Vision's Underrated: Carly Rae Jepsen
December 13, 2020 • Written by Sonnae Peterson
Let’s go back to the nostalgic year of 2012. For many of us, that year meant awkward middle school haircuts to match tacky shirts. But no matter what age you were, 2012 was something special to us all, because it was the year Call me Maybe, the unforgettable single by Carly Rae Jepsen, hit the charts and “debuted on the Hot 100 on March 10, 2012, eventually clocking 50 total weeks on the chart,” (Werthman). You couldn’t watch a Youtube video, walk into a store, or turn on the radio without hearing the chorus of the uplifting pop single. The music video, released on March 1st, 2012, currently has over one billion views. For many, the song was just another one hit wonder, but for others it was an introduction to Jepsen as a wonderful singer and songwriter.
Before she rose to popularity in 2012, in September of 2007, Jepsen finished in 3rd place on Canadian Idol, and only one year later she released her debut album, entitled Tug of War. Since then, the Canadian artist has released four albums: Kiss (2012), Emotion (2015), Emotion Side B (2016), Dedicated (2019) & Dedicated Side B (2020). In addition to her solo work, Jepsen has fostered and developed many notable collaborations. Her most famous collaboration is It’s Always a Good Time with Owl City, which was released in late July of 2012, just a few months after Call me Maybe. My personal favourite joint effort of hers is a 2020 song, titled Okay On Your Own, a collaboration with bedroom indie pop artist mxmtoon, which blends soft and warm ukulele riffs with melancholy lyrics. Jepsen’s team ups continue, working with artists such as Gryffin and Justin Bebier, as well as Charli XCX and more. Even though Jepsen has not been on the mainstream radio since the early 2010s, I am here to open your eyes back up to the wonders of her feel-good dance-pop music.
Not only is she a pop icon, but her songs are inspirational and soothing. What started off as folk in Tug of War, and pop in Kiss, morphed into Emotion, which is arguably her most experimental album, because she was able to unleash a variety of sounds and instruments in a cohesive and harmonious manner. That album kick started the disco pop style of music she is known for today as Jepsen is able to successfully blend 80’s electronic keyboard beats with modern guitar bass and drums, thus creating the funky fresh vibe. On her most recent album, the song Julien draws the listener in with chords you feel in your heart, backed up by a disco beat, accompanied by Jepsen’s vocals about a break up, sprinkled with the audible representation of sparkles. In contrast, songs such as LA Hallucinations, Higher, Making the Most of the Night, and Tonight I’m Getting Over You start the listener at a slow intro, leading to the chorus, which is when the disco-pop reveals itself. Turning on her music is truly one of the best ways to get your groove on, and if you aren’t checking in on her, you are missing out on some of the best hits. Lucky for all of you, Jepsen has a curated playlist of her own work on Spotify, Carly Complete Collection, where you can sit down and immerse yourself into the 6hr 15min world of Jepsen’s music; the perfect amount of time to drive to Baltimore from Boston, according to Google maps at least. However, if you are looking for a shorter introduction, I compiled a handpicked playlist for Vision’s Spotify account, Vision’s Underrated: Carly Rae Jepsen, so go ahead and listen!
Cited
Werthman, Christine. “Songs That Defined the Decade: Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe'.”
Billboard, 23 Nov. 2019,www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8543875/carly-
rae-jepsen-call-me-maybe-songs-that-defined-the-decade.
