On Aug. 21, 2015, Carly Rae Jepsen released the standard version of the pop bible titled “Emotion” featuring fun hit singles such as “I Really Like You” and “Run Away with Me,” “Your Type,” “Boy Problems” and “Cut to the Feeling.” With underrated tracks such as “All That,” “LA Hallucinations,” and “Gimme Love.” You’re sure to feel a gut full of emotions throughout the album. “Emotion” is an amazing work of art in the pop genre with 12 standard tracks and 20 bonus tracks within an expanded deluxe edition, side B, and decade anniversary edition on Oct. 17, 2025. The lyrics are heartfelt exploring subjects such as finding new love, heartbreak, and living the moment with someone. With lyrics that stick deep such as “I won’t change for you, because where were you for me.” In “When I Needed You” or even humor “I think I broke up with my boyfriend today and I don’t really care” in “Boy Problems.” With an upbeat old-school and new-school synth that stick out in songs like “Lost in Devotion” or “Never Get to Hold You” the production of “Emotion” is a vibe to dance and sing your heart out to with someone you love.
“Emotion” was made for people who love music and importantly true fans of Jepsen. Even being a less commercial success from her previous album “Kiss” released Sept. 14, 2012. Quick judgment from the lead single “I Really Like You” released March 2, 2015, comparing it to “Call Me Maybe” the lead single of “Kiss” critics and listeners found the album and sound too mature of a departure leaving “Emotion” overshadowed by success.
The biggest standout on the album being the opening track and second single of the album “Run Away with Me” is one of the greatest synth pop songs made to perfection. What makes it standout is the production. Throughout the chorus is a pop culture changing saxophone rift mixed with the synths and bass and smooth verses that’s 4:11 long. The way Run Away with Me opens the album brings amazing trust to listeners at the beginning of the listening journey and even fit in later tracks such as “All That,” “Making the Most of The Night,” and “Let’s Get Lost”. The heartfelt lyrics shows Jepsen with a lover wanting to spend as much time running away with them over the weekend. One thing about this song is it should’ve been the lead single or even the third single “Your Type.” “I Really Like You” was a fun and pop culture moment for music but it as a single didn’t really change Jepsen’s trajectory. Lyrically it had the same style of the excitement of a new crush such as her breakout single “Call Me Maybe.” Production wise, even though the song was a dance and synth pop song, it still had the same teen bubblegum pop feeling Jepsen had in her first album especially with her hit singles “Call Me Maybe” and “Good Time.” “Run Away with Me” shows that Jepsen was there to create a body of art not just to replicate her old music style.
One of the most underrated songs on the album, “All That,” is a must listen. The first promotional single and a 4:36 track with retro old school synths and a pulsing bass with inspiration from 80s brings nostalgia and a slow late-night drive vibe that even Jepsen holds a special place in her heart.
In an interview with NPR, Jepsen mentions the song “All That” was special to her “Probably favorite from the album.” In the song Jepsen sings about a crush of some sort and how if they give her a chance, she could be all that. The verses Jepsen uses heartwarming metaphors such as “I’ll be the magic you won’t ever see” in the first verse. The second verse “I’ll be your lighthouse when you’re lost at sea. I’ll keep my light on, baby, you can always come to me.” Throughout the hook of song “Show me if you want me, if I’m all that.” Just enough to let fan relate of wanting their crush to give them a chance. Tying together the old-school production and confessional lyrics makes this song a fan favorite and for sure a favorite for your first listen. It’s absolutely relatable for anyway who wants to fall in love. This song could’ve also been a lead single or a second official single for the album that would affect Jepsen’s trajectory along with “Run Away with Me.”
On August 21, 2015, a few months after the standard release Jepsen released the deluxe edition featuring three new songs “Black Heart,” “I Didn’t Just Come Here to Dance” and “Favourite Colour” and then the expanded deluxe edition for five years of the album on Aug 21, 2020, featuring the Japanese editions of the tracks “Love Again” and “Never Get To Hold You” that were released prior due to better marketing in physical CDs in Japan. From production to lyrics and vocals the deluxe tracks felt as if they had their own spot on the standard album, a rare case for deluxe albums.
Jepsen started her tradition of releasing a side B to all of her albums on Aug. 26, 2016, releasing eight songs from the Emotion era that didn’t make the cut of the original album which will leave you questioning how they didn’t make the final cut. Even though the songs had the same feel from “Emotion” they also felt like her music was transitioning into her fourth studio album “Dedicated” as a bridge connecting the eras. Fans of Jepsen really loved “EMOTION SIDE B” with standout tracks such as “Higher,” “First Time” and “The One” with even stronger lyrics such as “Store” where Jepsen uses a store as an escape where she won’t see her ex anymore. “EMOTION SIDE B” was just more proof that the “Emotion” era was there to make an impact and Jepsen showing more growth in her music.
Ten years later on October 17, 2025, Jepsen released the decade anniversary of “Emotion” with her hit single “Cut to the feeling” and four vault tracks “More,” “Guardian Angel,” “Back of my Heart” and “Lost In Devotion” which was later announced as the best reissue of 2025 scoring an 8.4 on Pitchfork and does live up to the hype. “Lost In Devotion” has to be another one of the greatest synth pop songs along with “Run Away with Me” and should’ve been a single to promote the anniversary addition instead of “More” with a slower beat and a theme of uncontrolled wanted love in such a wistful bittersweet way.
Even away from all the big standout tracks from the “Emotion” era the deep cuts are just as good lyrically, vocally, and sonically. “Emotion” is a no skip album that will be sure to make you dance. Even if “Emotion” should’ve been bigger than it is and prove that great things can go unnoticed. It’s still loved dearly by fans and shows Jepsen she has fans and listeners who will stay and support her as she grows during her music career.
