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Party for One

"Party for One"
Single by Carly Rae Jepsen
from the album Dedicated
ReleasedNovember 1, 2018 (2018-11-01)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Carly Rae Jepsen singles chronology
"Cut to the Feeling"
(2017) 		"Party for One"
(2018) 		"Now That I Found You"
(2019)
Music video
"Party for One" on YouTube

"Party for One" is a song by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released as the lead single from her fourth studio album Dedicated on November 1, 2018, through 604, School Boy and Interscope Records.[1][2] The track was written by Jepsen, Tavish Crowe, Julia Karlsson, and Anton Rundberg, and produced by Hightower and Captain Cuts.[3] "Party for One" was placed on Rolling Stone's list of 50 Best Songs of 2018.

Background

[edit]

Jepsen worked on the song for some time, first writing the melody with her long-time collaborator Tavish Crowe. The lyrics were inspired by staying in a hotel room in Sweden on her own, at a time when she was going through a break-up.[4] The singer explained that the song is about "what it is to celebrate time with yourself".[5] Matt Moen of Paper described the song as a "self-care anthem" or something to help refrain from texting an ex.[6] Mike Wass of Idolator said that as the lead single for Jepsen's fourth studio album, it is "likely to cement her status as the hipster's guilty pleasure with a collection of cute, clever and slightly offbeat bops".[7] A number of critics noted references to masturbation in the song's lyrics.[8][9]

Jepsen posted an image of herself to social media on October 30, 2018, captioning it "Party for one",[6][10] confirming social media rumours about the song's impending release[7] after it was registered with BMI.[3] Despite being promoted as the lead single from Dedicated, "Party for One" is not included in the standard track listing and only appears on select digital and deluxe editions of the album.[11]

Critical reception

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Upon its release, "Party for One" received critical acclaim. Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone called the song "upbeat" and "bubbly".[12] Brooke Bajgrowicz of Billboard said the track is "driven by an electric beat" and compared its "infectious pop sound" to "Call Me Maybe" and "I Really Like You".[13] Writing for Pitchfork, Bobby Finger felt that "In the pantheon of pop breakup anthems, Jepsen's newest single lacks the aching detail of 'Dancing on My Own' or the Max Martin alchemy of 'Since U Been Gone,' but it's a satisfying intimation that E•MO•TION could be getting a sequel soon".[14] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent named "Party for One" a "glimmering gem of a synth-pop track".[15]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Publication Year Accolade Rank Ref.
Pitchfork 2018 100 Best Songs of 2018
89
[16]
Rolling Stone 50 Best Songs of 2018
26
[17]

Music video

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The music video, directed by Bardia Zeinali, was released on November 1, 2018.[12] It features Jepsen checking into a hotel for the night before showing scenes of other people in the same hotel alone in their rooms, doing various things such as dancing, crying, eating and putting on makeup. The power then goes out, which causes everybody to walk down to the lobby, where they have a party before returning to their rooms.[12] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent called the video "fun, even if it is one giant advert for Absolut Vodka".[15] On December 11, 2018, Jepsen released a vertical video of the song on YouTube.[18]

Live performances

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Jepsen performed "Party for One" for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 5, 2018.[13] The song was performed live throughout The Dedicated Tour.

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Party for One" — 3:03
  1. "Party for One" (More Giraffes Remix) — 2:46
  2. "Party for One" (Sawyr Remix) — 3:02
  3. "Party for One" (Anki Remix) — 3:29

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[23] 48
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 100
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 98
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[26] 68
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[27] 19
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[28] 20

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Party for One"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Canada November 1, 2018
Original 604 [19]
Italy November 9, 2018 Contemporary hit radio Universal [29]
Various December 14, 2018
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Remixes
[21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mahjouri, Shakiel (November 6, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen Debuts 'Party For One' On 'Tonight Show' After Releasing 1st Single In 18 Months". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Sodomsky, Sam (October 31, 2018). "New Carly Rae Jepsen Song 'Party for One' Coming Tomorrow". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "BMI | Repertoire Search: Party for One" (Click dropdown menu, choose "BMI Work #" and search "28405028"). BMI. Retrieved October 31, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Carly Rae Jepsen Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Party For One"". Genius. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Rettig, James (November 1, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen – "Party For One" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Moen, Matt (October 30, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen is Coming Back". Paper. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Wass, Mike (October 30, 2018). "New Music? Carly Rae Jepsen Teases 'Party For One'". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  8. ^ Martinelli, Marissa (November 1, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen drops "Party for One," which is maybe about masturbation (VIDEO)". Slate. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  9. ^ Leszkiewicz, Anna (November 6, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepson's Party for One, and the growing canon of pop songs about female masturbation". New Statesman. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. ^ Tanzer, Miles (October 30, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen teases rumored single 'Party For One'". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  11. ^ Feeney, Nolan (May 17, 2019). "Carly Rae Jepsen 'Dedicated' Interview: How She Whittled 200 Songs Down to 15". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Spanos, Brittany (November 1, 2018). "Watch Carly Rae Jepsen Host 'Party for One' in Celebratory New Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Bajgrowicz, Brooke (November 1, 2018). "Carly Rae Jepsen Drops Comeback Bop 'Party For One,' Prepping 2019 Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  14. ^ Finger, Bobby (November 1, 2018). "'Party for One' by Carly Rae Jepsen Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  15. ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (November 2, 2018). "Now Hear This: New music from Little Mix, Carly Rae Jepsen, Thundercat and King Princess plus spotlight artist Ashley McBryde". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2018". Pitchfork. December 10, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  17. ^ O'Moore, Natalie (December 14, 2018). "50 Best Songs of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  18. ^ Salvatore, Maicki (December 12, 2018). "Watch Carly Rae Jepsen's new vertical video for "Party For One"". The Fader. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Party for One - Single by Carly Rae Jepsen on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  20. ^ "Party For One by Carly Rae Jepsen on TIDAL". Tidal. November 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Party For One (Remixes) - Single by Carly Rae Jepsen on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Spotify – Party For One (Remixes)". Spotify. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  23. ^ "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Trove (1498). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 9. November 12, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  24. ^ "Carly Rae Jepsen Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Carly Rae Jepsen". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  26. ^ "Japan Hot 100 – Billboard". Billboard Japan. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  27. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  28. ^ "Carly Rae Jepsen Chart History (Pop Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  29. ^ Ceschi, Isabella. "Carly Rae Jepsen 'Party for One'". Universal Music Group. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Radio Airplay SRL.