The Giver (song)

Last updated
"The Giver"
Song by Chappell Roan
Genre Country
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nigro

"The Giver" is a song by American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, her first in the country music genre. It was first performed live during her debut appearance as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on November 2, 2024. Written by Roan and produced by Dan Nigro, the song features traditional country instrumentation, including a fiddle, and explores themes of queer storytelling through subversion of conventional country lyrical norms.

Contents

"The Giver" has received praise for its innovative take on country music, with critics highlighting its cultural resonance and representation of LGBTQ+ narratives. The song is expected to be officially released following its positive reception on SNL.

Background and composition

Chappell Roan @ Hollywood Palladium 11 18 2022 (53886572991).jpg
Dan Nigro @ Theatre at Ace Hotel 2023.jpg
"The Giver" was written by Chappell Roan (left) and Dan Nigro (right).

"The Giver" marks a departure for Chappell Roan into the country music genre. [1] Roan cited her Missouri upbringing as a key influence in crafting the song, drawing upon her early exposure to country music, which she described as both nostalgic and playful in its cultural resonance. [1] [2] The song incorporates traditional country instrumentation, including a fiddle, while subverting conventional lyrical themes with queer storytelling. [1] [2] Roan collaborated with producer Dan Nigro on the writing process, emphasizing a piano-driven approach to establish the song's structure before focusing on production. [2]

The song was first performed live during Roan's debut appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on November 2, 2024. [3] [4] Ahead of the release, she teased the song during a question and answer session at the Grammy Museum, where she described the writing process as an opportunity to reconnect with her roots. [1] [2] Roan hinted at the song and its thematic departure from her earlier work through social media posts, suggesting the beginning of a new era in her career. [3] [4] Nigro revealed that preparing the song involved extensive research and a creative exploration of country music tropes, though he refrained from detailing specific influences. [2] The single's official release is anticipated following the positive reception of the live debut. [2]

On SNL, "The Giver" was presented as a brand-new song following her performance of "Pink Pony Club" from her 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess . [4] The live debut featured an elaborate stage setup and her characteristic drag-inspired aesthetic. [3] [4]

Critical reception

Critics responded to "The Giver" with commentary on its impact within the country music landscape. [5] USA Today identified it as part of a growing movement of queer country music, highlighting how it challenges traditional norms in the genre. [5] The song's lyrics and Roan's SNL performance were noted for their assertive and direct address of queer themes, positioning the track among modern LGBTQ+ country anthems. [5] [4] [1] Critics highlighted Roan's use of humor and assertiveness as distinctive within the genre. [1]

The performance on SNL drew attention for its blend of retro Western visuals and modern thematic content. Commentators have situated "The Giver" within a broader trend of increasing LGBTQ+ representation in country music, likening Roan's efforts to those of artists such as Brandi Carlile and Orville Peck. [1] [2]

Live performances

The debut of "The Giver" on SNL included a visually distinct performance featuring Roan with an all-female band, dressed in Western-inspired denim and gingham attire. [3] [4] [2] The performance was characterized by spoken word interjections where Roan addressed the audience directly. [3] [4] [1] Critics described the performance as vibrant and reflective of her theatrical style. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As Tall as Lions</span> American rock band

As Tall as Lions were an indie rock band during the 2000s from Long Island, New York.

Traditional bluegrass, as the name implies, emphasizes the traditional elements of bluegrass music, and stands in contrast to progressive bluegrass. Traditional bluegrass musicians play folk songs, tunes with simple traditional chord progressions, and on acoustic instruments of a type that were played by bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys band in the late 1940s. Traditional bands may use their instruments in slightly different ways, for example by using multiple guitars or fiddles in a band.

LGBTQ representation in hip-hop music has existed since the birth of the genre even while enduring blatant discrimination. Due to its adjacency to disco, the earliest days of hip-hop had a close relation to LGBTQ subcultures, and multiple LGBTQ DJs have played a role in popularizing hip-hop. Since the early 2000s there has been a flourishing community of LGBTQ hip-hop artists, activists, and performers breaking barriers in the mainstream music industry. Despite this early involvement, hip-hop has long been portrayed as one of the least LGBTQ-friendly genres of music, with a significant body of the genre containing homophobic views and anti-gay lyrics, with mainstream artists such as Eminem and Tyler, the Creator having used casual homophobia in their lyrics, including usages of the word faggot. Attitudes towards homosexuality in hip-hop culture have historically been negative, with slang that uses homosexuality as a punchline such as "sus", "no homo", and "pause" being heard in hip-hop lyrics from some of the industry's biggest artists.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+(LGBTQ+)music is music that focuses on the experiences of gender and sexual minorities as a product of the broad gay liberation movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tayla Parx</span> American singer and actress (born 1993)

Taylor Monét Parks, known as Tayla Parx, is an American singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and actor. A two-time Grammy nominee in the Album of the Year category, songs she has written and co-written have exceeded 16 billion streams on Spotify and appeared on the pop, hip hop, R & B, K-pop, country, and Latin charts. She has released four albums, an EP, and a mixtape as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Nigro</span> American record producer

Daniel Leonard Nigro is an American record producer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist 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.

For music from a year in the 2020s, see 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

<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 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 the 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, dance-pop, power pop, and disco track that describes the story of a woman moving to Southern California from her home state of Tennessee, taking a job as a dancer at a gay strip club in West Hollywood 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 the American singer-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.

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

"My Kink Is Karma" is a song by the 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 the 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). Produced by Dan Nigro and Mike Wise, “Femininomenon” is an alt-pop and dance-pop track. 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 the American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released on May 19, 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 the 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 and dance-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

"Good Luck, Babe!" is a song recorded by the American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released as a standalone single on April 5, 2024, through Amusement Records and Island Records. She wrote the song with Justin Tranter and the song's producer Dan Nigro. A synth-pop, baroque pop, and soft rock power ballad with 80's new wave synths, "Good Luck, Babe!" references a compulsory heterosexual relationship, describing a queer woman trying to deny her romantic feelings for Roan and for women in general. It received acclaim from music critics, who included it on several mid-year and year end rankings of the best songs of 2024.

Molly Grace Zeytoonian, known professionally as Molly Grace, is an independent American musician and singer-songwriter based out of Nashville. Grace has referenced artists such as Lizzo, Chappell Roan, Lawrence, Reneé Rapp, and Remi Wolf as influences in her music that blends pop, funk, and disco.

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

"Casual" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released as a single on October 28, 2022 independently. It was later released as part of Roan's debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, through Amusement Records and Island Records as the fourth single from the album. She wrote the song along with Dan Nigro and Morgan St. Jean and Nigro is credited as producer along with Ryan Linvill. It is a country-influenced downtempo, dream pop, pop rock, and rock ballad about casual dating, in particular a situationship between Roan and a love interest who is unwilling to commit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naked in North America Tour</span> Concert tour by Chappell Roan

The Naked in North America Tour was the debut concert tour by American pop musician Chappell Roan. The tour began on February 15, 2023, at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, and concluded on March 15 at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

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

"Naked in Manhattan" is a song by the American singer-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. “Naked in Manhattan” was also released as a B-side to Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” on December 16, 2024. She wrote the song with Dan Nigro and Skyler Stonestreet, with Dan Nigro on production. It is a disco-pop song about having a crush on a girl for the first time, drawing comparisons with the feeling of New York City.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ahsan, Ali (2024-11-14). "Chappell Roan's "The Giver" Turns Up in Country Music". Groovevolt. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cramer, Jude (November 12, 2024). "Here's how Chappell Roan's latest song helped her connect to her roots". INTO. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lutkin, Aimée (2024-11-03). "Chappell Roan's 'The Giver' Lyrics Are a Flirty Invitation". Elle. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Peters, Mitchell (2024-11-03). "Chappell Roan Dazzles With New Country Song 'The Giver' During Elaborate 'SNL' Debut". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  5. 1 2 3 Gibbs, Audrey (November 6, 2024). "Chappell Roan defies norms with lesbian country song. More queer country anthems". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.