Macrooy's music can best be described as modern soul. His audience is in the Netherlands, Suriname, and increasingly in Belgium, France and Germany. He was due to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 held in Rotterdam with the song "Grow", but the contest was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Birth of a New Age"
In April 2016 Jeangu’s debut EP ‘Brave Enough’ was released. The day of the release Jeangu was named ‘Serious Talent’ by 3FM radio, and the week after he played his first single ‘Gold’ at Dutch national TV talk show ‘De Wereld Draait Door’, where he has become a frequent guest ever since. ‘Gold’ was later used in a commercial for television network HBO. During the summer of 2016 Jeangu and his band played a multitude of festivals, after which he toured the Netherlands with Popronde in autumn. He also provided the support for Blaudzun, Remy van Kesteren, Bernhoft and Selah Sue, resulting in a total of 120 shows in just 12 months. The year 2016 was concluded with a performance at Noorderslag and a nomination for an Edison Award in the category ‘Best New Artist.’
Jeangu’s Perquisite produced debut album ‘High On You’ is more energetic and danceable than its predecessor. Melancholy still prevails in songs like ‘Circles’, but generally the focus has shifted to a more raw sound that drives songs like ‘Crazy Kids’ – a duet with twin brother Xillan – and ‘Head Over Heels’. ‘Antidote’ and ‘High On You’ show Jeangu’s affinity with soul music. It is on tracks like these that his powerful voice is intensified by the addition of brass arrangements that can be heard on the majority of the album. The common thread throughout the record, however, is still Jeangu’s unique vocal capacity, that hypnotises in the low range and moves the listener in the high range.
‘High On You’ was released on Unexpected Records on April 14th, 2017. The record entered the Dutch album charts, was nominated for the Edison Pop ‘Best Album’, and received critical acclaim from the press. Algemeen Dagblad gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and wrote: ‘He’s only 23, but has a soul veteran-like depth in his voice. ‘High On You’ might be the best Dutch debut album of 2017.’ De Telegraaf added: ‘Your mouth will drop with surprise and admiration. What a way to start your career!’. Oor Magazine called Jeangu ‘a newcomer that will really excite you’.
The release of the album was celebrated with two club tours throughout the Netherlands of fifteen shows in total of which thirteen were sold out. In the summer of 2017, Jeangu played an abundance of festivals with his band, including North Sea Jazz and Lowlands. In December Jeangu flew back to Suriname, where title song ‘High On You’ had been at the number one chart position for seven weeks straight, for the first time since he moved to The Netherlands. He played there with his full live band for a thrilled 1500-piece audience. Back in The Netherlands, the year 2018 kicked off with a show at the Eurosonic showcase festival.
High On You
Jeangu Macrooy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smoke it up
'Till i can't stand straight any more
I cound bought me some wine
And drink it up
'Till everything's spinning around
But none of that can take me there
I'm still feeling low
I'd rather be high on you
I could rather go out and dance all night
Waking next to somebody else
Or i could hop some more pills
Just to feel a rush feel my blood run faster
But none of that can take me there
I'm still feeling low
I'd rather be high on you
Cuz only you can lift me off the ground
Turn my body out
Make me feel like i'm flying high
High high on you
I wanna feel you underneath my skin
The lyrics of Jeangu Macrooy's song High on You speaks about the power of love and how it can be an escape from the lows of life. The first two stanzas talk about different means of escape such as rolling a joint, drinking wine, and indulging in pills. However, despite these escapes, the singer still feels low and unfulfilled. The chorus expresses that the only escape that they truly crave is love, and only the person they love can lift them off the ground and make them feel like they're flying high. The last line of the chorus, "I wanna feel you underneath my skin," shows the depth of their desire for this person, further emphasizing the significance and importance of love as an escape.
The verses of the song are written in a way that highlights the shallowness of short-lived escapes such as smoking, drinking, and partying. In contrast, the chorus emphasises the intimacy and depth of true love, culminating in a powerful chorus that expresses the overwhelming need for love. The overall message of the song is that love is the most profound and everlasting escape from the lows of life and feelings of inadequacy.
Line by Line Meaning
I could roll me a joint
I could smoke marijuana
Smoke it up
Smoke the marijuana completely
'Till i can't stand straight any more
Smoke it until my body is too intoxicated to balance
I cound bought me some wine
I could have purchased wine
And drink it up
And consume the wine
'Till everything's spinning around
Until my surroundings are spinning
But none of that can take me there
But none of those substances can bring me happiness
I'm still feeling low
I'm still feeling sad
I'd rather be high on you
I would rather receive happiness from you
I could rather go out and dance all night
I could go party and dance all night
Waking next to somebody else
Wake up beside a person I don't know well
Or i could hop some more pills
Or I could take more drugs
Just to feel a rush feel my blood run faster
To experience a rush in my blood circulation
But none of that can take me there
But none of those substances can bring me happiness
I'm still feeling low
I'm still feeling sad
I'd rather be high on you
I would rather receive happiness from you
Cuz only you can lift me off the ground
Because only you can make me feel happy
Turn my body out
Make my body feel euphoric
Make me feel like i'm flying high
Make me feel overjoyed
High high on you
Incredibly happy, thanks to you
I wanna feel you underneath my skin
I want to feel closeness to you
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jason Kasdiran
I could roll me a joint
Smoke it up
'Till i can't stand straight any more
I cound bought me some wine
And drink it up
'Till everything's spinning around
But none of that can take me there
I'm still feeling low
But none of this can take me there
I'd rather be high on you
I could rather go out and dance all night
Waking next to somebody else
Or i could hop some more pills
Just to feel a rush feel my blood run faster
But none of that can take me there
I'm still feeling low
I'd rather be high on you
Cuz only you can lift me off the ground
Turn my body out
Make me feel like i'm flying high
High high on you
I wanna feel you underneath my skin
Enjoy...
Kenny -Artistpage
why isnt this a hit already? fucking love it
Miyuki Y
How is this song not blowing up? It's so good
ABit2Hot
I love you Jeangu!! You deserved a lot more at ESC!!!
Merel Brandt
this song is a masterpiece it’s my Favorite for 6 Months now
Diane Halloran
Not only is this a joy to see, but it is a wonder to hear each individual instrument come in.
Nyota Braithwaite
Love this song well done
Grätl Blokland
Thank you for not stopping at Between Towers but continuing making great music!!!! Always loved both of your voices. Proud Suri❤❤❤❤
Vivian scharbaai
He is really fantastic!
LIME Tv Suriname Ch26.2
we are proud of you and compliment your precious music and soul.
MyFantasticNails
Ik ben onwijs benieuwd waar hij mee naar het songfestival gaat komen dit jaar, hij heeft in ieder geval een prachtige stem!