Chappell Roan’s surreal NYC odyssey unfolds in her new “The Subway” video, blending campy wigs, fountain dips and heartfelt heartbreak into a dreamy pop fantasy.
Just hours after sharing the studio version of “The Subway,” Chappell Roan dropped its official music video on August 1, treating fans to a whimsical, New York–themed fantasy directed by Amber Grace Johnson.
Roan first introduced the ballad more than a year ago at Governors Ball 2024—costumed as a blunt-smoking Lady Liberty—where it quickly became a standout moment in her set. The new clip sees Roan navigating packed sidewalks in outrageously long red wigs, peeling off a business suit on a wind-swept street, splashing in Washington Square Park’s fountain, and, of course, riding the subway itself as she chases visions of a lost love.
Visually, “The Subway” leans into surreal, campy motifs. Roan’s hair—styled by Dom Forletta into mile-long, Rapunzel-esque curls—becomes a narrative device: it drapes over fire escapes, gets trapped in taxi doors, and trails behind her on a CitiBike, gathering debris and even a few curious rats, symbolizing the messy aftermath of heartbreak.
The video builds to a cathartic finale as Roan wades into the park fountain, shedding her “business suit” persona and embracing the city’s healing energy.
Roan explained in a press release that “the cliché of ‘the girl that got away’ barely scratches the surface” of her inspiration, noting that she wrote the song “stumbling around New York with a broken heart,” imagining her ex at every corner—from coffee shops to fire escapes and, naturally, the subway.
The studio version, co-written and produced by Daniel Nigro, melds poignant lyrics with sweeping pop production, solidifying Roan’s knack for turning personal grief into universal anthems.
Even before its official release, “The Subway” had taken TikTok by storm: over 100,000 posts use its soaring outro—“She’s got a way, she’s got a way”—as the soundtrack to nostalgic slideshows and heartbreak montages.
In tandem with the video drop, Roan announced a series of pop-up shows this September and October, titled “Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things,” including a four-night run at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, plus dates in Kansas City and Pasadena.
These intimate performances serve as a farewell before she retreats to write her sophomore album, following the success of her debut LP The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess and hit singles like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “The Giver.” Tickets go on sale August 4 via her official site and select ticketing partners.
