Comments on: Call Me Maybe: Viral? Totally

Call Me Maybe: Viral? Totally

filthy light thief — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:02:00 -0800

4 (to 6) easy steps to viral fame through pop music: 1) write and record a catchy pop song, 2) get radio play for your song, and 3) get Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to hear your song, so 4) they tweet about enjoying your song. Bonus steps to further fame: 5) make a video that has a twist ending, which 6) people (including Bieber and Gomez) cover and remake and share online for further fame and fortune. Thanks to all this, Carly Rae Jepsen's pop dance song has moved beyond Canada, and is charting all over the world. If that's not enough, NPR's Ann Powers has further thoughts on the pop hit and its video.

The fluffy, poppy-ness of the song lends itself to plenty of lip-synching videos, including James Francoa and a friend, and Katy Perry and friends. Then there are the covers, and parodies a-plenty.

By: mrgrimm

mrgrimm — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:14:01 -0800

You buried the lede. The NPR story is the best link, especially for those of us who don't want to listen to any of this stuff and want all of you kids off our lawn. Francoa can't wait.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:15:12 -0800

My daughter and I heard this in the car recently, and came up with the Pop Song Fight Club Theory that the song is really being sung from the point of view of Maeby Fünke to someone who refuses to call her by her somewhat silly name.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:15:54 -0800

Hm. I'm thinking there are actually a lot of steps before your Step 1 and lots of sub steps and further detail with all the other steps, including he having placed third in Canadian Idol, tourd with the resulting concert tour, had been supported and promoted by labels, producers, songwriters, publicists, and teams of people whose job is to make her successful, not to mention the handlers and teams of decisionmakers who instructed Bieber and Gomez to cover and tweet about the song. The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing people that the word "marketing" is not part of the term "viral marketing."

By: psoas

psoas — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:20:23 -0800

I first heard this on the radio when vacationing in New Zealand last month and instantly assumed it was some local (or Euro) artist I'd never hear again, since it was way too saccharine to make a splash back home in the U.S. Oh, how wrong I was. Moral of the story: Saying "I was on vacation in New Zealand" is an amazingly flexible way to preempt others' sympathy, yet remains deliciously addictive.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:24:06 -0800

And I think that might be the most typo-filled comment I've ever posted. Drat.

By: ReeMonster

ReeMonster — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:24:58 -0800

Ms. Jepsen is a little old for this shit, don't we think?

By: moviehawk

moviehawk — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:26:13 -0800

It helps that it's insanely catchy. Like...addictive, even.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:29:53 -0800

Ms. Jepsen is a little old for this shit, don't we think? She's 27, so nah. I am, however, impressed that the credited producer and writer of the song is also only 27.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:31:43 -0800

For perspective, Donna Summer was 27 when she released Love To Love You Baby. 27 is not "old" for breaking as a pop/dance star.

By: drinkcoffee

drinkcoffee — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:33:10 -0800

Catchy, yes -- but horrible, horrible lyrics. Call me, "maybe"? What lazy rhyming.

By: bonobothegreat

bonobothegreat — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:33:13 -0800

This sort of music drains the life force from my body.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:34:54 -0800

She's 27, but Canadian, which is only about fifteen in human years.

By: ReeMonster

ReeMonster — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:37:05 -0800

27 is certainly not old to write a pithy simplistic pop song. Seriously, a 15 year old with a year of music theory training could do it. Or an 8 year old for that matter.

By: ReeMonster

ReeMonster — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:37:49 -0800

I mean young.. I mean.. you know what I mean.

By: inthe80s

inthe80s — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:38:50 -0800

As far as the twist ending goes, I imagine anyone who hasn't seen Physical might find that to be a novel twist. Me, not so much... As far as the music itself goes, it's not bad for what it is. There is certainly much worse topping the charts the last few years.

By: bondcliff

bondcliff — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:38:56 -0800

I was getting my hair cut at Supercuts or a similar place and mixed in with all the shitty pop songs was Rebecca Black's Friday, being played as if it were just another shitty pop song and not some really amazingly shitty thing that only ever got popular because it was so much shittier than regular shit. Humans sure are dumb.

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:39:02 -0800

One of the guys from LMFAO is 37, but good for him. I can't imagine being 37 and dancing in speedo singing "Sexy and I Know It".

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:39:55 -0800

The World Famous: Hm. I'm thinking there are actually a lot of steps [missing] That's the trick with any [x]-step program: there's a lot of detail left out. There's no appeal in a 372-step program. I'm sorry, everyone. I'm a sucker for really poppy music with a background story (prior example: Rebecca Black's Friday and Ark Music Factory). To atone, here's Oliver Tank's "Dream" EP, and a companion remix EP. New music that isn't saccharine pop.

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:47:27 -0800

Metafilter: 37 and dancing in a speedo singing "Sexy and I Know It."

By: Hoopo

Hoopo — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:51:34 -0800

having placed third in Canadian Idol Canadian Idol is possibly the worst show I have ever seen. It would be better for everyone if we all pretended it didn't exist.

By: ob1quixote

ob1quixote — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:57:35 -0800

I just can't put my reaction to that Ann Powers NPR piece into words. I understand my reaction is at least partly colored by the fact that I didn't like the song. I barely made it through the first chorus before I clicked on "Close Window". I know it's her job to overthink things like this, but… In her mind a fairly run-of-the-mill dance-pop song is actually a transformative force teaching tolerance to adolescent boys who are, "utterly comfortable acting out same-sex desire." Seriously? Then again, what else should we expect from someone who puts spaces around her em-dashes?

By: uncleozzy

uncleozzy — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:58:52 -0800

I can't imagine being 37 and dancing in speedo singing "Sexy and I Know It". You're forgetting about the endless fire-hose-spray of money constantly threatening to tear off your Speedo. Anyhow, "Call Me Maybe" is reprehensible, lyrically, but with a hook so big and perfect that I can forgive it (very much like "Somebody That I Used to Know," actually).

By: carsonb

carsonb — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:03:50 -0800

There's a lyric at the end, lord help me I'll watch it again if I have to... OK, it's Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad. She says it over and over and over and over and over until it just makes my brain go POIT!

By: Copronymus

Copronymus — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:08:51 -0800

In her mind a fairly run-of-the-mill dance-pop song is actually a transformative force teaching tolerance to adolescent boys who are, "utterly comfortable acting out same-sex desire." Seriously? I think she wasn't saying that the song teaches tolerance, but rather that the videos display the increasingly tolerant attitudes of the teenagers who are making them. They're not driving the culture, they're relics of it. The song just happens to be a convenient flashpoint because it's so playful and light that it practically begs to be goofily lipsynced to.

By: stormpooper

stormpooper — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:25:41 -0800

Yet Cathy Richardson auditions for the voice and can't get past the screeners. The music industry just blows. Let me know when The Beibs goes nuts or something. Then I'll pay attention (he totally looks like a Ted Bundy-like persona to me. Don't trust the kid).

By: 40 Watt

40 Watt — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:26:27 -0800

Someone's been reading up on The KLF, it seems.

By: blue t-shirt

blue t-shirt — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:37:19 -0800

Yeah, so how about that song? Sure is catchy.

By: Bunny Ultramod

Bunny Ultramod — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:52:35 -0800

Humans sure are dumb. And contemptuous!

By: kenko

kenko — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:01:28 -0800

I can't imagine being 37 and dancing in speedo singing "Sexy and I Know It". Maybe you should work out.

By: nooneyouknow

nooneyouknow — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:12:12 -0800

I can't imagine being 37 and dancing in speedo singing "Sexy and I Know It". Maybe you should work out. *sigh*

By: zippy

zippy — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:25:18 -0800

LMFAO's next hit: "Sorry for being 37 and dancing in speedo singing 'Sexy and I Know It.'"

By: 40 Watt

40 Watt — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:03:52 -0800

EVERY DAY I'M ~~SHUFFLIN'~~ DEALING WITH LOWER BACK PAIN, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND AN OVERDUE MORTGAGE PAYMENT

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:38:38 -0800

BUT I'M SHUFFLIN' WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKIN'

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:42:27 -0800

How can you say no to the lines "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah!"? In the comfort of your own home, apartment, car, or office cubicle, you don't need the self-confidence of a fit young lad to wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah!

By: psoas

psoas — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:02:37 -0800

Ha! I knew that was going to be Spandy Andy!

By: Metro Gnome

Metro Gnome — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:40:58 -0800

I don't believe she's Canadian. I'd trade my soul for a wish, Pennies and dimes for a kiss No pennies in Canada anymore!

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:59:42 -0800

That's why she's so eager to trade them.

By: Phreesh

Phreesh — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:10:57 -0800

Dude, this is exactly the kind of music I hate, but DAMN that is one great hook. A grudging thumbs way up.

By: nooneyouknow

nooneyouknow — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:49:48 -0800

The funniest part of the video was her failing horribly at sexy!car washing.

By: box

box — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:50:12 -0800

I heard an interview with Santigold on NPR today, and all I could think about was whether she's older than I am (the answer, which I had to look up: yes, but barely).

By: speicus

speicus — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:44:59 -0800

Could not get past the second paragraph of the Ann Powers article, which kicked off with this particularly inept description: Every note vacillating between major and minor chords along the tonic; every slice of a string section that seems real but's just a synthesizer dream Journalists, STAY AWAY from the music jargon you don't understand, it only makes you look stupid.

By: ambient2

ambient2 — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:22:20 -0800

It's all over the radio in the UAE.

By: nooneyouknow

nooneyouknow — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:29:55 -0800

This video was linked around a while ago. It's three women dancing to the song with a Papa Johns' delivery guy. It's either four people having fun messing around or a failed viral video. I haven't decided yet.

By: bz

bz — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:40:00 -0800

Regardless of the actual music, my goodness is that a tight, tight mix. Surgical. Sounds great.

By: minifigs

minifigs — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:46:01 -0800

I pulled some muscles around my ribs while "shuffling" last year. I was in pain for weeks. I'm 27. I have nothing but respect for that 37 year old.

By: judson

judson — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:54:45 -0800

Catchy pop song but that band behind her is not playing that song.

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:03:53 -0800

I pulled some muscles around my ribs while "shuffling" last year. I was in pain for weeks. I'm 27. Most likely the problem is lack of practice; this is why LMFAO encourages it Every Day.

By: LiliaNic

LiliaNic — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:44:26 -0800

ambient2, The UAE is where I first heard this song. I don't tend to listen to the radio at home in the US, but I did over there, and now I have all manner of pop songs stuck in my head. This may be why I've been in a much more lighthearted mood in the couple of months since I returned home.