I Really Like You

"I Really Like You"
Single by Carly Rae Jepsen
from the album E·MO·TION
Released March 2, 2015
Format Digital download
Recorded 2014
Genre
Length 3:24
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Peter Svensson
  • Halatrax (co.)
Carly Rae Jepsen singles chronology
  • "I Really Like You"
  • (2015)

"I Really Like You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. It is the first single from her forthcoming third studio album E·MO·TION, which will be released in the summer of 2015.[1] The song was released on March 2, 2015, and an accompanying music video featuring Tom Hanks followed four days later.

"I Really Like You" received generally positive reviews from music critics; many critics called it a summer anthem, while others praised the song's throwback sound and 1980s influence.[2][3][4]

The audio video for "I Really Like You" on YouTube was originally geoblocked in Jepsen's home country, Canada. This was met with displeasure from fans, who voiced their frustrations on social media.[5]

Writing and production

"I Really Like You" was written by Jepsen, J Kash, and Peter Svensson and produced by Svensson, with co-production from Halatrax.[1][6] Jepsen enjoyed working with Svensson as he helped her rediscover her penchant for writing pop music, and because he wrote "Lovefool" (1996), one of her favorite songs.[1] According to her, "I Really Like You"'s lyrics are about "that time in a relationship when it's too soon to say 'I love you,' but you're well past, 'I like you' and you're at the 'I really, really like you' stage."[1]

Composition
"I Really Like You"
A sample of "I Really Like You", a mix of synthpop, new wave, dance-pop and bubblegum with a 1980s-inspired sound
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Soraya Nadia McDonald writing for The Washington Post characterises "I Really Like You" as a synthpop song that is musically reminiscent of Jepsen's previous album Kiss (2012). She also opines that the track incorporates a 1980s-inspired sound which is similar to Solange Knowles' 2012 EP True.[7] Sharan Shetty from Slate describes "I Really Like You" as a bubblegum song,[8] while The Verge‍ '​s Emily Yoshida notes elements of 1980s new wave music on the track.[9] On behalf of Rolling Stone, Ryan Reed names it a dance-pop number.[10]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews, praising its 80's sounds. Billboard magazine called the song "really (really) fun" and "a breathless 80's banger that comes back to [2012 single] "Call Me Maybe's" fixation on ultra-crisp percussion and blurted-out flirtation".[2] Sugarscape.com characterised the track as "essentially the musical equivalent of a mouth full of popping candy followed by a bag of Sour Skittles, which is never a bad thing",[4] while Bianca Gracie of Idolator.com described "I Really Like You" as "mind-blowing, fantastic, catchy-as-hell pop".[3]

Commercial performance

"I Really Like You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 48, starting 38,000 downloads sold on week dated March 21, 2015.[11] On May 2, 2015, the song rose number 83 to 39, becoming her third top 40 on the chart.[12]

On Canadian Hot 100, the song debuted at No. 14 on week dated March 21, 2015.[13]

Music video

Jepsen filmed part of the song's music video on February 16, 2015 in front of the Mondrian Hotel in Manhattan alongside Tom Hanks, Justin Bieber, and a large number of dancers. The video was released on March 6, 2015.[14] CBC Music's Nicolle Weeks described the video as "a more affable version" of the music video for The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1997).[15]

Jepsen released a lyric video to VEVO on March 17, 2015, and a video of her Saturday Night Live performance on April 5, 2015.

Bieber uploaded a parody video to YouTube on April 14, 2015; it instantly turned viral. The video featuring Ariana Grande, Kendall Jenner, Rixton, CL, Lance Bass, David Foster, Frankie Grande, Matthew Espinosa, Bryshere Gray, Kimberly Nichole, Jeremy Scott, Ryan Butler and Alfredo Flores.[16]

Live performances

Jepsen has promoted "I Really Like You" in various programs such as Saturday Night Live.

Jepsen performed the song live on Good Morning America on March 2, 2015, followed by a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 5 March, and Sunrise on March 11, 2015.[1] On April 4, 2015, Jepsen served as musical guest during an episode of Saturday Night Live, and performed "I Really Like You" and debuted a new song, "All That". On April 23, 2015, she performed the song at The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 37
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 43
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 44
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 14
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 36
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[23] 26
Denmark (Tracklisten)[24] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 10
France (SNEP)[26] 64
Germany (Media Control Charts)[27] 25
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 3
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[29] 9
Japan (ZIP Dance Hits 20)[30] 1
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[31] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[34] 25
Norway (VG-lista)[35] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 25
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[38] 39
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 40
US Top Twitter Tracks (Billboard)[40] 1

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Canada March 2, 2015 Digital download 604 [41]
Mexico
  • Schoolboy
  • Interscope
 [42]
United States [43]
March 24, 2015 Contemporary hit radio [44]
United Kingdom April 26, 2015 Digital download [45]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Carly Rae Jepsen Releases Brand-New Single 'I Really Like You' Today – Track Now Available Now From All Digital Partners" (press release). PR Newswire. March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Carly Rae Jepsen's 'I Really Like You': 'Call Me Maybe' Star's New Single is Really Fun - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You”: Review Revue". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Single review: Carly Rae Jepsen - 'I Really Like You'". Sugarscape. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen's new single geoblocked in Canada". Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Studio Gangster on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ Nadia McDonald, Soraya (March 2, 2015). "Hear Carly Rae Jepsen’s newly released single, ‘I Really Like You’". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ Shetty, Sharan (March 1, 2015). "Carly Rae Jepsen Releases I Really Like You". Slate.
  9. ↑ Yoshida, Emily (March 2, 2015). "I Really Like You could be the triumphant return of Carly Rae Jepsen". The Verge.
  10. ↑ Reed, Ryan (March 2, 2015). "Carly Rae Jepsen 'Really, Really' Likes Crush on Shimmering New Single". Rolling Stone.
  11. ↑ Trust, Gary (March 11, 2015). "Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars Notch 10th Week Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ Trust, Gary (April 22, 2015). "Wiz Khalifa's 'See You Again' Tops Hot 100 for Second Week". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ Canadian Hot 100 week of March 21, 2015
  14. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (February 17, 2015). "Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber, Tom Hanks Team Up for 'I Really Like You' Video Shoot". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ CBC Music. "CBC Music". Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  16. ↑ Justin Bieber Flirts With Kendall Jenner & Ariana Grande In New Video — Watch
  17. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". Tracklisten. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen: I Really Like You" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 18, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Japan Hot 100 for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  30. ↑ http://zip-fm.co.jp/program/zip_dance_hits20/
  31. ↑ The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Carly Rae Jepsen
  32. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Carly Rae Jepsen search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". VG-lista. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". Singles Top 60. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Twitter Top Tracks for Carly Rae Jepsen. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  41. ↑ "I Really Like You – Single by Carly Rae Jepsen". iTunes Store (CA). Archived from the original on March 2, 2015.
  42. ↑ "I Really Like You – Single by Carly Rae Jepsen". iTunes Store (MX). Archived from the original on March 2, 2015.
  43. ↑ "I Really Like You – Single by Carly Rae Jepsen". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on March 2, 2015.
  44. ↑ Top 40/M Future Releases at the Wayback Machine (archived March 14, 2015). All Access Music Group.
  45. ↑ "I Really Like You – Single by Carly Rae Jepsen". iTunes Store (GB). Archived from the original on March 14, 2015.

External links