Dedicated Side B

## **Dedicated Side B***Studio album*

* Standard
* Textless (Edit)

## Singles

1. Let's Be Friends ⊺
Released: February 7th 2020
2. This Love Isn't Crazy ⊺
Released: May 21st 2020
3. Summer Love ⊺
Released: August 5th 2020

**Dedicated Side B** is a studio album from Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on May 21st 2020 through 604, School Boy and Interscope Records.

The project serves as a companion piece to Jepsen's previous release, Dedicated, and features a collection of outtakes that failed to make the cut for the original album.

## **Background**

During the development of Dedicated, Jepsen would write over 200 songs for the album between 2016 and 2019. Although just fifteen of these tracks would see a release on the album, Dedicated Side B would feature an additional fourteen songs that failed to make the original cut.

Jepsen states, from very early on, she always had the intention to release Dedicated as a 'two-part' album in the vein of Emotion and Emotion Side B. She explained, 'it gives you a little bit of perspective on what should come first and what should come second. It was easier to narrow down the first part because I knew was going to get to share a lot more songs.'

## **Writing and development**

Jepsen would begin brainstorming ideas for Dedicated Side B as early as the release night of Dedicated in May 2019, coming up with the first revision of the track list and sending it to her manager, who advised her to celebrate the album launch instead. In December 2019, Jepsen says there were a total of 20 songs in consideration for the album. According to insiders, the majority of songs on the album were written in 2017 with further changes and adjustments made later. Jepsen states the development of Dedicated Side B was 'very fun' as it was her most experimental album.

#### **Track listing alterations**

Jepsen states she didn't stray 'too far' from the original May 2019 track list, though This Love Isn't Crazy and Solo were later additions, only added after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Jepsen explained how she wanted a song to embody a 'welcome party to escapism' during quarantine and decided that This Love Isn't Crazy was most fitting to open the album, describing that it was an addition made at the last minute. Regarding Solo, Jepsen says 'being in lockdown, it felt very appropriate to have an uplifting song about being alone.' Originally, the album was only meant to have 11 songs but this was increased to 12 with the addition of Solo.

Allegedly, Love & Paranoia was reportedly considered for release as part of Dedicated Side B, though was ultimately scrapped; the Dedicated title track was also in consideration as the closing song of the album at one point, though this never materialised.
Jepsen also stated prior to release she wasn't sure if Let's Be Friends would be included on the album or not. Ultimately, the song is featured as a deluxe track on the Japanese exclusive bonus edition.

Additionally, Jepsen explained there was less feedback from her friends, family, and bandmates on selecting the songs for the album, in comparison to Dedicated and Emotion where she held multiple listening parties and revised the track list numerous times. 'I really just went with my gut, like, 'These are the songs that feel right. Don't overthink it. Don't throw a bunch of listening parties and get confused by the end of the night.' I wasn't given the luxury of overthinking it so much. This was a lot less painful of a process.'

#### **Final developments during quarantine**

During the last stages of development on the album in early 2020, Jepsen says there was 'a bit of polishing' left to do and stated it was beneficial to have a 'focused project' everyday at this time during quarantine. She explained how the mixing and mastering process took place remotely over the internet, due to quarantine and lockdown restrictions; 'it was tricky to do mixes when you don't have people in the same sound room. I was really happy to get it done, but it was a bit more of a challenge than any other release has been for me.'

#### **Original working title**

Originally, Jepsen was hesitant to name the album Dedicated Side B in fear it would make the songs on the album seem inferior to the ones on the original record. She stated, 'I am hesitant to call it a Side B because I feel like the songs that I am ready to share I love equally as much as the other side, and Side B is almost like a derogatory term. ‘These are like the extras I wasn’t considering,’ which is a lie because I fully intended on sharing them from the get go.'

Prior to release, Jepsen would refer to the project as a 'part two' to Dedicated, and Dedicated Part Two would be the official working title up until at least March 2020. According to insiders, the album also had an alternative working title at one point, seemingly unrelated to the Dedicated title, and an additional scrapped title track.

## **Announcement and release**

Jepsen would begin to tease the release of Dedicated Side B on May 17th 2020, the first anniversary of Dedicated, by posting a video to social media which ended in a singular letter 'B' remaining on screen from the phrase 'happy birthday Dedicated.' On May 20th 2020, the album was officially announced with a video of fan requests for Dedicated Side B posted to Jepsen's social media with a distorted snippet of This Love Isn't Crazy included playing in the background.

Dedicated Side B would see a global surprise release, a first for Jepsen, on May 21st 2020 at midnight New Zealand local time. The album would be physically released on vinyl record, CDs, and cassette later on June 12th across most regions, with the Japanese edition coming last on June 17th 2020.

## **Album cover**

The album cover for Dedicated Side B mirrors that of Dedicated, by showing the reverse side to Jepsen in the composition. Whilst the cover art for Dedicated shows Jepsen facing away from the camera, a deliberate choice on her half, she's showing standing facing the camera on Dedicated Side B, with her head turned away.

The image used for the album art had previously been featured in the CD release of Dedicated, printed on the back of inlet booklet. The design of the album cover had been tweaked from the original photo, with the lighting adjusted and text included over the top of the image. The album cover was designed by Dina Hovsepian and photographed by Natalie O'Moore.

## **Singles**

#### **Let's Be Friends**

Although not intended as an official single from the album, Let's Be Friends preceded the release of Dedicated Side B, on February 7th 2020. It would later be reissued as the thirteenth track on the Japanese bonus edition of Dedicated Side B in June 2020.

#### **This Love Isn't Crazy**

Whilst This Love Isn't Crazy was also never made a single in any official capacity, the song received an official YouTube lyric video upon release - the only song of the album to do so, and was promoted through streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. The song is considered the lead single of the project, though this was never made official.

#### **Summer Love**

Similarly, Summer Love was not released as a single from the album but would receive an official visualizer on August 5th 2020, again the only song from the album to do so.

## **Critical reception**

Dedicated Side B received generally favourable reviews from publications, with Metacritic reporting an overall rating of 79 based on seven critical reviews.

The album was praised for its song-writing and infectious hooks and melodies. Angela Morris of Exclaim! commended Jepsen for her experimentation into new sounds, whilst Natalia Barr stated such tracks could have been benefital additions to Dedicated.

Likewise, many critics also had noted that, despite being outtakes, the collection of songs on the album were up to par, if not better, than that of the main album. Ali Shuttler noted that Dedicated Side B 'is the sort of record that most acts could only dream of making.'

Sputnik Music described that Dedicated Side B may 'quite possibly be the best Carly Rae Jespen release' so far.

## **Gallery**

* *§ Visit the Dedicated Side B gallery: Gallery*
* *§ Visit the Dedicated photoshoot gallery: Photoshoot Gallery*

#### **Album copy**

Front coverFront cover - textlessBack coverDisc

## **Album credits**

#### **Writing and production**

* Carly Rae Jepsen - songwriting (all tracks)
* Jack Antonoff - songwriting, production (1, 10)
* Tyler Duncan - songwriting, production (2)
* Theo Katzman - songwriting, production (2)
* Tavish Crowe - songwriting (3, 5, 8)
* Jakob Hazell - songwriting (3,4); production (4)
* Svante Halldin - songwriting (3, 4); production (4)
* John Hill - songwriting, production (3, 7)
* Jordan Palmer - songwriting, production (3)
* Sean Douglas - songwriting (5)
* Dev Hynes - songwriting (5)
* Warren Oak Felder - songwriting, production (5)
* Noah Breakfast - songwriting (6)
* Asia Whiteacre - songwriting (6)
* Ariel Rechtshaid - songwriting, production (6)
* Buddy Ross - production - songwriting (6)
* Patrik Berger - songwriting, production (7, 9, 12)
* Dave Palmer - songwriting (7)
* Daniel Ledinsky - songwriting (7)
* Julia Karlsson - songwriting (8)
* Anton Rundberg - songwriting, production (8)
* Markus Krunegård - songwriting (9, 12)
* Pontus Winnberg - songwriting, production (9, 12)
* Jared Manierka - songwriting (10)
* James Flannigan - songwriting, production (11)
* Nate Campany - songwriting (11)
* Noonie Bao - songwriting (12)
* CJ Baran - songwriting, production (13-14)
* Ben Romans - songwriting, production (13-14)

#### **Performance**

* Carly Rae Jepsen - vocals (all tracks)
* Jack Antonoff - vocals (10)

#### **Album cover credits**

* Dina Hovsepian - album cover design
* Natalie O'Moore - album cover photography
* Markus & Koala - additional album photography
* Hayley Atkin - styling

## **Navigation**

* Discography

**The Loveliest Time** • *2023***The Loneliest Time** • *2022*****Dedicated
Side B**** • *2020***Dedicated**
*2019***Emotion
Side B** • *2016***Emotion**
*2015***Kiss**
*2012***Curiosity**
*2012***Tug of War**
*2008*

## **References**

1. ↑ @carlyraejepsen 'Dedicated side B was very fun for the fact that it was experimental August 25th 2020 - via Twitter
2. ↑ ***Dedicated Side B*** (album booklet). Carly Rae Jepsen. 604 Records, School Boy Records and Interscope Records. 2020
3. ↑ *Dedicated* (album booklet). Carly Rae Jepsen. 604 Records, School Boy Records and Interscope Records. 2019
4. ↑ Carly Rae Jepsen Dedicated Side B AnyDecentMusic, June 4th 2020
5. ↑ Carly Rae Jepsen Dedicated Side B Album of the Year, June 4th 2020
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dedicated Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen Reviews and Tracks Metacritic, June 6th 2020
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1  Barr, Natalia Carly Rae Jepsen's Dedicated Side B Delivers More of the Same: Review Consequence of Sound, May 25th 2020
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1  Morrison, Angela Carly Rae Jepsen Is So Great Even Her 'Dedicated' B-Sides Are Brilliant Pop Gems Exclaim, 2020
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Shutler, Ali Carly Rae Jepsen – 'Dedicated Side B' review: an inspiration refuses to rest on her laurels NME, May 2020
10. ↑ Pappis, Konstantinos Album Review: Carly Rae Jepsen, 'Dedicated Side B' Our Culture Mag, May 25th 2020
11. ↑ Zhang, Cat Review: Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B Pitchfork, May 29th 2020
12. ↑ Camp, Alexa Review: Carly Rae Jepsen's Dedicated Side B Boldly Embraces the Pangs of Lust Slant Magazine, 2020}}
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Review: Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B Sputnikmusic, 2020