| "Beach House" | ||||
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| Single byCarly Rae Jepsen | ||||
| from the albumThe Loneliest Time | ||||
| Released | August 5, 2022 | |||
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| Length | 2:30 | |||
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| Carly Rae Jepsen singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Beach House" onYouTube | ||||
"Beach House" is a song by Canadian singerCarly Rae Jepsen. It was released as the second single from her sixth studio album,The Loneliest Time, on August 5, 2022. Jepsen wrote the track withAlex Hope and Nate Cyphert, with Hope handling the production alongside SameSame, who is credited as an additional producer. Apop anddisco-pop tune backed by upbeat guitar andsynthesizer instrumentation, "Beach House" explores the uncertain and troubling side of finding love indating apps, inspired by a displeasing experience.
"Beach House" received generally positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised it for what they deemed catchy and playful lyrics and an engaging production. The song charted at number 11 onBillboard Japan'sHot Overseas Songs. Taylor Fauntleroy directed the accompanyingmusic video, which features the events from the song set on a seaside. The song was included on theset list of herSo Nice Tour (2022–2023).
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In February 2020,Carly Rae Jepsen began collecting ideas for her sixth studio album,The Loneliest Time, while on herDedicated Tour (2019–2020). Her creativity was stimulated by theCOVID-19 pandemic, leading her to transform an old office space that was a part of her Los Angeles residence into a home studio.[1] On August 1, 2022, Jepsen announced the album, which was preceded by thelead single "Western Wind" earlier in May.[2]
Jepsen was inspired to write "Beach House" after someone invited her to hisMalibu beach house for dinner prior to revealing that he already had a girlfriend. Feeling displeased but also reinvigorated, Jepsen brought the song to a studio session withAlex Hope and Nate Cyphert the next day: "I've got a concept! Thehook is going to say, 'I've got a beach house in Malibu, and I'm probably going to hurt your feelings". They were confused before she explained that it was aboutdating apps.[3] Jepsen co-wrote the song alongside Hope and Cyphert, with Hope handling the production with SameSame, who is credited as an additional producer.[4]
Jepsen teased "Beach House" by sharing its hook onTwitter in January 2022.[5] On August 4, 2022, she posted a 15-second snippet of the song onTikTok.[6] The song was released as the album's second single the next day and its music video, directed by Taylor Fauntleroy, was released on August 12.[7][8] Filmed in Malibu, the video is set on a seaside and depicts the "nightmare dates" that were presented on the song.[9][10] "Beach House" reached number 11 onBillboard Japan'sHot Overseas Songs issued on August 31, 2022.[11] It is listed at track number six onThe Loneliest Time, which was released on October 21 byInterscope andSchoolboy Records.[12][13] The song was included on theset list of her fourth concert tour,the So Nice Tour (2022–2023).[14]
"Beach House" is two and a half minutes long.[4] Hope andRob Cohen programmed the song, while Mitch McCarthy recorded and mixed it. Background vocals were provided by Cyphert,Ben Romans, Bobby Wooten, Jared Manierka, Joey Hendricks, and Tony Marino. Chris Allgood andEmily Lazar mastered the track.[4]
The upbeat instrumentation of "Beach House" comprises asynthesizer and a guitar both played by Hope, with an upbeatdiscobassline.[4][8][15] The song includes a group of male backing vocalists to sing "I got a beach house in Malibu and I'm probably gonna hurt your feelings".[16] Peter Piatkowski ofPopMatters described the song "funky" anddisco-pop,[17] while Hannah Mylrea fromNME said that it was "disco-infused".[18] Other critics considered the trackpop.[19][1][20]
The lyrics are about the uncertain and troubling side of finding love in dating apps.[10][20] In theverses, Jepsen describes going through a cycle of misfortunes she experienced with "Boy No. 1" to "Boy No. I Can't Keep Count Anymore".[21][22] Thechorus sees her pleading for a timeline where people are honest when dating: "I want to believe that when you chase a girl, it's not just hunting season".[16][21] Later in the song, Jepsen encounters men who plan toghost her,[17] borrow money, and harvest her organs.[18][23] The track also expresses her frustration with the numerous unsuccessful dates she had: "I've been on this ride / This rollercoaster's a carousel / And I'm getting nowhere".[22][17] Piatkowski likened the lyrics toCarly Simon's song "You're So Vain" (1972).[17] Gabrielle Sanchez ofThe A.V. Club said that its themes are comparable to her other tracks like "Call Me Maybe" (2011) and "Store" (2016).[24]
"Beach House" received generally positive reviews—many critics such as Jodi Guglielmi ofRolling Stone and Sam Franzini ofThe Line of Best Fit deemed the song catchy and playful.[20][25] Lindsay Zoladz ofThe New York Times stated that it was a "cheeky earworm" that displayed her "deadpan sense of humor".[22]Time Out placed "Beach House" at number 11 in their year-end list of the 22 best songs of 2022, with Phil de Semlyen describing the track as a "zippy, witty, stupidly catchy takedown of terrible dates".[26] Piatkowski lauded the "mordant comedy" of "Beach House" and said that the song "doesn't feel like anovelty tune" due to the songwriting and production quality.[17] Heather Phares ofAllMusic wrote that the track was the most surprising fromThe Loneliest Time and that it encapsulated "the wasteland of dating in the early 2020s with humor, horror, and just a bit of cynicism".[12] Audra Heinrichs fromThe Telegraph called it a "cynical good time".[27]
TheRolling Stone writerRob Sheffield described the song as a "deliciously nasty tour of serial monogamy in the era of dating-app addiction".[23]Entertainment Weekly's journalistMaura Johnston called the track "withering" and selected it as one of the album's tracks that featured "propulsive throwdowns brimming with bite and verve".[28] Sanshez said that although Jepsen approached "corniness" on the song, "she's so earnest about it" to the point that it was very engaging.[24] Charles Lyons-Bert fromSlant Magazine stated that the track was a "winning confection" that displayed Jepsen's "unique appeal" of being naive while also cunning.[29] A few of them also found emotional nuance within the lyrics: Zoladz noted that "Beach House" effectively showcased themes of yearning for a romantic relationship,[22] while Piatkowski perceived a sense of "weariness and stoic familiarity" to it.[17] On less positive reviews,Pitchfork's Olivia Horn felt that the track was "corny and dated" and too derivative for Jepsen, but she believed that it was an attempt to "diversify her portfolio".[30] Gem Stokes ofClash wrote that the song was witty and a "definitive bop", but found it to be a "superficial" outlier compared to the rest of the album.[15]
Critics also commended the production. Some of them regarded "Beach House" as anthemic, breezy, and lively.[16][20][21] Mylrea stated that the song was "phenomenal" and a "fully blown disco-infused banger".[18] Piatkowski thought the track was an "excellent contrast" to the "sun-dappled tenderness" of "Western Wind" and selected it as a highlight fromThe Loneliest Time.[17] Rhian Daly ofUDiscoverMusic described the song as a "dance-ready anthem".[21] Robin Murray fromClash called it a "breezy summer anthem" with an energetic performance from Jepsen.[19] Chris Thiessen fromUnder the Radar believed that the track was a "summery jam" and that it was the most fun song on the album.[31]
Credits are adapted from theliner notes ofThe Loneliest Time.[4]
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[11] | 11 |
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