Emerging from the English-Indian underground, Sean's first album featured political content as well as emotional songwriting baring his personal insecurities and struggles, all of it drawing influence from the traditional pop music of India (such as Bhangra). Released 8 November 2004 in the U.K., January 2005 in Malaysia, and February 2005 in India on 2Point9 Records, Relentless Records, and Virgin Records, 'Me Against Myself' achieved highly supportive critical reviews, with Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music praising Sean's work as "an album of phenomenally accomplished R&B". His release was certified as multi-platinum in his native India and gold in the U.K. His three singles (composed with help from Sean's mentor Rishi Rich) also met with British chart success: "Dance With You" (#12), "Eyes On You" (#6), and "Stolen" (#4).
Sean's touring, as well as the success of his singles in clubs, led Tareck Ghoneim of Contactmusic.com to call Sean an "Asian sensation". Still, he had his eyes on breaking into the U.S. while also keeping his stride with the U.K. charts, and he wanted as well to incorporate more of a slick pop sound to his coming work. His sophomore release, 'My Own Way', featured him on the cover looking as dapper in his light brown suit as a master of business. Released 12 May 2008 on Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records, the work suffered from various leaks and also received some mixed reviews from critics.
Nonetheless, the album became commercially successful in the U.K., reaching #6 on the U.K. Albums Chart and #1 on the UK R&B Chart. It eventually became certified platinum. Lead single "Ride It" also garnered major airplay throughout Europe, featuring Sean remarking about "all about the games people play across the dance-floor on a night out". Momentum building, his third studio album, 'All or Nothing', came out 23 November 2009 with strong promotion in the U.S.
International top 40 singles "Down" and "Do You Remember" cemented Sean's status as a global superstar. With massive tours leading him from TV show to stadium across countries, "Down" (also known as "Down (Feat. Lil' Wayne)" and other titles due to Lil' Wayne's presence) in particular hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming later known as one of the iconic singles of 2009 in American memory. Other nation's listeners also gave his singles strong airplay.
The first official single from Jay Sean's fourth studio album, titled 'Worth It All', was "I'm All Yours", which he sent for airplay on April 18, 2012. The song featured rapper and entertainer Pitbull. Although not quite achiving as much success as he had hoped in the U.S., it became a major international hit, reaching the top 40 in both Germany and New Zealand, and it ended up being mutli-platinum certified in Australia.
When it comes to the business of being a singer there are artists, there are stars and there are phenomenons. Jay Sean is all of the above. The proof is in the press, the sales, the fans and above all, the music.
ALL OR NOTHING is both Jay Sean's first American release and first for Cash Money/Universal Republic Records. But while it's his debut over here, the 29-year-old Pop/R&B singer/songwriter/producer has been a major sensation and multi-platinum artist over there since 2004; releasing two smash albums, scoring two top ten singles, nominated for Britain's heralded MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award twice and building a worldwide, fervid fan-base that stretches from Russia to Australia to NYC.
In some ways ALL OR NOTHING is the best of both worlds. Featuring sizzling, brand new tracks like the lead off single "Down" (featuring label mate Lil' Wayne), ALL OR NOTHING also includes some of the songs that helped Jay Sean blow up around the rest of the world.
One of those songs is "Ride It" written "strictly on a vibe," built on a hypnotic, sinewy track, and delivered with Jay Sean's slick vocals. The video for "Ride It" clocked an astonishing 12 million hits on You Tube (20+ million hits across all online video channels) and captivated fans everywhere; including Cash/Money Records CEO and co-founder, Ronald "Slim" Williams who was turned on to Jay Sean's music by one of the singer's producers. Slim liked what he heard and proved it by making Jay Sean the first UK artist to join the Cash/Money family.
The match up of Nawlins swagger and UK Pop/R&B drives ALL OR NOTHING's first single "Down" ft/ Cash/Money soldier Lil' Wayne. Already taking radio by storm, "Down" resulted from a conversation that began about what's wrong in the world, and blossomed into a celebration of everything that's right - namely love.
Offers Jay Sean, "I'm a very positive, optimistic person and thought let me write a song about the idea that if you've got someone special in your life then nothing else really matters how you need to appreciate the little things. The title is a play on the word 'down.' That's why Lil' Wayne says, 'Are you down like the economy.' It's a fun, very easy track something to pump in your car."
Another mid tempo breeze born out of real life is "War." The message? "To battle with anybody, whether it's your girl, family or another country never solved anything," explains Jay Sean.
It is that mix of introspection and keenly crafted Pop/R&B songs that has brought Jay Sean from where he was to where he is.
Born and raised in London, England and of Indian/Punjabi heritage, Jay Sean started rapping at 12 and credits rap with helping him structure, produce and write songs. Inspired by R&B stars Jodeci, Brian McKnight, Joe, and Musiq Soulchild, Jay Sean started singing hooks and then stepped it up.
Amazingly, at the same time he was exploring his artistic side, Jay Sean was at med school; surely a steadier profession than "pop-star." Luckily Jay Sean's parents had his back.
"It wasn't as though they suddenly went 'you sing?' Jay Sean laughs. "They knew there might be a strong possibility I'd do music. They told me, 'The same way you apply yourself to your studies you have to work hard doing music.' That's always stayed with me."
Jay Sean's songs caught the attention of a producer putting together a groundbreaking project fusing traditional Punjabi music and contemporary Pop/R&B. As soon as the single dropped, Jay Sean became the face and voice of a new generation.
"It was so interesting that the kids who love listening to Pop/R&B and traditional Indian music said, 'What the hell is this, it's brand new.'"
Along with galvanizing a heretofore, untapped demographic, Jay Sean caught the ears of the industry, because as he explains, "The English labels knew I had this huge following.
His solo debut ME AGAINST MYSELF dropped in 2004 and exploded on the Internet. Jay Sean toured through Europe, South East Asia, as well as spot dates in the US. He even performed, with Akon, at the Ruler of Dubai's daughter's sweet sixteen. In India, this album outsold Jay-Z, Britney Spears and Madonna.
"I have a heavy fan-base in many countries including India. I'm in a minority culture but in many countries, there's still Indians there and they all knew me," says Jay Sean.
After dealing with creative issues and the desire to change his musical direction to straight-forward Pop/R&B, Jay Sean made the decision in 2008 to go for self.
"I realized I had a global fan base so why not make the music myself?"
Those instincts paid off and then some when MY OWN WAY, his first release on his own label, Jayded Records, out sold and then some Jay Sean's prior effort. The album peaked at #6 on the UK album chart.
All of which brings Jay Sean to ALL OR NOTHING and a future that is just beginning.
Speaking with a refreshing mix of humility and confidence, Jay Sean says, "I've got a different up-bringing and take on a music that you guys make so well and would like to think that I'm a fresh new face and voice. Hopefully American audiences will like it. People always like a change. That's what I have to offer."
See: www.jaysean.com
Chance On You
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
Let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
Put a smile and a wink of an eye,
When you brushed and passed me by.
Was it me you had in mind?
Is this a game you like to play?
When you tease and walk away.
Are there rules that I broke when I made you turn back around my way?
We had a mutual attraction baby,
I realize that something's different with you,
Made me question why,
suddenly I've tried my god,
and I think this could be the start .
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
It's the times that you're so not aware,
and you're on own and there.
Watching all of the little things you do,
that have got me stuck on you.
Cos it's not the way you look,
girl you never understood.
Maybe one day you'll see that there's really so much more to you.
We had a mutual understanding,
I learned from you that there's so much more about me, you.
Helped open my eyes,
and I've left my past behind,
and I'm ready to fall in love again.
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
I never knew what I had been missing,
till I learned to trust in you,
so I'd rather hurt again than to never let you into my life.
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You ain't even got to try,
let's not waste no time.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
The lyrics of Jay Sean’s “Chance On You” tell the story of a man who is falling in love with a woman who has unknowingly captured his heart and made him feel things he never knew he could feel. The man is curious about the woman’s intentions and wonders if she knows the effect she has on him. He questions if the woman is playing a game when she teases him, and if he broke any rules when he made her turn back around his way. However, despite his uncertainty and questioning, the man knows he is ready to take a chance on the woman and pursue a relationship with her.
The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that is built on mutual understanding and trust. The man and woman share a connection that is deeper than physical attraction. They have both learned from each other and have opened themselves up to the possibility of falling in love again. The man acknowledges that he was missing something until he learned to trust in the woman, and he would rather risk getting hurt again than never let her into his life.
Overall, the lyrics of “Chance On You” express the feelings of someone who has unexpectedly fallen in love and is ready to take a chance on a new relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl I wonder if you know just what you do.
I wonder if you realize the strong effect you have on me.
Cos you're making me feel things I never knew.
You are causing me to experience emotions I had never felt before.
You ain't even got to try,
You do not have to exert any effort to make me feel this way.
Let's not waste no time.
We should not procrastinate any longer on this.
Cos I'm ready and I'll take my chance on you.
I am prepared to take a risk on you and our relationship.
Put a smile and a wink of an eye,
You smiled and winked at me.
When you brushed and passed me by.
When you walked by me and brushed my arm.
Curious I ain't even gonna lie,
I cannot hide how intrigued I am.
Was it me you had in mind?
Were you thinking of me when you did that?
Is this a game you like to play?
Do you enjoy playing games with people's emotions?
When you tease and walk away.
When you flirt with me and then leave.
Are there rules that I broke when I made you turn back around my way?
Did I do something wrong to make you come back to me?
We had a mutual attraction baby,
We were both attracted to each other.
I realize that something's different with you,
I noticed that you are not like anyone else.
Made me question why,
It made me wonder why I am drawn to you.
Suddenly I've tried my god,
I have prayed to my god to help me understand my feelings.
and I think this could be the start .
I believe this could be the beginning of something special.
It's the times that you're so not aware,
When you are not paying attention.
and you're on own and there.
When you are by yourself.
Watching all of the little things you do,
Observing all of the small actions you take.
that have got me stuck on you.
That have captured my attention and emotions.
Cos it's not the way you look,
It is not just your physical appearance that draws me to you.
girl you never understood.
You may not realize how unique and special you are.
Maybe one day you'll see that there's really so much more to you.
Perhaps one day you will realize your own worth and potential.
We had a mutual understanding,
We both came to an understanding.
I learned from you that there's so much more about me, you.
You taught me that there is much more to both of us than meets the eye.
Helped open my eyes,
You helped me see things in a new light.
and I've left my past behind,
I have moved on from my past.
and I'm ready to fall in love again.
I am prepared to open my heart to love once more.
I never knew what I had been missing,
I did not realize what I was missing out on.
till I learned to trust in you,
Until I learned to have faith and confidence in you.
so I'd rather hurt again than to never let you into my life.
I would rather risk getting hurt than to never have you in my life.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.