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
I Won't Tell
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Double-featured
She plays like a good girl
But I don't believe her
Girl what's your sign?
You must be a Gemini
A sweet girl with a bite
O-Oh there she goes again turning
From Dr.Jekyll to Hyde
And I can't wait to be re-introduced to the freak inside.
It's like the man of the moon
And you just met 'em off the side
But this ain't no fairytale
'Cause I got you here tonight.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak but a freak
It's like mixing a showgirl
With a preschool teacher
Every mans fantasy
Bet you wish you could meet her.
She's a girl gone wild
But I won't tame her,
She's mine mine mine
The girl is
O-Oh there she goes on in turning
From Dr.Jekyll to Hyde
And I can't wait to be re-introduced to the freak inside.
It's like the man of the moon
And you just met 'em off the side
But this ain't no fairytale
'Cause I got you here tonight.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak but a freak
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak but a freak...
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak but a freak
The lyrics of Jay Sean's "I Won't Tell" express the experience of being in a relationship with a woman who seems like a good girl in public, but has a wild side that only reveals itself behind closed doors. The song compares her to the Jekyll and Hyde character, shifting from a lady to a freak unpredictably. Initially, the lyrics seem to criticize her double personality, but as the song progresses, the tone becomes more accepting and even celebratory of her duality.
The lyrics "Girl what's your sign? You must be a Gemini" implies that the woman's two sides are a result of her astrological sign, which is associated with split personalities. The lyrics "She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend" emphasizes the contrast between her public and private personas. The chorus "I won't tell" suggests he is keeping her secret and protecting her reputation. These lyrics suggest that the woman is confident in herself but wants to keep up appearances publicly.
One interpretation of the song's lyrics might be that they reveal a societal expectation for women to behave more conservatively in public but still feel free to express themselves sexually in private settings. The song's narrative can be viewed as a commentary on a woman's empowerment to embrace all aspects of herself and express herself on her own terms, without judgment from others.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like watching a movie
Double-featured
She plays like a good girl
But I don't believe her
He feels like he's watching a double feature movie, and the girl he's with is acting like a good girl, but he doesn't believe that's who she really is.
Girl what's your sign?
You must be a Gemini
A sweet girl with a bite
And I just can't leave her
He's asking the girl what her astrological sign is, and guesses she's a Gemini. He sees her as a sweet girl with a naughty side, and he can't resist her.
O-Oh there she goes again turning
From Dr.Jekyll to Hyde
And I can't wait to be re-introduced to the freak inside.
It's like the man of the moon
And you just met 'em off the side
But this ain't no fairytale
'Cause I got you here tonight.
He's excited to see her transition from good girl to her naughty side, comparing it to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He sees her as a mystery, like meeting the man on the moon, and knows that this is real life, not a fairy tale.
I won't tell [x3]
She's a lady on the street but a freak on the weekend.
He won't tell anyone that the girl he's with appears to be reserved during the week, but turns into a wild woman on the weekends.
It's like mixing a showgirl
With a preschool teacher
Every mans fantasy
Bet you wish you could meet her.
He sees the girl as the perfect combination of a sexy showgirl and wholesome preschool teacher, and believes every man wants to meet someone like her.
She's a girl gone wild
But I won't tame her,
She's mine mine mine
He sees her as a wild girl, but he has no desire to change or control her. He wants her all to himself.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAY SEAN, JARED COTTER, ROBERT W LAROW, JEREMY SKALLER, Kamaljit Jhooti, Robert W. Larow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Azhar
One of the little known beauties from Jay Sean, right around the time he went mainstream and well... LOST IT! Me Against Myself remains his best album till date, nearly every song deserves a place in your playlist even after so many years.
Lionel Millan
What an awesome song
AteezAtiny
10/10 i love music and jay sean
Sawi Sean
i love this song<33
omaz91
by the way if you guys liked this you should also check out the delixe edition version too if you havnt already, both versions are great in different ways, i dont think i like one more than the other :)
claireyy8
Good song. It defiantly describes me!:)
Briar Chatterjea
I LOVE THIS SONG!! cept i cant find it on itunes for some reason ;/
Snigdha Das
Here still!! I miss jay Sean
Rose Sapphire
freakin love this song xD
namjoon wife
nice song <3 Jay Sean =)