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Good Luck, Babe!

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"Good Luck, Babe!"
Single by Chappell Roan
ReleasedApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
GenrePop[1][2]
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dan Nigro
Chappell Roan singles chronology
"Hot to Go!"
(2023) 		"Good Luck, Babe!"
(2024)
Music video
"Good Luck, Babe!" on YouTube

"Good Luck, Babe!" is a song by American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. It was released as a single on April 5, 2024, through Amusement Records and Island Records. She wrote the song along with Justin Tranter and Dan Nigro, with the latter producing it. The song speaks about compulsory heterosexuality, describing a woman trying to deny her romantic feelings for Roan and women in general.[3][4]

Praised by Billboard as a "well-deserved breakthrough", "Good Luck, Babe!" became a sleeper hit, steadily rising the charts following various live performances including Coachella and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June 2024. With the track, Roan earned her fastest song to hit 100 million streams on the Spotify. "Good Luck, Babe!" has currently peaked within the top ten of charts in Ireland and the UK, plus the top twenty of charts in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the US Billboard Hot 100. The song received critical acclaim from music critics and has also been included on several mid-year rankings for best pop song.

Background[edit]

In April 2024, Roan sent an email to fans stating that her new single "Good Luck, Babe!" would be released on April 5, 2024, writing that the song is "about wishing good luck to someone who is denying fate."[5] She added that it would be the "first song of the next chapter," following the release of her debut studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in September 2023.[6][7] Amusement Records and Island Records released the single through streaming and digital download.[8]

Writing and composition[edit]

Roan wrote the song with Justin Tranter and Dan Nigro, stating that she "was just wanting to write a big anthemic pop song," and that it "was a bitch to write."[9] Lyrically, the song speaks about compulsory heterosexuality, with Roan describing a relationship with a woman who tries to deny her romantic feelings for Roan and for women in general.[9][10]

Lyric video[edit]

An accompanying lyric video for "Good Luck, Babe!" was released on April 5, 2024, along with the song's official release.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

"Good Luck, Babe!" received widespread acclaim upon release, with many declaring it a breakthrough hit. Critics were particularly enthused about Roan's powerful vocal showcase, observing that it was symbolic of her concurrent ascent in popularity — a reckoning of an artist with a formidable future in music.[12][13]

Sydney Brasil of Exclaim! opined that the song was "a more realized version of her baroque pop vision, both airy and devastating in its delivery.”[14] Stephen Daw from Billboard praised the symbiotic relationship of Nigro's production with Roan's vocal performance, writing, "The maximalist production—featuring chunky '80s synths and a multi-piece string section—fuels Roan's octave-jumping voice... As frustration, flirtation and self-confidence ooze from every syllable of Roan's impeccable delivery, it's no wonder why audiences are clamoring for more of the superstar's exceptional artistry".[12]

Commentators drew comparisons of Chappell Roan to the likes of prominent musicians of the 1980s, such as Kate Bush, Wham!, and Cyndi Lauper.[15] Shaad D'Souza of The New York Times posited that the song resonates old fashioned depths further beyond just a 1980s pop veneer, highlighting some theatrical element to how Roan delivers her narrative lyrics "with vocal trills and almighty wails" that is reminiscent of Liza Minnelli.[16]

Speaking for NPR, Sheldon Pearce crowned the track as his top pick for pop song of the year, meriting its profound lyrics, "'You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling' is such a monumental read that feels like a gut punch. It's the kind of direct emotional attack that you can't escape even as a bystander".[17] Mary Kate Carr of The A.V. Club shared the same zeal for the songwriting, "Her lyrics are even more precise [than her debut album] and brimming with righteous anger".[18] The bridge is a frequent focal point in discussions of the song’s craft, leaving many impressed with its bite and vivid storytelling.[19] Jason P Frank of Vulture lamented that the quality it boasts makes a strong case against the current trend of artists omitting a bridge to shorten tracks, in endeavors for TikTok success.[20]

Critics' mid-year rankings of "Good Luck, Babe!”
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 50 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) 3 [12]
Consequence 100 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) 7 [21]
Los Angeles Times The 24 best songs of 2024 so far N/A [22]
The New York Times The 40 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) N/A [23]
Rolling Stone The Best Songs of 2024 So Far N/A [13]
NPR The best songs of 2024 (so far) N/A [17]
The A.V. Club 25 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far) N/A [18]

Commercial performance[edit]

"Good Luck, Babe!" debuted at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending April 20th 2024, becoming Roan's first entry on the chart. The song has so far peaked at number 16 on the chart dated June 29, 2024.[24] On the UK Singles Chart, the song has so far peaked at number 7, becoming Roan's first top-10 hit on the chart.

Impact[edit]

Upon landing on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, the publication noted that this event not only calls to celebrate a breakthrough for Roan's career, but also for a wider movement of young LGBT pop artists as it demonstrates possibilities to be fruitful without compromising overt themes of queerness in their music.[15]

Other observers expanded on this, discerning how the few chart-topping "queer anthems" are merely imbued with subtext as they blur the lines between heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Skewing the lyrics this way might ensure the universality needed for wider audiences to relate, but does so at the expense of fully exploring the unique complexities of LGBTQ stories. Roan's rejection of this marketable approach with "Good Luck, Babe!" was applauded as many felt it spoke to her authenticity as an artist; and that hopefully her boldness paying off would inspire the future landscape of pop.[25]

Juliana Tanner of The Michigan Daily echoed such optimism, commending Roan for not leaving any room for ambiguity in her homosexuality, despite facing cynicism in the past. Tanner was also relieved to see the song reaching mainstream heights as a welcomed departure from the scarce sapphic anthems in the charts that typically fetishize lesbian sexuality for male audiences. [26]

Poignantly, the song being received outside of queer communities has suggested to some a socially progressive shift in the way audiences consume music. Rather than seeking lyrics that the listener can wholly relate to, they are potentially more open than ever to premises that reflect a varied human experience and empathizing with them instead.[25]

Live performances[edit]

Roan added "Good Luck, Babe!" to the setlist of the Midwest Princess Tour, debuting it at her first Coachella set in April 2024.[27] Her first televised performance of the song was in June 2024, when she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[28]

Cover versions[edit]

In June 2024, Sabrina Carpenter covered "Good Luck, Babe!" as part of a set for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge; Carpenter had previously shared that she was a big fan of the song.[29] The song has also been covered by Girl In Red, Peach PRC, and Wallows.

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Good Luck, Babe!"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[30] 12
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 22
Global 200 (Billboard)[32] 20
Greece International (IFPI)[33] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 6
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[35] 13
Lithuania (AGATA)[36] 34
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 64
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 13
Portugal (AFP)[39] 132
Singapore (RIAS)[40] 20
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 100
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 58
UK Singles (OCC)[43] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 16
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[44] 30
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[45] 19

Certifications[edit]

Certifications and sales for "Good Luck, Babe!"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[46] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and format(s) for "Good Luck, Babe!"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various April 5, 2024
[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Daw, Stephen (April 5, 2024). "Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Kehlani, Chappell Roan, Omar Apollo & More". Billboard.
  2. ^ Rolling Stone Staff (June 11, 2023). "The Best Songs of 2024 So Far". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2024. Good Luck, Babe!" is a big, bold pop anthem that makes it clear Roan won't deny fate.
  3. ^ Spanos, Brittany (April 5, 2024). "Chappell Roan Won't Tempt Fate on New Single 'Good Luck, Babe!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Cramer, Jude (April 9, 2024). "The writer of this gay anthem has a heartwarming message for queer folks". INTO. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Blistein, Jon (April 3, 2024). "Chappell Roan Lectured at Harvard and Bid Farewell to Olivia Rodrigo's 'Guts' Tour". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (April 5, 2024). "Chappell Roan - "Good Luck, Babe!"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  7. ^ McCarthy, Lauren (April 4, 2024). "Chappell Roan steals the show". Nylon.
  8. ^ a b "Good Luck, Babe! - Single". April 5, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (April 5, 2024). "Chappell Roan Won't Tempt Fate on New Single 'Good Luck, Babe!'". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ Cramer, Jude (April 9, 2024). "The writer of this gay anthem has a heartwarming message for queer folks". Into More.
  11. ^ White, Marie (April 13, 2024). "Review: 'Good Luck Babe!' is a mini masterpiece". The Eastern Echo.
  12. ^ a b c Daw, Stephen (June 18, 2024). "The 50 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far): Staff List". Billboard.
  13. ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (June 12, 2024). "The Best Songs of 2024 So Far". Rolling Stone.
  14. ^ Brasil, Sydney (April 5, 2024). ""Good Luck, Babe!" Is Chappell Roan at Her Most Fully Realized". Exclaim!.
  15. ^ a b Jocelyn, Hannah (April 18, 2024). "Not Just 'Luck': Why Queer Pop Star Chappell Roan Broke Through to the Hot 100, And Why It Matters". Billboard.
  16. ^ D’Souza, Shaad (May 22, 2024). "Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan Saw a Gap in Pop, and Filled It". The New York Times.
  17. ^ a b Cills, Hazel; Pearce, Sheldon; Hilton, Robin (June 18, 2024). "The best songs of 2024 (so far)". NPR.com (Podcast). NPR. Event occurs at 02:30.
  18. ^ a b Carr, Mary Kate (June 12, 2024). "25 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far)". The A.V. Club.
  19. ^ Lindsay, Benjamin (June 21, 2024). "Chappell Roan Gets Standing O for Late Night Debut Performance of 'Good Luck, Babe!". The Wrap.
  20. ^ Frank, Jason P (June 21, 2024). "Chappell Roan Is A Drag Songbird". Vulture.
  21. ^ Siroky, Mary (June 11, 2024). "100 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far)". Consequence.
  22. ^ Wood, Mikael (June 7, 2024). "The 24 best songs of 2024 so far". Los Angeles Times.
  23. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (June 20, 2024). "The 40 Best songs of 2024 (So Far)". The New York Times.
  24. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Good Luck Babe!, and the Potential of Pop Albums". June 9, 2024.
  26. ^ Tanner, Juliana (June 11, 2024). "'Good luck, babe': The search for a lesbian soundtrack". The Michigan Daily.
  27. ^ "Chappell Roan on Her First-Ever Coachella and the Magic of Makeup". Vogue. April 14, 2024. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  28. ^ "Chappell Roan Discusses Meteoric Rise, Performs "Good Luck, Babe!" on Fallon: Watch". Pitchfork. June 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "Sabrina Carpenter Covers Chappell Roan's 'Good Luck, Babe' After Saying She Had It on 'Loop'". Rolling Stone. June 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 1, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  31. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  32. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  33. ^ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  35. ^ "Latvijas spēlētāko dziesmu Radio Top 2024. gads – 23. nedēļa" [Latvia's most played songs Radio Top 2024 – Week 23] (in Latvian). LAIPA. June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "2024 26-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  38. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 1, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  39. ^ "Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  40. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 25 (14 - 20 Jun 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  41. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 26". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  42. ^ "Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  43. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  44. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  45. ^ "Pop Airplay: Week of June 29, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  46. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!". Music Canada.
  47. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  48. ^ "British single certifications – Chappell Roan – Good Luck Babe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  49. ^ "American single certifications – Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
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