Hot to Go!
"Hot to Go!" | ||||
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Single by Chappell Roan | ||||
from the album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess | ||||
Released | August 11, 2023 | |||
Genre | Synth-pop | |||
Length | 3:04 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nigro | |||
Chappell Roan singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Hot to Go!" on YouTube |
"Hot to Go!" is a song by American singer and songwriter Chappell Roan, from her debut studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023). It was released through Island Records and Amusement Records on August 11, 2023, as the ninth single from the album. Written by Roan and Daniel Nigro, "Hot to Go!" is a synth-pop track. Described as a queer cheer song similar to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A.", it was inspired by Roan's childhood dream of wanting to become a cheerleader.
The song enjoyed acclaim amidst its release for its musical composition and its story, which describes a woman wishing to have sex with another woman of interest; it was seen by some as norm-defying within the mainstream music industry. "Hot to Go!" drew commercial success months after its release, charting within the top ten on charts in Ireland and the UK, and the top twenty in New Zealand and the US Billboard Hot 100.
Background and writing
[edit]![Refer to caption](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Libery_Stunt.jpg/220px-Libery_Stunt.jpg)
Kayleigh Amstutz, who uses the stage name Chappell Roan to honor her grandfather Dennis Chappell,[1] wrote the song two weeks before the start of her Naked in North America tour.[2] She expressed that she intended for the song to be "silly" to satisfy her inner child, stating to Capital Buzz that satisfying her inner child included "wan[ting] to play dress up all the time and dance and be obnoxious."[3] In an interview with Vanity Fair, Roan stated that she wrote the song to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a cheerleader, basing the song off an American high school cheerleader chant. Roan stated that she did not apply to become a cheerleader during her high school years because "I always thought they were just so cool and so hot... they were just so sassy at my school. I never had the confidence to try out... I didn't belong."[4] Roan, who describes herself as a "huge fan of audience participation",[5] was also inspired by a video of a Queen performance of "Radio Ga Ga" at Wembley Stadium.[2] She later described the song as "like the 'Y.M.C.A.' but gayer".[6]
Composition
[edit]In an analysis by The Line of Best Fit's Sam Franzini, "Hot to Go!" describes the story of Roan "serv[ing] herself up on a platter, happy to be feasted upon and even relishing the opportunity to be lusted after... simulating the mind-bending obsession one can submit to in the presence of a hot person."[7] The instrumental of the song consists of synthesizers,[8] with the lyrics teaching a dance to the song and telling her future lovers that she is ready and waiting to spend time with them.[9] Despite the song being about how "I want[ed] people to call me hot" according to Roan, she stated that outside of her stage name, "I still don't want to be called hot. It's so weird... people take it literally. It manifests in ways of, I feel really uncomfortable watching sex scenes."[10]
Critical reception
[edit]The song drew largely positive reactions. Stephen Daw of Billboard wrote Chappell Roan "offers up a great impression of a cheer captain" and described the song as "fun", "camp", and "exactly the kind of jam that will have you dancing along in no time."[9] Exclaim!'s Kaelen Bell stated that while on first listen it was "annoying", they admitted that the lyrics were "so-dumb-its-genius... you can't believe hasn't been done before, sung with in-the-red commitment by a songwriter with a clear understanding that the joy of pop music is in its full-blooded surrender to ecstasy and excess."[11] A review from Dork stated that the song represented "Roan’s knack for creating engaging, movement-inducing pop."[12] NME's Hannah Myrlea described the song's chorus as "bratty" and made comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo's "Bad Idea Right?".[13] DIY's Otis Robinson wrote that the song was able to "infus[e] teen melodrama with queer euphoria to throw confetti in the face of heteronormativity."[14] Autostraddle's Em Win declared the song as a "queerleader anthem".[15]
Promotion
[edit]![Refer to caption](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Gillioz_Theater_-_Springfield_MO.jpg/220px-Gillioz_Theater_-_Springfield_MO.jpg)
To promote the song, Roan created an accompanying dance for the song's chorus, spelling out the letters of the song's title with a person's arms; similar to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A."[16] Roan also appeared in promotional posters featuring a phone number; according to Emily Bloch of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the number led to a Balkamp product distribution call center.[17]
Music video
[edit]Along with the song's official release, an accompanying music video was released on the same day. It was directed by Jackie! Zhou, and was filmed in various locations around the city of Springfield, Missouri.[18][19] In an interview given out by Zhou, she described filming as a challenge; particularly because at the same time, Roan was filming a documentary. She stated that "I have to give her the deepest props... it's so hard to go from talking about your duality as an artist... and then being like 'Hot to Go!'... and she's amazing."[18] The music video itself features appearances from her grandparents,[20] with Roan acting as a "bouncy cheerleader" outside filming locations.[21] It also features appearances from local Springfield drag queens, as part of a tradition of Roan including drag queens in her performances.[22] In an analysis by Giselle Libby, they wrote that the music video expresses Roan's "cheerleader fantasy" with a "personal twist", with the video providing a "snapshot of [Roan's] past and present lives, granting fans a deeper look into where she came from and how it impacts her artistry today."[22] Vogue's Alex Jhamb Burns wrote that while Roan currently resides in Los Angeles, the addition of her "groov[ing] around a gas station in a cheerleader’s uniform and mini-golfs in heels" in Springfield displayed that "she hasn’t forgotten her roots."[23]
Live performances
[edit]Roan sang "Hot to Go!" as an unreleased single numerous times in live performances. She first sang the song at a Phoenix, Arizona, concert on February 15, 2023, as part of her Naked in North America tour.[6] She continued to sing the song throughout the tour, including in performances in Austin,[24] Boston,[25] Cambridge,[26] Salt Lake City,[27] San Francisco,[28] and Los Angeles throughout the months of February and March 2023.[29] After the song's official release, she performed the song as part of her Midwest Princess Tour, including performances as the opener for Olivia Rodrigo[30] and a performance featuring drag queen Sasha Colby.[31]
Accolades
[edit]Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
MTV Video Music Awards | 2024 | Best Trending Video | Pending | [32] |
Commercial performance
[edit]Almost a year after its release, "Hot to Go!" debuted on number 80 the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending June 15, 2024.[33] The song has currently peaked at number 16 on the chart dated August 17, 2024.[34] Internationally, the song peaked within the top ten in Ireland and within the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart. It has received a Gold certification from Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) and a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Charts
[edit]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[35] | 22 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[36] | 28 |
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[37] | 28 |
Global 200 (Billboard)[38] | 22 |
Ireland (IRMA)[39] | 10 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] | 20 |
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[41] | 71 |
UK Singles (OCC)[42] | 10 |
US Billboard Hot 100[43] | 16 |
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[44] | 35 |
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[45] | 22 |
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | August 11, 2023 |
|
[48] | |
United States | August 13, 2024 | Contemporary hit radio | [49] |
References
[edit]- ^ Grady, Constance (July 2, 2024). "Chappell Roan spent 7 years becoming an overnight success". Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Dodson, P. Claire (March 9, 2023). "Underneath Chappell Roan's Hannah Montana Wig? A Pop Star for the Ages". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Prance, Sam (July 10, 2024). "Chappell Roan Reveals The Actual Meaning Behind Her 'Hot To Go!' Lyrics". Capital Buzz. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Fromson, Audrey (September 18, 2023). "Chappell Roan on Making Pop Music and Giving Back". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Lindert, Hattie (August 11, 2023). "Chappell Roan Shares Video for New Song "Hot to Go!": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Ashburn, Austin (February 23, 2023). "Pop Crave Exclusive: Chappell Roan Interview". Pop Crave. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ 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 July 23, 2024.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (August 11, 2023). "Chappell Roan's New Single and Video 'Hot to Go!' Is an Enthusiastic Anthem About 'Being Hot'". Uproxx. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Daw, Stephen (August 11, 2023). "Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Tove Lo, Chappell Roan, G Flip & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Alter, Rebecca (August 2, 2023). "Chappell Roan Just Wants to Be Hannah Montana". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Bell, Kaelen (August 24, 2023). "Chappell Roan's "HOT TO GO!" Is a Stroke of Horny Genius". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ "Hot to go: the songs that show exactly why Chappell Roan is the buzziest star on the planet right now". Dork. July 9, 2024. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Mylrea, Hannah (September 21, 2023). "Chappell Roan – 'The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess' review: unabashedly fun anthems". NME. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Otis (September 22, 2023). "Chappell Roan - The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess". DIY. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Win, Em (September 26, 2023). "Chappell Roan's Debut Album Is for Us Midwest Queers". Autostraddle. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Barraza, Paris (June 12, 2024). "What's the 'Hot To Go!' dance? A quick guide to Chappell Roan before her Hinterland set". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bloch, Emily (May 23, 2024). "I tried to call Chappell Roan's 1-800-HOT-TO-GO. Here's who answered instead". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Klinger, Doug (May 29, 2024). "Jackie! Zhou talks about Chappell Roan "Hot To Go!" and "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl"". Music Videos Never Die. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Madden, Tony (June 18, 2024). "Chappell Roan's 'HOT TO GO!' music video features these Springfield locations". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Lindert, Hattie (August 11, 2023). "Chappell Roan Shares Video for New Song "Hot to Go!": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Nash, Eleanor (April 5, 2024). "Pop star Chappell Roan draws 'tacky' inspiration from Missouri and this Kansas City bar". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Libby, Giselle (August 14, 2023). "Chappell Roan Is Unapologetically "HOT TO GO!"". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Burns, Alex Jhamb (September 25, 2023). "Chappell Roan Is the Queer Pop Moment". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Dasgupta, Trisha (February 21, 2023). "Chappell Roan puts on shimmering performance at Austin tour stop". The Daily Texan. University of Texas at Austin. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Cavagnaro, Cam (March 3, 2023). "Concert Review: Chappell Roan at the Sinclair". Front of House Boston. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Moiseieva, Anna (March 9, 2023). "Chappell Roan Concert Review: Cambridge's Pink Pony Club". The Harvard Crimson. Harvard University. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Nelson, John (March 14, 2023). "Review: Chappell Roan–Naked In North America tour". Salt Lake Magazine. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ de Clair, Sinead (March 19, 2023). "August Hall turned Pink Pony Club: Chappell Roan in San Francisco". Berkeley B-Side. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Chappell Roan brings 'Pink Pony Club' to L.A. with 'Naked in North America' tour". Daily Trojan. University of Southern California. March 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Kottmann, Niki (February 23, 2024). "Here's every song on Olivia Rodrigo's set list from opening night of her 'Guts' tour". The Desert Sun. Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Carter, Ashleigh (July 20, 2024). "Chappell Roan Brought Sasha Colby on Stage & It Was Iconic". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Perez, Lexy (August 30, 2024). "Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter Among Social Category Nominees at MTV VMAs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 15, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of August 24, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Philippines Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "Chappell Roan Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Chappell Roan – Hot to Go!". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Chappell Roan – Hot to Go!". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Hot to Go! - Single by Chappell Roan". Spotify (US). August 11, 2023. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ "A Recap of Radio Add Recaps". Hits. August 13, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.