into the background, a stranger on the subway. In the meantime, everything reminds Chappell of her.
The people who matter the most to us become part of our landscape. Maybe you can perfectly imagine your best friend at her locker or your crush in the lunch room. Your mom’s voice lives inside your head, and you know exactly how full your studio feels when your whole dance team is there. Tiny moments bring us joy and define the spaces we frequent most. Losing one of these details can feel like changing your entire reality.
In “The Subway” music video, Chappell moves through the city from subways to fire escapes to Washington Square. She’s been living in New York City for the last few months. These iconic markers of city life are her landscape. Every place she goes is haunted by the green-wigged mystery person she can’t seem to get over. The city seems unbearable with that green wig missing—a perfect reason to go cry in the Washington Square Fountain.
What landmarks in your city belong to your best (or worst memories)? The places where you’ve shared highs and lows with important people can take on so much meaning! Reflecting on them can be cathartic—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Sharing “The Subway” was hard for Chappell, and she delayed the release multiple times. She told Vogue, “It was just too painful. I was just too angry and scared—just about my life—to put it out.”
So, while we have “The Subway” on repeat, we’re reevaluating. What mundane places are filled with chances for spontaneous meetings, memories, and fallouts? Who are you picturing on the subway? “The Subway” is about heartbreak, but we’re thinking about how many places hold our memories of love (and loss!). We think it’s pretty great, but if you’re sick of the nostalgia…well, you could always move to Saskatchewan!
