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
Runaway
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run run
Just wanna run away
Run run
Just wanna run
Run
Run run
Can't you see you're smotherin' me
You're like a leopard in a tree
You're watchin' me, you're stalkin' me
Fear is a plague growin' through your vains
Don't you infect me and make me feel the same
I'm going numb from all the change
Release me
Just release me
Hold on these walls are closing in on me I'm claustrophobic (Hold on)
It's only insecurities girl and you know it (hold on)
I need to tell you that girl you're just so (hold on
Sometimes I just wanna run away
Sometimes I, I just wanna run
Babe can I have just one day in peace
Your constant naggin is killin' me
You're like a record on repeat
Your paranoia makes me I'll
It's a disease that slowly kills
Been here before but you do it still
Release me
Just release me
Hold on these walls are closing in on me I'm claustrophobic (Hold on)
It's only insecurities girl and you know it (hold on)
I need to tell you that girl you're just so (hold on
Sometimes I just wanna run away
Sometimes I, I just wanna run
Baby hold on
Hold on these walls are closing in on me I'm claustrophobic (Hold on)
It's only insecurities girl and you know it (hold on)
I need to tell you that girl you're just so (hold on)
Girl you're just so (hold on)
Girl you're just so (hold on)
Run, run (hold on)
Run, run (hold on)
Run, run (hold on)
Run, run (hold on)
The lyrics to Jay Sean's "Runaway" are about feeling trapped and suffocated in a relationship, and the desire to escape and have space to breathe. The song expresses the singer's plea to be released from the grip of their partner, who is constantly watching and nagging them, and whose paranoia is making them ill. The singer feels claustrophobic and overwhelmed, and just wants to run away, to be free from the crushing weight of the relationship.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of insecurity, as the partner's behavior is driven by their own fears and doubts, which they project onto the singer. The singer acknowledges that these insecurities are responsible for their partner's actions, but also recognizes that they are not the solution, and only make the situation worse. The repeated refrain of "run run" emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the singer's desire to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Run run
The singer wants to escape his current situation.
Just wanna run away
He desires to get away from the situation that causes him discomfort.
Run run
He wants to leave as soon as possible.
Just wanna run
Leaving and being free is his only goal.
Run
He repeats his desire to flee.
Babe give me a little space to breathe
The singer is feeling suffocated and asks for some personal space.
Can't you see you're smotherin' me
He explains to his partner that they are suffocating him and it's making him feel constricted.
You're like a leopard in a tree
His partner is continuously watching him and tries to control him from a distance, just like a predator stalking its prey.
You're watchin' me, you're stalkin' me
He is being constantly watched by his partner, and this is making him feel uncomfortable.
Fear is a plague growin' through your vains
His partner seems to be consumed by fear, which is a negative emotion that is controlling them.
Don't you infect me and make me feel the same
He doesn't want his partner's fear to influence him as well.
I'm going numb from all the change
The situation he is in is exhausting him and it's making him feel disconnected from reality.
Release me
He simply wants to be freed from his partner's grasp.
Just release me
He pleads to be set free in a straightforward manner.
Hold on these walls are closing in on me I'm claustrophobic
The walls represent his current situation that suffocates him and makes him feel trapped.
(Hold on) It's only insecurities girl and you know it
He acknowledges that his partner's behavior stems from her own insecurities and self-doubt.
(hold on) I need to tell you that girl you're just so (hold on
He wants to express his frustration about his partner's behavior, but he is holding back.
Sometimes I just wanna run away
He has a recurring desire to leave his current situation.
Sometimes I, I just wanna run
He repeats his desire to run away.
Babe can I have just one day in peace
He asks his partner to give him just one day of peace without nagging or stressing.
Your constant naggin is killin' me
His partner's constant nagging is having a negative effect on his well-being.
You're like a record on repeat
Her criticisms and negativity are repetitive, just like a broken record.
Your paranoia makes me I'll
Her paranoia is making him feel ill and uncomfortable.
It's a disease that slowly kills
Her constant worrying and negativity is taking a toll on their relationship.
Been here before but you do it still
He has previously asked his partner to stop acting the way she does, but nothing has changed.
Baby hold on
He addresses his partner, asking her to hold on for a second.
(hold on) Girl you're just so
He is still holding back from expressing his feelings towards his partner's behavior.
Run, run (hold on)
He is still holding back from running away and asking his partner to hold on as well.
Run, run (hold on)
He repeats his desire to run away, but he also addresses his partner, asking her to hold on again.
Run, run (hold on)
He repeats the same line as he is still unsure whether to escape or not.
Run, run (hold on)
He repeats the line again, showing how conflicted he is about his decision.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Francisco Bautista, Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, Claude Kelly, Robert W Larow, Jeremy David Skaller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind