Jessie J Suffers from Foot Injury, But Her Voice Is Far from Impaired.
Jessie J gives new meaning to her song title, “Do It Like A Dude”, as she establishes her music career in a male dominated industry. Transcending cultural and musical barriers, she combines female emotion with male oriented imagery, creating a persona that is both hard-hitting and relatable. But will this U.K. phenom survive the Hip-Hop empowered American airwaves? Or will she remain apparent to just bloggers, youtube-ers, and illegal music downloaders with an interest in British culture? The American audience determines your social relevance. And, quite possibly, Jessie J may be culturally relevant.
(Confined to a thrown like chair, Jessie J performs a rendition of Katy Perry’s “Firework” at the MTV Video Music Awards. Despite an injured left leg, she effortlessly delivers the pop anthem a bit better than its originator.)
In search of something untainted by the opinions of mainstream media, listeners eject true talent from the sacred world of underground music. Formerly popularized in the United Kingdom, Jessica Ellen Carnish is the newest artist to break through the confinement of blogs, reposts, and illegal downloads. Performing at the MTV Video Music Awards as this year’s House Artist, Jessie J (her acclaimed stage name) solidifies her journey to celebrity status.
Due to her success, original followers face a wave of new Jessie J supporters. Her fans are no longer the “in-crowd hipsters” who sing the words to every leak, and the bridge to every uncharted song. Reblogging her video is now cliché and those who were once musically indifferent are forced to share the opinion of thousands. The same thousands, no millions, who became acquainted with her attitude, style, and vocal range, eloquently displayed at the MTV awards.
To the grieving fan, you can thank Youtube for her climatic exposure, for at the click of a button the ordinary individual can acquire an extraordinary lifestyle. Posting videos of original pop tunes and soultry ballads, Jessie J brilliantly uses youtube.com to acquire free publicity. Dressed in a black and white sleeveless t-shirt (displaying the image of Prince on the front for inspiration), colorful plaid bottoms, large hoop earrings, and a jet black bob that puts Rhianna to stylistic shame, Jessie J vocalizes her piece “Momma Knows Best”. Co-written with producer Ashton Thomas, this song takes no time to shock listeners. Beginning with rifts parallel to that of the underrated Christina Aguilera, Jessie J focuses on lyrics that support and empower the female disposition. A verse chants “I ain’t gonna’ be played by your behavior, how can I trust someone who’s lying to me? / See I ain’t no rag doll that you can pick up and drop / And all this inconsistent love, yea I think it’s about time that it S-T-O stops”.
“Momma Knows Best”, arguably Jessie J’s most compelling song, appears on her debut album “Who You Are”. With over four million hits on Youtube, this single defines and separates her as a prototypal artist.
Upbeat and impactful, her music stands alone in comparison to the traditional love song. But can motivational music experience longevity in an era that focuses on ka-ching, ba-bling, cars, and money? Jessie J addresses this issue in her charted song “Price Tag”, a hit collaboration with southern gangster rapper turned pop artist, Bobby Ray Simmons. Sounding much like Simmon’s initially annoying, but rather addictive “Magic”, Bobby and Jessie use a catchy melody to combat the egotistical materialism emitted through music today. However, such creativity is not evenly distributed through the album.
“Price Tag”, track one, begins the album’s trek to depthless pop as Jessie sales herself short with “Nobody’s Perfect”, “Who’s Laughing Now”, and “I Need This”. Much like Brittney Spear’s “Lucky”, she compresses her talents with immature lyrics in “Nobody’s Perfect”. If you’re in search of grade school Kid’s Bop, “Who’s Laughing Now” will rid you of your inquiries. “I Need This” provides lyrical hope, but its bland approach will bore you.
But have no fear, for the floaty styles of “Abracadabra”, “L.O.V.E.”, “Stand Up”, and “Rainbow” are here. These tunes are instant summer jams that will remove you from your car, and figuratively place you poolside.
Jessie J infuses her most compelling pieces, such as the edgy, “Do It Like A Dude”, in the midst of imitative pop.
“Big White Room”, her most revealing cut, and “Casualty of Love”, her take on the traditional love piece, introduces the validity found in R&B artists. “Big White Room” is recorded live, giving the song a realistic feel. “Casualty Of Love” is perfect for the lovesick crooner, relentlessly giving Mariah Carey a run and jump for her money.
The last song of the album, respectively serving as the title of Jessie J’s compilation, is “Who You Are”. A passionate confessional, she details the issue of maintaining originality. Her voice is nothing less than amazing, combating the fluffy, surface feel of the songs you hear before it. Her intended audience can’t help but belt out the words along with Jessie, innately forced to play the song over and over and over again. Emotionally moving and beautifully entertaining, one can be reminded of Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You”, a fellow foreigner that may have to fight for her American reign.
Artists sit tiresome in chairs, anxious and antsy for the show’s finale. The announcer introduces the last commercial, highlighting the name of a corporate sponsor. But before the commercial airs, Jessie hobbles on stage. Bound to an appropriately decorated chair, she smiles humbly, grateful to be in the presence of mega stars. Mentally ignoring the pain in her left leg, she performs, commanding the stage as if standing in six inch tall Jeffrey Campbell pumps. Pumped, she combats nerves with adrenaline, rearing a rendition of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” that elate the spirits of the restless crowd. Performing several covers, this mezzo-soprano receives a stamp of approval from the opinionated Americans. “Who You Are” promised much more than it delivered, but its number two position on UK charts and 11th spot in the US, makes up for her album’s shortcomings. Her potential is obvious, and despite her need to grow artistically, the LP will prosper because of her unabridged talent. Exposed to the masses, and crossing over to US Billboards, Jessie J emerges from the musical underworld and proves her relevance in American pop culture.
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