Want You in My Room
"Want You in My Room" is a 2019 pop song by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen, from her fourth studio album, Dedicated. It was written by Jepsen, Tavish Crowe, and its producer Jack Antonoff. Jepsen released a music video for the song in September, and a live version was included in her Spotify Singles EP in October 2019. "Want You in My Room" was named #32 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Songs of 2019.[2][3]
"Want You in My Room" | |
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Song by Carly Rae Jepsen | |
from the album Dedicated | |
Released | May 17, 2019 |
Genre | Synth-pop[1] |
Length | 2:46 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Jack Antonoff |
Music video | |
"Want You in My Room" on YouTube |
Background
"Want You in My Room" has been described as a "euphoric, Eighties synth-laden" song[4] with "Daft Punk-like vocal effects and cheer squad vibe".[5] The song includes sexual lyrics in which the singer invites a partner to join her in bed. Jepsen's vocal performance on the track has been noted as referencing the early work of Cyndi Lauper.[6][7][8]
After its release, "Want You in My Room" has become a fan favourite.[9][10] It has made the list of Top 50 Songs of 2019 compiled by Pitchfork readers.[11]
Critical reception
"Want You in My Room" received acclaim from music critics. It has been described by The Independent as Dedicated's "most distinctive [song], both vocally and melodically"[4] and Mother Jones named it the second best song on the album.[12] NME praised the track's "brazen lyrics" and "jubilant instrumentation",[13] and Pitchfork complimented the "scene-stealing Jack Antonoff production".[14] Paste ranked "Want You in My Room" as one of the best songs of May 2019.[15] The song was also selected as one of the best tracks of 2019 by a number of The Guardian journalists.[16] In October 2022, Rachel Seo of Variety ranked the song as Jepsen's third best.[17]
In a more negative review from Consequence of Sound, the song was criticized for the "childlike tone" paired with sexual content.[5]
Year-end lists
Publication | Year | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
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Rolling Stone | 2019 | 50 Best Songs of 2019 | 32 |
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Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Andrew Donoho and premiered on YouTube on September 19, 2019.[19] It begins with Jepsen sitting in her bed, wrapping up a phone conversation with her boyfriend. She then instructs her Google Home device to set timer for an hour and starts singing the song to a hairbrush in bed. The singer walks out of the room, which is pictured surrealistically disjointed in the middle of a green space, and dances her way to a dressing table nearby where she re-applies lipstick. She then proceeds to walk in and out of another room, each time re-appearing in a different outfit and a different setting: on a beach and by the side of a swimming pool. She finally runs back to her bedroom, where she starts dancing to the music played by a band which consists of furnitures with arms.[20] The video ends with the boyfriend knocking on the door and Carly pulling him inside by the tie.[2]
References
- Rolling Stone Staff (December 6, 2019). "50 Best Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
...thank Jack Antonoff, who once again brings Eighties-synth-pop nostalgia to his production.
- Mamo, Heran (September 19, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen Wants to Stay Cooped Up With Her Lover in Cheery 'Want You in My Room' Video". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- Bernstein, Jonathan; Shteamer, Hank (2019-12-06). "The 50 Best Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- Bray, Elisa (May 16, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen, Dedicated review: A positively jubilant album, covering the full spectrum of love, lust and break-ups". The Independent. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- Barr, Natalia (May 16, 2019). "A More Confident Carly Rae Jepsen Knows What She Wants on Dedicated". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- Snapes, Laura (May 17, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen: Dedicated review โ dusky disco glories". The Guardian. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- Clark, Freddie (June 24, 2019). "Album Review: Carly Rae Jepsen โ Dedicated". www.redbrick.me. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- Aubrey, Elizabeth (May 30, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen review: Pure pop joy with understated confidence". Evening Standard. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- Torrijos, Celina (September 19, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen Shares 'Want You In My Room' Video". www.much.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- McCarty, India (September 25, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen Drops Fun New Video For "Want You In My Room"". soundigest.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- "The Best Music of 2019: Pitchfork Readers' Poll Results". Pitchfork. December 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- Van Pykeren, Sam (May 17, 2019). "Here's a Completely Unbiased Ranking of Each Track on Carly Rae Jepsen's New Album". Mother Jones. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- Mylrea, Hannah (May 17, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen โ 'Dedicated' review". NME. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- Gaca, Anna (May 17, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen: Dedicated". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- Ellen Johnson (May 31, 2019). "The 15 Best Songs of May 2019". Paste. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- "Guardian albums and tracks of 2019: how our writers voted". The Guardian. December 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- Seo, Rachel (October 21, 2022). "Carly Rae Jepsen's 15 Best Songs, Ranked". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- Lynch, J. (December 6, 2019). "50 Best Songs of 2019". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- Strauss, Matthew (September 19, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen Shares New "Want You in My Room" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- Alston, Trey (September 19, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen Opens Doors To Dates (And The Future) In 'Want You In My Room'". www.mtv.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.