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Call Me Maybe is the third track on Carly Rae Jepsen's sophomore studio album, Kiss (2012).

It additionally appears on the Curiosity EP as the first track, and was originally intended as the third track on the scrapped Curiosity album.

The song was first released on September 20th 2011 through 604 Records exclusively in Canada, and later across early 2012 through Schoolboy and Interscope Records worldwide.

Call Me Maybe received an official music video on March 1st 2012, which has garnered over 1.3 billion views as of June 2021. [1]

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I threw a wish in the well
Don't ask me, I'll never tell
I looked to you as it fell
And now you're in my way
I trade my soul for a wish
Pennies and dimes for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this
But now you're in my way

[Pre-Chorus]
Your stare was holding
Ripped jeans, skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Where you think you're going, baby?

[Chorus]
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
It's hard to look right at you, baby
But here's my number, so call me maybe
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
And all the other boys try to chase me
But here's my number, so call me maybe

[Verse 2]
You took your time with the call
I took no time with the fall
You gave me nothing at all
But still you're in my way
I beg and borrow and steal
At first sight and it's real
I didn't know I would feel it
But it's in my way

[Pre-Chorus]
Your stare was holding
Ripped jeans, skin was showing
Hot night, wind was blowing
Where you think you're going, baby?

[Chorus]
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
It's hard to look right at you, baby
But here's my number, so call me maybe
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
And all the other boys try to chase me
But here's my number, so call me maybe

[Bridge]
Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad
I missed you so bad
I missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad
And you should know that
I missed you so, so bad

[Pre-Chorus]
It's hard to look right at you, baby
But here's my number, so call me maybe

[Chorus]
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
And all the other boys try to chase me
But here's my number, so call me maybe

[Outro]
Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad
I missed you so bad
I missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad
And you should know that
So call me maybe [2]

[Intro]
Do you remember it? The day we started it
I picked you up, I've never done that before
I was kind of nervous, I-, couldn't look you in the eye
It was predictable, we said nothing more than...

[Pre-Chorus]
Hey I just met you, and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe? [3]

Song credits

Writing and production

  • Written by: Carly Rae Jepsen • Tavish Crowe • Josh Ramsay
  • Produced by: Josh Ramsay

Instrumentation

  • Guitar: Tavish Crowe
  • Strings: Josh Ramsay
  • Instrumentation: Tavish Crowe • Josh Ramsay

Additional credits

  • Engineering: Josh Ramsay
  • Mastering: Gene Grimaldi
  • Mixing: Dave Ogilvile
  • Mix assistance: Zach Blackstone • Brock McFarlane • Jeremy Patch
  • Additional editing: Nik Pesut
  • Background vocals: Josh Ramsay (uncredited)

Studio info

  • Recorded at: Umbrella Studios (Richmond, BC)
  • Mixed at: Warehouse Studios • Mushroom Studios (Vancouver, BC)
  • Mastered at: Oasis Mastering (Burbank, CA)

Publishing info

  • Published by Carly Rae Music / Jepsen Music Publishing (SOCAN) • Regular Monkey Productions (SOCAN) • Tavish Crowe / Crowe Music Publishing (SOCAN) [4]

Background

Call Me Maybe was released exclusively in Canada on September 20th 2011, through 604 Records, serving as the lead single for the intended Curiosity album.

In December of that year, the song was heard on the radio by Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez whilst were in Canada. Upon hearing the track, Bieber posted to social media, stating 'Call Me Maybe is possibly the catchiest song I've ever heard', sparking a wave of international interest in the song and in Jepsen, who had previously only seen minor success in Canada.

Call Me Maybe would go onto see massive commercial success worldwide, becoming a US Platinum Certified single for selling over 20 million copies in the country and topping over twenty charts across the globe, including the Canadian Hot 100 and the United Kingdom Top 40. The song is widely recognised as a cultural phenomenon, seeing a viral wave of parodies, lip dubs, and covers after its release, from the likes of the Cookie Monster, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Big Time Rush, amongst others.

Writing and development

Call Me Maybe, originally a folk song, was written with Tavish Crowe during development of Jepsen's then-second studio album, Curiosity, between 2009 and 2011. Jepsen has provided two different accounts of the writing process for the song:

May 2019 account

In May 2019, Jepsen explained how Call Me Maybe was written over the course of a month, with the bridge being the first part conceived - originally a folk song, with a different melody, she had worked on with Tavish Crowe at her uncle's house. [5]

The chorus of the song was also written with Tavish Crowe, initially serving as the pre-chorus of another unknown song. This portion of the song appears to have been performed live by Jepsen alongside Call Me Maybe, serving as the intro to the song, during its live debut on November 14th 2011. [5][3]

Both elements of the song that were written with Crowe - the bridge and chorus, were shown to Josh Ramsay sometime later. Jepsen mentioned that she was introduced to Josh Ramsay by her head of label, around release of Bucket as a single in April 2009, and had show him the original idea for the song after meeting. [6] Jepsen explained that Ramsay pieced them together, deciding to change the original pre-chorus into the chorus, and additionally constructing the rest of the song. [5]

On the night before she was due to record the song, Jepsen states she had entirely rewritten one of the verses, as she disliked the way it had been written previously. [5]

June 2012 account

In June 2012, Jepsen told a slightly different story in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. In this version of events, Jepsen states Call Me Maybe started as a folk song written on the road with Tavish Crowe, and described how the lyrics came in 'very easily'. The folk demo was then brought to Ramsay, who helped to 'pop-ify' it, Jepsen elaborated. [7]

At the time, Jepsen claimed the song was written, recorded and produced 'within four or five days, tops' and described it as a 'pretty easy song to write.' [7] It's unclear to which re-telling of the story is most accurate.

Announcement and release

Canadian release

Call Me Maybe was first previewed by Jepsen and 604 Records on August 23rd 2011, with a release to follow sometime in early September. [8] It appears the song was first released when it was sent to radio on September 7th, based on Tweets made at the time. [9][10]

On September 15th, an official release date of September 20th was announced by 604 Records. On that day, Call Me Maybe was released exclusively to iTunes Canada as a digital download, serving as the lead single for Jepsen's then-upcoming second studio album. [11][12]

Global release

In early 2012, upon the success of the Call Me Maybe, Jepsen was signed to School Boy and Interscope Records, who would begin to distribute the song globally - now serving as the lead single for her next album, Kiss, instead.

Whilst its exact release date is unclear, Call Me Maybe would begin to impact iTunes in the United States as early as February 20th 2012, with the official release date being noted as February 22nd on Jepsen's website at the time. Other sources suggest the song was released across Europe on February 20th, and in Brazil and Germany on February 24th. By March 25th, the song had also impacted Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. [13][14][15][16]

On March 16th, Call Me Maybe was sent to radio in the United Kingdom and later released to iTunes UK on March 30th. A digital-only Call Me Maybe EP was released in the United Kingdom that same day, featuring two additional Curiosity tracks, Both Sides Now and Talk To Me, and also the instrumental version of the song. [17][18][19]

Call Me Maybe would also be released as a CD single exclusively in the United States and Germany on April 17th and April 27th 2012 respectively. [14] An extended-play of Call Me Maybe remixes would also be released in 2012, receiving a limited vinyl pressing. [20]

Music video

Announcement and release

Call Me Maybe would receive an official music video, directed by Ben Knechtel, in late 2011. The music video was first announced by Jepsen over social media in response to a fan question on September 29th 2011. [21] On December 7th, the music video was premiered on New Music Live and uploaded to YouTube later on December 11th. [22][23] For unknown reasons, the video was taken down and reuploaded on March 1st 2012. [1]

Development and conceptualization

The music video was shot on October 29th, 2011 according to Tweets from Jepsen at the time. On November 9th, Jepsen was previewed the first cut of the video. [24][25]

According to Knechtel, the main idea behind the concept of the video was to have a 'twist at the end', trying to get away from the idea of the classic 'boy meets a girl' story. Knechtel explained, 'I thought it would be good to have him be gay. [...] It was funny how all her efforts to get his attention go to waste at the end.' [26]

Holden Nowell and original storyline

Holden Nowell starred in the Call Me Maybe music video as Jepsen's neighbourhood crush. In 2018, Nowell publicly spoke out against the gay scene at the end of the video, stating 'the fact that they had to make me gay at the end of the video... I didn't like being known as the gay guy in the 'Call Me Maybe' video. It was just something I wasn't used to.' [27]

The original storyline called for Nowell to kiss the male band member, played by guitarist and co-writer of the song Tavish Crowe, but Nowell suggested the alternative storyline, where he gave the guitarist his phone number instead. He explained, 'I was like, 'I'm going to be completely honest with you. I'm not going to kiss a guy, especially for $500.' I said, 'I really don't think I'm comfortable kissing a guy for a music video [...] I said, 'You know what? What if instead of me kissing a guy at the end of the video, what if I just give a guy my number or something like that?' [27]

Navigation

Curiosity
Released
Curiosity EP Call Me MaybeCuriosityPictureTalk To MeJust a Step AwayBoth Sides Now
Other releases MittensLet It Snow
Unreleased
Curiosity album Lost and FoundAlice In WonderlandDear JulienEuropeAngels
Outtakes My Beating HeartEverytimeCup of TeaKatie's Kicking in the CornerShe's a Make-Out BanditFalling For YouThe MartyrSun On YouTiny Little BowsStoreCame Here To DanceGuitar String / Wedding RingWe Almost Said It
Untitled songs Untitled 2009 songUntitled Global News song
Music Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe. YouTube. March 1st, 2012. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  2. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe Lyrics. Genius. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  3. 3.0 3.1 Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe, FIRST LIVE Public Performance! Nanaimo, BC. YouTube. November 11th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  4. Curiostiy and Kiss (album booklet). Carly Rae Jepsen. 604 Records, School Boy Records and Interscope Records. 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Table Manners with Jessie Ware Spotify - S6 Ep 3: Carly Rae Jepsen Spotify. May 2019. Retrieved June 29th, 2021.
  6. Carly Rae Jepsen on the Music That Made Her Pitchfork, May 16th 2019. Retrieved August 25th 2021
  7. 7.0 7.1 Carly Rae Jepsen talks about Call Me Maybe and new album... MuchMusic. June 1st, 2012. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Archived via WayBack Machine
  8. 604 Records Carly Rae Jepsen Rehearsal (New Song Preview) YouTube. August 23rd, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  9. @carlyraejepsen "Spending my weekend doing a whole lot of nothing. 4 more sleeps til Call Me Maybe's Release!" (Tweet) September 3rd, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  10. @carlyraejepsen ""@Lindsay6262: Just heard @carlyraejepsen's Call Me Maybe on the radio!! I love it!!!" Thanks so much! Xo" (Tweet) September 18th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  11. @604Records "The new single "Call Me Maybe" from Carly Rae Jepsen will be on itunes Tuesday!" (Tweet) September 15th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  12. @604Records "Carly Rae Jepsen new single "Call Me Maybe" is now on itunes! " (Tweet) September 20th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  13. @carlyraejepsen "Um... Call Me Maybe is #45 on US iTunes Charts. Floored!" (Tweet) February 20th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Call Me Maybe - Wikipedia" Wikipedia. Retrieved June 30th, 2021. (Note: this information is unverified)
  15. @carlyraejepsen "Just found out Call Me Maybe is #1 in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia! Thank-you. Wow." (Tweet) March 25th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  16. Music | The Official Carly Rae Jepsen Site" Carly Rae Jepsen, 2012. Retrieved August 18th 2021 - Archived via WayBack Machine
  17. @carlyraejepsen "Woohoo! A big shout out to the UK! "Call Me Maybe" is now at radio in the UK!" (Tweet) March 16th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  18. @carlyraejepsen "UK... At last <3 Call Me Maybe is available on iTunes, click here: " (Tweet) April 1st, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  19. Call Me Maybe - EP" Apple Music. 2012. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  20. Carly Rae Jepsen Call Me Maybe Remix Vinyl - 604 Shop" 604 Records. 2012. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
  21. @carlyraejepsen ""@jaderamsayJR:@carlyraejepsen r u gonna make a music video for call me maybe cuz that would be amazing!!!"Yes Mamma" (Tweet) September 29th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter
  22. @carlyraejepsen "Call Me Maybe video premieres today on New Music Live! Hope you like shirtless hot male models?! Lol" (Tweet) December 7th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter
  23. @carlyraejepsen "The video is out so ...Call Me Maybe http://youtube.com/watch?v=m4N9WiVACqQ&feature=share… via @youtube" (Tweet) December 11th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter
  24. @carlyraejepsen "At the CALL ME MAYBE video shoot. Getting all dolled up and gawking at the male lead. Yum." (Tweet) October 29th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  25. @carlyraejepsen "I may have just seen the first cut of the video for "Call Me Maybe"." (Tweet) November 9th, 2011. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Twitter.
  26. McCormick, Rob"Crestwood Secondary School grad writer, director behind Internet sensation video for Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe The Peterborough Examiner. May 26th, 2012. Retrieved June 30th, 2021 - Via Archive
  27. 27.0 27.1 Wong, Curtis M. "'Call Me Maybe' Video Heartthrob Says He Wasn't 'Comfortable' Playing Gay Huffington Post. June 8th, 2018.. Retrieved June 30th, 2021
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