When you mention her name, it reminds people of a dark place: middle school.
It was a time when braces, zits, Silly Bandz and PDA plagued the halls; but one hit song dominated the airwaves.
“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, or CRJ, was a sugary pop hit released in 2012 that left the country and middle schoolers divided.
Millions loved the hit for its catchy chorus, while others thought it was overplayed, like I did.
Fast forward to last year and I came across a suggested video on YouTube where music critic Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop gave his opinion on CRJ’s 2015 album Emotion.
With skepticism, I watched the review, but to my dismay, Fantano said he liked the album.
I took Fantano to his word and dropped a cool $7 on CRJ’s CD.
Little did I know, this may have been the best $7 I’ve ever spent.
When I played Emotion for the first time, I was struck by a blaring saxophone from its opening track, “Run Away with Me.”
From that moment on, I was strapped into the glorious seventeen track long album; but it was hard to do so with my hips gyrating uncontrollably.
On Emotion, CRJ takes the classic 80’s synth sound and improves upon it.
The artist doesn’t rip off the sound for commercial success; rather, she pays homage to it with a modern touch.
It makes for a nice break from most of today’s pop, which emphasizes cliché partying lyrics and is heavy on features from other artists.
What makes CRJ’s music so infectious? It’s not only the upbeat tempo and catchy hooks, but the honest lyrics on love, longing, and yes, Emotions.
Jepsen has the artistry of adding a personal touch to each song that everyone can subconsciously relate to as they bust out their moves.
There are a handful of songs where they’re lyrically moody, but sound almost celebratory like “Boy Problems” or “When I Needed You.”
“Boy Problems” feels liberating. After dealing with boy drama that spills into her friendships, CRJ finally lets go. Jepsen progressively turns carefree by singing, “I think I broke up with my boyfriend today and I don’t really care/I got worse problems.”
When you’re moving to this tune, you can’t help but say to Jepsen, “you go girl!”
It’s not all smiles for CRJ, because she’s experienced heartbreak too.
In “When I Needed You,” Jepsen knows she was too good for her former flame, but questions, “where were you for me?”
Although gloomy at its core, Jepsen turns the song into another anthem of self-empowerment.
Nobody’s worth changing for, so let’s get the point across through 80’s sounding synths, snare drums, and groovy backup singers.
Like most of us, the Queen of Pop also longs for that special someone.
Jepsen can be upfront with her yearning in “I Didn’t Just Come Here to Dance.”
On the dance floor she makes it clear, “It’s you boy, you in the corner/Something is taking me over/I only came here for you.”
While you burn up the dance floor with that one, Jepsen can slow down the tempo, but keep the room hot through the steamy song “All That.”
The artist’s desire burns as she implores to “show me if you want me,” with echoing lush backup singers to turn up the temperature.
Of course, Jepsen has been in love before too.
Whenever you find that true love, you feel “up in the clouds, high as a kite, over the city,” and Jepsen takes us there on “Run Away with Me.”
Upbeat throughout, “Run Away with Me” has a sax solo that’ll make you whistle it during the day.
It’s full of energy to the point where you might want to run too, but try not to exert yourself.
Anyone who pops in CRJ’s Emotion is bound to feel all these sensations, but hardly anyone believes me.
When I recommend Jepsen’s music, some hear “Call Me Maybe” reverberate through their mind and they close off.
Admittedly, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jepsen’s music either a year ago, but I keep an open mind on the potential of artists.
Going into Emotion, my mindset was, “We may have not hit it off well the first time, but if CRJ can deliver some good songs, I’m all ears.”
Jepsen’s turnaround shows how an artist can improve their music.
They don’t have to be bound to their past work; artists are always evolving into what they will offer for their next album.
The more willing we are to listen to different music, the more exposure we’ll have to artists who will make us feel something different each time we play their songs.
An artist shouldn’t be defined by one album you may have had reservations of before.
So give her a try, maybe?
PHOTO TAKEN from The Dynamic Sub Channel 03
