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
Sucka For You
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to Jay
You could shoot me
You could cut me
You could take my breath away
Push me in front of a train]
Wouldn't matter either way
I could take a million pills until my heart no longer beats
Used to have that part of me
Now you should see how much it bleeds
Now it's all for the love
Holding on to us
I know I should of known better
Cause you were all for the pain
No matter what to blame better
I know I should of known better
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh
You can take all of my cash and light a fire in the streets
Slip some poison in my drink and watch me crumble to my knees
And I just keep on crawling back
Uou're like a sickness in my head
If I keep on loving you this way, I'll probably end up dead
Cause you hurt me like
Oh
Hurt me like
Oh
I never thought that it would be you
That would cut me like
Oh
Cut me like
Oh
I'd rather die than have to know the truth
Now it's all for the love
Holding on to us
I know I should of known better
Cause you were all for the pain
No matter what to blame better
I know I should of known better
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh
You know I'm a sucker for
Sucker for you, yeah
Don't know why I turned you down
And if you carry on this way
You know that you gon' hear them say
She put that mothersucker in the ground
Now it's all for the love
Holding on to us
I know I should of known better
Cause you were all for the pain
No matter what to blame
I know I should of known better
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh (Oh, babe)
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
Oh
I'm a sucker for that devil in you.
The lyrics of Jay Sean's song "Sucka For You" portray the singer's toxic relationship with a partner who brings him pain, yet he cannot resist her. He acknowledges that no matter what physical harm she inflicts on him, in his mind, it won't make a difference anymore. The singer confesses that he used to have control and resistance to his partner's influence on him, but now it deeply affects him to the point where he is bleeding emotionally. Yet, he is holding on to their relationship because of his love for her.
The singer also recognizes that his partner's attitude towards the relationship has been unhealthy and detrimental. He wishes he had known better and blames himself for being blind to the pain beforehand. Despite this, he remarks that he is a "sucker for that devil" in his partner that draws him back into her grasp. His lover gives him a feeling of addiction that he can't help but crave more of, despite knowing the danger that it causes him.
Overall, the song speaks to the concept of a toxic and addicting relationship where a person cannot control their emotions, even when they know their partner is harmful to them. It demonstrates the struggles of love and relationships, how a person balances between staying with someone they love and recognizing the person is not healthy for them.
Line by Line Meaning
You could shoot me
No matter what harm you cause to me, I'll still love you.
You could cut me
Even if you physically hurt me, I'll still love you.
You could take my breath away
You have such control over me that I'm willing to risk my life for you.
Push me in front of a train
Even if you cause my death, I'll still love you.
Wouldn't matter either way
I'm so deeply in love with you that the consequences of my actions don't matter.
I could take a million pills until my heart no longer beats
I'm willing to risk my own life if it means staying with you.
Used to have that part of me
I used to have control over my own life, but I've given it up for you.
Now you should see how much it bleeds
My love for you has caused me great pain and suffering.
Now it's all for the love
I'm willing to endure anything, no matter how painful, for the sake of our love.
Holding on to us
I'm holding onto our relationship, even though it's toxic.
I know I should of known better
I'm aware that loving you is dangerous, but I can't help myself.
Cause you were all for the pain
You only bring me pain and suffering, but I can't walk away.
No matter what to blame better
It's not anyone else's fault that I keep coming back to you, it's my own weakness.
I'm a sucker for that devil in you
I'm addicted to the pain that you bring me, even though it's destroying me.
You can take all of my cash and light a fire in the streets
I'm willing to give up everything for you, even my own safety and security.
Slip some poison in my drink and watch me crumble to my knees
I'm so deeply in love with you that I'm willing to risk my life for you.
And I just keep on crawling back
No matter how much you hurt me, I always come back to you.
Uou're like a sickness in my head
My love for you is all-consuming and has taken over my life.
If I keep on loving you this way, I'll probably end up dead
I know that my love for you is destructive and could ultimately lead to my demise.
Cause you hurt me like
You have caused me immense emotional and physical pain.
Oh
I never thought that it would be you
I never thought that the person I love could hurt me so much.
That would cut me like
Your words and actions have hurt me deeply.
I'd rather die than have to know the truth
I'm so in love with you that I'd rather live in denial than face the truth of how much you hurt me.
You know I'm a sucker for
I'm so addicted to you that I can't resist you.
Don't know why I turned you down
I regret ever trying to walk away from you.
And if you carry on this way
If you continue to hurt me, I know I'll never be able to leave you.
You know that you gon' hear them say
People will warn me about staying with you, but I'll ignore them because I'm addicted to the pain you bring me.
She put that mothersucker in the ground
If you hurt me too much, I may snap and become violent towards you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEREMY DAVID SKALLER, DWAYNE RICHARD CHIN-QUEE, JAY SEAN, JARED LINCOLN COTTER, MITCHUM CHIN, JEREMY SKALLER, KAMALIIT JHOOTI, JARED COTTER, DWAYNE CHIN-QUEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind