In the summer of 2012, a catchy tune echoed from radios worldwide, capturing the hearts and playlists of millions. Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” became an anthem of the season, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture.
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As Jepsen’s career skyrocketed with her breakout hit, the globe was undergoing significant transformations. From entertainment to technological advancements, 2012 was a year of dynamic change. Let’s journey back in time and explore how the world looked when Carly Rae Jepsen, who turns 38 today, released “Call Me Maybe.”
The Musical Landscape: A Year of Eclectic Tunes
2012 was a year of eclectic music, and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” wasn’t the only notable song. The Billboard Hot 100 was ruled by Gotye and Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” which spent eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the chart. Maroon 5 released the hit singles “Payphone” and “One More Night,” while Nicki Minaj dropped “Starships.” “Somebody That I Used To Know” and “Call Me Maybe” were the only two songs to sell over 1 million copies throughout 2012.
Earlier that year, Lana Del Rey gifted us one of the most intriguing and captivating albums of the 2010s, Born To Die. The LP was the fifth best-selling of the year and became the second album by a woman to spend more than 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. The year closed in the best possible way: Rihanna released Unapologetic. Rihanna’s seventh studio album was an authentic masterpiece, merging all the sounds of her previous albums, including Talk That Talk, Loud, and Rated R. The Grammy-winning LP featured timeless songs such as “Diamonds” and “Stay.”
Outside the United States, K-pop was gaining international recognition, with acts like Psy breaking through with “Gangnam Style.”
Social Media: The Rise of Digital Influence
In 2012, social media was hitting its stride as a powerful cultural influencer. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were reaching more and more fans around the globe, playing a crucial role in catapulting “Call Me Maybe,” and other songs as well, to stratospheric heights. Fans worldwide created lip-sync videos, dance routines, and parodies, showcasing the changing dynamics of fame in the digital age.
Cinema and TV Series: Shaping Pop Culture
In 2012, numerous films and TV series that would leave a lasting impact on pop culture were released. The first film of The Hunger Games franchise was released, starring stars such as Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Woody Harrelson. It was a first time also for Marvel’s The Avengers, beginning an unforgettable saga closed in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame. 2012 was also the year of the last film of the trilogy of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight of Batman.
Meanwhile, the small screen was dominated by beloved TV series like Chicago Fire, Arrow, and Elementary.
Tech Industry: Innovations and Transformations
In the landscape of 2012, the tech industry was experiencing rapid evolution. Apple unveiled the iPhone 5, marking a significant leap in smartphone technology. The era of 4G connectivity was dawning, promising faster internet speeds and enhanced mobile experiences.
Social media giants were asserting their dominance. Facebook went public, forever changing the dynamics of social networking. Mark Zuckerberg’s brainchild was no longer just a platform; it became a publicly traded company, symbolizing the increasing influence and profitability of the tech sector.
Simultaneously, 2012 witnessed the introduction of Windows 8 by Microsoft, a bold attempt to reimagine the operating system for the touchscreen era. The tech landscape was buzzing with anticipation for the future, foreshadowing the innovations that would shape the coming decade.
So, we can say that a lot has changed from 2012 to our days, but even after 11 years, songs like Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” have the power to bring back even distant memories.
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