“Chappell Roan Explains How Watching the Freddie Mercury Biopic Bohemian Rhapsody ‘Transformed My Career’”
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The singer was deeply impacted by the reenactment of Queen’s legendary Live Aid performance.
Rising pop artist Chappell Roan credits Freddie Mercury, and more specifically Rami Malek’s portrayal of the Queen frontman in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, for playing a significant role in shaping her career.
During a discussion at the Grammy Museum on Thursday, Nov. 7—just before the Grammy nominations were announced—Roan spoke with songwriter Daniel Nigro, with Brandi Carlile moderating the conversation.
In their talk, Roan shared that Bohemian Rhapsody was a major influence in her transition “into pop.” She explained, “That scene, whenever they’re performing Live Aid and they’re doing ‘Radio Ga Ga’ and that part where the crowd claps? That changed my career. It was a turning point, and I thought, ‘I will do whatever it takes.'”
The moment she referenced was the iconic 1985 Live Aid performance, where Mercury masterfully led the audience in synchronized clapping.
When Carlile asked if Roan saw a connection between her queerness and the film, Roan responded, “I wasn’t there yet.”
She went on to explain, “At the time, I just wanted to experience what it felt like to have that kind of connection with a crowd. I thought, ‘How can I create something where everyone in the audience is moving together like that?’ It was such a powerful moment—to have everyone in sync like that.”
Roan’s crowd interaction in “HOT TO GO!” mirrors this concept, with fans spelling out the song’s title, much like how The Village People’s “YMCA” prompts audience participation. Nigro also highlighted “Femininomenon,” which features a call-and-response section in the bridge.
“You started performing and saw how people were reacting,” Nigro remarked. “That was a moment when you realized you could take it even further.”
The “Pink Pony Club” artist agreed, sharing, “I always knew I wanted to write songs that would create an incredible live experience and engage the audience.”