Party for One explained

Party for One
Type:single
Cover:Carly Rae Jepsen – Party for One.png
Border:yes
Artist:Carly Rae Jepsen
Album:Dedicated
Genre:
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Cut to the Feeling
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Now That I Found You
Next Year:2019

"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. "Party for One" was placed on Rolling Stones list of 50 Best Songs of 2018.

Background

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.[3] The singer explained that the song is about "what it is to celebrate time with yourself".[4] Matt Moen of Paper described the song as a "self-care anthem" or something to help refrain from texting an ex.[5] 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". A number of critics noted references to masturbation in the song's lyrics.[6] [7]

Jepsen posted an image of herself to social media on October 30, 2018, captioning it "Party for one",[5] [8] confirming social media rumours about the song's impending release[9] after it was registered with BMI.[10] 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

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

PublicationYearAccoladeRank
Pitchfork2018100 Best Songs of 2018
Rolling Stone50 Best Songs of 2018

Music video

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.[16]

Live performances

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

  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

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[21] 48
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[22] 68
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 19
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[24] 20

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatVersionLabel
CanadaNovember 1, 2018Original604
ItalyNovember 9, 2018Contemporary hit radioUniversal[25]
VariousDecember 14, 2018Remixes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen Debuts 'Party For One' On 'Tonight Show' After Releasing 1st Single In 18 Months . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401215410/https://etcanada.com/news/382289/carly-rae-jepsen-debuts-party-for-one-on-tonight-show-after-releasing-1st-single-in-18-months/ . dead . April 1, 2019 . . Mahjouri . Shakiel . November 6, 2018 . April 15, 2019.
  2. Web site: New Carly Rae Jepsen Song 'Party for One' Coming Tomorrow . Pitchfork . Sodomsky . Sam . October 31, 2018 . November 1, 2018.
  3. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Party For One" . . March 27, 2020.
  4. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen – "Party For One" Video . Rettig . James . November 1, 2018 . . March 27, 2020.
  5. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen is Coming Back. Paper. Moen. Matt. October 30, 2018. October 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133958/http://www.papermag.com/carly-rae-jepsen-party-one-2616658253.html. October 31, 2018. live.
  6. Martinelli . Marissa . Carly Rae Jepsen drops "Party for One," which is maybe about masturbation (VIDEO) . . November 1, 2018 . March 27, 2020.
  7. Leszkiewicz . Anna . Carly Rae Jepson's Party for One, and the growing canon of pop songs about female masturbation . . November 6, 2018 . March 27, 2020.
  8. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen teases rumored single 'Party For One'. The Fader. Tanzer. Miles. October 30, 2018. October 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181031052513/https://www.thefader.com/2018/10/30/carly-rae-jepsen-single-party-for-one-sword. October 31, 2018. live.
  9. Web site: New Music? Carly Rae Jepsen Teases 'Party For One'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. October 30, 2018. October 31, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133154/https://www.idolator.com/7687552/carly-rae-jepsen-teases-party-for-one. October 31, 2018. live.
  10. Web site: BMI Repertoire Search: Party for One. BMI. October 31, 2018. Click dropdown menu, choose "BMI Work #" and search "28405028".
  11. Web site: Carly Rae Jepsen 'Dedicated' Interview: How She Whittled 200 Songs Down to 15 . Feeney . Nolan . May 17, 2019 . Billboard . March 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127085919/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8511969/carly-rae-jepsen-dedicated-interview-200-songs . January 27, 2020.
  12. Watch Carly Rae Jepsen Host 'Party for One' in Celebratory New Video. Rolling Stone. Spanos. Brittany. Brittany Spanos . November 1, 2018. November 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181104050136/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/carly-rae-jepsen-new-single-party-for-one-new-album-748502/. November 4, 2018. live.
  13. Carly Rae Jepsen Drops Comeback Bop 'Party For One,' Prepping 2019 Album. Billboard. Bajgrowicz. Brooke. November 1, 2018. November 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181101234817/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8482745/carly-rae-jepsen-party-for-one. November 1, 2018. live.
  14. Web site: 'Party for One' by Carly Rae Jepsen Review. Pitchfork. Finger. Bobby. November 1, 2018. November 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181102031239/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/party-for-one/. November 2, 2018. live.
  15. Web site: Now Hear This: New music from Little Mix, Carly Rae Jepsen, Thundercat and King Princess plus spotlight artist Ashley McBryde. The Independent. O'Connor. Roisin. November 2, 2018. November 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181104101018/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/new-music-little-mix-rag-n-bone-man-carly-rae-jepsen-releases-now-hear-this-spotify-playlist-a8613891.html. November 4, 2018. live.
  16. Web site: Salvatore . Maicki . Watch Carly Rae Jepsen's new vertical video for "Party For One" . . December 12, 2018 . December 12, 2018 .
  17. Web site: Party for One - Single by Carly Rae Jepsen on iTunes. iTunes Store. June 28, 2019.
  18. Web site: Party For One by Carly Rae Jepsen on TIDAL. Tidal. March 27, 2020.
  19. Web site: Party For One (Remixes) - Single by Carly Rae Jepsen on iTunes. iTunes Store. June 28, 2019.
  20. Web site: Spotify – Party For One (Remixes). Spotify. March 27, 2020.
  21. November 12, 2018. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 1498. 9. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20181113041500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20181113-0000/Issue1498.pdf. November 13, 2018. November 29, 2018.
  22. Web site: Japan Hot 100 – Billboard. Billboard Japan. November 14, 2018. November 15, 2018.
  23. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 12, 2018. November 9, 2018.
  24. Carly Rae Jepsen Chart History (Pop Digital Songs). Billboard. November 23, 2018.
  25. Web site: Ceschi . Isabella . Carly Rae Jepsen 'Party for One' . . Radio Airplay SRL . April 9, 2021.