Jepsen's subversively catchy lyrics, slick musical arrangements, and pop experimentation have made her a true star

Although her music isn't explicitly LGBTQ-focused, the fact that she's been embraced shows just how relatable - and meaningful - her music can be. Jepsen definitely recognizes her newfound status as a beloved icon in the queer community and has performed at a variety of Pride festivals and LGBTQ venues in recent years. To call Jepsen's lyrics superficial is to misunderstand the inherent relatability that characterizes pop - and the subversive quality that so-called generic music can have, for marginalized communities especially. Some have even taken a deep dive into Jepsen's lyrics and music videos, and uncovered a surprising number of nods to LGBTQ people. But others have pointed out that the so-called anonymity of some of her lyrics actually makes her songs more relatable, especially for the queer community. Jepsen's impact extends far beyond music, as she's often celebrated as a queer iconĬritics of Jepsen have argued that most of her music seems crafted for the pure enjoyment of listening, at times lacking a story or personal narrative and the barest trace of Jepsen as an artist. Jepsen's music has that kind of power over her listeners - the ability to draw you in with relatable and passionately emotional lyrics that speak to universal experiences of love and loss, but also unadulterated joy and excitement. 'This was the first one that finally scratched the itch of getting to describe what that feeling is like - when you're young and you've just met someone, but you feel like it's gonna be eternity,' Jepsen said of the heartfelt song.Ĭarly Rae Jepsen performed at Los Angeles pride in 2016. According to the singer, she'd been trying to incorporate mentions of him into numerous songs since they went their separate ways - something she finally achieved with 'Julien.' 'I did have a boyfriend named Julien back in the day,' Jepsen said in an interview from May. And in 'Julien,' a song about fresh heartbreak after a summer fling, a lovelorn Jepsen name-drops her ex in one of her most relatable songs about past romances. 'Want You In My Room,' with its sweeping musical arrangements and drolly exaggerated, spoken hook, puts fellow pop artists like Lana Del Rey to shame. 'Dedicated' was released earlier this year, and features Jepsen fully embracing her new synth-pop sound. As with 'Emotion,' Jepsen took her time creating her fourth album 'Emotion' would go on to become something of a cult hit for Jepsen, and is, without a doubt, her best album to date. More importantly, Jepsen had proved that she was no one-hit wonder after all - instead, she was a complex, creative musician who wasn't afraid to take risks or redefine herself.

Emotion carly rae jepsen