Jessie J, the new voice of soul

Jessie J, born Jessica Cornish is British and she went to the same school as Leona Lewis and Adele. Such a coincidence makes you wonder what sort of school that was for having spawned girls with talent like theirs. Leona was the first to make it big. She was the winner of the X-Factor talent show in the UK four years ago and easily hit No. 1 in the charts with her Bleeding Love. Adele next wowed everybody with her debut CD 19 that won two Grammy Awards. She is now back at No. 1 with her second album 21 and the single Rolling In The Deep. And so it is now Jessie J’s turn.

Like her two schoolmates, Jessie sings soul but she does it with a Motown twist. In fact, I see her as a combination of Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga. She is young but she has this powerful voice that reminds one of the soul ladies from the early Aretha era. Okay she does not play the piano like Keys but she has this natural gift for writing infectious melodies. Remember Miley’s Party In The U.S.A.? Jessie J. had a hand in that one. I do not think there is also anybody who has not danced or simply bounced his head to the irresistible beat of her Price Tag featuring B.o.B. That is Jessie’s first hit out of her album debut album Who You Are.

As for that bit about being a little like the Lady Gaga, it is because Jessie J. goes about in outlandish get-ups. The towering heels, the loud make-up and nail polish, even the exposed derriere all point, to a girl who is not scared to command a room or to simply be different. Maybe she will not go to the extremes that Lady Gaga has, but she is certainly in the current fantasy zone. So with her looks, her voice and her music that derives from all forms of soul and R&B, Jessie J is definitely a girl of the moment.

Who You Are is off to a very good start with the single Price Tag, a dance tune with a Katy Perry meets Beyonce vibe. The R&B mix-up of Do It Like A Dude keeps up the party mood. Then to showcase her impressive vocals, there are Mamma Knows Best, I Need This and L.O.V.E. The way she sounds in these songs made me wonder what she will do with something like Beyonce’s Listen. 

The song Big White Room from some years ago was Jessie’s first hit on the web. It is simple but effective and proves that even at the start of her career it was already clear that she was meant to make waves. The other songs are Nobody’s Perfect; Abracadabra; Casualty Of Love; Rainbow; Who’s Laughing Now; Stand Up; and Who You Are. Jessie composed all of her songs herself.

Here now are the Top 20 titles from Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 songs tabulation. The girls lead the pack and it is so amazing to find that they are all beautiful, talented and hugely marketable females. Taylor Swift is missing and there is no word yet about the release of her next CD. Beyonce is also not in the line-up but I expect her to join the list soon. Her upcoming single, Run The World Girls is really hot. Here goes:

Rollin’ In The Deep by Adele; E.T. by Katy Perry; The Edge Of Glory by Lady Gaga; Give Me Everything by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afro-Jack & Nayer; Just Can’t Get Enough by The Black Eyed Peas; On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull; The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars; Till The World Ends by Britney Spears; Look At Me Now by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymer; Down On Me by Jeremih featuring 50 Cent.

S&M by Rihanna; The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco; F**k You (Forget You) by Cee Lo Green; Just A Kiss by Lady Antebellum; Blow by Ke$ha; Written In The Stars by Tinie Tempah featuring Eric Turner; Roll Up by Wiz Khalifa; Dirty Dancer by Enrique Iglesias with Usher featuring Lil Wayne; Born This Way by Lady Gaga; and Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock.