Jessie J and Passengers
Today I wanted to bring up some music by one of the greatest voices of our time. Jessie J is such a powerhouse, and I find that her music is either underappreciated or underwhelmed by the radio. But I wanted to take today's post to chat about how incredible she is, not only as a vocalist but as a lyricist as well.
The British singer has an incredible amount of talent and pedigree to her name. One of the things I love about Jessie J, is that her musical and performance style is rather unconventional. She has this incredible way of blending soul, contemporary, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and electro-pop all into one song. Her music has is a unique blend of so many genres, yet somehow, she is able to pull it off and do so with fantastic amounts of style and power. In this track, we hear Jessie J tackle a mix of contemporary, soul, and some 90s styled hip hop beats. While this may seem like an odd combination, Jessie J has brought them together in a way to make all the sounds mesh and blend. Each genre brings a particular sound to the table, and Jessie J makes use of those differences in order to create something cohesive. Whether she is performing her own songs or a cover of some of the greatest tracks, there is an effortless nature to the way she sings. Just listening to her sing, you can tell that she makes music for the sake of loving music.
Another aspect of Jessie J's music, something which I find very unique, is that all of her songs have some sort of inspirational or motivating message. Even the more melancholy and darker songs have a ray of hope, a message that things can still be okay. There are an unconditional positivity and optimism in her music which I have yet to find with any other artist. That is what makes today's song such a beautiful and wonderful masterpiece. And this track is for everyone. We all are at different points in life, but the one chapter in life that we can all share is the time when we are insecure. This song takes that human situation and nature, that state where we feel insecure and maybe even worthless, and turns it into something moving and beautiful. This is an anthem for everyone who isn't okay, and for those of us who have been at that point where we don't feel like ourselves or don't know who we are anymore. This is a song about self-empowerment, something everyone tries to find at some point in their lives.
Now there is a lot that can and has been said about Jessie J as an artist. And while there can always be a discussion on why someone doesn't like an artist, I wanted to highlight some of the greatest parts about Jessie J and her music. Her songwriting for one is so incredibly British in terms of humor and snark that you can't help but sing along. Jessie J has an affinity for using witty and rather saucy lyrics in her tracks. And I have to admit, some of them are really really funny! Others are great little jabs at certain standards or beliefs that are unwarranted. Either way, Jessie J knows how to make certain lyrics or messages really stick by using a sense of cleverness and snarky humor. Granted, in this track particularly, we don't really get a chance to hear that. But that is because she focuses her lyrical energy on creating an image. She sets a stage, creates a scene and vision of someone who is struggling internally. The power comes not only from her vocal performance but from the sheer relatability of the words she is singing. I find that to be an interesting and strong characteristic. Though there are some who believe Jessie J is hard to relate to as a star, her lyrics make her an extremely relatable person. That kind of atmosphere is not one that is created easily, nor is it an easy one to maintain. But it seems that she really has accomplished just that.
Of course, we cannot deny the sheer brilliance that is Jessie J's voice. I mean the robust projection and tone with which she sings is spellbinding. This is a more vulnerable song, yes. And Jessie J still sings with that strong and dominating voice with which she sings other songs. But there is a raw, emotional appeal in the strength of her singing. It feels more like a purge of oneself, in order to rebuild. It is a release of everything which is held inside, an emotional outpouring of pain. And that kind of toughness and fortitude is expressly heard in her voice. There is a control there which walks such a fine line. Jessie J lacks just enough control to reflect how we don't have control sometimes. But she still maintains enough control to make the song sonically sound, while also showing that we can still pull ourselves together through sheer will. It is a beautiful way to bring the message of the song to the soundscape, and Jessie J delivers a heartfelt and earnest interpretation of "the self."
Today's instrumental song is from the movie Passengers. I haven't seen this movie, but I have heard nothing but inspirational and wonderful things about the film. This composition is a gentle, piano-driven piece. There is an expressive and poignant mood to the song. The melody is one which sings of acceptance and release. It is a piece which gracefully and elegantly expresses the softer and gentler parts of humanity. There is something so captivating and almost liberating about this track. There is a content freedom which can be heard and felt throughout the movement of the piece. This is a song which is simply beautiful. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
The British singer has an incredible amount of talent and pedigree to her name. One of the things I love about Jessie J, is that her musical and performance style is rather unconventional. She has this incredible way of blending soul, contemporary, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and electro-pop all into one song. Her music has is a unique blend of so many genres, yet somehow, she is able to pull it off and do so with fantastic amounts of style and power. In this track, we hear Jessie J tackle a mix of contemporary, soul, and some 90s styled hip hop beats. While this may seem like an odd combination, Jessie J has brought them together in a way to make all the sounds mesh and blend. Each genre brings a particular sound to the table, and Jessie J makes use of those differences in order to create something cohesive. Whether she is performing her own songs or a cover of some of the greatest tracks, there is an effortless nature to the way she sings. Just listening to her sing, you can tell that she makes music for the sake of loving music.
Another aspect of Jessie J's music, something which I find very unique, is that all of her songs have some sort of inspirational or motivating message. Even the more melancholy and darker songs have a ray of hope, a message that things can still be okay. There are an unconditional positivity and optimism in her music which I have yet to find with any other artist. That is what makes today's song such a beautiful and wonderful masterpiece. And this track is for everyone. We all are at different points in life, but the one chapter in life that we can all share is the time when we are insecure. This song takes that human situation and nature, that state where we feel insecure and maybe even worthless, and turns it into something moving and beautiful. This is an anthem for everyone who isn't okay, and for those of us who have been at that point where we don't feel like ourselves or don't know who we are anymore. This is a song about self-empowerment, something everyone tries to find at some point in their lives.
Now there is a lot that can and has been said about Jessie J as an artist. And while there can always be a discussion on why someone doesn't like an artist, I wanted to highlight some of the greatest parts about Jessie J and her music. Her songwriting for one is so incredibly British in terms of humor and snark that you can't help but sing along. Jessie J has an affinity for using witty and rather saucy lyrics in her tracks. And I have to admit, some of them are really really funny! Others are great little jabs at certain standards or beliefs that are unwarranted. Either way, Jessie J knows how to make certain lyrics or messages really stick by using a sense of cleverness and snarky humor. Granted, in this track particularly, we don't really get a chance to hear that. But that is because she focuses her lyrical energy on creating an image. She sets a stage, creates a scene and vision of someone who is struggling internally. The power comes not only from her vocal performance but from the sheer relatability of the words she is singing. I find that to be an interesting and strong characteristic. Though there are some who believe Jessie J is hard to relate to as a star, her lyrics make her an extremely relatable person. That kind of atmosphere is not one that is created easily, nor is it an easy one to maintain. But it seems that she really has accomplished just that.
Of course, we cannot deny the sheer brilliance that is Jessie J's voice. I mean the robust projection and tone with which she sings is spellbinding. This is a more vulnerable song, yes. And Jessie J still sings with that strong and dominating voice with which she sings other songs. But there is a raw, emotional appeal in the strength of her singing. It feels more like a purge of oneself, in order to rebuild. It is a release of everything which is held inside, an emotional outpouring of pain. And that kind of toughness and fortitude is expressly heard in her voice. There is a control there which walks such a fine line. Jessie J lacks just enough control to reflect how we don't have control sometimes. But she still maintains enough control to make the song sonically sound, while also showing that we can still pull ourselves together through sheer will. It is a beautiful way to bring the message of the song to the soundscape, and Jessie J delivers a heartfelt and earnest interpretation of "the self."
Today's instrumental song is from the movie Passengers. I haven't seen this movie, but I have heard nothing but inspirational and wonderful things about the film. This composition is a gentle, piano-driven piece. There is an expressive and poignant mood to the song. The melody is one which sings of acceptance and release. It is a piece which gracefully and elegantly expresses the softer and gentler parts of humanity. There is something so captivating and almost liberating about this track. There is a content freedom which can be heard and felt throughout the movement of the piece. This is a song which is simply beautiful. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!
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