Jessie J
Who You Are
Island/Universal
After bagging both the BBC’s Sound of 2011 Award and the Brits Critics Choice Award, a lot
of hype has surrounded Jessie J. Born Jessica Cornish, she has already gained
her first UK number 1 single, leading her to rush-release her debut album, Who You Are. After successfully
co-writing hits for other artists, including Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA (Love or Loathe It), Jessie J is finally stepping
out into the spotlight to showcase her own vocals.
Price Tag kicks
off the album and ,with its insanely catching lyrics, it’s easy to see how it
scored Jessie’s first UK Number 1. It tells the story of how money doesn’t make the world go round, and
how “We don’t need your Money, Money,
Money” (No jokes about having to pay for the album though please...) Nobody’s
Perfect is rumoured to be the next
single to be released, while Abracadabra has
somewhat of a Pixie Lott feel about it, with soft lyrics and a chorus that
matches that of Katy Perry’s Teenage
Dream. Big white room (Live) consists
of just Jessie and a guitar, showing off her amazing range of vocals. It’s an enjoyable acoustic ballad, but it is
slightly ruined by the fact that it has been recorded live, with cheering and
clapping included. It just doesn’t fit the rest of the album, and highlights
the fact that maybe it was released too early and ‘unfinished’. However, on the
other hand, it does show that Jessie is as good live as she is on every other recorded
track. Casualty of Love is another
pop-ballad crossover with very little instruments involved, allowing Jessie’s
vocals to take centre stage.
However, Rainbow sees
a change for Jessie, with her mixing R&B verses with more soulful choruses.
As if moving into the more sassy section of the album, Who’s Laughing Now is a cheeky number with Jessie poking fun at her
past ‘Haters’. The once YouTube-Artist
laughs anyone who ever bullied or doubted her, as if to prove them all wrong. Do It Like A Dude follows and, although
seemingly written by an angry child, it is packed full of attitude. Jessie’s
sassy side is released, snarling her way to Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
earlier this year. This track manages to stick in your head all day whether you
like it or not. Mama Knows Best is reminiscent of Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man that finds Jessie scatting
and hollering over a big brass band. It’s one of the best tracks on the album,
that oozes power and strength, both vocally and lyrically.
From here on in, the album takes a slower turn, with all the
attitude from earlier tracks being replaced by emotion. L.O.V.E explains how it’s about time to for Jessie to make a
love-song. It is full of emotion and genuine love. Stand up, and title track Who
You Are are both beautifully uplifting songs, that each have separate
messages of how to be proud of, and true to, yourself.
Overall, it is clear to see that Jessie is musically
multitalented. Sadly, there are moments where she nearly loses her originality,
almost falling into the trap of sounding like other artists. But, it is still a
very good album, with a mix of pop, R&B and ballads intertwined with
Jessie’s strong vocals and lyrics.
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