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, Jack Antonoff and Tavish Crowe, and produced by 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.[1][2]
"Want You in My Room" | |
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Song by Carly Rae Jepsen | |
from the album Dedicated | |
Released | May 17, 2019 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 2:46 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | 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[3] with "Daft Punk-like vocal effects and cheer squad vibe".[4] 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.[5][6][7]
After its release, "Want You in My Room" has become a fan favourite.[8][9] It has made the list of Top 50 Songs of 2019 compiled by Pitchfork readers.[10]
Critical reception
"Want You in My Room" received mostly positive feedback from music critics. It has been described by The Independent as Dedicated's "most distinctive [song], both vocally and melodically"[3] and Mother Jones named it the second best song on the album.[11] NME praised the track's "brazen lyrics" and "jubilant instrumentation",[12] and Pitchfork complimented the "scene-stealing Jack Antonoff production".[13] Paste ranked "Want You in My Room" as one of the best songs of May 2019.[14] The song was also selected as one of the best tracks of 2019 by a number of The Guardian journalists.[15]
In a more negative review from Consequence of Sound, the song was criticized for the "childlike tone" paired with sexual content.[4]
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.[17] 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.[18] The video ends with the boyfriend knocking on the door and Carly pulling him inside by the tie.[1]
References
- 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 – dusky disco glories". The Guardian. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- Clark, Freddie (June 24, 2019). "Album Review: Carly Rae Jepsen – 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 – '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.
- 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.