Jessica Hillda Mauboy's father is of Timorese-Indonesian origin while her mother is of Indigenous Australian, Native American and English descent.
At 14, she won the Telstra 'Road to Tamworth' competition, with the grand prize being a single recording contract with Sony BMG. She then recorded a country version of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Years later, during Australian Idol, this contract became a source of controversy, with certain media reports stating that already having a recording contract was against the rules of Idol. Grundy Television said Mauboy's experiences in Tamworth had no bearing on her involvement in Australian Idol and that she no longer had a contract with Sony, allowing her to participate in the competition.
Jessica cites Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson as her musical influences; naming Carey's hits "My All", "Anytime You Need A Friend", "Butterfly" and "Hero" as personal favourites.
In the summer of 2006, Jessica auditioned for the fourth season of Australian Idol in Alice Springs. She sang the Whitney Houston hit "I Have Nothing" and her powerful rendition impressed all three judges Mark Holden, Marcia Hines and Kyle Sandilands. Marcia stated that Mauboy was one of the most naturally blessed singers she had ever come across. She made it through to the theatre rounds with a unanimous "yes" and performed at the Kimberley Moon Experience. She came first runner-up in the finale.
On 10 December 2006, it was announced that Mauboy had secured a recording contract with Sony BMG, with company spokesman Denis Handlin stating that her debut album would be released in mid-2007.
On 24 December 2007, Mauboy performed "When a Child Is Born" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" at the annual 'Carols by Candlelight' event in Melbourne.
Rather than rushing through a debut album as most Idol contestants do, it was decided that while Jessica recorded her first studio album, she would release a live album containing performances from her appearances as a contestant on Australian Idol, in order to keep her in the mind of the public.
On 24 February 2007, Mauboy released The Journey, a live album containing her Idol performances. The album debuted and peaked at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified gold for the sale of 35,000 copies.
On 26 September 2007, after much speculation, Mauboy was introduced to the public as the new member of The Young Divas - a group of four female contestants from Idol who cover old songs. Mauboy replaced one of the group's founding members, Ricki-Lee Coulter, who had featured on the group's debut album, but departed in June 2007 in order to concentrate on her solo career. The first Young Divas single to feature vocals from Mauboy, "Turn Me Loose", was released on 17 November 2007, and after debuting at number 21, the song peaked at number fifteen. The group's second studio album (and first with Mauboy) 'New Attitude' was released a week later on 24 November and debuted at #10. The album was quickly certified gold for sales of 35,000 copies.
On 28 March 2008, after six months of apparent inactivity, the Young Divas' record label, Sony BMG announced in The Daily Telegraph that due to the under performance of "Turn Me Loose", a second single would not be released from New Attitude. However, it was also stated that the group were not being dropped from the record label's line-up of artists and would continue to record music.
In early June 2008, Mauboy signed on to the Australian Government 'In2Oz' program, designed to promote closer ties with Indonesia. As a part of this program, she travelled to Indonesia for a week long trip performing around the country. She also performed on Indonesian Idol, singing "Crazy in Love" and "Sempurna" (Perfect) with former Indonesian Idol stars Mike, Judika and Lucky.
On 24 August 2008, following months of rumours, it was officially announced that after a year with the group, Mauboy had decided to quit the Young Divas in order to focus on her solo career. Founding member Paulini Curuenavuli had also decided to depart, leaving Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams as the only remaining members of the group, though their manager David Champion stated that the Divas would undergo a third line-up change following the departures of Mauboy and Paulini, with a third album to be released later in the year.
Mauboy's debut solo single "Running Back", featuring American rapper Flo Rida, was released for download on 23 September 2008 and physical sales commenced on 11 October 2008. The single peaked at number 3, spent nineteen weeks on the singles chart and achieved double platinum status for sales of over 140,000 copies. It has also peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Urban Charts. The music video was filmed in the Docklands area of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. Her debut studio album 'Been Waiting' was released on 22 November 2008 and debuted at number 16 peaking at number 11 on the ARIA Album Charts in its ninth week. It peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Urban Charts and was certified platinum for sales of over 70,000 copies. The album was released in Japan on April 22, 2009 and she will promote the album there later in the year. In March 2009, it was announced that Mauboy would release her debut album in the UK and would start promotion in June after signing a contract with the Ministry of Sound label. The deal made Mauboy only the second Australian Idol contestant ever to sign a UK record deal, after Ricki-Lee.
Mauboy's second single, "Burn" was released on December 6, 2008 and debuted at number 30 but after 7 weeks of rising up the ARIA singles chart it hit the number 1 spot, making it Mauboy's first number one single. It spent over twenty weeks on the chart and achieved platinum status. Like her first single, it too peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Urban Charts. The single made its debut on the Japan Hot 100 at number ninety-two on April 25, 2009.
On January 26, 2009 at the annual Australia Day concert Mauboy announced that the title track of her album "Been Waiting" would be her next single. The song was meant to make its debut on radio on February 16, 2009 but was pushed forward due to Burn being removed from most radio playlists in light of the devastating bush fires in Victoria. The single was officially released on 14 March 2009 and Mauboy performed it live on Funniest Home Videos on Saturday 4 April. The single peaked at number 12 on the official ARIA charts and at #6 on the ARIA Urban Charts.
In the week of 25 May 2009, fourth single "Because" was the number-one most added track on Australian radio. The single was released on June 12 and debuted on the ARIA Charts at number nine.
Her fifth single, "Up/Down", is expected to be released in September 2009 to coincide with her appearances supporting Beyoncé Knowles and Flo Rida on their Australian tours.
Also in 2009, Mauboy signed with cosmetic company Bloom to create a range of designer nail-polishes and in June performed at the Sydney launch of video game The Sims 3.
Jessica Mauboy's hit debut album "Been Waiting" is set for a Re-Release, it will contain a CD and DVD. It Is set to be called "Been Waiting - Deluxe Edition" The Double Disc Deluxe edition has been confirmed to come out on the 21st of August, 2009.
WAKE ME UP
Jessica Mauboy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start
They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well, life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans
Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
Yeah, I didn't know I was lost
Yeah, I didn't know I was lost
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost
The lyrics of "Wake Me Up" by Jessica Mauboy depict a young person trying to navigate their way through uncertainty and confusion, but finding solace in the idea that they are still learning and growing. The first verse means that even if one doesn't know what the future holds, starting with a clear mind and a beating heart will lead them to the right path. The lines “They tell me I'm too young to understand, They say I'm caught up in a dream” suggest that the singer is constantly surrounded by people older and wiser than them, deeming everything they believe in as just a fantasy. However, the singer refuses to let their dreams go and they knows that opening their eyes to the world around them, even if it's scary, will help them find their way.
The second verse is about carrying the weight of the world on one’s shoulders and realizing that there is only so much one person can do. However, the singer is hopeful that they will be able to explore the world and experience everything it has to offer. They want to stay young and free, unafraid of what the future holds. The chorus repeats that life is a journey of self-discovery, and the singer is discovering themselves with each passing moment, even though they didn't know they were lost until they began to look.
In summary, the song is about a young person finding their way in the world and not being afraid to take chances and follow their dreams, even when others tell them they're too young or that their dreams are silly.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling my way through the darkness
Navigating my life without a clear direction or understanding of where to go
Guided by a beating heart
My intuition and emotions are leading me forward
I can't tell where the journey will end
The future is uncertain and I cannot predict where my path will lead
But I know where to start
I have a sense of purpose and the first step towards my goal
They tell me I'm too young to understand
People doubt my ability to comprehend the complexities of life due to my age
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Others believe my aspirations are unrealistic or unobtainable
Well, life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
If I do not take action and pursue my dreams, time will continue to progress, and I will miss out on opportunities
Well, that's fine by me
I am comfortable with the consequences of my actions or inaction
So wake me up when it's all over
I am ready for a change or the next phase of my life
When I'm wiser and I'm older
I hope to have gained more wisdom and experience to help me navigate my future
All this time I was finding myself
I have been on a personal journey to discover my identity and purpose
And I didn't know I was lost
I was unaware of my lack of direction and purpose
I tried carrying the weight of the world
I have attempted to take on too much responsibility or worry about problems beyond my control
But I only have two hands
I have limited capacity and resources to manage all of my burdens
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
I have a desire to explore different cultures and places
But I don't have any plans
I currently do not have a concrete plan or idea of how to achieve my travel goals
Wish that I could stay forever this young
I long for the simplicity and carefree nature of childhood or youth
Not afraid to close my eyes
I am unafraid to take risks or pursue my dreams, even if it means temporarily losing sight of my path
Life's a game made for everyone
Life presents opportunities and challenges for people of all backgrounds and circumstances
And love is the prize
The greatest reward in life is often found in the love and relationships we build with others
I didn't know I was lost
Repeating the idea that I was unaware of my life's purpose or direction
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Tim Bergling, Michael Aaron Einziger, Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alyssa_skywind
beautiful cover of wake me up, this needs to be heard internationally so people can respect such great aussie singers like Jess.
creamyyriko
Alyssasky_wind they actually played this a couple times on the radio on NOVA FM though I'm pretty sure it's only for Australians, like me... also if you haven't, Watch the show. ITS AMAZING SO INTENSE, the season finale was yesterday in my place but OMG! I loved every minute of it and plus they're making a season two of it! XD
Hayleigh Eats
Isabel Lewis im australian i live in portlincoln
DeysayT
Yeah I live in nsw tho and for some reason I just felt like watching her songs at 5 in the morning
Ann Loncar
I love Jess
Liz Johnson
Luv Jes bro
Pamako
Gosh...this is one of the best versions of "Wake me up" . You have such an amazing voice Jessica... we are in West Timor are so proud of you...
hopefully you will make another concert in Adelaide sooner before I finish my study here in Adelaide...
Barry Donas
Jessica sings this song with so much heart I had tears coming out of my eyes. Jessica is such a good talent and she deserves the recognition internationally. I'm so proud of her to see her come all this way in so many years. Keep the song's rolling in. Jessica you rock.
Preston Cowan
Her voice is magical. Beautiful cover.
Murat Kilic
Jess is a Legend. She has a voice of an angel. Love this Version ❤