"Call Me Maybe" Artist Releases New Hit

I can’t stop listening to this sound on TikTok.

As usual, it's catchy, it's a snippet from a song, and it's being overused. And, as always, I’m mumbling it under my breath in the hallways at school. The way I usually satisfy this illness is by listening to the song from which the TikTok sound was born. I had heard Carly Rae Jepson had released some new music, but only vaguely. It was when I realized that this TikTok sound came from her song that I became invested.

Amidst all the Midnights hype, Jepson‘s new hit single The Loneliest Time is getting lost. Jepson outdid herself. Jepson’s boyfriend Rufus Wainwright did a good job, too, though I honestly don't have much to say about him.

Here goes my breakdown for why this song is absolutely killer.

1. The instrumental portion of the song is fascinating— It feels as though you're listening both to a Broadway number and an 80’s disco song your mom loved when she was 15. It's nostalgic, yet relevant. The drums and baseline appeal to the 2022 “on the radio while grabbing drive-thru iced coffee”, but the piano notes keeps it theatrical. The piano, however, was seemingly edited with a filter that makes the overall sound dreamy and futuristic.

2. Jepson’s voice, however, is what makes the song. She is soft and melodic, but strong in select parts. Although Jepson and Wainwright‘s voices don‘t match perfectly, Wainwright‘s voice does succeed in enhancing the theatrical aspect of the song.

The song features frequent beat changes, pitch changes, and various tunes so that you never get bored. I have listened to the song three times in a row and find myself only wanting to listen more.

3. These lyrics stand out to me because they are not only bright, but also original and refreshing. The song follows a couple's relationship in a meaningful yet light tone.

“What happened was

We reached the moon

But lost in space, I think we got there all too soon

But you know what

I'm coming back for you, baby

I'm coming back for you”

The beat coincided with these lines illustrates a story. I’m captivated not only by her annunciation of the lyrics, but of the relationship Jepson is telling me about.

These lyrics, along with the sound, transmit a feeling. I’m excited for this couple, I'm curious. The lyrics are powerful - even if the subject matter isn't necessarily moving.

3. Music videos have had a small revival in the past year or two. Not as popular as they once were, artists have slowly begun investing more time and feeding back into the music video culture that was so prevalent in the 2010’s. Music videos can be an opportunity for the musicians to showcase to their listeners the visual theory of the song, creating an artistic combination of verbal and visual storytelling: Needless to say, I'm a huge music video fan. And, fortunately, Jepson gave us a beautiful music video.

The lighting was amazing— and Jepson’s green dress gave her the ethereal look to match the tone of the song. Visual appeals include a piano, a rocket ship, a building full of lights, and a New York City skyline. And, of course, Jepson’s head of platinum blonde hair. My favorite moment, though, is when Jepson transforms into an angel and begins to swoop gleefully over and under city buildings.

It is a top tier music video.

To conclude, I can assure you that “The Loneliest Time” will not leave you disappointed— time to go save it to your Fall Playlist.