Naked in Manhattan explained

Naked In Manhattan
Cover:Naked in Manhattan.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Chappell Roan
Album:The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Genre:Synth-pop
Label:Amusement Records · Island Records
Producer:Dan Nigro
Chronology:Chappell Roan
Prev Title:California
Prev Year:2020
Year:2022
Next Title:My Kink Is Karma
Next Year:2022

"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 third 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]

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 (2024)! scope="col"
Peak Position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[7] 16

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Misiaszek . McKenzie . 2022-02-18 . Chappell Roan just dropped the newest queer girl anthem . 2024-11-10 . Cooglife . en-US.
  2. Web site: Horn . Olivia . Chappell Roan: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess . 2024-11-10 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  3. Web site: Orbison . Bonnie . Chappell Roan - Naked In Manhattan . 2024-11-10 . www.bonnieslegends.com . en.
  4. The artists Chappell fangirls over The Comment Section with Drew Afualo — Watch Free on Spotify . 2024-07-18 . Spotify . 2024-12-04 . YouTube.
  5. Web site: Chappel Roan's "Naked In Manhattan" is a shimmering story of young love – EARMILK . 2024-11-10 . en-US.
  6. Web site: Treadgold . Emily . March 4, 2022 . Chappel Roan's "Naked In Manhattan" is a shimmering story of young love .
  7. devops . 2013-01-02 . Bubbling Under Hot 100 . 2024-11-10 . Billboard . en-US.