Six years ago, Carly Rae Jepsen’s E-mo-tion album was released. Initially, I didn't care for the album. Bitterly remembering the earworm that is Call Me Maybe and writing the singer off as another hit wonder. I'm sure many other people believe that too! Annoyed with having to listen to Call Me Maybe being stuck in their eardrums.
I found the album six months ago, and I decided to look at some of the hits from E-mo-tion; what makes this such an underrated hit, and why we shouldn't have pegged the singer as a one-hit-wonder.
E-mo-tion
The first song I’m going to talk about is the title of the album because why not! The song starts with an excellent beat, and then we get the intense imagery of the first verse.
Be tormented by me, babe. Wonder, wonder how I do How's the weather? Am I better? Better now that there's no you? Drink tequila for me, babe Let it hit you cold and hot.
The imagery is striking, and it pulls you in. The chords get more robust throughout the first and second verse, preparing you for the chorus.
In your fantasy, dream about me. And all that we could do with this emotion fantasy, dream about me and all that we could do with this emotion this emotion I feel it this emotion.
The ‘In your fantasy’ part has an excellent projection that matches how the chords are progressing. On top of this, it gets more up-tempo, and the drumbeat gets more intense. It makes you want to party to a story about a breakup, where one half wants the other to feel bad they broke and wonder where their future could’ve been. They want them to fantasise about it. It’s a fun revenge track that brings the 80s vibes back into the 21st century with a bang!
Run Away With Me
If anyone has ever used Vine, you’ve heard this song, Well...the first six seconds. If you want to know which vine, it’s the one with the seal playing the saxophone. The first thing that strikes you is the saxophone is loud. It’s fun and uses scale well. It’s dramatic and fully prepared to throttle you into a fun song that will have your attention for months.
The melody and beat of the song are well maintained, and the lyrics tell a story of a person fed up being at a party and wants to run away with their lover.
The chorus has some lovely wordsmithery.
Baby, take me to the feeling. I'll be your sinner, in secret when the lights go out runaway with me
It’s also when the saxophone packs a punch, and the beat of the song works!
When I Needed You
When I Needed You is one of the few power ballads on the E-mo-tion album, and I feel like the beginning of the song reminds me of starship's song ‘nothings gonna stop us now.’ I feel like the drumbeat has a strong impact and helps propel this into ballad status. I also find that Carly Rae Jepsen's voice has an excellent husky quality in this. The storytelling is simple to grasp: it's a lover trying to break up with someone because where ‘were you when I needed you?’
you come to me in dreams at night (come to me in dreams at night) I wake up, and I see the light sometimes I wish that I could change but not for me, for you so we could be together, forever but I know, I know that I won't change for you 'cause where were you for me when I needed someone?
I like the way the chorus sounds, and it's just a fantastic ballad to listen to
Making the Most Of The Night
Making The Most Of The Night feels like the most dramatic sound on E-mo-tion. The drums are quick and crescendo toward the chorus. There is also this 1- 2 count beat that's very light, and it gives it an excellent soft sound and is excellent to listen to. I like the use of the word hijack throughout; it is very sudden and robust and matches well with the song's tempo. I like how pumped up, and energetic the song is, how the increase in rhythm with the guitar makes it a dramatic piece. It's good to listen to at a club or a run.
I Really Like You
Admittedly I Really Like You, whilst being used for radio advertisement isn’t the strongest on the list, yes, Tom Hanks is in the video, but that doesn’t mean everything. It sounds good, and the imagery within the lyrics sells the new romance in the song, and it is a fun one to listen to, but it doesn’t experiment or utilises the 80s sounds. It’s really, really okay against the rest of the album, but it does enough!
Gimmie Love
It took me a couple of listens to love this song, but I love it. The song’s beat is punchy, and the runs Carly produces on this are delightful to listen to!
Worlds fly by drove by your place and stopped again tonight I know I said that I'm too scared to try but I still think about you, think about you and I can't lie I like the feeling, how you make me shy I share my secrets, and I will not hide I know that one could be two, one could be two gimmie love, gimmie love, gimmie love, gimmie love, gimmie love gimmie touch.
Now yes, I get it. Carly repeats gimme a lot in the chorus. However, the way she sings it and goes down the scale feels new and gives the music a breather before coming back in. I find the change from love to touch is surprising and creates this excellent semantic field. Way better than I like you and does much more too!
All That
The second power ballad on the album is a proper slow-burn album. The synth and the piano work in unison well. It’s one of the most 80s inspired tracks. In the chorus, there is a nice use of harmonization.
Show me if you want me. If I'm all that I will be that I will be your friend show me if you want me if I'm all that I will be that I will be your friend.
It’s slow with some cute imagery and is a brilliant slow ballad that shows off that Carly can do more than bubblegum pop.
Boy Problems
Boy Problems tells the story of a girl whose friend is fed up listening to their relationship problems and wonders whether it is worth losing a friend or lover. It has a nice rhythm that speeds up for the chorus and has simple, catchy lyrics.
Your Type
Your Type is a fantastic song about unrequited love. The synth, the drums, and the dun dun dun beat you constantly hear gives it a simplistic eighties, feel and the chorus is stunning.
I'm not the type of girl for you and I'm not going to pretend that I'm the type of girl you call more than a friend and I'd break all the rules for you break my heart and start again I'm not the type of girl you call more than a friend.
They’re passionate, sad, and pack the saddest punch that shouldn’t work well with the up-tempo beat but its speed, how Carly projects her voice. On top of the rhyming, the bridge makes this song a standout that gets forgotten on the E-mo-tion album.
Let's Get Lost
From the start, Let's Get Lost is a fun song, with a beat synthesized but similar to Copacabana (I think). The romantic imagery of this song marks it as a fun love story that you want to drive to.
Baby, let's go get lost I like that you're driving slow keeping my fingers crossed that maybe you'll take the long way home let's get lost I don't wanna let you go keeping my fingers crossed that maybe you'll take the long way home
The romantic imagery and the beat draws you in, and the saxophone comes back. It's just a fun romantic road trip type of song.
LA Hallucinations
LA Hallucinations gets a mixed review by some fans. I like the synthesised beat, and I think the chorus is catchy and enjoy the criticism of LA’s culture. It’s not my personal favourite from the E-mo-tion album, but it’s a good number.
Warm Blood
I really like the song. I like the beat; it’s experimental and fun as all hell. Carly’s voice gets husky in the music and gives it an excellent depth and richness. The opening verse is mysterious, and it invites and lulls me in
I've got a cavern of secrets none of them are for you even if you wanted to keep them where would you find the room? let down my guard tonight I just don't care anymore I've told a hundred lies but I don't wanna tell you any at all
Then the chorus is pretty good, too; it has this lightness, creating this nice dichotomy. I enjoy the imagery with the boy.
Warm Blood feels good. I can't control it anymore sweet one, you should stop me there but I keep on talking I would throw in the towel for you, boy 'cause you lift me up and catch me when I'm falling for you
My only criticism is the autotune to make Carly voice sound more masculine at one point. I think it takes away from the 80s vibe.
In retrospect, we really should’ve given Carly Rae Jepsen more airtime as the E-mo-tion album. Even when the song may be weak (I really like you), they are still good. The album has a lot going for it and a bunch of maturity to it. Carly can keep this uptempo beat even when the song is depressing.
E-mo-tion remains a masterclass of pop even after six years!
Thanks for Reading: E-mo-tion: Retrospective of the Album Six Years Later
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