The One We Now Know As Jessie J
SIDEBAR (8/3/11): Didn’t I tell you she was gonna be big? 1st week of Price Tag being out in OZ and already in Top 5 of iTunes singles chart, Miss Jessie is on her way here for a 7 day promo visit and plenty more to come!
I will post a mini review of “Who You Are” in the next few days, for all of you who are looking for a fantastic vocalist.
I remember back in early September when MOH and I went to see Step Up 3D. There was a very inspiring ballad called “Who You Are”, included in the film and when I went hunting for the complete tracklisting of the film’s soundtrack, the name Jessie J kept popping up in searches. I was kinda like, “yep, whatever-NEXT!” Didn’t know who she was, didn’t care.
Until I saw the video for “Do It Like A Dude” (DILAD). DAMN! British, scary and sexy in one; it’s like the second coming of Scary Spice, hehe..
Government Title: Jessica Ellen Cornish
Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number: 22 (born in 88, man I feel old…)
Hails From: Redbridge, England.
Journey From LDN to a Party In The USA: Had an album set to go with Gut Records but the label ailed to bring it to fruition. Jessie branched out into songwriting and began writing for some of the world’s biggest pop stars including Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Miley Cyrus. Jessie’s biggest claim to fame is that she co-wrote Miley’s “Party In The USA”, which was supposed to have been her breakout song in the States. Glad she didn’t keep it ‘cos truthfully, that song sucked a$$…
Co-Signed By: Dr Luke (dude behind Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson tracks), Claude Kelly
Distribution/Label: Universal, Lava
What’s Ahead: Debut album in March for UK, April for US
Latest Offering: “Price Tag” feat B.O.B.
Offerings To Check Out: “Do it Like A Dude”
Where You’ve Sung Along To B4: “Party In The USA” by Miley Cyrus and “I Need This” by Chris Brown
Where You’ve Heard The Vocalz B4: “Who You Are” on the Step Up 3 soundtrack, “Sexy Silk” on the Easy A soundtrack
My Thoughts: My initial reaction to DILAD was hell yeah, a Brit girl kickin’ it hard for female empowerment with her heavy emo swag, tinged with a bit of the dancehall tongue. The spike lip jewellery freaked me out a bit but I enjoyed that song. I love “Who You Are” and “Price Tag” more now that I have seen and heard video of Jessie J singing them acoustically. Lyrically, the songs are engaging and inspiring, showing a thoughtful side to Jessie J, an empowered woman who is not afraid to admit she’s not like them other girls.
She has an awesomely strong R&B tinged soulful voice with the right amount of cheeky poppiness and has great control over it. While participating in an episode of her web show, Dare Jessie J, she undertook a challenge to sing in the subway station of Times Square, just her and a boombox. Jessie J sang “Who You Are” with all the hard vocal runs which most pop artists would hold back and let backing tape or backing vocalists take over. Chick got guts, ‘cos she does it like a dude.
Images via Google
Vid via Youtube plus Jessie J’s own channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JessicaCornish
