Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” became one of 2012’s biggest viral hits and one of the most successful singles ever. The infectious pop song’s earworm chorus and Justin Bieber’s endorsement propelled it to global phenomenon status.
Viral Explosion
Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen released “Call Me Maybe” in 2011, but it remained local until Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez tweeted the song in February 2012. Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun signed Jepsen, relaunching the song globally.
Chart Dominance
Topped Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. Reached #1 in 19 countries. Became the best-selling digital single of 2012 with over 12.5 million copies sold. It was the first song by a Canadian female artist to top Hot 100 since Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” (2007).
Meme Culture
The song spawned countless parody videos, lip-sync videos, and meme content. Covers by everyone from military troops to Olympic swimming teams went viral. The Harvard baseball team’s version got 2 million views in days.
One-Hit Wonder Status
Despite “Call Me Maybe“‘s massive success, Jepsen struggled to replicate it. Subsequent singles underperformed commercially, though she built a cult following and critical acclaim for later albums like Emotion (2015).
Cultural Legacy
The song defined early-2010s pure pop—simple, catchy, and joyful without irony. It’s now a nostalgia trigger for millennials and Gen Z. The song’s earworm quality ensures it remains instantly recognizable over a decade later.