
Listen to this: Calvin Harris with Rihanna and Carly Rae Jepsen
By Nicholas Jennings
This past week has been all about Beyoncé and her ambitious Lemonade “visual album.” Currently streaming exclusively via a Tidal subscription, the album will become more widely available after it gets a proper physical release next month. In the meantime, here are two eminently stream-able female stars with new singles strong enough to become songs of the summer.
Calvin Harris and
Rihanna:
“This is What You
Came For”
It’s been five years since Rihanna and Calvin Harris teamed
up and created the monster hit “We Found Love,” which became 2011’s
longest-running No. 1 single. The pair is back with an equally infectious
single in which RiRi repeats “Youuuu-oooohhhh” enough times to cast a powerful hypnotic
spell. Expect this to become a massive spring jam that should carry over well
into warmer months.
The song has already picked up some major love from Calvin's girlfriend, Taylor Swift, who posted an image of the single along with “OMG” on her Instagram account.
Carly Rae Jepsen: “Boy Problems”
Canada’s Carly Rae Jepsen had the other enormous hit of 2011
with “Call Me Maybe.” The single sold a phenomenal 18 million copies. Although
the BC native’s latest album,
E*MO*TION,
hasn’t matched that commercial high-water mark it has been a critical success,
with Carly earning kudos for solid songs and a vintage ’80s synth sound. Her
new video, directed by Petra Collins, boasts a candy-colored look straight out
of ’80s blockbuster
Pretty in Pink to
accompany the catchy song.
The multiple Juno winner, who has 11 million Twitter followers, tweeted a photo from her recent Stereogum interview that shows her Joan Jett-style hairdo now taking on more glamorous dimensions.
A shot from the @stereogum interview❣ pic.twitter.com/ASNOr8VQ3E
— Carly Rae Jepsen (@carlyraejepsen) April 28, 2016
Hello! music columnist Nicholas Jennings surveys the pop landscape each week to find the most dynamic tracks to add to your playlist.