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
Stolen
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were my air when I couldn't breathe
But you always knew what you meant to me
(Haaa-ah-ah)
You were my strength when I was down
And you made me humble when I wouldn't bow
I held on to your promise that you'd be around
Where were you when I was alright
Tell me, you knew I was alright
You, left me thinking I'd be alright
Won't you come back to me
Oh
It's crazy but I'm falling apart
It's crazy how your leaving me scarred
It's crazy girl wherever you are
You stole, my heart
It's crazy but I'm going insane
Feeling lost confused and ashamed
It's crazy, hope your feeling my pain
You stole, my heart
(Stolen)
Just like the moments
(Stolen)
You never were there
(Stolen)
You took away my heart
I was feeling lost in my own world
Neglecting your needs only once girl
If only we could try again once more
Oh (oh)
Now It's the same sad story that we all know
How lovers make mistakes watch it all blow
Now I don't wanna be the one to let it all go
You know where were you when I was alright
Tell me, you knew I was alright
You, left me thinking I'd be alright
Won't you come back to me
Oh
(Stolen)
Just like the moments
(Stolen)
You never were there
(Stolen)
You took away my heart
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
No man can live without blood running through his veins
(Through his veins)
And it's hard to remember the summer now here is rain
I don't know how much longer that I can wait
It's a feeling between love and hate
Oh-whoa-whoa
(Stolen)
Just like the moments
(Stolen)
You never were there
(Stolen)
Girl, you took away my heart
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Jay Sean's song Stolen is about the pain of losing someone you love. Throughout the lyrics, the singer expresses their feelings of love and appreciation for the loved one who has now left them, and the agony and confusion that comes with their absence. The song begins by acknowledging the lost love as someone who was a pillar of support when the singer was down and out. They describe how this person was their "eyes when I couldn't see" and their "air when I couldn't breathe." They were everything to the singer and they cannot fathom life without them. They make an impassioned plea for their return.
Throughout the song, we see the lyrics grappling with the singer's inability to move on from the loss. They sing, "It's crazy but I'm falling apart / It's crazy how you're leaving me scarred / Feeling lost confused and ashamed / You stole my heart." The repeated phrase "Stolen" reinforces the feeling that the love was taken away against the singer's will. They regret past mistakes, admitting they neglected their partner and their feelings, and express the desire to again try the relationship. The phrase "Just like the moments/ You never were there" highlights the absence of the loved one, and the lasting impact it has had on the singer.
Overall, the song is a moving portrayal of the pain of lost love and the struggles that come with moving on from that loss. It is a reminder that love is a complicated emotion that can bring immense joy and immense sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You helped me see through the darkness.
You were my air when I couldn't breathe
You kept me alive and made me feel like I could breathe again.
But you always knew what you meant to me
You knew you were important to me and the impact you had on my life.
You were my strength when I was down
You helped me find the strength to keep fighting when I was at my lowest.
And you made me humble when I wouldn't bow
You helped me be a better person and not be too proud to admit when I was wrong.
I held on to your promise that you'd be around
I trusted that you would always be there for me.
Where were you when I was alright
When I was doing alright, where were you?
Tell me, you knew I was alright
Did you know I was okay?
You, left me thinking I'd be alright
You made me believe that everything would be okay without you.
Won't you come back to me
Please come back to me so I'm not alone.
It's crazy but I'm falling apart
I can't believe how much I'm struggling now that you're gone.
It's crazy how your leaving me scarred
I'm hurt and traumatized by you leaving me.
It's crazy girl wherever you are
I can't stop thinking about you and where you are now.
You stole, my heart
You took away the love and happiness I had when we were together.
It's crazy but I'm going insane
I feel like I'm losing my mind over this.
Feeling lost confused and ashamed
I don't know what to do and I feel embarrassed about how I'm feeling.
It's crazy, hope your feeling my pain
I hope you understand how much your leaving has hurt me.
Just like the moments...
Just like the fleeting moments we had together.
You never were there
You never truly committed to me and were never really there for me.
You took away my heart
You broke my heart and took away my love for you.
I was feeling lost in my own world
I was struggling a lot with my own issues and wasn't paying enough attention to you.
Neglecting your needs only once girl
I only neglected your needs once, but it still had a big impact on our relationship.
If only we could try again once more
I wish we could have another chance to fix things.
Now It's the same sad story that we all know
Our situation is a classic sad story that everyone can relate to.
How lovers make mistakes watch it all blow
We made mistakes and now we're seeing the consequences of those mistakes.
Now I don't wanna be the one to let it all go...
I don't want to be the one who ends things, but I don't know what else to do.
No man can live without blood running through his veins
No one can survive or be alive without love and happiness in their life.
And it's hard to remember the summer now here is rain
Things used to be so good between us, but now everything has changed.
I don't know how much longer that I can wait
I'm running out of patience and don't know how much longer I can hold on.
It's a feeling... between love and hate
I have mixed feelings between loving you and hating you for causing me so much pain.
Girl, you took away my heart
You were the one who broke my heart and caused me so much emotional pain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rahul Dev Burman, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen, Veronica Metha, Rishi Rich, Hallgeir Rustan, Jay Sean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ummmi1711
2021 and i still love this song❤️
@shahedislam9111
I just remember my past days with jay Sean songs....we just love u bro
@zainabmohammad3834
They were such refreshing musicians and singers ❤️
@charlieyugosrobocop7948
June 2023 and l'm still stuck with this lovely song.
@MissFine9
Jay sean rocks! Love from Holland!
@rice3y
October ‘23 still loving this banger
@EroneePrasad
I wish this song was on more platforms
@d77sbs
Love it!
@karinasantilla7453
Long time a go , Uk 2004 …
Missing time .
@JifsinaNazar
great sonf jay has the best voice of all i knw jst his voice it touches soul and heart to deep jst adorale voice of all jay :D