Analysis 6

Song: Call Me Maybe
Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
Mixed by: Dave Ogilvie (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson)
Mastered by: Gene Grimaldi (maybe. It seems that way. He’s worked with Lady GaGa and Hannah Montana [not Miley Cyrus])

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/articles/it-0912.htm

Instruments                        Pan                         Levels

Keyboard                              4                               5   

Drums                                   6                               4                                   

Synthy Stuff                           3                               6

Electric Guitar                       -4                              3

Acoustic Guitar                      -4                              3

Bass Guitar                           -3                               4

Vocals                                  -3,3                             7

Backing Vocals                    -5, 5                             5


Times:

00:00-00:04 Keyboard,
00:05-00:20 Vocals, Keyboard, Drums, Bass
00:21-01:01 Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Drums, Synth, Electric Guitar, Acoustic         Guitar, Bass
01:02-01:04 Keyboard, Synth
01:05-01:28 Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Synth, Drums, Bass
01:29-02:17 Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Synth, Drums, Electric Guitar, Acoustic         Guitar, Bass
02:18-02:24 Keyboard, Synth, Backing Vocals
02:25-02:31 Vocals, Keyboard, Synth, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass
02:32-03:13 Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboard, Synth, Drums, Electric Guitar, Acoustic         Guitar, Bass

This is one of the single most catchy pop songs in the entire history of music and it was mixed by a man who doesn’t even mix pop music regularly, instead working mainly with industrial and electronic music.  This song is essentially everything that a modern pop song should be.  Along with the Nicki Minaj track I looked at last week, it’s not a song that I really paid attention to, critically.  It was something that I danced to in my car and screamed along to.  But as I read about what Ogilvie had to say about certain parts of the song, I realized that there was some pretty interesting stuff hiding under Carly Rae’s stupid/catchy lyrics. First, I realized I was dancing along to an interestingly noticeable kick drum.  I guess when you spend enough time working with groups that maybe aren’t so vocally focused in their mixes you probably end up bringing an interesting perspective to a pop song.  He said that he went about the kick the same way that he would for a NIN track.   I think it was pretty interesting how Ogilvie talked about listening to the whole mix and just listening for what might be missing, as far as samples and other sounds would go.  Another element that I hadn’t noticed upon my first listens to this track was the guitar that’s hiding in the background.  It comes in during the chorus, and is way off to the left, but it’s there and it’s interesting. 

Ogilvie prefers to mix outside of the box, and has specific studio preferences because he wants to work on certain boards and with certain monitors.  He mentioned that he hates to work on old board that don’t work (duh).

Overall, I think the sound of the song is super polished, well-balanced, and perfect for this current pop market.