I Really Like You

Writing and production

"I Really Like You" was written by Jepsen, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Peter Svensson, and produced by the latter. According to Jepsen, the song's lyrics are about "that time in a relationship when it's too soon to say 'I love you,' but you're well past, 'I like you' and you're at the 'I really, really like you' stage."

Composition

Soraya Nadia McDonald of The Washington Post characterised "I Really Like You" as a synthpop song, musically reminiscent of Jepsen's previous album Kiss (2012), 1980s music and Solange Knowles' 2012 EP True. The Verge's Emily Yoshida noted elements of 1980s and new wave. Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone described the track as a "dance-pop number". Musically, the song is written in the key of F major, with a tempo of 122 beats per minute.

Critical reception

Jason Lipshutz of Billboard called the song "really (really) fun" and "a breathless 80's banger that comes back to [2012 single] "Call Me Maybe's" fixation on ultra-crisp percussion and blurted-out flirtation". Idolator's Bianca Gracie described "I Really Like You" as "mind-blowing, fantastic, catchy-as-hell pop".

Commercial performance

In Canada, "I Really Like You" debuted at number 14 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for 21 March 2015, marking Jepsen's seveth top 40 hit in the Canada.

In the United States, "I Really Like You" debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 21 March 2015, selling 38,000 copies in its first week. It peaked at number 39 on 2 May 2015, marking Jepsen's third top 40 hit in the United States.

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart on May 3, 2015 ― for week ending date May 9, 2015 ― a position it maintained for two consecutive weeks.

Music video

Jepsen filmed part of the song's music video on 16 February 2015, in front of the Mondrian Hotel in Manhattan alongside Tom Hanks, Justin Bieber and a troupe of dancers. Also making cameo appearances in the video are Rudy Mancuso and Andrew B. Bachelor (A.K.A. King Bach), well-known users of the short-form video sharing application Vine. The video was released on 6 March 2015. CBC Music's Nicolle Weeks described it as "a more affable version" of the music video for The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony" (1997). The music video has been rated as one of 10 Best Music Videos of 2015 (So Far) by the readers of Billboard.

Live performances and covers

Jepsen performed "I Really Like You" live on Good Morning America on 2 March 2015, followed by a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 5 March 2015 and Sunrise on 11 March 2015. She also performed the song on Saturday Night Live, Castle, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Dancing with the Stars, Much Music Video Awards, Ellen DeGeneres Show. On Friday, 21 August 2015, Jepsen performed this on The Today Show as part of their Toyota Summer Concert Series.

In April 2015, British group The Wombats covered the song on BBC Radio 1.

Credits and personnel

Track listings

1. "I Really Like You" – 3:24

1. "I Really Like You" (Blasterjaxx Remix) – 3:35
2. "I Really Like You" (The Scene Kings Remix) – 3:17
3. "I Really Like You" (The Scene Kings Extended Remix) – 4:35
4. "I Really Like You" (Wayne G. Club Mix) – 7:39
5. "I Really Like You" (Liam Keegan Remix Radio Edit) – 3:09
6. "I Really Like You" (Liam Keegan Extended Remix) – 4:39