Although plenty of people would wish it so, you'd be hard-pressed to avoid the unbelievably catchy pop phenomenon that is Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." With a danceable rhythm, lyrics that will sear themselves into your brain, and backing from superstar Justin Bieber (and his powerful friends), it looks like the international chart-topper is positioned to be the song of summer 2012... Maybe?
With the hitch of the entire song being about giving digits, it's surprising to hear that Jepsen has never given a guy her number! But seems she didn't have to as she is currently dating someone from her home in Canada.
[Related: 50 Greatest Summer Songs]
Coming from relative obscurity to having a #2 song on the Billboard Top 100 (but could hit #1 next week), the last six months have been a wild ride for singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. She initially came into Canadian households by competing on the 2007 season of Canadian Idol, finishing in third place. The singer then moved from the little town of Mission in British Columbia to Vancouver, signed to a small label, and released "Call Me Maybe" as a testing ground song. Making the rounds on Canadian radio, apparently Justin Bieber happened to hear the song while visiting home in Canada for Christmas in 2011. Much like how Usher plucked him from Youtube, Bieber acted quickly to take the 26-year-old singer under his 18-year-old wing.
"Call Me Maybe" became a quick viral hit after Bieber and pals including Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and members of Big Time Rush made a DIY cover video for the song that has at this point surpassed 40 million views. The video not only sparked a flood of fan cover videos, but homemade videos and covers from celebrities like Katy Perry, fun. and even James Franco.
[Related: Katy Perry Is Latest Celeb To Make Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" Cover Video]
Setting aside her powerful advocates, the song itself is a bubbly, adorably angsty teen song that has all the elements that a summer hit should have: A good beat, great melody and catchy lyrics; something you and your friends can belt out in the car while driving to the beach, a party, and pretty much anywhere. And who hasn't given their number and thought something along the lines of, "Hey, I just met you / And this is crazy / But here's my number / So call me, maybe?" It's not love or lust, it's just an innocent crush, a leap of faith and a low-pressure request: The perfect way to start off a summer fling.
Other interesting tidbits about Jepsen:
- She wanted to buy Justin Bieber a fake ID for his birthday
- Her and her bandmates paid $30 to name a star after Bieber
- Owns over 60 unfinished diaries, from which she finds songwriting inspiration
- She signed a contract with Bieber's label even before meeting him
- Was originally signed to her first label as a folk artist
- She does not appear in the Youtube video Bieber and friends made
- "Call Me Maybe" co-writer Josh Ramsay ditched everything except the one line when Jepsen brought him the first version of the song
But will Jepsen's bid for becoming summer 2012's song pan out? Could be that she is peaking early. CNN.com pointed out that last year's big summer hit "Moves Like Jagger" didn't come out until late June and she has heavy competition from her boss Justin Bieber's song "Boyfriend." Plus, she is yet to unseat the current #1 "Somebody That I Used To Know" by fellow obscurity-to-superstardom singer/songwriter Gotye, who has the longest running #1 song of the year thus far.
All I know is that I really can't get this song out of my head and sometimes--despite sales figures, competition, or critics--that is all one needs to have a summer jam.
Carly Rae Jepsen's EP "Curiosity" is out now and she is aiming to release a full-length album this fall along with a duet with Justin Bieber "sometime soon."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
