Who You Are (Jessie J song)
Encyclopedia
"Who You Are" is a song by English R&B
and soul
recording artist Jessie J
taken as the fifth single from her debut studio album of the same name
. The song was written by Cornish, Toby Gad
and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad. The single is due for release on November 13, 2011, with a physical copy being released on November 21.
According to Cornish, she wrote the song after a three month lonely trip. The song received positive reviews from music critics who complimented Cornish vocals in the song. The song was performed on X-Factor Uk and charted in the top ten the next week.
and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad. Cornish was inspired to name her first album, Who You Are after the song by the same name. She also revealed that she is proudest of the song. Cornish wrote the song at the end of a lonely three-month trip to Los Angeles
when she was 20, having been shunted from studio to studio with various producers. Cornish explained the song's meaning during an intimate show at The Sofitel's Stone Rose on 2 November 2010: She revealed, "I kind of lost myself. It's very personal. It's about being true to yourself. Don't lose yourself in any situation you're put in, and do the dew." She explained to The Sun why she chose this as her title track: "This song saved my life musically. The day before I wrote this song I was ready to give up music. It's amazing how three-and-a-half minutes of melody and lyrics can change your life and I'm so happy that not only has it saved my life but it's saving other people's. That's why my debut album is called Who You Are." According to The Independent
, "Who You Are" is the song that draws the most messages from fans, on YouTube
, Twitter
and Facebook
. The song was released as a promotional single in Belgium.
wrote that the song returns Cornish "to an acoustic accompaniment, and makes for a fine closer – it's her Hometown Glory
, without the raw emotion but touching nonetheless." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
wrote that the song is a "self-empowerment dirge" and compared its theme with Lady Gaga
's "Born This Way
" (2011).
, number 40 on UK Singles Chart
and number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100
.
's "Nothing Compares 2 U
."
As Jessie begins to sing the final bridge, water begins to drip in front of her face. As the water intensifies, she wipes a drop from under her eye, as if she was crying. The entire room begins to be rained on, and wind begins to blow. Jessie is completely soaking wet. Lights on the wall, and the lamp on her locker begin to spark, and turn off. The wind moves the jewellery off the bed and locker, taking the lamp with it. The mirror on the wall shakes. The video ends as the rain dies down, while Jessie remains looking in her mirror.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
recording artist Jessie J
Jessie J
Jessica Ellen Cornish , better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English recording artist currently signed to Island Records. She began her career as a songwriter for artists including Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus. Her debut single, "Do It Like a Dude", was released in November 2010 and peaked...
taken as the fifth single from her debut studio album of the same name
Who You Are (Jessie J album)
Who You Are is the debut studio album by English recording artist Jessie J, released on 28 February 2011 in the UK and on 12 April in the US. Due to high demand and interest from fans, the release date was pushed ahead by over an entire month, from its original 28 March 2011 release date....
. The song was written by Cornish, Toby Gad
Toby Gad
Tobias "Toby" Gad is a Los Angeles-based hit producer and songwriter from Germany, perhaps best known for co-writing Fergie's Grammy nominated hit song "Big Girls Don't Cry" as well as co-writing and producing Beyoncé's worldwide #1 hit "If I Were a Boy", and The Veronicas multi-platinum #1...
and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad. The single is due for release on November 13, 2011, with a physical copy being released on November 21.
According to Cornish, she wrote the song after a three month lonely trip. The song received positive reviews from music critics who complimented Cornish vocals in the song. The song was performed on X-Factor Uk and charted in the top ten the next week.
Background
"Who You Are'" was written by Cornish, Toby GadToby Gad
Tobias "Toby" Gad is a Los Angeles-based hit producer and songwriter from Germany, perhaps best known for co-writing Fergie's Grammy nominated hit song "Big Girls Don't Cry" as well as co-writing and producing Beyoncé's worldwide #1 hit "If I Were a Boy", and The Veronicas multi-platinum #1...
and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad. Cornish was inspired to name her first album, Who You Are after the song by the same name. She also revealed that she is proudest of the song. Cornish wrote the song at the end of a lonely three-month trip to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
when she was 20, having been shunted from studio to studio with various producers. Cornish explained the song's meaning during an intimate show at The Sofitel's Stone Rose on 2 November 2010: She revealed, "I kind of lost myself. It's very personal. It's about being true to yourself. Don't lose yourself in any situation you're put in, and do the dew." She explained to The Sun why she chose this as her title track: "This song saved my life musically. The day before I wrote this song I was ready to give up music. It's amazing how three-and-a-half minutes of melody and lyrics can change your life and I'm so happy that not only has it saved my life but it's saving other people's. That's why my debut album is called Who You Are." According to The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, "Who You Are" is the song that draws the most messages from fans, on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The song was released as a promotional single in Belgium.
Critical response
Mike Diver from BBC MusicBBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
wrote that the song returns Cornish "to an acoustic accompaniment, and makes for a fine closer – it's her Hometown Glory
Hometown Glory
"Hometown Glory" is the first single from Adele's debut album 19, released on 22 October 2007 in the United Kingdom. In 2008, the song was re-released as her fourth single...
, without the raw emotion but touching nonetheless." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
wrote that the song is a "self-empowerment dirge" and compared its theme with Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's "Born This Way
Born This Way (song)
"Born This Way" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga, from her second studio album, Born This Way. Written and produced by Gaga, Fernando Garibay, Jeppe Laursen and DJ White Shadow, "Born This Way" was developed while Gaga was on the road with The Monster Ball Tour...
" (2011).
Chart performance
"Who You Are" was released first as a promotional single and peaked at number 86 on the Australian Singles ChartARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, number 40 on UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
.
Music video
The official music video was released on Jessie J's official YouTube and Vevo channels on 29 September 2011.. The clip was inspired by the one for Sinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
's "Nothing Compares 2 U
Nothing Compares 2 U
"Nothing Compares 2 U" is a pop song written by American recording artist Prince for one of his side-projects, The Family. However, it wasn't until Sinéad O'Connor recorded her version for the album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got when it became a worldwide hit, topping charts in 15 countries,...
."
Synopsis
The video features Jessie in front of the camera as if it was her mirror in a bedroom. She is wearing a grey top with a black sports bra underneath. An en suite is visible in the background. Various angles of her singing are used throughout, e.g on the bath in the en suite, on the floor, on the bed, etc. A mirror can be seen above left of the bed. Jewellery at the end of the bed, and on a bed-side locker, amongst other places are shown.As Jessie begins to sing the final bridge, water begins to drip in front of her face. As the water intensifies, she wipes a drop from under her eye, as if she was crying. The entire room begins to be rained on, and wind begins to blow. Jessie is completely soaking wet. Lights on the wall, and the lamp on her locker begin to spark, and turn off. The wind moves the jewellery off the bed and locker, taking the lamp with it. The mirror on the wall shakes. The video ends as the rain dies down, while Jessie remains looking in her mirror.
Track listing
- Digital download
- "Who You Are" – 3:50
- CD single / Digital single
- "Who You Are" - 3:50
- "Who You Are" (Exemen Remix)
- "Who You Are" (Seamus Haji Remix Radio Edit)
- "Who You Are" (Live Acoustic Version)
Credits and personnel
Credits for "Who You Are" are taken from Allmusic, and album's liner notes.- Jessica Cornish - writing, vocals
- Toby Gad - writing, producing
- Shelly Peiken - writing
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... ) |
86 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... ) |
85 |