A theatrical explosion of country-pop dominance, the song is equal parts sultry and self-sacrificial, playing on the age-old trope of the doting lover (but make it queer, cheeky, and undeniably in control).
Premiering on Saturday Night Live, Roan strutted onto the stage in a pastel pink and white Southern Belle-inspired ensemble, complete with blue bows and ruffled sleeves, a subtle nod to Dolly Parton’s early aesthetic. But don’t be fooled by the innocent, sugar-sweet look. Beneath the frills lies a full-throttle, sapphic power play. This isn’t just about giving love; it's about giving everything, and on her own terms.
Lyrically, 'The Giver' is both a declaration and a taunt. "And other boys may need a map / But I can close my eyes / And have you wrapped around my fingers like that," she sings, with no trace of bailing on her confidence. This isn’t a song about yearning for reciprocation; it’s about embracing the role of the lesbian ‘top’, one-upping any male competition and relishing in the act of giving (and getting the job done). The dramatic instrumental swells add to the sensation that this isn’t just a pop song - it’s a performance, a persona, a knowing wink to every queer listener who’s ever been the giver in more ways than one.
Sonically, the track straddles the line between classic country tropes and glitzy pop excess. With a two-step rhythm and twangy undertones, 'The Giver' could easily slide into the world of Shania Twain or Dolly Parton, but Roan’s signature synth-laden, over-the-top delivery sends it hurtling into Lady Gaga’s camp-infused orbit. The fusion is seamless; imagine a saloon-style partner dance, but on a neon-drenched drag stage and it works brilliantly.
For those who first experienced 'The Giver' through Roan’s theatrical SNL performance, the recorded version expands on that grandiosity. The live rendition leaned into the pageantry of a coquettish yet commanding Southern Belle, with Roan smirking her way through the lyrics like she held all the power in the world (which, in that moment, she did). The studio version polishes that raw performance into something even glossier, even bigger, and even more irresistibly dominant.
With 'The Giver', Chappell Roan proves that she isn’t just a pop provocateur. She’s a full-blown genre-blending, gender-subverting, sapphic icon. She takes country-pop’s love for devotion and reclaims it as a dominant femme’s manifesto, all while draped in pastels and mischief. It’s sexy, it’s self-aware, and it’s the kind of track that will have queer dance floors screaming every word for years to come. Chappell’s next album cannot come quick enough!
Ellie McWilliam
Image: 'The Giver’ Official Single Cover
