Like “WOW,” I Relate To This Too Much
Written by Mallory Thompson
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
When I first heard the title of Chapel’s newest single “WOW,” I assumed it would be an exciting way of saying this word. But after listening to it for the first time, I realized it’s entirely more relatable the way it’s actually said. “WOW” is the 3rd release for Chapel this year after “First Love” and “Pillow Talk.” Their new EP, Room Service, releases at the end of April.
After listening through “WOW,” I can tell what will make this song stick. It’s quite short in length at 2 minutes and 12 seconds, and a blink and you’ll miss its type of sound. The word ‘WOW’ in this song centers around the idea of realizing who someone actually is, with lyrics “Like wow, so rude,” “Like wow, no shade.” This is the type of song I’d want to listen to after a breakup where I’m at the stage of laughing and realizing how much better off I am. The realization of someone’s actual personality can either be a slap in the face or instant gratification, and this song makes it fun and catchy.
This song is saying the exact toxic behaviour that all of us subconsciously put off when we know that we’re involved in a negative situation. Through this song, Chapel is being the necessary reinforcement, “You need to leave him, he’s toxic, you need to leave her, she's playing you.” I can hear my friends saying it now.
In addition to the reality check, I’m also really impressed with the electronic sounds in this song that fall towards the end. It’s definitely a song I’m going to add to my playlist and drive around this summer, too. Looking through the comments on the music video, other fans think the same.
In the music video, you see vocalist Carter Hardin and drummer Kourtney Grinwis dancing around in what looks to be a warehouse filled with boxes, jumping between different cuts of both of them lip-syncing the words. They go from slow and standing to dancing around, and the vibes are there.
If you haven’t already listened to Chapel, I hope you start to. I’m so impressed by the quality of music they put out. They usually have a mix of alternative electro-pop that you can scream to or dance to, and they always leave me really impressed. The vocal range of Carter Hardin is always something I look forward to, as he has the ability to change the vibe of the song instantly based on how high or low he sings. “WOW” definitely showcases a lower side of his voice, but it still comes packed with the vibes that this band usually has. It has a slower build-up, but once it hits the chorus, the song picks up and you’re ready to dance. I feel like this song will be amazing to hear live and I can’t wait for that day to come.