Maybe I’m wrong, but the few times I’ve written about British singer Jessie J, I feel like most people were divided into two camps: Camp “Who?” and Camp “Meh.” It’s not that Jessie is particularly boring, untalented or uneventful – I actually think she’s got a great voice and she’s more interesting than many of the pop starlets today. But Jessie might have overestimated her popularity. Maybe. Jessie covers the new issue of Women’s Health UK, and she tells the magazine – which has a mostly British readership – that she doesn’t get a lot of respect in Britain but she’s “celebrated as one of the greatest singers” in America. Really? Some highlights:
She’s received two Brit Awards but she’s never been asked to perform: “It makes me sad… I’ve done the Grammys, the VMAs. My profile in America is that I’m kind of celebrated as one of the greatest singers and I love it.”
Her goal: “I wanna be up there with the Celine Dions, the Whitneys, the Beyoncés and Arethas. I go hard because I hope and pray that one day, people look back and go, ‘She could really f–king sing, you know.’ Which is why I keep going.”
She wants kids: “I talk about my children every day even though they don’t exist. It sounds really weird, but I do. I put into the universe that I love them…who knows when it’s going to happen?”
Turning 28: “The 27 Club and all that. It’s scary. I mean, the most hardcore I get is a glass of ginger wine, but if you’re successful at 27, the speed of your life is unreal. Nearly 30. You need to get your sh-t together.”
[From E! News and Women’s Health]
Yeah… she’s not going to win a lot of support in her own country with this interview. The thing is, she really does have a great, powerful voice. But I sometimes wonder if she needs to nail down one specific sound. I remember reading something about Jessie’s musical popularity with gay men, and I do think that’s where she should aim: be the next Cher. Killer voice, power ballads, gay-club anthems. Do that. And no, I don’t think America celebrates her as “one of the greatest singers.” Americans hears her music and they think, “Great voice, who sings it?” And then they forget her name as soon as they hear it.
Photos courtesy of Women’s Health.
ummmmmmm yea no. You’re reaching Rita Ora levels of delusions. Love your voice but who told you that you were that popular here?!
“Rita Ora levels of delusions”
Perfect, and so true. She sounds kind of nuts in this interview, tbh.
She does have a good voice. Ha ha to be honest, when she sang the opening song in Greece Live I kept thinking “damn what’s her name, I know I know her, what’s her damn nameee!”. It took me a while to remember her name is Jessie J. So that tells you something
Immediately what I thought. I’d even say Jessie J is doing better than Rita Ora career wise but that comment was some straight Rita fantasy.
Indeed! It’s hilarious how people start to believe their own press release. She does have an amazing voice, but she needs to dial it down a notch. Then again she was already quite stuck up before she released her first single.
am i the only one with the “huh?” face right now?
she deff can sing, neh sang, but girl, sit yo ass down somewhere.
Nope and that’s because this is the first time I am hearing about her, perhaps I have heard her song somewhere? Maybe? I live under a rock apparently.
Bang Bang was the first time I became aware of her. Still the only song of hers that I know.
I really really like Jessie J but she’s delusional with that statement.
She seems to think all it takes is having a good voice to be “popular” in America. She has no idea lol.
Maybe she means South America.
I’ve never heard of her. When I read the headline, I thought it was a LeAnn type boast of delusion.
She’s a fantastic singer. She’s really talented, she’s had a couple of hits and she has performed at award shows but…she’s not nearly as known or popular as that statement would imply. NOT even close. I’m kind of surprised to hear her say such a stupid thing. Thought she was more grounded and sane than that.
Lmao delusional for sure. I mean, I know who she is, but…what? Do people even know her here? I do because I follow celebrity gossip/interviews, etc but even I can’t name a song of hers and I’m 28. I should be near her target audience, right?
ETA: oh God, she’s the one responsible for Bang Bang? I also remember her singing the Beatles song on NYE and I hated it.
Even if they do celebrate you as one of the greatest singers – don’t say it out loud. Especially not in an interview, for the love of God.
She does have a great voice and some catchy songs. Price Tag was the most annoying song ever, though. Horrible lyrics.
She’s one of the rare women who looks so much better with extremely short hair. This is her life cut.
This is where she needs to shut up. Yes you are a great singer but really girl? When you get Rihanna money then you can called yourself popular.
btw. Who likes Rihanna’s new single. To me, I hate the song period.
I agree with everything you said Locke except the hair…I think she looked way better with her black bob and don’t like this ultra-short look on her at all!
Oh and Price Tag was definitely one of the most annoying songs ever! Ugh! Hate it! And now it’s in my head!!!!!!!!!!!!
No idea who she is, but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to matter.
Terrance Trent D’Arby had similar words for himself in an interview in the early ’90s. Remember him? Exactly.
Actually, I do. 🙂 I think he had one good album if I remember correctly.
I remember him. @bluhare I think he had 2 good albums.
I remember him as well!! I also remember how his career slowly drifted into oblivion….
But that one album was amazing – seriously. And he (TTD)) made the decision that he didn’t want the fame anymore and changed his name and went to live in Italy.
OMG THANK YOU
*off to purchase some TTD*
I only ever heard of her because she sang the Grease intro and it was no bueno.
I’d heard of her but when I was watching Grease, I did wonder who that crappy singer singing the opening number was. 🙂
Yeah, her singing Grease’s opening song was one of the reasons I couldn’t finish watching the entire show.
I’m British and live in Britain. I thought she was an odd choice for the Grease intro. I wondered if maybe she was a big deal in The States and now I know that you guys celebrate her as one of the greatest singers, so it all makes sense now (!)
When she released Do It Like A Dude, which I think was her first UK single, I thought she was going to be this gritty, powerful female, British Pink type character, but I find her current stuff cloying and cliche. Yawn!
what? I’m sorry, but who are you? Your songs are mediocre…voice is okay, but your arrogance isn’t warranted as far as I’ve heard.
She’s got a good voice but her opinion of herself is hilariously overinflated.
Adele yes, Jessie J not so much.
Sorry Jessie…never heard of you. The only Jessy J I’m aware of is a jazz saxophonist who is really breaking ground for women in a male dominated genre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA0JS0YHw1Y
Thank you for this link! I’m always looking for new jazz artists, especially women.
Most people under 30 probably know who she is. Price Tag, Domino, and Bang Bang were popular hits but I get how others might not know or care who she is. She’s still in that second tier level of popularity. If she wants to stand out she needs to form a “personality” with her music/image.
Also she does have a nice voice but like Christina, she has a habit of oversinging.
OMG yes, great voice with a solid range but another one who over sings which drives me crazy. You don’t need to do what me and my friends call ‘all the belts and whistles’ all the damn time. Just sing the damn song.
So um, I’m not going to hate on her for feeling herself but unfortunately for her, she’s not as popular as she thinks.
She does deserve to be more popular, in my opinion. I like that she talks about improving her voice and sound, not too many pop stars talk about it enough.
I only know her as the girl who sings with Latte Grande & Nicki Minaj.
Me too!
That’s certainly news to this American.
Yes, I seem to have missed the party where she was celebrated for …who is she again?
No idea who this is. I’m pretty sure I thought this was Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband.
Glad I am not alone.
+1 I know the name (but I forget it unless it’s brought up), I know the title of a song she was on, but that’s literally it. Never heard her sing. I couldn’t pick her out of a lineup/don’t know what she looks like (saw her photo here obviously). And I’m in her demographic.
Never heard of her.
She does have a great voice and has had hits but most couldn’t pick her out of a line up.
LOL.
Can only imagine that statement was made to get her some attention. I know of her by name but couldn’t pick her out in a crowd or a song that she has sung. She does have a healthy ego though.
Jessie Who?
Oh Jessie, as someone who does actually like your music and thinks you can sing.
America will TELL YOU when you’re considered one of their greatests. We’ve told Adele, we’ve told Beyonce, we told Celine, Whitney, and damn sure Aretha that they were great.
We haven’t told you anything yet. Don’t mistake a few album sales for lasting impact. We recognize you as a ‘good’ singer, meaning you can carry a tune, but great is reserved for when you do a halftime show and folks are more excited to see you then the main performance.
LOL. Hahaha. She is delusional. I can’t name a single song she’s done and it looks like I’m in good company as the majority of the rest of the posters here seem to be saying the same thing.
What a cocky and incorrect thing to say.
Whatever she’s smoking, I want some of it.
I know her name but I assumed she was a one hit wonder, besides of Price Tag, I don’t think I have heard any song of hers…
I use to lament the fact that Jessie J (before an over the top drag queen took over her vocal chords) didn’t get enough recognition, but now I quess she just imagined it all along.
Whitney? Celine? Beyoncè? Mariah?
Really?
Good luck with that. Her voice is nowhere near their level and she needs to eat some humble pie.
People in the Uk don’t like her because of her ego. She has a nice voice but her attitude is so wrong that she makes people to not like her.
I watched her perform Mama Knows Best on SNL and thought dayam this lady can sing and have been waiting for her to get huge here in the U.S. Tumbleweeds are rolling by, still waiting.
Who is she? I truly don’t know.
So no, I wouldn’t call her a great singer because I don’t know anything she’s performed.
I thought this was Pink
As a member of camp meh, with partial honorary membership in camp who, I have to say, I think I like her new hair, but her face doesn’t look like her. Or maybe it does. I don’t know anything anymore!
Jessie J, the human Inception.
We need that Mariah gif going “I don’t know her” here.
Right? That right there is one of my fave gifs of all time.
I know who she is and I think she is great. She pops up often, but doesn’t have a diva tag, so maybe isn’t getting the recognition. She sang at the Londom Olympics Opening Ceremony, so the UK clearly knows who she is.
I love her and prefer her to most vocalists out there excepting Adele and Kelli Clarkson and Florence + The Machine.
She was well known in the UK but hasnt had a hit in a good few years. She got a bit overexcited by fame and turned up everywhere. She even shaved her head on live TV, thats how real the thirst was.
Okay, she did the head shaving thing for charity. It’s silly, but not nearly that bad.
I know the name but have never knowingly heard anything of hers. *shrug*
Funny, my son had just mentioned her the other day, because she sang in the Grease live show. I didn’t have a clue who she was, and I teach music! Not a single one of my vocal or piano students have mentioned her name to me, ever, and I try to stay on top of their musical preferences.
Lol, girl sit down!
When I saw Grease Live, I wondered who’d sung the opening number and thought she was good. She gave me Pink vibes right off the bat, and I spent most of the time wondering about that.
Had no idea who it was, until I saw her picture here and got the answer to my question.
So, yeah. celebrated as one of America’s greatest singers? Uh…
She absolutely murdered a Queen song at a UK event, with Bryan May on guitar. – Oh it was well and truly horrific. After that I can see why she would leave the UK. You can keep her America….. Please do!!!!
Well, she has confidence, that’s good. I thought her intro song on the live Grease show was mediocre at best and downright awful in some places. She looks great though.
I don’t think her voice is much better than Rita or Katy Perry and that isn’t saying much.
When she was cast to Rock in Rio, some people (me included) were like “why?”. Just like our dear Rita Ora, she has a good voice, but way too indistinctive. Sexy outfits, club/party songs, mediocre lyrics… She could be anyone else.
I LOVE Jessie J, but I agree that she’s overestimating her success over here in America.
She’s got the pipes but she has no idea how to use them. She just belts. No personal style. I’d rather listen to Billie Holiday all day than one song by any of these bland singers who technically have greater range and “stronger” voices, but have no idea how to convey emotion or use their voices as instruments.
I don’t get why these girls need to be the biggest pop sensation. Pick another category. Also the women she describes didn’t start off trying to own biggest, they did what they loved and it found them. JJ biggest problem is face to voice recognition and she doesn’t have one hit people know her for in the States. Pers i think she changes her look too much and she’s unrecognizable. She has no distinguishable traits. Strong voice but if idont know who owns it, pointless. Also if you change your look up so much i can’t tell who you are- its a problem. Jessie stay being the biggest UK pop star for now.
She oversings too much. A mono-syllabic word doesn’t need to have ten syllables. She uses way too much melisma. Maybe that’s her thing? She also sang Imagine on NYE (strange choice) and I was thoroughly underwhelmed. I also remember seeing her perform at the VMA’s with a broken leg–she was the outro singer whenever the show cut to commercial–and she was AWFUL. Dreadfully pitchy. Maybe she was just having an off night…
It is with the UTMOST love and sincerity I say I CANNOT overstate how much i truly adore every comment and overall sentiment of this thread AKA ” Oh Honey No!”
Welp, I was solidly in Camp “Who?” until a moment ago, when I pulled up a song of hers at random on YouTube. Yes! Great voice! But someone has been fluffing her ego about how high her profile in North America is.
Maybe no one will remember this but Jessie J reminds me of the male friend in Bridget Jones Diary that went on and on about being that one hit wonder. At one point in the movie, a man turns to this guy in a restaurant and the “singer” says “yes, yes I am him. And no, I have no plans to release anything else” to which the man replies, “your chair is on my wife’s coat”
Who is this self absorbed twit?
She is delusional if she thinks 28 is getting older. Most of my peers haven’t even started their first “real” job yet at 23/24. We can barely afford to leave home, so I just feel like a kid still. If I’m old at 30 then I’ve had hardly any time to live as an adult.
I kind of didn’t mind Jessie j until this interview but my does she have an inflated ego.