"Dedicated Side B" by Carly Rae Jepsen is a collection of outtakes from her 2019 "Dedicated"

Photographer: Natalie O'Moore

Carly Rae Jepsen: "Dedicated Side B"

Released: May 21, 2020

Label: Schoolboy

Genre: Pop,Pop/Rock

Producers:

Anton Rundberg, Ariel Rechtshaid,Buddy Ross, Jack & Coke, Jack Antonoff, James Flannigan, John Hill, Jordan Palmer, OAK, Patrik Berger, Pontus Winnberg, Theo Katzman and Tyler Duncan

Writers:

Anton Rundberg,Ariel Rechtshaid,Asia Whiteacre,Carly Rae Jepsen,Daniel Ledinsky,Dave Palmer,Devonté Hynes,Jack Antonoff,Jakob Hazell,James Flannigan,Jared Manierka,John Hill,Julia Karlsson,Markus Krunegård,Nate Campany,Noah Beresin,Noonie Bao,OAK,Patrik Berger,Pontus Winnberg,Sean Douglas,Svante Halldin,Tavish Crowe,Theo Katzman and Tyler Duncan

A year after "Dedicated," the Canadian singer surprises fans and releases the second part of the album, named "Dedicated Side B." The record is full of songs cut short from the original collection and put as B-sides, just as she did for 2015's "Emotion." And she had a lot to choose from. Why? In an interview with "Vox," she said that writing songs "It's my greatest joy. (...) The truth is, by the time "Emotion" was ready, I had 200 songs to select from. And same with "Dedicated.". That's a lot, right?" Well, that's impressive. And she continues, "My publisher says I store songs in my cheeks like a chipmunk. But it was really hard to select [which ones to put on the album], because there were a lot of different places that I experimented with. ... I always kind of knew that I wanted "Dedicated" to be a two-part album." Jack Antonoff, Dev Hynes, and Ariel Rechtshaid contributed to songs.

The opening track, "This Love Isn't Crazy," is 80s-inspired with gorgeous vocals. Carly Rae Jepsen even said that this song "only ended up making the album at the last minute and is now my favorite track." She also said that "I wanted to open with something really theatrical. With "Julien," the opening song on "Dedicated," I went really subtle. So I wanted to flip the switch and just be like, "Welcome to love, everyone!" (...)"

Yes, this is an album that celebrates love, and we can make that conclusion just the first song.

On "Window," she asks the guy to open a "window," which would be a metaphor for saying that he needs to be more vulnerable, is like a description to beg her lover to feel comfortable sharing feelings.

"Felt This Way" is a hot, breezy ode to someone she loves, something that has ever existed for her: "I think nobody ever felt this way (...) My home is your body, how can I stay away?". She seems found safety in that person but wonders if it is just an attraction or true and real love. "Stay Away" uses the same lyrics as the previous one but is sonically different, giving it more positive and confident feelings. If the first one seems insecure about the other's feelings, this celebrates her desire over explosive.

Photographer: Connor Franta

In "This Is What They Say," we understand that Carly loves this boy who dedicates the song. "We're on the right track, I can feel it/ I came alive first day that we met/ I know what everybody's talking 'bout / Wanna say it loud and proud." The next one, the feeling isn't the same. "Heartbeat" shows Carly with fear of her partner not liking her.

"Summer Love" is another love song, enjoying the moments and celebrating love like she's singing, "'Cause I live for the feeling/ Dance to the feeling/ Wait for the feeling of you. " Still on the theme, "Fake Mona Lisa" is about a relationship. Things can be more intimate here. "That song was born in Vegas. I met a guy who did have a beauty mark on his face, and it was just gorgeous. I found out later that he was seeing someone.", she told "Paper." "And then I took that concept to Sweden, and I got to work with two of my favorite writers over there, Julia and Anton, and they liked the concept of it, too. We just started the room with just knowing the title but nothing else yet, and got it to a bigger place.", she explained.

In "Let's Sort the Whole Thing Out," she is forthright about the love she feels for her boyfriend.

"Comeback" was first written in 2017 with Jack Antonoff and Jared Manierka. It was debuted live with Jack Antonoff at The Ally Coalition Benefit Show on December 12, 2019. In an interview with "Paper," she said that "(...) So when we had sessions in New York later on, I brought that idea to him, or just the top-lines of ideas, and some of the words weren't right yet, but he ended up embracing that hook. We just wrote new verses around it and just gave it some new life. And Jack was an incredible... I don't know, he didn't want me to shy away from the melancholy of it. I think sometimes I'm scared to do that, so I really appreciate that he kind of pushed me to go a little deeper."

"Solo" is an anthem for singles. Carly sings about living life in the best possible way, even without being in love with someone." So what you're not in love? You shine bright by yourself dancing solo."

On the closing track, "Now I don't Hate California After All," Carly describes enjoying life and love in California, a mood she expressed complicated on her previous two albums, in the songs "LA Hallucinations" and "Right Words Wrong Time."

"Dedicated Side B" is what Jepsen does best: she wants to make you dance, and you dance to it.

Photographer: Connor Franta

Favorite Lyrics on the album: Editor's Pick

"My home is your body, how can I stay away?" (Felt This Way)

"So what you're not in love?/ You shine bright by yourself dancing solo" (Solo)