The Farr Side: Carly Rae Jepsen returns with strong effort
Carly Rae Jepsen hopes you give her music a second listen.
Three years ago, it was impossible to turn on the radio and not hear the Canadian singer’s infectious smash, “Call Me Maybe.” The song spent an impressive nine weeks perched atop the Billboard Hot 100 in summer 2012.
“Call Me Maybe” should have made Jepsen a bonafide star, but the reality of the music business can sometimes cause a person to become jaded. Jepsen is proof that just because you have a hit doesn’t guarantee you’ll be a star. That, and the fact she was seen as a teen pop sensation, when in actuality she was 26.
Jepsen saw the failure occurring when her label rushed out her debut album in only two months, hoping to cash in on the success of the song. The rush job for the release of the album, “Kiss,” proved to be a mistake. Poor sales and the lack of a strong follow-up single almost blew her career chances.
Jepsen did manage to team up with Owl City for the hit “Good Time,” which kept her name in the loop for a short while. But I can’t tell you how many times people asked me, whatever happened to Carly Rae Jepsen?
I can finally answer that question. She has been busy working on her newest album, “Emotion.” At 29, she’s done trying to be a teen pop sensation. She’s ready to become a true pop star, with real lyrics and something with substance.
Jepsen is following Taylor Swift’s trend to go back and try to do something with an ’80s flair. After all, the ’80s was the best decade for music ever! Swift has found massive success doing so, but can Jepsen? According to most critics, Jepsen nailed it.
I was curious to hear the new music the moment I saw the video for her latest single, “I Really Like You,” which featured Tom Hanks lip-syncing the catchy lyrics. I have to admit it was a good way to reintroduce herself, even if she doesn’t even appear in the video.
“Emotion” is strong. The album is very much a 1980s-style gem, maybe even more ’80s-ish than Swift’s “1989” (although I gave that album a perfect 10). The album opens with “Run Away With Me,” which makes me think of Swift’s new old sound. I love it.
The title track easily could have been a hit for Expose back in 1988. Jepsen captured the essence of ’80s dance pop completely, even on the track “I Didn’t Just Come Here To Dance.” Yeah Right, Carly.
The strength of her songwriting is best illustrated on the album’s only true ballad “All That,” thanks, in part, to co-writers Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) and Ariel Rechtshaid.
The time away from the spotlight was good for Jepsen. The new album speaks for itself. My only hope is that radio picks it up and gives her another shot. The music proves she’s worthy of another call, and I don’t mean maybe.
Contact David T. Farr at farrboy@hotmail.com.