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
One Minute
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your arguments on hold so you can try to hear me out
Coz everytime we try to talk it out, you just deny
That the spark is gone and something's wrong with you and I
I said I will change, I'm gonna try
It ain't enough and I wonder why
What do you want?
I got the feeling it isn't me
Another day, another fight
I'm in the wrong, guess you're in the right
Is this a game? Coz we're gonna lose
Girl, I'm so confused
[Chorus]
One minute I love you
Next minute I hate you
One minute I need you
So, baby, tell me, what am I to do?
One minute of sunshine
No, it ain't enough to keep me here
Coz it'll pass us by and and leave us in the cold
Is this how it's meant to be?
Is love just one confusing game?
And we're just pawns that don't know all the rules but play it anyway
Coz everyday's a drama, one we've seen a thousand times
Girl, to me it seems you love messing with my mind
You gotta change, you gotta try
It ain't enough and I wonder why
Coz what you want and what you need
I got the feeling it isn't me
Some other day, some other time
Maybe you and I would've been alright
It was a game, didn't know the rules
Now it's left me torn in two
[Chorus]
Get away, get away from me
Girl, won't you just sail away, yeah
Get away, get away from me
Coz I don't love you no longer, no longer
The lyrics to Jay Sean's song One Minute explore the complexities and uncertainties of a failing romantic relationship. The singer in the song is pleading with his partner to listen to him, to try and work things out, but she continues to deny that anything is wrong. He promises to change, to try harder, but it seems it is not enough to save the relationship. The chorus reveals the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing as he switches from loving his partner one minute to hating her the next. The line "one minute of sunshine, no, it ain't enough to keep me here" highlights the fragility of the relationship and the need for sustained effort to make it work. The song has a melancholic tone, with the singer questioning if love is just a confusing game that we don't really understand but continue to play anyway.
Overall, the song conveys the universal experience of love and the challenges that come with it. The honesty and vulnerability in the lyrics allow listeners to connect with the emotions expressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby girl I want you to just listen for a while
I want you to stop talking and just hear me out
Put your arguments on hold so you can try to hear me out
Stop arguing and just try to listen to me
Coz everytime we try to talk it out, you just deny
Every time we try to have a conversation, you deny that there is a problem
That the spark is gone and something's wrong with you and I
Our relationship is lacking something and there is a problem between us
I said I will change, I'm gonna try
I promised to change my behavior and I will make an effort
It ain't enough and I wonder why
My efforts are not enough and I am confused as to why
What do you want?
What do you desire from this relationship?
What do you need?
What is it that you require from me?
I got the feeling it isn't me
I sense that I am not what you truly desire
Another day, another fight
We argue every day
I'm in the wrong, guess you're in the right
I am in the wrong and you are always right
Is this a game? Coz we're gonna lose
Is our relationship just a game? Because if it is, we are going to lose
Girl, I'm so confused
I am so confused about our relationship
One minute I love you
At times, I feel deep love for you
Next minute I hate you
At other times, I feel intense hatred towards you
One minute I need you
At times, I feel like I cannot live without you
So, baby, tell me, what am I to do?
I am asking you, what do you want me to do?
One minute of sunshine
A brief moment of happiness
No, it ain't enough to keep me here
Despite that moment of happiness, it is not enough for me to stay
Coz it'll pass us by and and leave us in the cold
That moment of happiness will pass and we will be left in a cold and loveless relationship
Is this how it's meant to be?
Is this the way our relationship is supposed to be?
Is love just one confusing game?
Is love just a complicated game?
And we're just pawns that don't know all the rules but play it anyway
We are just playing the game of love even though we do not understand it completely
Coz everyday's a drama, one we've seen a thousand times
Our everyday life feels like a repetitive and dramatic story
Girl, to me it seems you love messing with my mind
It appears to me that you enjoy playing mind games with me
You gotta change, you gotta try
You must change your behavior and make an effort
It ain't enough and I wonder why
Despite your efforts, it is not enough and I am confused as to why
Some other day, some other time
Maybe in the future, our relationship will be better
Maybe you and I would've been alright
Perhaps we would have been good together, if things were different
It was a game, didn't know the rules
Our relationship was just a game and we did not fully understand it
Now it's left me torn in two
Now our relationship has broken me apart
Get away, get away from me
Leave me alone and get away from me
Girl, won't you just sail away, yeah
Please just leave and sail away
Coz I don't love you no longer, no longer
I do not love you anymore
Contributed by Carter K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.