Cut To The Feeling

Album: Leap! (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • Carly Rae Jepsen initially wrote this euphoric power-pop tune during recording sessions for her 2015 album Emotion, but it didn't make the final tracklisting. The song was later considered for the album's follow-up EP, E•MO•TION: Side B, but instead was included on the soundtrack for the 2016 Canadian-French animated movie Ballerina after Jepsen signed on for the film and felt the song was fitting for the story.
  • The lyrics tell the story of an ecstatic love.

    I wanna cut through the clouds
    Break the ceiling
    I wanna dance on the roof
    You and me alone
    I wanna cut to the feeling


    Ballerina tells the story of an 11-year-old orphan named Felicie in Paris who dreams of becoming a dancer. Carly Rae voices the character Odette, a former prima ballerina who gives Felicie advice. The film was subsequently re-titled Leap! for its American release.
  • Jepsen told Entertainment Weekly how the song came to be part of the movie:

    "That was actually a contender for [E·MO·TION: Side B] and, originally, the first album. It was almost too cinematic and theatrical. I was like, 'If I had my way with it, this would be great for a musical or movie!'

    When Ballerina came along, I met with people as I was doing the voiceover…and they were showing me a couple scenes. There was one in particular where they were like, 'We're looking for the right song for this, do you have anything?' I was like, 'Actually, this has been in my back pocket. I've been saving it for the B-sides, but if this works for you guys, I'd be stoked to share it.'"
  • The sing-along-pop tune samples Madonna's 1983 hit "Lucky Star."

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