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Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
essie J is not just a great pop artist...or a great R&B artist, or even a great hip-hop artist. The British-born, Essex-bred vocalist is malleable enough to encompass several genres, while displaying vocals reminiscent of Motown-era greats. Although she may not be able to play the piano, Jessie is armed with the chops to blow people away, and the song-writing skills to pen a worldwide hit. After one listen, it's clear the extraordinary Jessie J stands alone. For Jessie, her Lava/Universal Republic debut album, WHO YOU ARE, showcases the skills of a gifted lyricist while highlighting an unforgettable journey. While Jessie's road to success hasn't always been easy, she's quick to emphasize the normalcy of her childhood. Growing up the youngest of three children, Jessie's mother was a nursery school teacher and her father a social worker. "My family is very creative, but no one in my family sings... I was the only one who put my life to a melody..." For Jessie, melody has been the driving force behind her successful career as a singer/songwriter. At 17, Jessie wrote her first song "Big White Room." The song was inspired by real life events--specifically the time she was hospitalized at 11-years-old while sharing a room with a younger boy who sadly lost his life. "I knew I wanted to write a song about that experience," she divulges. The song has followed Jessie J throughout her career, and it remains a YouTube and crowd favorite when she performs it live. Her YouTube rendition has been viewed nearly 300,000 times and has garnered over 50 covers organically without radio airplay. "'Big White Room' is my comfort blanket, and I'm so happy that people can personalize the meaning of the song..." states Jessie. Around the same time, Jessie J was signed to a short-lived independent label deal. She toured with various high-profile artists including Macy Gray, Sugarbabes, Girls Aloud, Chris Brown, Jools Holland, Cyndi Lauper and Taio Cruz. While showcasing her diva-infused voice and infectious songs, she had the freedom to explore her sound and a chance to teach herself how to adapt to diverse audiences. "I never had a band. It was me, my CD, my heels and a huge stage to fill. I loved that I had no one and nothing to hide behind..." The label eventually went bankrupt and closed its doors. Still armed with a SONY ATV publishing deal, Jessie continued to hone her writing skills. It wasn't long before Jessie had opportunities thrown at her by the dozen. One of her songs, "Sexy Silk," was selected by NIVEA for a worldwide campaign. "I remember seeing the ad at the cinema and wanting to tell everyone, 'That's me! That's me!" In the last few years, Jessie has penned songs for the likes of Chris Brown and Lisa Lois the Holland X Factor winner. Her life also inspired the melody of a major hit record, "Party in the USA," sung and performed by Miley Cyrus. "When Dr. Luke texted me saying my song was #1 on iTunes, I thought it was a joke!" she laughs. Now, Jessie's signed worldwide to Universal Music Group. In the US, she inked a deal with Lava/Universal Republic Records and Island Records in the UK. "I feel like my album is an example of what exists in the world of music right now. It's like my album is an iPod... it's like when you go clubbing these days, you don't have a pop room and a separate R&B room, they're all together. People just appreciate great music..." The title track and 1st single, "Who You Are" is about a point in Jessie's career where the singer's aspirations were hanging on a thread. "The most important thing in life is to be happy, but everything had become too 'business' and sterile. I really thought I was going to quit--not music, but the music industry...it wasn't easy," Jessie states. "I was really down, but when I'm down, I write a song about it." Not all of Jessie J's songs are built around hardship. Much like Jessie herself, a lot of songs on WHO YOU ARE, are of the fun, upbeat variety she displayed in previous songs such as, "Party in the USA." Other songs that have had immense reactions on YouTube include "Rainbow," "Stand Up" and "Whose Laughing Now"--all written about personal times in her life. Mix a bit of Rihanna with Gwen Stefani, add the charisma of Pink, and you will start to get an idea of what kind of girl Jessie J is. As much as she can be a voice for the hard times, those soulful, Aretha Franklin-esque vocals can also soundtrack the best of times too. Take the Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus) produced song "Price Tag"--an upbeat, energetic dance number that highlights Jessie's booming voice and can still stand out amidst glossy production. There's also the live staple, "Mamma Knows Best," which showcases her hair-raising range and is an extremely funky ode to her loving parents. "My mom and dad always know best. I hate to admit that sometimes, but the song says it all. I base my confidence on purity and I want to be a role model... I want people to know that I am an unedited version of myself. I plan to expose the good and the bad to show that life is about being WHO YOU ARE..."
Product Description
Who You Are is this UK pop sensation's debut album. Mix a bit of Rihanna with Gwen Stefani, add the charisma of Pink, and you will start to get an idea of what kind of girl Jessie J is.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By Madeline
Format:Audio CD
Subtlety you will not find on this record.
What you will find is a plethora of upbeat and slow, catchy, vaguely British, sometimes cliché-- but always entertaining songs that will either make you want to get up and dance or scream along to in your car with the top down. It's the perfect summer album.
Jessica Cornish aka Jessie J has been working for almost six years churning out hits for artists like Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera. Jessie is no overnight success. She's put in the years of hard work. Her versatility both in style and music choice is one of my favorite things about Jessie, which is ironically the very thing she's been getting the most flak about from critics.
I like that she doesn't sound the same on every song. I like that "Mamma Knows Best" has an underlying Motown feel while the hard hitting "Do It Like a Dude" is a hybrid of hip-hop/pop. What some critics are calling "lack of direction," I call variety. And it's not like you're going to find an opera bit on here, these songs are all definitely within Jessie's comfort zones of r&b, pop, Motown and hip-hop. As a caution though, if you were expecting the entire album to sound like "Price Tag" or even "Do It Like a Dude," then you will be in for a surprise.
While sometimes Jessie's overly simplified lyrics can get on my nerves, what is undeniable is Jessie's vocal talent. Her voice is never lost in autotune or "corrected." Jessie knows she has a good voice and is unafraid to showcase that. While she's not Adele or Amy, Jessie blows the roof off in comparison to other mainstream rivals like Ke$ha or Rihanna. Sometimes it sounds like she does vocal riffs just to show that she can, but it doesn't get on my nerves--I'm simply happy to have a mainstream artist that can truly sing.
Jessie J has talent. That is undeniable. Aside from simply the different styles of music that Jessie incorporates, what I appreciate most is the heartbreaking vulnerability mixed with swagger for days that resonates throughout the album.
Whether this album's particular brand of delicious pop is for you is a different question. If you like positive, happy, upbeat, girl-power type music--then I highly recommend you take this ride with Jessie J.
What you will find is a plethora of upbeat and slow, catchy, vaguely British, sometimes cliché-- but always entertaining songs that will either make you want to get up and dance or scream along to in your car with the top down. It's the perfect summer album.
Jessica Cornish aka Jessie J has been working for almost six years churning out hits for artists like Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera. Jessie is no overnight success. She's put in the years of hard work. Her versatility both in style and music choice is one of my favorite things about Jessie, which is ironically the very thing she's been getting the most flak about from critics.
I like that she doesn't sound the same on every song. I like that "Mamma Knows Best" has an underlying Motown feel while the hard hitting "Do It Like a Dude" is a hybrid of hip-hop/pop. What some critics are calling "lack of direction," I call variety. And it's not like you're going to find an opera bit on here, these songs are all definitely within Jessie's comfort zones of r&b, pop, Motown and hip-hop. As a caution though, if you were expecting the entire album to sound like "Price Tag" or even "Do It Like a Dude," then you will be in for a surprise.
While sometimes Jessie's overly simplified lyrics can get on my nerves, what is undeniable is Jessie's vocal talent. Her voice is never lost in autotune or "corrected." Jessie knows she has a good voice and is unafraid to showcase that. While she's not Adele or Amy, Jessie blows the roof off in comparison to other mainstream rivals like Ke$ha or Rihanna. Sometimes it sounds like she does vocal riffs just to show that she can, but it doesn't get on my nerves--I'm simply happy to have a mainstream artist that can truly sing.
Jessie J has talent. That is undeniable. Aside from simply the different styles of music that Jessie incorporates, what I appreciate most is the heartbreaking vulnerability mixed with swagger for days that resonates throughout the album.
Whether this album's particular brand of delicious pop is for you is a different question. If you like positive, happy, upbeat, girl-power type music--then I highly recommend you take this ride with Jessie J.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Tuts333
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jessie J is brillant! She's very talented and keeps her listeners entertained. I loved each and every song. Usually artists aren't so versatile but Jessie J proved that wrong! She switches from Hip Hop, to R&B, to Pop and you won't feel that she's putting too much effort into it. Her adlibs and vocals are amazing for each song, she adds a different style to each song she sings! My favorite songs from here album are: L.O.V.E(vocals are INCREDIBLE it'll give you chills), I Need This(This song will make you speechless..just listen and you'll understand what I'm saying), Mama Knows Best(A jazzy feel song that you can relate to), and Do It Like a Dude(a different style of song that'll make you want to just get up and dance). This is definately an ablbum anyone should get if they want to hear a different fresh mix of music. Who You Are gets 5 stars from ME!!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
One thing about Jessie J that works for and against (in seemingly equal parts) is that she kind of sounds like an amalgam of a variety of popular artists today. If you took Natasha Bedingfield and splashed her musicality with the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna, P!nk, Lily Allen, Keri Hilson, Anouk and Christina Aguilera you'd have Jessie J. The good thing about this is that she is versatile. Her album shows a lot of range. The bad thing is that she doesn't have any real signature sound to differentiate her from the artists I mentioned above. She lacks the focus needed to create her own sound. That doesn't mean that she doesn't turn out some good music. In fact, some of the songs on `Who You Are' are exceptional; especially that title track. The problem is that I'm not sure who she is yet.
But Jessie has bigger problems rearing their heads on this album.
Namely, it's the lyrical content, which is quite shallow in parts and just uninteresting and uninspired for the most part. She doesn't stretch herself with her ability to write (which she's been doing long before she started to sing) and so her album pales in comparison to those of the artists she emulates (well, most of them).
With an album like this, I really don't know where to start because there aren't many songs that sound similar (semi-great thing), so I'll just pick a place.
How about the top!
When she goes the `Natasha Bedingfield/Anouk' route she shines the brightest. `Who You Are' is simply divine, and it closes the album perfectly because it actually had me wanting to listen to it all over again to find more kernels of that kind of brilliance. That chorus alone is just ridiculous; it's nearly an event all its own. `Big White Room' also has that ballad type atmosphere cornered, and it isn't as successful but it shows the range of Jessie's vocals with a stripped down live performance.
Songs like `Abracadabra' have that whole 90's pop vibe (ala early Robyn, before she became a visionary) with a Beyonce-like upgrade. They are fun and flirty but nothing monumental. `Nobody's Perfect' has a far better result, simply because it infuses that average Beyonce style with something a little darker (something that Beyonce flirts with but should wholly embrace), more earnest. Despite the lyrics being a tad tired and simple (for someone who made her initial impact writing for other artists, you'd think she would have saved her best work for her debut album) she really nails the delivery, and I love the way that she experiments with her voice, totally understanding that sometimes the unprettyness that she can pull out is all the more interesting (that bridge is phenomenal).
`Do It Like A Dude' sounds like one of those ill-advised Rihanna numbers; you know, the ones where she tries to pretend like she has the cohunes to kill someone. It's a total mess. At the total opposite end of the spectrum is `I Need This', which sounds like manipulated inspirations that rides the rails of generic in every way; sadly. Her Keri Hilson influence is seen on a few tracks. `Rainbow' has that edgier feel, much like Keri's debut `Turnin' Me On'. It's a fun and catchy, albiet not too original, song that has swagger that makes it a forgivable cliché. `L.O.V.E.' is a little too simplistic in depth, but it has a nice feel to it, calling to mind more subdued Hilson. If you asked Lilly Allen to sing verses and Christina Aguilera to sing chorus on a chaotic song about rising above childish torment, you'd have `Who's Laughing Now'. Sadly the song is kind of cheesy instead of inspiring and far too chaotic for its own good.
`Casualty of Love' actually has that aged R&B approach that Keyshia Cole has perfected over four albums (oh god, another artist comparison). Speaking of `other comparisons', `Price Tag' sounds like Corinne Bailey Rae's `Put Your Records On' sung by someone with a more commercial voice (not necessarily better, just more accessible). The song itself is bouncy but kind of forgettable, and I'm tired of people constantly trying to validate B.O.B.'s success; he's not talented so stop asking him to rap on your songs! Back to my thoughts on `Casualty of Love'; it's soft and sweet but it feels like filler, far too aged and subdued for its own good. When you tackle a `feel' like the one she attempts here (one that is nostalgic yet obviously outdated) you have to nail it or else it comes off irrelevant. `Casualty of Love' is a casualty of poor execution.
Songs like `Stand Up' and `Mamma Knows Best' don't really fit in with whole of the album, but they shine brighter than most of the other tracks. `Mamma Knows Best' is totally Broadway, but so much fun. It just sizzles, and while it's not as sharp as it could have been, but Jessie oozes so much vocal style that the song works magic. `Stand Up' has a Michael Franti island vibe that suits her beautifully and is actually one of the best uses of her accent (I have a real issue when a singer only sings with her accent `sometimes', for it makes it sound unauthentic).
In the end, I like this album and will continue to listen to it. Jessie J actually has an extraordinary voice, and she uses it to the max here. Her vocal talent far outweighs most big names in the business today (she stomps all over Beyonce, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and the like) but she really needs to find some focus, figure out WHO she is and what she wants to sing and then try harder to write songs that convey a deeper meaning and show more depth of writing ability.
For those of you interested; my track ranking:
1) Who You Are
2) Mamma Knows Best
3) Nobody's Perfect
4) Big White Room
5) Stand Up
6) Rainbow
7) Abracadabra
8) Price Tag
9) Who's Laughing Now
10) Do It Like A Dude
11) L.O.V.E.
12) I Need This
13) Casualty of Love
But Jessie has bigger problems rearing their heads on this album.
Namely, it's the lyrical content, which is quite shallow in parts and just uninteresting and uninspired for the most part. She doesn't stretch herself with her ability to write (which she's been doing long before she started to sing) and so her album pales in comparison to those of the artists she emulates (well, most of them).
With an album like this, I really don't know where to start because there aren't many songs that sound similar (semi-great thing), so I'll just pick a place.
How about the top!
When she goes the `Natasha Bedingfield/Anouk' route she shines the brightest. `Who You Are' is simply divine, and it closes the album perfectly because it actually had me wanting to listen to it all over again to find more kernels of that kind of brilliance. That chorus alone is just ridiculous; it's nearly an event all its own. `Big White Room' also has that ballad type atmosphere cornered, and it isn't as successful but it shows the range of Jessie's vocals with a stripped down live performance.
Songs like `Abracadabra' have that whole 90's pop vibe (ala early Robyn, before she became a visionary) with a Beyonce-like upgrade. They are fun and flirty but nothing monumental. `Nobody's Perfect' has a far better result, simply because it infuses that average Beyonce style with something a little darker (something that Beyonce flirts with but should wholly embrace), more earnest. Despite the lyrics being a tad tired and simple (for someone who made her initial impact writing for other artists, you'd think she would have saved her best work for her debut album) she really nails the delivery, and I love the way that she experiments with her voice, totally understanding that sometimes the unprettyness that she can pull out is all the more interesting (that bridge is phenomenal).
`Do It Like A Dude' sounds like one of those ill-advised Rihanna numbers; you know, the ones where she tries to pretend like she has the cohunes to kill someone. It's a total mess. At the total opposite end of the spectrum is `I Need This', which sounds like manipulated inspirations that rides the rails of generic in every way; sadly. Her Keri Hilson influence is seen on a few tracks. `Rainbow' has that edgier feel, much like Keri's debut `Turnin' Me On'. It's a fun and catchy, albiet not too original, song that has swagger that makes it a forgivable cliché. `L.O.V.E.' is a little too simplistic in depth, but it has a nice feel to it, calling to mind more subdued Hilson. If you asked Lilly Allen to sing verses and Christina Aguilera to sing chorus on a chaotic song about rising above childish torment, you'd have `Who's Laughing Now'. Sadly the song is kind of cheesy instead of inspiring and far too chaotic for its own good.
`Casualty of Love' actually has that aged R&B approach that Keyshia Cole has perfected over four albums (oh god, another artist comparison). Speaking of `other comparisons', `Price Tag' sounds like Corinne Bailey Rae's `Put Your Records On' sung by someone with a more commercial voice (not necessarily better, just more accessible). The song itself is bouncy but kind of forgettable, and I'm tired of people constantly trying to validate B.O.B.'s success; he's not talented so stop asking him to rap on your songs! Back to my thoughts on `Casualty of Love'; it's soft and sweet but it feels like filler, far too aged and subdued for its own good. When you tackle a `feel' like the one she attempts here (one that is nostalgic yet obviously outdated) you have to nail it or else it comes off irrelevant. `Casualty of Love' is a casualty of poor execution.
Songs like `Stand Up' and `Mamma Knows Best' don't really fit in with whole of the album, but they shine brighter than most of the other tracks. `Mamma Knows Best' is totally Broadway, but so much fun. It just sizzles, and while it's not as sharp as it could have been, but Jessie oozes so much vocal style that the song works magic. `Stand Up' has a Michael Franti island vibe that suits her beautifully and is actually one of the best uses of her accent (I have a real issue when a singer only sings with her accent `sometimes', for it makes it sound unauthentic).
In the end, I like this album and will continue to listen to it. Jessie J actually has an extraordinary voice, and she uses it to the max here. Her vocal talent far outweighs most big names in the business today (she stomps all over Beyonce, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and the like) but she really needs to find some focus, figure out WHO she is and what she wants to sing and then try harder to write songs that convey a deeper meaning and show more depth of writing ability.
For those of you interested; my track ranking:
1) Who You Are
2) Mamma Knows Best
3) Nobody's Perfect
4) Big White Room
5) Stand Up
6) Rainbow
7) Abracadabra
8) Price Tag
9) Who's Laughing Now
10) Do It Like A Dude
11) L.O.V.E.
12) I Need This
13) Casualty of Love
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 good songe plus filler.
Music is OK, not exactly to my taste. She can sing very well but could use stronger material. Variety is the spice of life isn't it?
Published 20 days ago by Mister
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful Lyrics
This album has some amazing lyrics if you are into songs that are uplifting, I would recommend this album for review.
Published 2 months ago by SinCity Sister
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jessie J is astounding.
I enjoy the depth of this album, there are many different varieties of songs on here, it doesn't sound like the same song 16 times as some artists have a knack of doing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rys
1.0 out of 5 stars
The only time I use this CD is for a part time coaster...
Urgh.. I bought this CD after hearing Do it Like a Dude (still one of my top songs), Nobody's Perfect and Who You Are and it all went rapidly downhill after that. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tim1951
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
It arrived earlier than estimated time of arrival. It looks exactly as what's in the picture and qualiy is great!
Published 4 months ago by Cristina Marco
3.0 out of 5 stars
Who You Are
Jessie J got a strong promotional push in the US from her label - she seemed to be absolutely everywhere in 2011 but I really didn't pay her too much attention until I saw her... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Geminigirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Purchased for 1 song but,
I originally purchased this album for just "price tag" , but pleasantly surprised with the most of the album. Well worth the purchase price.
Published 7 months ago by C. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please somebody hose her down. My Greatness. Jesse J is a firestorm, vocally, visually, and variably. Read more
Published 7 months ago by William m Coles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Price Tag.
The unmelodic beats, and way the words to the song are sung make you think you're sucking on a lemon. "Price Tag" off her "Who You Are" album is a gem. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Becky Rodney
3.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't really distinguish herself from her influences
Jessie J makes great music videos. She has a constantly appealing camera presence and exudes genuine enthusiasm not just for her music, but for life in general. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Tommy M.
Listmania!
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