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
Good Enough
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its something that I can't deny
Its nothing that I wanna hide
And even though my roots come from the other side
I didn't think they would mind
Coz I heard that love was blind
But they can't understand, when it comes to me and you
Tell me how to change traditions
When there's all of them and one of me
[Chorus]
How can I change a million minds in this lifetime
What is it I have to do
If I erase my history, what defines me
If I let them change all I knew
Would I be good enough for you?
I wish they looked at me and they could see beyond
Everything they think I am
Cause pedigree don't make a man
Don't have to dig too deep to see I'm just like you
What is it they want from me, tell me what more can I prove
Why so many can't understand, when it comes you and I
I don't fit in their descriptions, though I try
Gotta change those old traditions
When its all of them and one of me
[Chorus]
[Repeat x2]
(I could lie I could lie I could hide)
Let them take all I knew
Would I be good enough for you
We pretend we have open minds
Yet we judge so fast
Tell me why, to live out my future, yeah
I must surrender my past
[Chorus]
In Jay Sean's song Good Enough, he talks about the struggle of not fitting in with traditional societal expectations due to his mixed racial heritage. He acknowledges that he has his mother's skin and his father's eyes, something he can't deny or hide. Despite him being aware of his roots coming from the other side, he didn't think that it would matter because he believed love was blind. However, society can't seem to understand the love that he and his partner share due to their racial differences. He questions whether he would be good enough for his partner or anyone who wouldn't accept him for who he is, leading him to wish that others could see beyond what they think he is and realize he is just like them.
Throughout the song, Jay Sean is frustrated with the way people judge him based on his race and their inability to see beyond it to acknowledge him as a human being. He questions whether he needs to change his history to be accepted by others, and whether he would then be good enough for them. In the end, he wants to know why he has to surrender his past to live out his future, and asks what he must do to change a million minds in his lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got my mothers skin I've got my father eyes
My physical features are a mix of my parents'
Its something that I can't deny
I can't change the way I look
Its nothing that I wanna hide
I'm not ashamed of my appearance
And even though my roots come from the other side
My heritage is different from theirs
I didn't think they would mind
I didn't think my background would be an issue
Coz I heard that love was blind
I believed that love transcends differences
But they can't understand, when it comes to me and you
They don't accept our relationship
Cause I don't fit their descriptions
I don't meet their expectations or standards
Tell me how to change traditions
How can I overcome their cultural or traditional bias?
When there's all of them and one of me
It's difficult for me to challenge their beliefs on my own
How can I change a million minds in this lifetime
It's a daunting task to change people's attitudes
What is it I have to do
What do I have to sacrifice or change to be accepted?
If I erase my history, what defines me
If I reject or hide my roots, who am I then?
Would I be good enough for you?
Am I worthy of your love and acceptance?
I wish they looked at me and they could see beyond
I hope they could see my character beyond my appearance
Everything they think I am
Their assumptions and prejudices about me
Cause pedigree don't make a man
Family background or heritage doesn't define a person's worth
Don't have to dig too deep to see I'm just like you
We're more similar than different
What is it they want from me, tell me what more can I prove
What do they expect me to do to gain their approval?
Why so many can't understand, when it comes you and I
Why is our relationship so hard for them to accept?
Gotta change those old traditions
We need to challenge and reform outdated beliefs
We pretend we have open minds
We claim to be tolerant and accepting
Yet we judge so fast
But we still stereotype and discriminate
Tell me why, to live out my future, yeah
Why do I have to sacrifice my identity to fit in?
I must surrender my past
I can't embrace my heritage or culture if it offends them
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAY SEAN, PETER BIKER, KARSTEN DAHLGAARD, NINA WOODFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dewan Rahman
His songs can only make me cry.
lilneeq
Oct 2020...This song is still a hit
asdfg qwerty
March 2017.First time I heard this song. lmao! i love it!
PRAHLAD MATWAAN
Where he is now....I like this song..... Why this is under rated....🙄
Kev_Hala
2021 still 🔥🔥👌👌
PRAHLAD MATWAAN
I am still listing ❤️
Nicco Mauro
Millie-Bobby-Brown Dating StrangerThings-5-Superstar-Singer
Marshall-Thomas-Antonio Full
Name Brandon Seanson Marshall Andreas Desmend