Chrissy Chlapecka Delivers Sugary Sweet ‘Girlie Pop’

If you don’t already know Chrissy Chlapecka, now’s the time to jump into her fantastic bubblegum world of Girlie Pop. Released earlier this year, Girlie Pop was initially Chlapecka’s debut EP, and now she’s returned with even more sugary sweet songs for a full album-length version titled Girlie Pop: Encore. The album and its nine tracks show Chlapecka firing on all cylinders, owning her queer artistry and femininity while also being unafraid to explore otherwise uncharted material — including Chlapecka’s first emotional ballad that shows there’s real depth underneath the perfect pop star exterior.

‘Girlie Pop’ opens up the Encore experience perfectly encapsulating the album’s mood and Chlapecka’s signature sound. “I got a type for the night / Really hope you say it’s I,” she croons about wanting another female lover. “Sweet, wanna be on my knees, and she says she likes daisies. I’ll be Eden, you be Eve.”

Chlapecka’s flow and sweet as honey voice are perfect when it comes to these light-hearted pop tracks. She knows this and owns it, while still managing to feel perfectly authentic in her hyper-pop roots. As she sings “In sluts we trust” and says she’s taking role call of “all the girls, all the gays”, there’s a tongue firmly planted in her cheek as she owns her pop star image while also being fearlessly female and queer. For a song all about having a lesbian hookup, it’s deliciously perfect.

The sexual fun continues on ‘Verse’, an aptly-titled track about switching positions to have more fun with your partner. The cheerleader rhythm on ‘Verse’ keeps the hype going full steam ahead, while the mood switches to something more sultry with ‘Sugar’.

As Chlapecka sings about wanting Prada and diamonds on ‘Sugar’, she turns her attention to a male lover. ‘Sugar’ has an atypical rhythm, with each line leading directly into the next in surprising ways. It’s experimental and far from formulaic, and while it may take a few listens to fully get used to, ‘Sugar’ is pure genius and a standout of Girlie Pop: Encore.

As ‘Emergency’ begins, Chlapecka’s Girlie Pop mission is entirely apparent. Here, she pays homage to the leading ladies of pop music including Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani while proclaiming that every girl is a star. While ‘Sugar’ defied expectations and turned them on their head, ‘Emergency’ feels more cookie-cutter pop, but with its subject matter it’s entirely appropriate. With her sugary-sweet voice, it might be a stretch for Chlapecka to be “one of the bad girls” like she sings about wanting to join here, but ‘Emergency’ is still a strong track in its own right.

‘I’m Really Pretty’ sees Chlapecka boasting about not just being hot but also ‘really pretty’. It’s a self-empowerment anthem all about body positivity perfect for getting ready for a night out with friends. Chlapecka is the perfect hype girl, and Girlie Pop is personified with ‘I’m Really Pretty’ — which also makes sense why it’s currently the most-streamed song from the album, clocking in at over 1 million streams on Spotify at the time of writing.

In an album full of fun pop tunes, all the songs on Girlie Pop: Encore are fighting to be the most camp — but ’10 Boyfriends’ may just take that prize. Chlapecka counts her various boyfriends in a fun, almost child’s rhyme-type track — but in a song 100% made for adults with lyrics like “Seven ate me out for dinner, then me and ten went and 69’d”. As Chlapecks proudly owns her sexuality here, she’s entirely unafraid to let the world know all about her harem of hot guys who fawn all over her. ’10 Boyfriends’ also teaches a valuable life lesson: ‘A pretty girl should never have just one guy!’

Girlie Pop: Encore begins to wind down with ‘My Only Dream Is To Be Loved’, a slow jam that sees Chlapecka reflecting on her heart’s real desires. It’s a much needed, refreshing moment in Girlie Pop that shows Chlapecka has both the vocal chops and lyrical prowess to be a more serious artist when she wants to be. This might end up being one of the more underrated tracks for how stark it contrasts the otherwise fun-loving image of Girlie Pop: Encore — but it’s still a knock-out.

‘The One Who Gets To Cry’ is another downtempo song, with Chlapecka lamenting on a bad relationship. “That is what I’ve always done; sacrifice to build you up,” she sings emotionally, “and I will until I collapse.” After Girlie Pop: Encore’s fun and fancy free beginning, ‘The One Who Gets To Cry’ is a sharp departure from the easygoing bubblegum pop, with Chlapecka flexing her ballad chops.

Girlie Pop: Encore draws to a close with ‘I Only Want You’, a disco-driving dance floor track that leaves the tears behind as the album goes out with a bang. It’s still a darker track than the saccharine first half of the album, but ‘I Only Want You’ closes the album out strong.

Overall, Girlie Pop: Encore showcases Chlapecka’s strengths lie in her ability to craft impeccable sugary sweet pop tracks. As she experiments with slower tempo songs and ballads, her vocal chops take the spotlight — even if her signature formula for success isn’t quite as obvious. Nonetheless, Girlie Pop: Encore is a stellar collection of songs perfect for any pop music fan.

Girlie Pop: Encore is available now on all streaming platforms.