Curiosity (EP)
| Curiosity | ||||
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| EP by Carly Rae Jepsen | ||||
| Released | February 14, 2012 | |||
| Genre | Pop, teen pop, dance-pop | |||
| Length | 20:11 | |||
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| Carly Rae Jepsen chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Curiosity | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   |
| Allmusic |  |
| Cadence Canada | (favorable) |
| idobi Radio | |
Curiosity is the first EP by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on February 14, 2012, by 604 Records. Initially planned as a full-length album, Curiosity was cut down to a six-song EP just days before its release. Musically, Curiosity is a pop album influenced by several genres such as dance-pop and R&B, while its lyrical content is mostly about love.
Curiosity received generally positive reviews from contemporary music, with many praising the quality of the tracks and labeling it mainstream. Its lead single, "Call Me Maybe", was a commercial success, topping the charts in several countries and is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 18 million copies sold. The album peaked at number six on the Canadian Albums Chart.
Jepsen's second studio album was initially planned to be released on February 14, 2012; however, she chose not to release it because she wanted to make sure she "got the second CD right. I think I got a little nervous about the idea of the sophomore being a little less-than because it's so rushed. So I wanted to give myself the time to not feel that pressure." She then worked with songwriter Josh Ramsay and producer Ryan Stewart on most of the album's tracks. Jepsen's songwriting process was inspired by her life and friends. After the recording sessions were completed, Curiosity was announced as a full-length album, with a digital release date confirmed for February 14, 2012. A few days before its official release, however, the label decided to change the format of the album, turning it into an extended play. The songs cut from the album "Lost and Found", "Alice In Wonderland", "Dear Julian", "Europe" and "Angels" came to have their preview on iTunes Canada, before having changed album to EP.
The EP opens with "Call Me Maybe", an upbeat track that draws influences from dance-pop and R&B. The clever lyrics of the song describes the "infatuation and inconvenience of a love at first sight," as described by Bill Lamb of About.com. During the pre-chorus, the singer states, "Ripped jeans, skin was showing/Hot night, wind was blowing/Where you think you’re going, baby?" As the chorus begins, the background incorporates synthesized string chords, and she sings, "Hey, I just met you, And this is crazy, But here's my number, So call me maybe." Melody Lau of Rolling Stone wrote that "Call Me Maybe" is a "Taylor Swift meets Robyn" song. The title track, "Curiosity", has a similar sound to "Call Me Maybe", and features heavy dance beats and catchy hooks. In the song, Jepsen sings about being poorly treated by a bad boy, and begs for more of his love. "Picture" is a ballad that focuses on patience in a relationship. Critics noted that the song would work well during the climax of a motion picture due to its lyrical content. "Talk to Me" and "Just a Step Away" were both described as mid-tempo pop songs that alludes to summer love, teen love and that first crush. Fiona Eadie of Cadence Canada noted that in both tracks, Carly is able to transcend the listener "to a porch swing or riding a bicycle along an old dirt road in the countryside’s summer sunshine. Her voice sings the highs and lows of love and everything that comes along with it." The final song is a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now". Musically, the song is also an upbeat ballad, and differs from the original version in the sense that Jepsen's version is "fresh and modern with her unique bubblegum twist." Critics also added that Jepsen will be able to "attract a new generation to this widely recognized hit" with her "unique version."
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