Studio Album · No. 1
Tug of War Songwriting Credits by Carly Rae Jepsen
MapleMusic / Fontana North / 604 Records
Folk-popAdult contemporary
90%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 9 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Carly Rae Jepsen carries a lyricist or composer credit.
9 trackswritten by Carly Rae Jepsen
1 trackoutside writers
Carly Rae Jepsen's roles on this album
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist90%
Composer90%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
10
Tracks
6
Lyricists
2
Producers
10,000+
Worldwide Copies Sold
2008
Released
Awards & Recognition 1
Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year (2010, Nominated)
Data Insight
Jepsen co-wrote eight of the album's ten tracks with producer Ryan Stewart, making this a largely self-authored debut rooted in her Canadian Idol-era folk-pop. The exceptions are a faithful cover of John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and closer "Sour Candy," which she wrote with Josh Ramsay rather than Stewart. The record predates the dance-pop reinvention of Kiss and shows her first as an acoustic singer-songwriter.
Jepsen's debut studio album, released independently in Canada. A folk-pop and adult contemporary record that introduced her as a singer-songwriter before her mainstream breakthrough.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bucket
#32
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Tug of War
#36
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Money and the Ego
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Tell Me
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Heavy Lifting
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Sunshine on My Shoulders
|
John DenverDick KnissMike Taylor | John DenverRichard Lawrence KnissMichael C. Taylor | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Worldly Matters
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Sweet Talker
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Hotel Shampoos
|
Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Carly Rae JepsenRyan Stewart | Ryan Stewart | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Sour Candy
|
Carly Rae JepsenJosh Ramsay | Carly Rae JepsenJoshua Keeler Ramsay | Josh Ramsay | Carly Rae Jepsen (Lead Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 9 contributors
More from Carly Rae Jepsen
2012
83%
Kiss
604 Records / Schoolboy Records / Interscope Records
12 tracks
2015
92%
Emotion
604 Records / Schoolboy Records / Interscope Records
12 tracks
2019
100%
Dedicated
604 Records / Schoolboy Records / Interscope Records
13 tracks
2022
100%
The Loneliest Time
604 Records / Schoolboy Records / Interscope Records
13 tracks
2023
100%
The Loveliest Time
604 Records / Schoolboy Records / Interscope Records
12 tracks
Frequently Asked Questions Tug of War
Did Carly Rae Jepsen write Tug of War herself?
Yes, largely. Jepsen co-wrote eight of the ten tracks with producer Ryan Stewart, and co-wrote the closing track "Sour Candy" with Josh Ramsay. The only song she did not write is "Sunshine on My Shoulders," a cover of John Denver's 1971 original.
Who produced Carly Rae Jepsen's Tug of War?
Ryan Stewart produced and engineered most of the album. Josh Ramsay produced the track "Sour Candy." The record was released independently in Canada in 2008.
Is Sunshine on My Shoulders on Tug of War a cover?
Yes. "Sunshine on My Shoulders" is a cover of the John Denver song first released in 1971, written by Denver with Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor. It is the only non-original on the album.
Who wrote Sour Candy by Carly Rae Jepsen?
"Sour Candy" was written by Carly Rae Jepsen and Josh Ramsay, who also produced it. It was released as a single in 2009 and is unrelated to the later Lady Gaga and Blackpink song of the same name.
When was Carly Rae Jepsen's Tug of War released?
Tug of War was released on September 30, 2008, through MapleMusic, Fontana North, and 604 Records. It was her debut studio album, issued before her international breakthrough with "Call Me Maybe."
What genre is Carly Rae Jepsen's Tug of War?
Tug of War is a folk-pop and adult contemporary record, built around acoustic arrangements rather than the synth-pop she became known for later. It runs about 32 minutes across ten tracks.
What was the first single from Tug of War by Carly Rae Jepsen?
The title track "Tug of War" was the lead single, reaching No. 36 on the Canadian Hot 100. The follow-up "Bucket" peaked at No. 32 on the same chart.