By: Lynn Barker
Do we have great timing or what? Carly Rae Jepsen’s catchy, very singable “Call Me Maybe” just hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!
Carly’s anthem has been teased (the Barack Obama dub version) and adored by mega-artists like Justin Bieber. The Canadian songstress has come a very long way since her number 3 spot on the “Canadian Idol” show.
Kidzworld wanted to know more about this cute, feisty and talented girl so we asked her some trendy questions about her plans in music and other media too. What does she do in her off time on tour? We got that answer and more….
Kidzworld: “Call Me Maybe” has gone platinum in the U.S. and is now number one on the Billboard Hot 100. How did you feel when you first heard that?
- Carly: It's a dream come true for me. Truly. I keep pinching myself and my friends are saying ... "This IS crazy"! I have to agree.
Kidzworld: What was it like to first learn that Justin Bieber was tweeting about your song and made that crazy video?
- Carly: I remember getting a hysterical phone call from my sister, Katie. I could barely make out what she was trying to say. "Justin Bieber just tweeted about your song" something like that. And I was stoked! I couldn't believe it. About a month later my manger Jonathan Simkin called saying that Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber wanted to sign me to their label, School Boy Records. I flew to LA soon after the video came out, met Justin and the team and have been working with them ever since. I feel very, very lucky.
Kidzworld: When you are on the road on a tour, what do you do to kick back? Watch DVDs in the bus or maybe go to some tourist attractions in whatever town you are in?
- Carly: I like to experience new things in new places. When we were in Germany I was determined to try bratwurst. At the 6 Flags Festival, the band boys and I rode all the late night roller coasters we could sneak onto. But if I'm stuck on the bus or plane, I like to read or write and watch movies.
Kidzworld: What has been your most bizarre and then most touching fan encounter so far?
- Carly: A bizarre one happened a couple years ago in Canada. I was asked by the mayor of Mission BC (where I was born) to help judge a community pumpkin carving contest. A couple fans were there and one guy carved a pumpkin of my face. If was hilarious.
I was recently in Mexico City for a BIG concert. 300 000 people were in the audience. I was so blown away that I kind of lost my breath and the whole crowd started singing my song. I was so touched.
Kidzworld: That is really cool! You were in productions of musicals as a kid. Would you like to do more of that bigtime, like on Broadway?
- Carly: One day maybe. It's always been a dream of mine to play "Eliza Doolittle" from Fair Lady. This experience has taught me to dream big... so who knows?!
Kidzworld: Are you really savvy in music.. like could you be a music teacher? A lot of singer/songwriters can’t really read music, let alone put the notes down on a scale.
- Carly: I took piano for many years, so I can read music and play enough to write. I like to write best on the guitar though. It's just easier for me.
Kidzworld: You sang in coffee houses and small clubs, really paying your dues. How important was that for you to really work your way up rather than being an instant, overnight success?
- Carly: I enjoyed those coffee shop gigs just as much as the big shows I'm playing lately. And I think the experience of doing all the grunt work (selling merch, driving the tour van, and putting up my own posters all over town) makes me really appreciate the amount of support I'm getting now.
Kidzworld: Do you have aspirations to be an actress? If so, why? If not, why not?
- Carly: I love theatre acting, but I am not sure about movies. It’s so up close and personal. But maybe one day, with the right amount of study, I'll be brave and try.
Kidzworld: How important is it to you not to be just a flash in the pan, to write that one timeless song that will go on long after you’re gone?
- Carly: I want to write songs that make people happy, songs that mean something. And yes, songs that last. I know the effect that music has had on my life. When I can relate to a song that Ella Fitzgerald is singing, it makes me feel that the world hasn't changed that much. It's still about love and heartache and passion.
Kidzworld: What message would you like to give to music fans?
- Carly: I would just like I say thank you to everyone for listening! My wildest hope is that this music makes you feel great! Your support so far has been unreal.
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
