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
If I Ain't Got You
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(It doesn't matter if I ain't got you)
[Repeat x4]
If I ain't got you
Hey pretty baby, you got me goin' crazy
I'm down when I ain't got you
Wont you put it on me (on me)
I love the little things you do
So you can spend all you wanna,
Dulce and Gabana
I would buy the world for you
So I break it down
If your not around
It doesn't matter if I ain't got you
[Chorus]
All the diamonds and the pearls
And the money in the world means nothing
If I ain't got you
And all the watches and the rings
And all the shiny things
Means nothing if I ain't got you
[Repeat x4]
If I ain't got you you
Yo, I had a villa in Manila
A home in Rome
Didn't matter cause I didn't have you (have you)
Had an apartment in the sky
Summers in Dubai
Didn't matter cause I didn't have you
I used to spend all I wanted
Dulce and Gabana
But I would trade it all for you
Together had it all
But now that you my all
No that nothing matters without you
[Chorus]
[Repeat x4]
If I ain't got you you
Watch sites without you
A house without you
They don't mean nothing if I'm without you its true
Nothing it matters
Girl more than you do
And my love feels brand new
Every minute every time that your with me
No that time girl I hope that you still be
Cause all I need in this world is you and me
Cause baby
[Chorus]
[Repeat x4]
If I ain't got you you
If I ain't got you then I ain't got nothing (nothing, nothing)
Said I ain't got nothing
So hush little baby don't say a thing
Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don't shine
Then daddy's gonna buy you the whole damn mine
Jay Sean's song "If I Ain't Got You" is about the importance of love and companionship in a person's life. At the start of the song, the singer talks about how he is crazy about his lover and how she does little things that he loves. Even though he can buy her anything in the world, he would trade it all for her if she left him. The lyrics describe how material possessions such as diamonds, pearls, money, and luxurious items do not hold any value if he does not have his significant other by his side. The chorus repeats the message that Jay Sean does not need anything in the world if he does not have her with him. In the third verse, Jay Sean talks about how he has traveled the world and seen various stunning places, but it did not matter because his lover was not with him.
The lyrics' message is simple, as they describe how love is much more important than material possessions, and they cannot replace the happiness that comes from being with one's significant other. Jay Sean expresses how empty and meaningless his life feels when his lover is not around. The song is a perfect reminder for listeners to cherish their loved ones and not get carried away by the greed of having more than they need.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't matter if I ain't got you
The singer confess that nothing is the same when the person they love is not present.
If I ain't got you
The singer acknowledges that the only thing necessary in their life is the person they love.
Hey pretty baby, you got me goin' crazy
The person the singer loves drives them crazy with affection.
I'm down when I ain't got you
The artist feels upset when the person they love isn't present.
Cause baby girl you do it for me (for me)
The artist deeply appreciates the actions that the person they love does for them to show love.
Wont you put it on me (on me)
The singer desires their partner to show them love.
I love the little things you do
The singer appreciates the small things their partner does for them to show love.
So you can spend all you wanna,
The artist tells their partner that spending doesn't matter when it comes to love.
Dulce and Gabana
The artist refers to a luxurious fashion designer brand to show that superficial things don't hold value compared to love.
I would buy the world for you
The artist shows that their love is strong enough to do anything for the person they love.
So I break it down
The singer changes the tempo of the song to emphasize their love for the person they're singing to.
If your not around
The artist states that life is not as enjoyable without the person they love.
All the diamonds and the pearls
The singer lists out all expensive materialistic things that mean nothing in comparison to the love of the person they sing to.
And the money in the world means nothing
The singer concludes that money is worthless compared to the person they love.
If I ain't got you
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize that the person they love is the only necessity in life.
Yo, I had a villa in Manila
The artist had all the luxurious things in life but without the person they loved, it didn't matter.
A home in Rome
The artist refers to having everything they want but not the one thing they need.
Had an apartment in the sky
The singer was rich enough to have an apartment in the sky, but it still meant nothing without the person they loved.
Summers in Dubai
The singer could vacation in fancy places but still felt incomplete without the person they desired.
But I would trade it all for you
The artist would give away everything to be with the person they love.
Together had it all
The artist won everything when their partner shared their love.
But now that you my all
The artist references that the person they love means everything to them now.
No that nothing matters without you
The singer wants their love to know that they are the only one they need.
Watch sites without you
The artist would feel that the luxurious things in life would not mean anything without the one they love.
A house without you
The singer would feel homeless without the one they love.
They don't mean nothing if I'm without you its true
The singer is true to the fact that everything is worthless without the person they love.
Girl more than you do
The person the singer loves is worth more to them than anything.
And my love feels brand new
The artist's love is renewing when they're with the person they love.
Every minute every time that your with me
The artist appreciates every minute they spend with the person they love.
No that time girl I hope that you still be
The singer wants the person they love to remain with them forever.
Cause all I need in this world is you and me
The singer regards the person they love as the only thing they need in life.
If I ain't got you then I ain't got nothing (nothing, nothing)
The person they love is the only thing they need in their life.
Said I ain't got nothing
The artist emphasizes that without the person they love, they have nothing.
So hush little baby don't say a thing
The artist soothes the person they love by letting them know they'll always be there for them.
Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring
The singer references how they're willing to give expensive things to the person they love only because they want to.
And if that diamond ring don't shine
The artist will do whatever it takes to make the person they love happy.
Then daddy's gonna buy you the whole damn mine
The singer emphasizes how they will do whatever it takes to see the person they love smile.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jared Cotter, Jeremy Skaller, Kamaljit Jhooti, Robert Larow, JAY SEAN, ROBERT W LAROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind