Music Review: Carly Rae Jepsen "Tonight I'm Getting Over You"

Carly Rae Jepsen

Tonight I’m Getting Over You

Album: Kiss

Year: 2013

              Carly Rae Jepsen is frustrated with her crush in the puzzled “Tonight I’m Getting Over You.”

               Whispery synths open the single, setting a searching tone. She’s pointing her dart, getting set to throw it when she hears clapping and cheering from her crush. She turns her head towards him, almost dropping the dart on the floor and smiles back at him. She throws the dart, hitting the bull’s eye. He’s whooping and hollering. She walks towards him and they share a high-five. While she chats and waits for his turn, she wonders what made him afraid to ask her out. She had heard a while back he had a tough day at work. However, she wasn’t able to meet up with him and talk to him about it. She looks forward to the private moments they do get a chance to share. She suspects his feelings are strong for her but he won’t say anything. She’s eager to go out on a date on with him. She’s tried reaching out to him and he hasn’t opened up to her. She’s doesn’t know what to do.  (“I wanna smash your fears/And get drunken off your tears/Don't you share your smile with anyone else but me/I wanna touch your heart/I wanna crash it in my hands/Make you plead and cry as you give up all the lies.”)

            In the chorus, they have been in relationship limbo for close to two years. For the two months, it’s really started to bother her.  After they’ve had a conversation, she’s had to find a bathroom each time and sit in the stall for a few minutes, holding back tears. She can’t wait around anymore. With her crush out of sight, she texts her friend, asking if they can go out to the bar later. She needs to meet someone new and forget him. (“ We're not lovers/But more than friends/Put a flame to every single word you ever said/No more crying/To get me through/I'll keep dancing till the morning with somebody new/Tonight I'm getting over you/Tonight I'm getting over you/Tonight I'm getting over you/Tonight I'm getting over you/
Over you/Over you.”)

          A jagged synth solo follows.

           Seeing him around but not actually being with him is torture for her. She’s used to guys asking her out a month or two (at the latest) after talking to them. She doesn’t understand what’s going on with him. If only she knew what he was thinking. After he’s walked her to her car, she slumps back in the seat. While she’s watching him walk to his car, she brushes her hand on her forehead and heaves a sigh. She’s exhausted and really wants to sit on her bed for a while, staring at the walls. They are in love with each other and make a good team. (“Stuck in a real bad dream/And man it feels so new to me/Should be in your arms but I'm begging at your feet/It's been a real hard night/And I just hold my pillow tight/It won't love me back, no/It's not you and I.”)

          The  chorus is sung twice to end the single. 
 
Jepsen’s rattled, vexed vocals are parsing, looking for a missed angle in each of her crush’s words and actions. The situation has encumbered for her so long, she needs a release from it. Hanging out with another guy would quash her feelings for him for a night. The next morning, she will wake up thinking about him crush again.

      The crackling “Tonight I’m Getting Over You” flickers for a bit before petering out.