Alive

I have found out that on the 23rd of September, Jessie J's second album will be released in Britain, and then released worldwide the next day.  It has been revealed that the title of her new album is "Alive".

Jessie J

As of late, a few songs from her next album have been released, including "It's My Party", "Excuse My Rude", and "Square One", as well as "Wild", which was released in May.  I shared my thoughts on "Wild" here.

I like "It's My Party".  For me, it doesn't rank as high as "Who You Are", "Nobody's Perfect", or "Big White Room", but I like it.  It's catchy and it has an energetic beat that makes me feel like dancing.

"Excuse My Rude" is the second album's "Do It Like a Dude".  Like "Do It Like a Dude", it has an intimidating and empowering feeling.  And unlike "Wild", it has rap that goes well with the rest of the song.  Becky G's rapping is energetic and flows rhythmically.  Jessie J and Becky G's style go well together in this song.  As a result, this is a very catchy and addictive song.

Of course, I can't know for certain, since I have yet to hear all of her new songs, but "Square One" may quite possibly be my favorite from her second album, "Alive".  My favorite part of the lyrics is:  "I don't want to hold hands with a stranger, I don't want to walk when I just learnt how to run."

"Magnetic" is beautiful, haunting, and addictive.  I can't decide which I love more, "Square One" or "Magnetic".  I've heard rumors of "Magnetic" not being on the second album.  I hope this isn't true.  It now ranks among my favorite songs by Jessie J.  "Magnetic" is featured in The Mortal Instruments:  City of Bones, which will be in theaters August 21st.

There's also "Hero", which is a really great song.  "Hero" is featured in the sequel to the superhero movie Kick-Ass, which is now in theaters.  I like "Hero" more than "It's My Party", "Excuse My Rude", and even "Wild".

I prefer the acoustic version of "Wild" to the version that will be on her album.  Jessie J is one of the few musicians I know who sounds better live.  I actually prefer the live acoustic versions of most of her songs.  It shows off her voice, and it just suits some of her songs better.

An acoustic version of "Wild" (not the whole song):

In an interview, Jessie shared that there will be an emotional song on her next album that she will not perform live, as it would be too emotional for her.  I think this song will be the "Who You Are" of her next album.  I was wondering if there would be a more emotional and personal song like "Who You Are", and this song seems to be what I have been hoping for.  It will only feature Jessie's voice and a piano.

Well, for now, until the release of "Alive", I will content myself with listening to her earlier songs as I wait:

"My Shadow":

An amazing live performance of "Who You Are":

A heart-felt live performance of "Who You Are" at a concert in 2012.  She is a musician who sings with her heart and soul, and she gives every performance her all.

And an awesome performance of "Nobody's Perfect" at the same concert:

The hair style Jessie has in this performance is my favorite of her hair styles - it's very 1970's-like.  She reminds me of Julie Christie with this hair style.  I like how Jessie interacts with her audience - she's very down-to-earth and personal with her fans, and a natural at performing.

Wild by Jessie J

I can't wait for Jessie J's second album to be released.  There is a music video for her new song, "Wild".  I love Wild.  It has a beat one could dance to and it's very catchy, especially the part where Jessie sings "Wild, wild, wi - ohohohohohohoh wild, wild, wi - ohohohohohohoh"!  One day in June my family drove to a beach, and Wild happened to be stuck in my head.  I had memorized the lyrics nearly from beginning to end, so I sang it during the entire car ride.  It drove my brother nuts.

Anyway, here is the music video.  I like the sharp contrasts created by the use of black and white.

Some like the song with the exception of the rapping parts.  I would like the rapping far better if the lyrics were less lazy and actually made sense.  They also don't really seem to have anything to do with the rest of the song, which makes me wonder why they were included.  I prefer Dizzee's lines to Big Sean's.  I actually kind of like Dizzee's part.  Big Sean's lines make absolutely no sense at all.  Jessie's lyrics are fine.  I suppose overall, it would have been better to have left out Big Sean and Dizzee.

Here's a section of Big Sean's lyrics (the lyrics are highlighted in orange and my comments are highlighted in green), as an example of how irrelevant they are:

Today I woke up feeling like the mayor Random.

I spent 'bout an hour looking in the mirror Vain.

As I should, as much as I've been through  Feeling sorry for himself.

It's a wonder I look this d**n good  Vain again.

I'll probably make it out [of] any situation that you try to put me into  This is actually one of the main themes in Jessie's music.

If I swim with the piranhas it's guaranteed that Imma probably have a fish dinner Random, vain, and irrelevant.

So those are pretty much my thoughts on one of Jessie J's more recent songs.  Once again, I can't wait for her second album to come out!

Before Jessie Was Famous

Back when I was first becoming a fan of Jessie J, I felt like I really got to know her through watching her videos from 2009.  I became a fan of hers in 2010.  In February of 2011, "Who You Are", her first album, was released, and gradually, she became more and more known.  In 2012, I felt that she had officially become well-known, after I began to hear more and more people listening to her music (mostly only her most popular songs, such as "Do It Like a Dude" and "Price Tag".

"Price Tag" by Jessie J:

I just recently found out that Jessie J fans have a name.  She has been quoted as saying "You have to love your fans.  That's why I call them my Heartbeats, because without them I wouldn't be here."  I suppose this make me a Heartbeat. :)

It didn't take long for me to become a Heartbeat.  I loved her early videos because they were personal and let her outgoing, positive, and cheerful personality shine out.  Through her videos she made a personal connection with her fans, and it showed how down-to-earth and real she was; she's never fake, from her raw talent, to the way she interacts with other people.  She's a person with a lot of heart and an understanding of others.  She has become one of my inspirations.

Jessie in one of her videos from 2009 singing "Big White Room" (I shared my thoughts on this song here).  Big White Room is one of my favorite songs by Jessie.

Jessie singing "Stand Up" (also one of my favorite songs):

Here's a video of Jessie even further back before she became famous, when she was fifteen years old.  She was an incredibly talented singer even at fifteen.

Jessie J is a very caring and compassionate person, which I thought was especially clear when she shaved her hair for charity.  Below is a video in which she explains why she decided to shave her hair.

On her Twitter account, Jessie said:  "It's hair, it will grow back.  Even if it takes 2 years, if it saves lives it's worth it.  Even if it's 1 life that's something."

And to conclude yet another post about my favorite Pop singer, I'll leave two awesome clips from The Voice that show how great Jessie's vocal skills are. :)  I like Danny O'Donoghue, Tom Jones, and Will.i.am (well, not his music, but I like him...sorry Will.i.am) too, but Jessie J is the only reason I watch The Voice.

A True Artist

I think this might be my favorite out of all of Jessie J's concerts.  I love the glittery golden dress she's wearing, and how her spirited enthusiasm radiates about her on the stage.  She puts all of her heart and soul into this performance, as she does with every performance.  I don't think she stopped devoting all of her energy to her performance until after the concert was over.  She's a true artist!  She's where she belongs, performing for an audience.  It's clear that she truly loves her fans, and you can tell by her smile that she loves when the audience participates in singing the songs.  She is such a talented singer.  Her vocals are incredible!  She has so much control, and there is so much power in the volume she projects.

Here is the live performance of "Laserlight"and "Domino" from this concert, which took place at Camden Roundhouse in London.  I like this version of "Laserlight" better than the original.  To me, it has a nicer sound, and I like how she sang the notes here.

And here is the live performance of "Who You Are" at Camden Roundhouse.

A song I have been listening to recently by Jessie J is "Technology".  Here are the lyrics:

This song is about how the people of the present day world are steadily becoming more and more engulfed by technology.  We seem to be spending more time facing a screen than looking at a real person.  It's ironic that I'm saying this, when I am looking at a screen while typing this.  It's as if our world has been transported onto a screen.  Since we are social creatures, this lack of face-to-face contact is damaging to us both mentally and emotionally.  We are losing contact with the real world, and are instead living in a false, fragile, and superficial world, where things are no longer real.  In a way, technology is replacing people.  Jessie reflects on this in a clever way through this song.  Here, in this video, she sings a live version of the song.  She explains the meaning of this song before singing it.  I like the outfit she wears in this video.  It's a nice violet color, and makes me think of abstract art.  After she sings a bit of "Technology", she sings some of "L.O.V.E." as well.  "L.O.V.E." is on her album "Who You Are".  

Big White Room

This is one of my absolute favorite songs by Jessie J.  I think it's one of her best.  The live version of this song, which is on her album "Who You Are", is amazing.  Her vocals are very, very impressive.  "Big White Room" has a beautiful and therapeutic sound.  It's one of the first songs by her that I heard, when I first discovered her music.

Note:  I forgot to mention what the meaning of this song is.  "Big White Room" is about when Jessie J was in London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, when she was eleven years old.  She was being treated for an irregular heartbeat.  A friendship grew between her and a boy she shared the room with.  One night she woke up to see the boy praying to God that he would live, as he would have an operation the next day.  The next day, he passed away.  Here is a quote from Jessie J about this song:  "He died the next day so I said to my mum 'but God didn't save him'. I was so angry and it really confused me. I always wanted to write a song about the experience, but I knew I had to be of an age where it wasn't tacky or depressing and had a lightness to it."  Jessie decided that the live version sounded best, and as I stated above, it is on her album "Who You Are".  This is a very emotional and meaningful song.  "Big White Room" is the first song Jessie J wrote.  

Domino, Cold War, and Happy Ending

I just can not stop listening to this song.  It's addictive!  It's so energetic and cheerful, I just want to blast it on a radio or my iPod and jam out to it, and "dance like nobody's watching".  But I won't, since that would be a little really embarrassing...I mean, imagine how ridiculous that would look.  As you can tell, I am far too self conscious to ever be brave enough to do that and not give a hoot about all the strange looks I would get.  Still, it's tempting to do that with some songs.  And this is one of those songs.  It's like every beat demands you to get up and start dancing!  

"Domino" is more carefree and less serious than some of Jessie J's other songs, but I like it just as much.  When I first listened to it, I wasn't sure if I liked it, but it wasn't too long before it grew on me.  Below is the music video for "Domino".  I lost count of how many different outfits she wears in the course of this video a while ago.

Regarding the outfits she wears in this music video, I would say I like most of them.  If I were asked which is my favorite, I would say the one with the decorative butterfly mask (Is that what it is?  Well, I think that's what it is...).

I've heard that some people think she sounds a bit like Katy Perry in this song.  To them, I say psh.  In no parallel universe will Katy Perry ever be able to sing as well as Jessie J.  As Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind would say, don't make me laugh.  (Apologies to any Katy Perry fans reading this who were offended by that true statement - ehm - I mean, personal opinion.  Okay, okay.  Sorry.  But seriously, Jessie J is a better singer, I don't care how much a fan of Katy Perry you are.)

Another song I've been listening to recently is "Cold War" by Janelle Monáe. There is so much meaning behind this song, on more levels than one. It gives me chills when I listen to it. There's also a lot of emotion present, which becomes especially clear when you see the tears form in Janelle's eyes as she sings. This song has the ability to strike a tune with our emotions, and our thoughts, as well. There's not much else for me to say, except that this is just a really good song.

Yet another song I have been listening to, is Mika's song, "Happy Ending":

These are the lyrics:

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life
Can't get no love without sacrifice
If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well
A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Two o'clock in the morning, something's on my mind
Can't get no rest; keep walkin' around
If I pretend that nothin' ever went wrong, I can get to my sleep
I can think that we just carried on

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

A Little bit of love, little bit of love
Little bit of love, little bit of love
This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.

It's a beautiful song, both in the way that it has a beautiful yet sad message (perhaps bitter sweet, as well), and sounds beautiful to the ear. I've listened to it numerous times. My impression is that the lyrics speak of a heartbreak. It's interesting how the message of "Happy Ending" is sad, yet the sound of it is happy and uplifting. But then, all of Mika's songs sound happy and uplifting, which is part of why I enjoy listening to his songs so much!

A Discussion About Music...

Today I feel like discussing music.

I have a love for much of the music from the past, such as folk and classical, but this doesn't mean I don't like some of the modern music of today's world.  This list I have conjured up features my personal top favorite singers and bands that range from the late 90's to the present.  
   
7) Adele

What I like about Adele is how she doesn't put up an act to get extra attention like so many artists today, but presents to us the pure, simple talent that she possesses - her voice.  She is a straight forward musician that lets her personality shine forth.  "Rolling in the Deep" is my favorite song of hers.  

6) The Backstreet Boys

Songs by the Backstreet Boys are somewhat of a "guilty pleasure" for me.  I think the reason I love their music so much may be because they remind me of my early childhood.  I like 90's music because it brings back memories.  And music that brings back cherished memories is the best kind of music.  The Backstreet Boys is very nostalgic.  I was born in the mid 90's, so I was too young to be really fully aware of the Backstreet Boys, though I have a distant memory of the song "I Want It That Way".  When I was fifteen, I rediscovered them and began to listen to their music.  I like both their early songs from the 90's and their late songs from the early and mid 2000's.  

This is their most well known song, "I Want It That Way", from 1998.

Here is a song by the Backstreet Boys from 1997. 90's music just makes me grin from ear to ear. :) 

A more recent song by them, from 2005.

5) Imagine Dragons

Well, I don't have much to say about Imagine Dragons, since I'm not quite as familiar with them as I am with the other people and bands on this list...but they deserve a spot, because I like their sound and style, and this song.  There are a lot of other songs of theirs that I like, but "It's Time" is my favorite, and in my opinion, their best.  It's also the most well known of their songs.

One of the reasons I'm so interested in this band is because they remind me of one of my uncles when he was young.  He was a fan of "Guns and Roses". Somehow, "Imagine Dragons" reminds me of that band and my uncle. Perhaps its their style, the color scheme, or mood in this music video...I'm not sure.

4) Mika

I don't have too much to say about Mika...he's just a great singer, has style, is full of energy, and I love listening to his songs.  And he's awesome.  Pretty simple.

This was the first song by Mika that I heard.  I was taking a sewing class at that time.  I heard the teacher's daughter listening to it frequently during class.  Years later, I remembered that song and tried to find out who had sung it.  Thus, my knowledge of Mika was born.  This is from 2007.

This song is a personal favorite of mine.  It's "We Are Young", from the movie "Kick-Ass".

And two more songs by Mika, to show more of the overall sound and style of his music....

.....yup.  He's awesome.

3) Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe, to me, is like a hidden jewel.  She is underrated and underexposed.  She writes songs with meaning, which is refreshing, since so much of the music today is devoid of any meaning or truth.  I love how her album, "The ArchAndroid", feels like a film with emotional ups and downs when listened to from beginning to end.  She's a fantastic singer and an intelligent, well spoken, unique individual.  Also, I love her culture and sense of style.  Oh, and her hair is just amazing.  I always like when someone embraces their natural self.

This is the music video for one of her songs, "Tightrope".

...and here's another version of it.

In this interview, Janelle explains the meaning behind the suits she is always wearing.

2) Amy Lee and Evanescence 

Evanescence speaks out to the dark side in all of us.  Their songs feel real, because they are so connected with what people go through in life, their struggles, and feelings, whether they are happy, angry, or sad.  If I'm having a bad day, a song by Evanescence helps me vent any emotions closed up inside. It is healthy to let go of those emotions every once in awhile.

This is one of Amy Lee's most beautiful songs, "Good Enough". It seems more happy than most of her other songs, I feel.

Another aspect of Evanescence that I love is Amy Lee's voice.  I find her voice to be hauntingly beautiful.  She is also very talented at writing lyrics and expressing the feelings so many people feel.  A lot of this comes from her own experience. The raw emotion she has comes out in her music and connects to the listener emotionally.  I will always be a fan of hers.

"Lithium" is one of my favorite songs by Evanescence.  As Amy Lee explained in an interview, this song speaks of the difficulty of letting go of your sorrow.  Because it's been a part of you for so long, you are afraid of letting it go and allowing yourself to be happy.  Lithium, the drug, is a metaphor for being cold and dead emotionally.  When someone takes lithium, they don't feel sad or happy - they are emotionally numb.

This is the video that led to my discovery of Amy Lee and the band, Evanescence.  This is my favorite of the songs Amy Lee covers, since it was the first time I heard her voice.  I am in love with her version of this song and like it even more than the original.

Two other favorites...

1) Jessie J

I love Jessie J!  She is a great inspiration, and my favorite pop singer. I have been a fan of hers for a long time, even since before she became well known. This is she singing "Who You Are", my favorite song by her.

"Nobody's Perfect" is my favorite of her music videos.  I really like the outfit she wears when she walks on the table and holds onto the chandelier.  It seems like a very British style to me, and reminds me of London.

Her voice is just so powerful.  She's got an incredible vocal range. Plus, she sounds even better live, which is pretty rare nowadays.

Jessie is an amazingly talented musician, and will never cease to be my favorite singer of today.  

And that concludes my countdown!