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
The Mistress
Jay Sean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a big mistake that was
Is it love that we made?
I'm caught up in this maze
Wish it hadn't of begun
Too weak to leave
'Cause God I can't stand myself no more
'Cause she calls me angel
And even though it's wrong that I'm living such a lie
I just can't leave you alone
The more that we go on this guilt just builds up inside
Still I can't leave you alone
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
And why do you feel like something that I shouldn't hide
I just can't leave you alone
She wakes me with a kiss and coffee in my bed
After I just creeped in way after six
Smelling of her perfume
All in my bedroom
I don't understand why she don't say shit
Maybe she's weak, maybe I know
That's why I can't stand myself no more
She must be an angel
To know but never say, to see but look away
And even though it's wrong that I'm living such a lie
I just can't leave you alone
The more that we go on this guilt just builds up inside
Still I can't leave you alone
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
And why do you feel like something that I shouldn't hide
I just can't leave you alone
I just can't, I just can't leave you alone
I just can't, I just can't leave you alone
I just can't, I just can't leave you alone
I just can't, I just can't leave you alone
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
And why do you feel like something that I shouldn't hide
I just can't leave you alone
In Jay Sean's "The Mistress," the singer confesses to being caught up in an affair with a woman who is not his partner. Despite his guilt and knowledge of the wrongfulness of his actions, Jay Sean finds himself unable to leave his "Mistress." Throughout the song, he acknowledges his failings and portrays himself as a weak man who is struggling with his emotions. He wishes that he hadn't begun the affair, but he is now in too deep and can't stand himself for it. In the chorus, he emphasizes his desire to end the relationship, but he repeats that he can't leave his Mistress.
At one point, Jay Sean describes how his Mistress wakes him up in his bed with a kiss and coffee, even though he has crept in after six in the morning smelling like her perfume. He doesn't understand why she doesn't confront him about it, but that only reinforces his guilt and feelings of weakness. He considers her an angel for playing her part in their secret relationship, but he knows that his actions are not fair to anyone involved. Overall, the song portrays the complicated emotions that come with cheating and the difficulties of getting out of such a situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was thinking someday, I'd grow out of this phase
I used to believe that I would eventually outgrow this behavior
What a big mistake that was
I was wrong, and now I regret ever thinking that way
Is it love that we made?
I question whether this illicit relationship is actually based on love
I'm caught up in this maze
I feel trapped and unable to escape my situation
Wish it hadn't of begun
I regret ever starting this affair
Too weak to leave
Even though I know I should, I feel unable to end things
'Cause God I can't stand myself no more
I am disgusted with my own actions and behavior
'Cause she calls me angel
My mistress refers to me as an angel, perhaps as a term of endearment
But that ain't the truth you know, you know
But in reality, I know that I am not the good person she thinks I am
And even though it's wrong that I'm living such a lie
I know that this relationship is morally wrong
I just can't leave you alone
Despite my moral qualms, I feel unable to end things
The more that we go on this guilt just builds up inside
As this affair continues, I feel increasingly guilty about my actions
Still I can't leave you alone
Despite my guilt, I am still unable to end things
No, I just can't leave my (Mistress)
I feel unable to end things with my mistress, despite knowing it is the right thing to do
And why do you feel like something that I shouldn't hide
I wonder if my feelings towards my mistress are something that should be kept hidden
She wakes me with a kiss and coffee in my bed
My mistress takes care of me and is nurturing towards me
After I just creeped in way after six
I arrived home late after spending time with my mistress
Smelling of her perfume
I have her scent on me, indicating that I have been with her
All in my bedroom
Her presence and scent is all over my personal space
I don't understand why she don't say shit
I am confused as to why my mistress doesn't call me out or confront me about my infidelity
Maybe she's weak, maybe I know
I wonder if my mistress is also weak or if I am taking advantage of her
That's why I can't stand myself no more
These doubts and questions are part of why I am so disgusted with myself
She must be an angel
Despite my doubts, I still consider my mistress to be a good and loving person
To know but never say, to see but look away
My mistress seems to be aware of my infidelity, but chooses not to acknowledge it or confront me
I just can't, I just can't leave you alone
I feel compelled to continue seeing my mistress, despite knowing it is wrong
Contributed by Alex D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.