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.
What Happened To Us
Jessica Mauboy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Oh baby, baby
Though I try I just can't adjust
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us
We were in love we both felt the same
The good thing that we had, oh boy was the same
Why'd we let it go
We used to stay up all night long
Kissing to our favourite songs
Tell me where it all went wrong
That's what I got to know
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Oh baby, baby
Though I try I just can't adjust
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us
I thought that I could get over you
Oh but baby that is so far from true
Oh baby baby
Got something I wanna discuss
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us
I think that we ought to work it out
Like air, your love I can't live without
So have mercy, don't leave me in doubt
Say our love still burns
I tried to go my separate way, at first I thought it was okay
I miss you more with each day
So to you I turn
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Oh baby, baby
Though I try I just can't adjust
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us
I thought that I could get over you
Oh but baby that is so far from true
Oh baby baby
Got something I wanna discuss
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us
I know that you saw me with someone else
But believe me I'm all by myself
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Oh baby, baby
Though I try I just can't adjust
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us
I thought that I could get over you
Oh but baby that is so far from true
Oh baby baby
Got something I wanna discuss
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us
Tell me
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Oh baby, baby
Though I try I just can't adjust
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us (what happened to us)
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us
The lyrics to Jessica Mauboy feat. Jay Sean's song "What Happened To Us" tell a story of two lovers who were once deeply in love, but somehow drifted apart. The singer expresses their longing for their former partner, stating that they feel their presence even though they are physically apart. The singer admits that they have tried to move on but cannot seem to forget their former lover. They reflect on their relationship and ask what went wrong, hoping to find a way to fix it.
The chorus is especially poignant as the singer acknowledges the emptiness they feel without their lover, saying that there is a hole in their heart. The pre-chorus highlights how they both used to be in love, and how they shared a close bond that was unbreakable. The singer cannot understand how they could let go of something so beautiful, and they desperately want to reconnect and work things out.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and emotional tribute to lost love. It captures the universal feeling of heartbreak and the longing to reconnect with someone from our past. The lyrics and melody work together to create a beautiful and emotional ballad that fans of pop music and love songs will appreciate.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel you even though we're apart
My connection to you is so strong that I feel your presence even when you're not physically around.
And without you there's a hole in my heart
Your absence has left me feeling incomplete and emotionally broken.
Though I try I just can't adjust
I've attempted to move on, but it has been futile because I can't let go of the love I have for you.
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us
What caused our love to fade away and fall apart? It's a question that continues to plague my mind.
We were in love we both felt the same
Our love was mutual and passionate, and we both were fully invested in it.
The good thing that we had, oh boy was the same
We shared an amazing connection that made us both happy and fulfilled.
We had a bond that would never break
Our relationship was built on a solid foundation of trust, love, and understanding that could never be destroyed.
Why'd we let it go
What was the reason or moment that caused us to stop fighting for our love, and allowed it to slip away?
We used to stay up all night long
We would spend endless hours talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company without ever getting tired.
Kissing to our favourite songs
Our love was filled with sweet and romantic moments that we both cherished.
Tell me where it all went wrong
I need to understand what happened to our love, and where we went wrong.
I thought that I could get over you
I believed that I could move on from our relationship and find happiness elsewhere.
Got something I wanna discuss
There's something important that I need to address and talk to you about.
I think that we ought to work it out
I strongly believe that we should try to repair and salvage our love.
Like air, your love I can't live without
Your love is essential to my life and without it, I would struggle to survive emotionally.
So have mercy, don't leave me in doubt
Please don't abandon me and leave me guessing about the future of our relationship.
Say our love still burns
Confirm that the love we once shared has not completely vanished and still lingers within us.
I tried to go my separate way, at first I thought it was okay
I attempted to move on from our relationship and thought it was going well, but it was only a temporary illusion.
I miss you more with each day
My love for you has grown stronger and more intense with each passing day.
So to you I turn
I have come back to you to try to rebuild our love and start anew.
I know that you saw me with someone else
I understand that you witnessed me with another person, but it doesn't mean I've moved on from our love.
But believe me I'm all by myself
Despite being physically present with someone else, emotionally, I'm alone without you.
Tell me
I need to hear from you about how you feel and if you're willing to try and work on repairing our love.
Oh boy what happened to us, happened to us (what happened to us)
I'm still haunted by the question of what went wrong, and I can't move forward until I understand what happened to our love.
Contributed by Ava H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Serene🥀
LYRICS
I feel you even though we're apart
And without you, there's a hole in my heart
Oh, baby, baby, though I tried I just can't adjust
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us?
We were in love, we both felt the same
The good thing that we had boy was insane
We had a bond that would never break
Why we let it go? (go, oh, go, oh)
Oh, we used to stay all night long kissing to our favorite songs
Tell me where it all went wrong
That's what I got to know, oh, whoa, oh
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you, there's a hole in my heart
Oh, baby, baby, though I tried I just can't adjust
Oh, boy, what happened to us, happened to us?
Thought that I could get over you
Oh, but baby, that is so far from true
Oh, baby, baby, got something I want to discuss
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us?
I think that we ought to gotta work it out
Like air your love, I can't live without
So have mercy, don't leave me in doubt
I love still hurts (still burns, still burns)
I try to go my separate way
At first, I thought it was okay
I miss you more with each day so to you I turn
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you, there's a hole in my heart
Oh, baby, baby, though I tried I just can't adjust
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us? (us)
Thought that I could get over you, oh
But baby, that is so far from true (so far from true)
Oh, baby, baby got something I want to discuss (yeah)
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us?
I know that you saw me with someone else
But believe me, I'm over myself
Oh, yeah, yeah
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you, there's a hole in my heart
Oh, baby, baby though I tried I just can't adjust
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us?
Thought that I could get over you (get over you)
But baby, that is so far from true (so far from true)
Oh, baby, baby, got something I want to discuss
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us, happened to us?
Tell me, baby (yeah)
'Cause I feel you even though we're apart
And without you, there's a hole in my heart
Oh, baby, baby though I tried I just can't adjust
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us?
(What happened to us?)
Oh boy, what happened to us, happened to us?
Vee Tee
I dont understand how she isn't internationally successful.. these are HITS.
Usman Tahir Islam
It's always and ALWAYS about marketing and promotion 😔 sadly has nothing to do with actual talent. This song is such a gem btw.
Dorthy Shiimi
cos not every one take the illuminati shortcut to get more successful. some really successful singers out there don't even have good songs like her
Jaquelin
Jessica Mauboy never ages even if it's been 12 years, such a beautiful voice and tune😊
Grace Mwamsojo
It's 2021 and i still can't get enough of this master piece 😍😍
Cheryl Baker
2022
Usman Tahir Islam
2022 ending 😅
Usman Tahir Islam
I recently recalled Jessica and I'm loving HILDA, she really is amazing.
Discovered her through Jay Sean btw
MystiqueMoonGoddesz
2023
joeli naivalu
She deserves more credit :) amazing vocals, she should be making it big in the states.