"The Subway" is a song by the American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan. She wrote the track with its producer, Dan Nigro. "The Subway" was released as a single through Amusement and Island Records on July 31, 2025. The song's music video depicts Roan chasing her former lover when she leaves her.
"The Subway" is a pop, alt-pop, dream pop, and power popbreakupballad with jangle pop and shoegaze influences. Lyrically, the song deals with heartbreak and healing and is linked stylistically to Roan's 2022 single "Casual". Roan has performed "The Subway" live since mid-2024, but had been hesitant to release a studio version, feeling that the track worked better live. Roan was spotted filming a music video in New York City in July 2025, alongside teasers for the song's release in the form of various posters. On July 23, a preview of "The Subway" was released on YouTube and a teaser for the music video was shared on social media.
"The Subway" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Roan's highest-charting single to date in her home country. Outside of the United States, "The Subway" topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top five of the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Background and composition
Following several live performances of the song, Roan was first approached by Isabela Yu of Elle Brasil about it in July 2024. At that time, she was unsure whether she wanted to release it as her next single. The singer thought it was "fun" to include the song in her set at the Governors Ball Music Festival, as it fit the theme.[2] The following month, she discussed the song with Bowen Yang of Interview, comparing its prolonged rollout to that of her debut studio album.[3] In a September 2024 interview with Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone, Roan revealed that she preferred performing the song live rather than releasing it as a single, as she already had two other songs prepared for release.[4]
On April 16, 2025, talking to the Las Culturistas podcast, Roan explained that the delay in releasing the studio version was due to fans' expectations following the live rendition. She noted she had yet to replicate the vocal performance in the studio and believed the song worked better live than as a recorded track.[5] Responding to the muted reception of her previous single "The Giver", which she also performed live prior to its release, Roan anticipated a similar reaction to "The Subway", emphasizing that a different response "does not always mean bad".[6] Lyrically, "The Subway" explores themes of "heartbreak and healing" and has been linked stylistically by Roan to her 2022 single "Casual".[7]
Roan premiered "The Subway" live for the first time during her set at the Governors Ball Music Festival 2024, held at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.[18] The performance attracted attention for Roan's costume, in which she dressed as a New York taxi.[7] Following the show, she changed her Instagram profile picture to the Subway logo.[19] Roan later performed the song during select dates of her Midwest Princess Tour, including shows in Norfolk and Columbia, as well as at her Lollapalooza 2024 set.[20]
Advertisements for some kind of release on August 1, 2025, started being spotted in New York City c.July 23; later that day, a preview of the song was released on YouTube and a teaser for the music video was shared on social media.[21] On July 28, the release date was set for July 31.[22] On July 30, the music video was announced for release on August 1.[23]
Critical reception
"The Subway" has garnered acclaim from music critics. Shaad D’Souza of Pitchfork praised Roan as "one of pop's most distinctive writers", writing that the song "sounds totally fresh" despite having a "familiarity". D'Souza describes this combination of "familiarity and novelty" as being "Roan's real magic trick".[16] Paolo Ragusa of Consequence also praised Roan's song writing, saying that "The Subway" traces "the sting of a breakup with more passionate, majestic songwriting". Ragusa notes that the song has more "subtlety" than is typical of Roan's music.[17] David Renshaw of The Fader similarly wrote that Roan "puts feeling ahead of the exuberance of her biggest hits".[24]
Commercial performance
"The Subway" debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart[25], the highest charting debut of Roan's career in the UK, surpassing her previous record for "The Giver". This record made Roan the first artist to achieve two number ones on the UK Singles Chart in 2025; after "Pink Pony Club" charted at the position in March of that year.[26]
Roan was seen filming a music video, believed to be for “The Subway”, on July 7, 2025, in New York City. She wore a red, "Rapunzel-esque" outfit while gazing out from above a fire escape.[27]
In the video, Roan, wearing a large red wig, walks through busy New York City streets where she notices a woman whose face is obscured by large green hair. Upon making eye contact, Roan begins chasing the woman through the streets and into the subway. Sequences on the subway show Roan appearing to search for the green-haired woman, intercut with visions of her.
The narrative then shifts to an intimate fire escape scene overlooking the city, where Roan wears a shimmery hair bullet bra and skirt. In a later sequence set in a yellow taxi, Roan catches sight of what she believes to be the green-haired woman's silhouette. As she tries to exit, her long red hair becomes caught in the taxi door, pulling her away.
Throughout the video, flashbacks to the fire escape and subway carriage are shown alongside a dance sequence on a subway train, where Roan wears a jacket and skirt made from hair. Additional scenes depict Roan riding a bicycle through the city with her hair trailing behind and collecting debris, floating in the Washington Square Park fountain, and appearing in business attire with short hair while surrounded by swirling wind and rubbish.
The storyline culminates with Roan seeing the green-haired woman embraced by another red-haired woman, followed by Roan climbing a large pillar of green hair suspended over the city. The video ends with her sitting beside a fountain eating pizza, before cutting to a final shot of her waking up on the subway.[28]
Amber Grace Johnson directed the music video, shooting on 35 mm film.[29] Roan was styled by Genesis Webb, with hair by Lacy Redway and makeup by Andrew Dahling.[30]
The opening chase sequence features large textured red and green sculptural hair costumes created by French hair designer Charlie Le Mindu.[31]
A shimmer cone bra and skirt ensemble crafted from human hair, accented with rhinestone undergarments, was designed by Australian fashion designer Connor O'Grady. This look appears in the fire escape scene overlooking the city.[32]
A hair jacket and skirt, constructed from human hair bundles, lace closures and wigs, inspired by Maison Margiela's 2009 hair coats, was collaboratively designed by hairstylist John Novotny and designer Todd Thomas. This outfit is worn in the subway dance sequence.[33]
A grey oversized suit and tie designed by James Nguyen and AC Gottlieb is worn during the taxi scene in which Roan is dragged by her hair.[34]
↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 35 – 24/08 – 30/08/2025"[Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 35 – 24/08 – 30/08/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "35 24-08-25 30-08-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
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