Early life
Ware was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London, on 15 October 1984. She was raised in Clapham, London. She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie), a social worker, and John Ware, a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of British actress Hannah Ware. Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother is Jewish and she was raised in the faith.
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, followed by the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle, did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
2009–11: Career beginnings
In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I’m doing now."
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on 'Nervous' (2010). She consequently met Sampha, best known as SBTRKT's main collaborator and live member. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their own personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. She also featured on Ceremonials, the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, although the song did not chart in the United Kingdom.
2011–13: Devotion
On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion, which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. She then released "Running" on 24 February 2012 as the lead single from her debut studio album, Devotion. "110%" was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. "Wildest Moments" was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
2014–16: Tough Love
The new album, Tough Love, was released on 6 October 2014. Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the new album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork. "Tough Love" is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of her new album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year.
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album ÷ and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
2017–18: Glasshouse
n October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album Glasshouse. Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the non-album single "Overtime."
2019–present: What's Your Pleasure?
Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June, 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. The first single from the album, "Adore You", was released in February 2019. This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November. The next single from the album, "Spotlight", was released in February 2020.
Other work
Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith. The show has since entered its fourth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran, Randy Jackson, Nigella Lawson, Sandy Toksvig, Daniel Kaluuya, Paloma Faith, George Ezra Annie Mac and Kylie Minogue .
On 23 January 2019 Jessie announced on her Instagram that she had created a unique premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by award-winning designer George Reddings. "Designed specifically to grow with your child, the oversized boxy shapes and simple minimal styles, are seasonless and gender-equal." The website officially went live on 31 March 2019.
Philanthropy
Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see the work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation.
Personal life
Ware shared a flat with Felix White of The Maccabees and is friends with Adele. In August 2014, she married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows, whom she had met at school, on the Greek island of Skopelos, where the couple had previously become engaged. On 15 April 2016, Ware revealed that she was expecting her first child. On 8 September 2016, Ware announced the birth of her daughter who was born three days prior.
She supports the Labour Party and endorsed Jess Phillips as leader in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
Tough Love
Jessie Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've been thinking of what to say all night to you
So you wanna be a man about it, do you?
And have you figured out all you wanted, have you?
When your heart becomes a million different pieces
That's when you won't be able to recognize this feeling
That's called tough love
That's called tough love
That's called tough love
In the middle of the night all I think about is you
I dream in all your clouds of glory, it's true
So you wanna be a man about it, do you have to?
And have you figured out all you wanted, have you?
When your heart becomes a million different pieces
That's when you won't be able to recognize this feeling
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
You have me crying out, crying out for more
You have me crying out, crying out for more
You have me crying out, crying out for more
You have me crying out, crying out for more
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
That's called tough love (tough love)
In Jessie Ware's song "Tough Love," she sings about a complicated relationship where the other person is unsure about their feelings. The first verse talks about the hope that the other person sees her for who she truly is. It's clear that she has spent a lot of time thinking about what she wants to say to this person, wanting to communicate her feelings clearly. The next verse references dreaming about this person and how much they mean to her. Despite this, the other person seems to be uncertain about whether they want to commit to the relationship or not, which is causing Ware emotional pain.
The chorus repeats the words "that's called tough love" several times, communicating the idea that sometimes love can be difficult and painful when things are not clear. When someone's heart is in a million pieces, they can't recognize what they are feeling or how to fix the situation. The repeated line "you have me crying out, crying out for more" suggests that even though this relationship is hard for Ware, she's still willing to fight for it, to feel something more.
Overall, "Tough Love" is a song that captures the confusion and pain of being in love with someone who is not sure if they feel the same way. The lyrics are honest and raw, and Ware's vocals are emotional and soulful, bringing to life the heartache of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a really good sign that you hope my mind is true
Your belief in my trustworthiness is heartening to me.
And I've been thinking of what to say all night to you
I've been reflecting on my feelings and how to express them to you throughout the night.
So you wanna be a man about it, do you?
Are you attempting to handle this in a mature manner?
And have you figured out all you wanted, have you?
Have you determined your desires and intentions in this situation?
When your heart becomes a million different pieces
When your emotions are in a state of chaos and disarray
That's when you won't be able to recognize this feeling
You will struggle to identify this particular emotion.
That's called tough love
This situation is an example of the concept of 'tough love'
In the middle of the night all I think about is you
You are constantly on my mind, even in the middle of the night.
I dream in all your clouds of glory, it's true
I have vivid and idealized dreams about you.
So you wanna be a man about it, do you have to?
Do you really need to approach this in a traditionally masculine manner?
You have me crying out, crying out for more
You have emotionally moved me and left me wanting more.
That's called tough love (tough love)
This type of emotional response can be classified as 'tough love.'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Ash, Benjamin Levin, Jessica Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Catalina Anchart
🇧🇷
É realmente um bom sinal de que você segura minha mente
É verdade
E eu estive pensando no que dizer a noite toda para você
Então você quer ser um homem sobre o assunto para você
E você já descobriu tudo o que você queria, não é?
Quando o seu coração torna-se um milhão de peças diferentes
Isso é quando você tudo ser capaz de reconhecer o seu sentimento
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
No meio da noite
Tudo o que eu penso é você
Eu sonho em todas as suas nuvens, tão triste
É verdade
Então você quer ser um homem sobre o assunto
Você tem que?
E você já descobriu tudo o que você queria, não é?
Quando o seu coração torna-se um milhão de peças diferentes
Isso é quando você tudo ser capaz de reconhecer o seu sentimento
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Você me gritando, clamando por mais
Você me gritando, clamando por mais
Você me gritando, clamando por mais
Você me gritando, clamando por mais
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Isso chama-se amor dura
Troy Lilly
This is sublime: nostalgic and futuristic all at once. I'm amazed at how versatile Jessie's music is. Cannot wait for this album to drop. Much love from the US.
S O L O X X
Her voice is very distinctive which makes you want to keep on listening 🎶
Lisa Burnett
Her first album had me spellbound....her voice is hauntingly beautiful. She has such an amazing voice and carries her outer beauty with no apologies. This woman deserves respect in my opinion. She is what true beauty is all about. Love to you Jessie!
Dylan Buchman
Omg I can't get over how heavenly this song and her voice are. One of my favorite songs of the year.
NiGHTSaturn
Still my favourite song from Jessie. ❤️
Leelee Baby
Right! Definitely one of my favorite song's of hers 💖🔥
Cowan Amaye-Obu
It's definitely top three, End of Time, Sweet Talk are the other two... But why choose? That's like being a Monotheist among all these beautiful Deities.
HaleyVic17
I don't really like watching music videos much. Just listening to a song is quite enough for me. I love music. I was watching the video but wasn't paying much attention to the visuals...I was just singing along with the song. This song is stellar. Tremendous.
I wish I was as talented as Jessie Ware. Her artistry is insane.
Khrissie Loves
I can't stop listening to this on repeat 🎶
Suzi Anthony
the feels from this... twin flame journey... the pain...growing...healing and unconditional love. this song hits home. not to mention all the reflections of Prince in this sonically, visually. wow. love. ⚘🌸💞💧☔