After Midnight (Chappell Roan song)

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"After Midnight"
Song by Chappell Roan
from the album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2023 (2023-09-22)
StudioAmusement (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
YouTube

"After Midnight" 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 became available as the album's third track on September 22, 2023, when it was released by Island and Amusement Records. Roan wrote "After Midnight" with Casey Smith and the song's producer, Dan Nigro. It is a pop, disco, neo-disco, dance, and funk track with lyrics about nightlife and Roan's experience with bisexuality.

Some music critics praised "After Midnight" as catchy and for its sexually provocative lyrics, while others considered it unremarkable. Commercially, it reached number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in the United States, where it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Roan included the song in the set lists of her second concert tour, the Midwest Princess Tour (2023–2024), and Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour in 2024. She performed it at several music festivals throughout 2024.

Background and release

Chappell Roan left her hometown in Willard, Missouri, and moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue a career as a singer; she met the producer Dan Nigro there and they started collaborating by the end of 2020.[1] In 2023, he launched his Island Records imprint, Amusement Records, and signed her as the first artist on the label.[1][2] Nigro produced every track on Roan's debut studio album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess; it was inspired by her life in both the Western United States and the Midwestern United States.[1][3] "After Midnight" is the third track on the album, which was released on September 22, 2023.[4][5] In the United States, the song reached number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart dated August 24, 2024.[6] "After Midnight" received gold certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America and the Australian Recording Industry Association.[7][8] In March 2025, the Official Charts Company revealed that it was Roan's tenth-biggest song in the United Kingdom based on streams and digital downloads.[9]

Production and composition

Roan wrote "After Midnight" with Nigro and Casey Smith; the former two contributed background vocals. Nigro recorded the track at Amusement Studios in Los Angeles, assisted by Austen Healey.

Sterling Sound Studios in Edgewater, New Jersey. Nigro additionally provided drum programming and played guitar, keyboards, percussion, and synthesizers. Musicians who played instruments include Sterling Laws (drums) and Jared Solomon (bass guitar).[5]

"After Midnight"
A sample of "After Midnight", a pop, disco, neo-disco, dance, and funk song that features Roan's whistle register.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"After Midnight" is 3 minutes and 24 seconds long.[10] It is a sensual disco,[11][12] neo-disco,[13] dance,[14] funk,[15] and pop song,[16] where Roan sings in the whistle register.[17] The track incorporates subtle synths and gentle piano.[18] Roan was inspired to write "After Midnight" after moving to Los Angeles at the age of eighteen and realizing that "everything good happens after midnight", which opposes her father's saying: "Nothing good happens after midnight".[19] The song explores themes of sexuality, desire, nightlife, bar fights,[20] and being a "freak in the club".[11]

The lyrics explore Roan's experience with bisexuality; she sings in the

pre-chorus, she expresses her freedom and comfort with her sexuality, despite her family's thoughts on it ("This is what I wanted/ This is what I like/ I've been a good, good girl for a long time/ But baby, I like flirting/ A lover by my side").[22][23]

Critical reception

Music critics praised "After Midnight" for its memorable tune and sexually-charged lyrics. Adam Maidment of the

Collider's Ryan Louis Mantilla both deemed it one of Roan's best songs.[18][26] In a less enthusiastic review, Olivia Horn of Pitchfork considered "After Midnight" unremarkable, but appreciated Roan's whistle tones as "lovely".[17] Hannah Dobrogosz from BuzzFeed dubbed it "flirty, fun, energetic, freaky, and cheeky", although she did not personally connect with the song; she placed it last in her ranking of the album's tracks.[27]

Live performances

Roan included "After Midnight" in the set list of her second headlining concert tour, the Midwest Princess Tour (2023–2024).[28][29] She performed it as part of her set list for Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour in 2024, where she served as an opening act.[13] She additionally played the track at several music festivals throughout 2024, including Boston Calling,[30] Bonnaroo,[31] Lollapalooza,[32] Osheaga,[33] Outside Lands,[34] and Austin City Limits.[14]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.[5]

  • Chappell Roan – songwriter, lead vocals, background vocals
  • Dan Nigro – songwriter, producer, recording engineer, background vocals, drum programmer, guitar, keyboards, percussion, synthesizers
  • Casey Smith – songwriter
  • mastering engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixer
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing engineer
  • Austen Healey – assistant recording engineer
  • Sterling Laws – drums
  • Jared Solomon – bass guitar

Chart

Chart performance for "After Midnight"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
US
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[6]
 22

Certifications

Certifications for "After Midnight"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[8] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Grady, Constance (August 21, 2024). "Chappell Roan Spent 7 Years Becoming an Overnight Success". Vox. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  2. ^ Havens, Lyndsey (June 9, 2023). "Inside Daniel Nigro's New Imprint Amusement Records". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Shafer, Elise (September 22, 2023). "Confessions of a Midwest Princess: How Chappell Roan's Debut Album Arose From the 'Deep Pits of Hell' to Become a 'Dream Come True'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  4. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (June 27, 2024). "The Rise (and Rise) of a Midwest Princess: 5 Numbers That Capture Chappell Roan's Current Explosion". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Roan, Chappell (2023). The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (CD liner notes). Island Records, Amusement Records. 602458321340.
  6. ^ a b "Chappell Roan Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "American single certifications – Chappell Roan – After Midnight". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  9. ^ Griffiths, George (March 4, 2025). "Chappell Roan's Official Biggest Songs in the UK Revealed". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 21, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Roan, Chappell (September 22, 2023). "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Franzini, Sam (September 21, 2023). "Chappell Roan Confronts Modern Issues with Huge Pop Smashes on The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  12. ^ Daw, Stephen (September 22, 2023). "Queer Jams of the Week: New Music from Troye Sivan, 070 Shake, Chappell Roan & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Willman, Chris (February 24, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Is the Actual Rock Star We've Needed in a Galvanizing 'Guts Tour' Opening: Concert Review". Variety. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Kepner, Lily (October 6, 2024). "'Welcome to ACL'! Chappell Roan Draws in Massive Crowd to Zilker Park: Live Updates". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. (September 22, 2023). "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  16. ^ Loftin, Steven (September 22, 2023). "Chappell Roan - The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess". Dork. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Horn, Olivia (September 27, 2023). "Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Monroe, Casey (February 5, 2025). "Best Hits of Chappell Roan Songs of All Time". Gigwise. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  19. ^ Prance, Sam (January 16, 2024). "Chappell Roan Breaks Down Every Song on The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | Making the Album". Capital. Archived from the original on January 6, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c Bennett, Eric (December 28, 2023). "Chappell Roan: No Album Left Behind: Chappell Roan Introduces Her Brazen, Theatrical Self on The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess". Paste. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  21. ^ Δημητροπουλος, Θοδωρης (July 20, 2024). "Ποια Ειναι Η Chappell Roan Και Πως Εκτιναχθηκε Στην Κορυφη Της Ποπ Σε Ενα Καλοκαιρι;" [Who Is Chappell Roan and How Did She Rise to the Top of Pop In One Summer?]. News 24/7 [el] (in Greek). Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  22. ^ Forman, Bee (September 28, 2023). "Chappell Roan Is 'Hot to Go' in Her Debut Album". The Wesleyan Argus. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  23. ^ Beaster, Jillian; Herzing-Burkard, Livia (June 8, 2024). "The Rise of the Musician Chappell Roan". Shorewood Ripples. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  24. ^ Maidment, Adam (September 14, 2024). "Review: Chappell Roan at Manchester Academy Delivers Bold and Unapologetic Performance in Sold Out Show". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  25. ^ Cohen, Lacey (April 3, 2025). "Every Song on Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  26. Collider. Archived
    from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  27. ^ Dobrogosz, Hannah (June 26, 2024). "Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess Album Has Literally No Skips, But I Attempted to Rank the Songs Anyway". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  28. Glamour UK. Archived
    from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  29. Glamour UK. Archived
    from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  30. ^ Slane, Kevin; Jonas, Annie; DaPonte, Kristina; Alterisio, Heather (May 27, 2024). "Boston Calling 2024: Live Updates from the Festival". Boston.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Gibbs, Audrey; Latham, Angele (June 16, 2024). "Nurse-Clad Chappell Roan Heals Huge Bonnaroo Crowd with Her Pop Anthems. See the Show's Top Moments, Setlist". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  32. ^ Hopkins, Earl (August 1, 2024). "5 Best Moments From Chappell Roan's Jam-Packed Set at Lollapalooza 2024". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  33. Billboard Canada. Archived
    from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  34. ^ Kurp, Josh (August 12, 2024). "Chappell Roan Calls Out the VIPs at Her Outside Lands Set for Being 'Too Cool' to Have Fun". Uproxx. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
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