Music Review: Carly Rae Jepsen "This Kiss"

Carly Rae Jepsen

This Kiss

Album: Kiss

Year: 2012

    Carly Rae Jepsen sneaks around with another guy in the  impetuous “This Kiss.”

          Blithe synths open the single, setting a heedless tone. Her date last night was everything she imagined. He took her out to eat at her favorite restraurant. It was something she had mentioned offhand. She didn’t think he remembered it. Then, they took a walk on the beach and talked about whatever came to their minds. Earlier in the day, he texted her and wanted to know if she wanted to see him again. She answered back yes and hopes he wants to continue seeing her. However, they both have significant others. It’s a subject they ignore but it’s always there. (“I went out last night/I'm going out tonight again/Anything to capture your attention (your attention)/And she's a real sweet girl/And you know I got a boy/Details we both forgot to mention (forgot to mention).”

          In the pre-chorus, they keep tabs on each other, checking each other’s Facebooks and sending texts to see how the other is doing. She realizes by acting on the attraction they are cheating. But she has fallen for him. (“And you, I always know where you are/And you always know where I am/We're taking it way too far/But I don't want it to end.”)

    In the chorus, she can’t wait to be affectionate with him and give him a kiss. Once she kisses him, it will make the cheating real. It will cause drama among their circle of friends. She isn’t sure if he would ever leave his girlfriend for her. Her feelings for him have caused her lie to her boyfriend and one of her best friends. It’s made her paranoid that one of her friends is suspicious, given her recent comments. She really hoped he was someone she would’ve met at a bar and not one of her close friends’ boyfriend. It doesn’t change the fact that she wants a relationship from the close friends’ boyfriend. (“This kiss is something I can't resist/Your lips are undeniable/This kiss is something I can't risk/Your heart is unreliable/Something so sentimental/You make so detrimental/And I wish it didn't feel like this/Cause I don't wanna miss this kiss/I don't wanna miss this kiss.”)

        She wonders why she didn’t make the first move three years ago when she had the chance. They were both single then. They had flirted and it seemed as though the possibility was there but neither of them went for it. The guilt is starting to get to her and she wants to tell her boyfriend. However, he isn’t ready to his girlfriend about her. (“You know you're just my type/And your eyes are lock and key, to my heart/Tempting my confession (my confession)/And you're a real hot thing/But you know I've got a boy somewhere/So can you feel the tension? (feel the tension).”

       They are hanging out at the bar with their friends and steal glances to each other when they have the chance. They try to be near to each other as possible. They aren’t even bothering to hide it anymore. At this point, she doesn’t want to care about the fallout. (“ And you, I'm dancing to where you are/And you're dancing to where I am/We're taking it way too far/But I don't want it to end.”)

            The chorus is sung again.

      It’s the next day and they are talking about school. Suddenly, he begins to stare at her and picks her chin up a little. She thinks “don’t ask” because then she would have to tell him no. They are both with other people. Instead, he kisses her and she knows it’s wrong. However, it feels worth it to her. (“ But if you ask me to/I couldn't, I couldn't, I/You're leaning closer and/I shouldn't, I shouldn't, I/But if you ask me to/I couldn't, I couldn't, I/I shouldn't, I shouldn't/I don't wanna miss this kiss.”)

       The chorus is sung again to end the single.  

   Jepsen’s frisky,.slinky vocals are passionate, breathing in every moment she has with him until it coarses through her veins. She anticipates every step their illcit relationship has taken so far. Even though she knows cheating is wrong, she can’t hide from her feelings.

      The reckless “This Kiss” slashes its restraints, releasing its sultriness without abandon.