Naked in Manhattan

Last updated
"Naked in Manhattan"
Naked in Manhattan.jpg
Single by Chappell Roan
from the album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
ReleasedFebruary 18, 2022 (2022-02-18)
Genre Synth-pop
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Dan Nigro
Chappell Roan singles chronology
"California"
(2020)
"Naked in Manhattan"
(2022)
"My Kink Is Karma"
(2022)
Music video
"Naked in Manhattan" on YouTube

"Naked in Manhattan" is a song by American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released independently on February 18, 2022. It would later become the lead single from Roan's debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, through Amusement Records and Island Records. [1] She wrote the song with Dan Nigro and Skyler Stonestreet, with Dan Nigro on production. It is a synth-pop song about having a crush on a girl for the first time, drawing comparisons with the feeling of New York City. [2]

Contents

Background

Following the commercially disappointing performance of Roan's previous single "Pink Pony Club" and being dropped by Atlantic Records for being unprofitable, Roan took a two year long break from music before returning with "Naked in Manhattan". The song's inspiration drew from her first time having a crush on a girl, who was from New York City. She said in an interview, "This song relates to having a crush on a girl or like a queer relationship at the beginning, because it's similar to the way that New York City makes me feel, which is like, excited and kind of like, wanderlust, and it's the same as a girl." [3] The song's lyrics feature cultural references to the film Mulholland Drive, the character Regina George from Mean Girls, and pop artist Lana Del Rey, whom Roan has expressed an admiration for. [4]

Critical reception

In a review for Earmilk, Emily Treadgold said "Naked In Manhattan" was a showcase of Chappell Roan's amazing ability to "perfectly capture those burgeoning feelings of young love through a queer lens." [5]

Madeline Kinnaird for NPR wrote that "Naked In Manhattan" has lyricism that is "tender" and "nostalgic". She commented on Roan's falsetto, calling it "floating" and that the instrumentation has "delicate, yearning synths". [6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Naked in Manhattan"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [7] 16

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [8] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

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Daniel Leonard Nigro is an American musician, songwriter, instrumentalist, and record producer. He was the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions. Nigro has produced, written, and co-written songs for Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, Kylie Minogue, Caroline Polachek, Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Dermot Kennedy, Maisie Peters, and Conan Gray. He has received 16 Grammy nominations and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album for producing Sour in 2021. He was named as the Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

Skyler Stonestreet is an American musician and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is a writer on hit tracks such as Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber's "Stuck with U", The Chainsmokers' "Kanye", Dua Lipa's "IDGAF", Tate McRae and Jeremy Zucker's "That Way", Hailee Steinfeld's "Wrong Direction", Marshmello's "Chasing Colors", Lennon Stella's "Older Than I Am", Dove Cameron's "Boyfriend" and many more. As a writer and a featured vocalist Skyler can be heard on tracks from acts such as Seven Lions' "Freesol" and Cheat Codes and Nicky Romero's "Sober".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chappell Roan</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1998)

Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, known professionally as Chappell Roan, is an American singer and songwriter. Working with collaborator Dan Nigro, the majority of her music is inspired by 1980s synth-pop and 2000s pop songs. Her aesthetic is heavily influenced by drag queens, and her music and performing style have been described by critics, including Rolling Stone, as "campy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Pony Club</span> 2020 single by Chappell Roan

"Pink Pony Club" is a song by American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released as a single through Atlantic Records on April 3, 2020, and later included on her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023). Written by Roan and Daniel Nigro, "Pink Pony Club" is a synth-pop track that describes the story of a woman moving to Southern California from her home state of Tennessee, taking a job as a stripper at a gay strip club despite her mother's wishes.

<i>The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess</i> 2023 studio album by Chappell Roan

The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan. The album was released on September 22, 2023 through Amusement Records, an imprint of Island Records. It was met with widespread acclaim and praised by music critics for its bold and emotionally charged nature. Reviews also complimented the album's engaging blend of sharp songwriting, dynamic pop elements, and Roan's vocal performance. Several publications ranked it on multiple year-end best albums lists for 2023. The album earned Roan her first Grammy Award nominations at the 67th annual ceremony, including for Album of the Year. She is one of sixteen artists in history who have earned Grammy nominations in all of the "Big Four" categories in one night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Kink Is Karma</span> 2022 single by Chappell Roan

"My Kink Is Karma" is a song by American singer Chappell Roan, released on May 6, 2022 as the second single from her debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023). It was produced by Dan Nigro. The song became a sleeper hit in 2024, as one of Roan's seven simultaneously charting songs on the Billboard Hot 100, along with "Good Luck, Babe!", "Casual", "Hot to Go!", "Red Wine Supernova", "Pink Pony Club", and "Femininomenon".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Femininomenon</span> 2022 single by Chappell Roan

"Femininomenon" is a song by American singer Chappell Roan, released on August 12, 2022 as the third single from her debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023). It was produced by Dan Nigro and Mike Wise. The song became a sleeper hit in 2024, as one of Roan's seven simultaneously charting songs on the Billboard Hot 100, along with "Good Luck, Babe!", "Casual", "Red Wine Supernova", Hot to Go!", "Pink Pony Club", and "My Kink Is Karma".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Wine Supernova</span> 2023 single by Chappell Roan

"Red Wine Supernova" is a song by American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released in May 2023 as the sixth single from Roan's debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The song began charting in April 2024, following the success of "Good Luck, Babe!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot to Go!</span> 2023 song by Chappell Roan

"Hot to Go!" is a song by American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan, from her debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023). It was released through Island Records and Amusement Records on August 11, 2023, as the album's seventh and final single. She co-wrote the track with its producer Dan Nigro. "Hot to Go!" is a synth-pop track that takes influence from new wave in its instrumentation and vocal inflections. Described as a queer cheer song similar to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A.", it was inspired by Roan's childhood dream of wanting to become a cheerleader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Luck, Babe!</span> 2024 single by Chappell Roan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casual (song)</span> 2022 single by Chappell Roan

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References

  1. Misiaszek, McKenzie (2022-02-18). "Chappell Roan just dropped the newest queer girl anthem". Cooglife. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  2. Horn, Olivia. "Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. Orbison, Bonnie. "Chappell Roan - Naked In Manhattan". www.bonnieslegends.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. Spotify (2024-07-18). The artists Chappell fangirls over | The Comment Section with Drew Afualo — Watch Free on Spotify . Retrieved 2024-12-04 via YouTube.
  5. "Chappel Roan's "Naked In Manhattan" is a shimmering story of young love – EARMILK" . Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  6. Treadgold, Emily (March 4, 2022). "Chappel Roan's "Naked In Manhattan" is a shimmering story of young love".
  7. "Chappel Roan Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  8. "American single certifications – Chappell Roan – Naked in Manhattan". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 9, 2024.