Right at the 20-minute mark of Carly Rae Jepsen’s brilliant work of pop perfection E•MO•TION comes a song so joyful, so carefree, so whimsical and catchy that you have no choice but to sing along. “Boy Problems” is one of the album’s most traditionally “bubblegum pop” numbers, but with Jepsen’s allure (and Sia’s self-assured opening lines in the song’s first few seconds), the song is easily one of the album’s best.
Today, Rookie Mag premiered the music video for that song, which will serve as the album’s fourth official single (following the releases of the Tom Hanks x Justin Bieber-approved “I Really Like You,” the meme-of-the-moment smash “Run Away With Me,” and the synth-heavy “Your Type“).
The video stays true to the song’s ethos, which can best be described by Carly’s declarations in the anthemic chorus:
“I think I broke up with my boyfriend today! But I don’t really care! I’ve got worse problems!”
Given that the song finds strength in independence and solace away from men, it’s fitting enough that the accompanying video would display an all-girl utopia — sleepovers, staged plays, and all. The pastel pink and purple-tinted visual was directed by Canadian photographer Petra Collins, who has routinely preached the importance of feminism, both through her work itself and in interviews. Of the collaboration, Carly told Rookie:
Out of the blue, Petra reached out to ask if she could make a video for her favorite track from the album: ‘Boy Problems.’ What she didn’t know is that I had been following her online, via Instagram and other outlets, for a while and had become a HUGE fan of her photographs and artwork.
The video also features appearances from a slew of internet stars, including Rookie Mag’s (and current actress in The Crucible on Broadway) Tavi Gevinson, performance artist Ally Marzella, plus-sized models Barbie Ferriera and Dounia Tazi, and trans artist/model Torraine Futurum.
Watch the smile-inducing visual below.