Jessie J

JESSIE J Throws A Cha-Ching Ba-Bling Party In The U.S.A. With ONE LOVE

It went a lil something like this:

I'm feeling sexy and free
Like glitter's raining on me
You're like a shot of pure gold
I think I'm 'bout to explode

Everybody look to their left
Everybody look to their right

One love, One heart
Let's get together and feel all right

At about 3:30 PM PST on Tuesday 3rd April, a tweet from @TheRoxy jostled my focus. Jessie J, one of the hottest singers on the planet (and Justin Timberlake's current fave), would be playing her first official gig in Los Angeles the following Monday (though, for a stretch in 2009, she resided at the infamous Oakwood corporate complex in Burbank while writing her album and showcased for a room full of "corporate suits").

Aside from a Jumpsmokers remix of her smash-hit "Domino" that had recently made it into my iPod, I knew double J mostly in name alone. On a whim with nary a second thought, I hastily reserved a ticket to be among the few, the proud. For what exact reason I wasn't sure, so I did some high tide surfing.

Born Jessica Ellen Cornish and raised in London, the superstar singer (and Voice UK celebrity mentor along with Tom Jones, Danny O'Donoghue and will.i.am) would be coming to LA to perform "Domino" on The Voice (US) with Christina Aguilera's protégés ("Team Xtina") as vocal accoutrement. Jessie would also be attending an ELLE Women in Music Event benefitting the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

Easter Sunday came and went and manic Monday was front and center. Arriving at the world-famous Roxy Theatre at 9:20, I said hello to owner Nic Adler, whom was in his trademark hat and greeting VIPs as they sauntered in. It was only a few months ago that I was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Alex Da Kid and Kaskade as Skylar Grey, known for penning the hook to the monster hit "Love The Way You Lie" for Eminem & Rihanna, as well as platinum tracks for Dr. Dre, Diddy-Dirty Money & T.I. featuring Christina Aguilera, was making her Los Angeles debut.

On this night, 500 buoyant fans were once again stacked shoulder-to-shoulder to see/hear an acclaimed songwriter of hits for Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown, though this time in close proximity with Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Tom Parker from boy band The Wanted as well as a double stack of Jasons, singer Jason Derulo and Lava Records honcho Jason Flom.

Within minutes, Jessie strolled on to the stage to an eruption of cheers and a massive glare of mobiles held high to capture the moment. Outfitted in denim cutoffs adorned with cash money symbols and a large Super Mario tee, the diminutive singer warmed up her massive voice with "Who's Laughing Now," the beginning of an incredible 80-minute set.

Still on the precipice of my introduction to Who You Are and Who She Is, my mind began racing with comparisons as Jessie effortlessly transitioned her tonal presence segueing pop, R&B, reggae riddims, hip hop and a splash of scat. Faces and names and stage personas that flit from ear-to-ear were Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Nelly Furtado, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Nicki Minaj, Sean Kingston, Pitbull, Eminem and Lady Sovereign.

Highlights were the Euro-trance bump of "LaserLight," the new jack swing of "Do It Like A Dude" (which Jessie originally wrote with Rihanna in mind) and the mash-up of her own "Stand Up" with Bob Marley's "One Love". The former's title alone makes me think of Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" which makes her mash-up a natural fit.

Having recently seen Bruce Springsteen for the first time as well in a smallish venue at SXSW, and the way his intimacy with the audience shrinks the whole room, it was interesting to see Jessie interact in a similar manner. One minute, she would snatch someone's mobile to video record herself, the next to snap a photo, the next engaging in a one-on-one convo, the next trying on fan's hats and sunglasses, the next reading personal notes aloud before accepting a gift or two which were met with an appreciative heartfelt “Thank-you”.

And then the deeply personal stories about self-doubt, being bullied and wayward days in LA came pouring out.

We were completely and utterly drawn into her world. We might as well have been anywhere...much like Bruce makes an arena feel like they’re at the corner bar, it was like we were at a backyard BBQ or a haute soiree in the Hollywood Hills...though, in actuality, much like with Springsteen, we were under the spell of a multi-million seller and a renowned International superstar.

Midway through the show, a fan passed along a handwritten note asking if she could be chosen to accompany Jessie on a song during the evening and, without skipping a beat, JJ obliged bringing young Ms. Helen on stage to duet on "Price Tag" with its cotton candy chorus of:

It's not about the money, money, money
We don't need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain't about the (uh) Cha-Ching Cha-Ching
Ain't about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag.

And this fan pull-up was just the beginning, as Jessie soon invited the whole crowd on stage to dance along to an effervescent soul-nourishing sing-along of "Domino".

The Party In L.A. U.S.A. was underway...Take us down like a Domino!

As I ambled down Sunset in a glorious glow, I thought to myself...while it's easy to put a #PriceTag on the value of one's time, thankfully, for now, memories are priceless...

#WhoYouAre

JESSIE J
ROXY THEATRE W. HOLLYWOOD, CA
9/4/2012
1. Who’s Laughing Know
2. Rainbow
3. Stand Up > One Love (Bob Marley cover)
4. Casualty Of Love
5. Nobody’s Perfect
6. Never Too Much (Luther Vandross cover) > Abracadabra
7. LaserLight
8. I Need This
9. Who You Are
10. Mamma Knows Best
11. Do It Like A Dude
12. Price Tag
13. Domino

Btw, I noticed Jessie drinking vitaminwater on stage (actually piqued my curiosity) and then I saw a VW bottle make a cameo in her new video for "LaserLight," the track she did with David Guetta. Couldn't be a coincidence, could it???

Sure enough. Jessie is a vitaminwater ambassador supporting the company's sponsorship of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. Be on the lookout for special edition bottles featuring Ja-Jay-J's iconic bob!