Chappell Roan[1] wrapped her three-city Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour in Los Angeles on Saturday night, performing two sold-out shows in front of her biggest crowds yet, welcoming nearly 30,000 fans each night. And as she closed out the run, the pop queen paused to deliver a sweet speech about how performing — and bringing joy to queer people — reminded her why she loves doing this job.
“I wasn’t gonna do a U.S. tour until the very last minute, I decided to do one, and I’m so glad I did. It’s so fun. This job is so awesome. Thank you for making it awesome,” Roan told the sold-out crowd at the Brookside at the Rose Bowl. “Everything made sense this year: Why I do this. Last year, I was really questioning, ‘Why am I doing this to myself? I’m so sad. I feel so left out in public. I feel so awkward all the time.’ And I always felt like, ‘Why am I putting myself through this? If this feels so, if this is taking so much away from me, what is this for?’”
She continued: “And then I started doing shows again, and it all made sense that it was to literally bring queer people joy and tell them that it’s OK.”
Roan reminisced on the importance of Los Angeles in her journey finding herself, and why it’s important to protect peace and happiness, given the trying times in the country and in the world.
“There’s so many things in the world that are so ‘fuck you’ and like, then there is this. The only thing that matters anymore is joy to me. And protecting that, and peace and safety,” Roan said. “So I hope you know that when you are here, you are safe, and I want you here, you can be whoever you are tonight.”
“You’re cherished for everything that you are. Even if you’re not queer, I hope you know that I include you. This isn’t just for the gays,” she added. “Thank you for being here and supporting me and supporting each other. This is the biggest headline show I’ve ever had. So thank you.”
She closed out her speech: “Moving to the city is what I wrote this entire Midwest Princess album about, and I wrote all my favorite songs here. I am me because of the city. So thank you.”
A Rolling Stone review[2] of Roan’s New York City concert described the show as “a dazzling victory lap — and a communal dance-crazed celebration for her fans… The whole night felt like a coronation moment for her.”
References
- ^ Chappell Roan (www.rollingstone.com)
- ^ Rolling Stone review (www.rollingstone.com)