One of my clearest memories associated with Carly Rae Jepsen is when “Stay Away” started playing on my first boyfriend’s car radio when we kissed for the first time. While that relationship ended a few months later, I still associate a newfound sense of happiness and freedom with that memory and song — a feeling of finally, after years of telling myself that I couldn’t be gay, being comfortable to express my sexuality. It was euphoric.
Two years later, a similar sense of euphoria washed over me at Jepsen’s concert at UBC.
On October 29, Jepsen performed for a packed Halloweekend crowd of dressed-up attendees — including Raccaccoonie from Everything, Everywhere, All At Once — at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at UBC as part of her So Nice Tour.
The night was great from start to finish. The pre-show playlist of David Bowie, ABBA and Diana Ross and opener Empress Of’s pulsating dance-pop performance primed the audience for Jepsen’s exuberant disco-inspired discography.
At around 9 p.m., the arena’s ethereal, blue lights faded to black as special guest, The Moon from “The Loneliest Time” music video, appeared on a screen among the stars and clouds hanging on the stage. “I offer you a safe place to feel whatever it is you need to feel. More than anything, this night is for you,” The Moon said to the silent, but excited crowd, before leading everyone in a countdown to the start of the show.
Then, everything turned red. As lights flashed on stage and the opening notes of “This Love Isn’t Crazy” played, the band and background vocalists ran to their instruments and mic stands on stage. Jepsen followed, dressed in a short silver dress and matching pair of knee-high boots. She struck a pose at the top of the stairs at the back of the stage, her backlit silhouette eliciting screams from the audience.
For the next 90 minutes, the crowd couldn’t stop smiling, dancing and singing along as Jepsen performed banger after banger. She sang all the hits like “Run Away With Me” and “Call Me Maybe” — the law requires you to sing along, according to Jepsen — as well as songs like “Want You In My Room” that I usually skip when they come up in shuffle, but that I have a new appreciation for after seeing them live.
Jepsen also led the crowd on a thematic journey through the heart, from trying to reconcile your romantic feelings for someone after they friend zone you (“Your Type”) to feeling like you’re going on bad date after bad date (“Beach House”), to being so in love that you can’t contain it anymore (“I Really Like You”).
The show comes a little over a week since Jepsen released her latest album The Loneliest Time and the singer used the stage to promote many of the new songs, including “Talking To Yourself” and the country-sounding “Go Find Yourself Or Whatever.”
While Jepsen spoke less to the audience than other performers I’ve seen, she still engaged with the audience in other ways, like holding out the mic or pointing out to the crowd — which always felt electric when it was directed to where I was sitting. She also, in what has become tradition, performed with a Minecraft sword in hand that an audience member gave her during the “Cut To The Feeling” finale.
Aside from the music, the energy in the arena was my favourite part of the show. Going in, I was nervous because my friend and I were sitting in different sections. But that didn’t seem to matter once the show started. I was still dancing and vibing with everyone around me, including the person behind me who was also attending by themself.
There was also something magical about shouting “But you know what / I’m coming back for you, baby” from “The Loneliest Time” in unison with an arena full of people.
Even after Jepsen and the band gave their final bow and the arena’s lights turned on, and as I walked back to the bus loop, I couldn’t help but feel good. Like that day two years ago in my ex’s car, I will look back fondly on this night for years to come.
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