Jessie J - every inch a superstar
- Apr 11, 2011
A sell out crowd at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire were treated to a high quality display of what is hot in British urban pop music on Tuesday night, with Jessie J stealing the show and proving that she is every inch the female pop superstar in waiting she is being billed as.
A keen early crowd were excitingly receptive to the night’s opening act, Encore. The three lads only played for 15 minutes, but soon won over the crowd with a majority joining in with the dance moves to new single, ‘Hero’. On stage they looked like a young Dru Hill as they effortlessly switched between acapellas, dance routines, MCing and vocal harmonies.
Minutes later, young British singer Liam Bailey showed just why so many people within the industry are getting excited about this talented musician. While currently best known for appearing on Chase and Status’ hit ‘Blind Faith’ it will surely not be long until Bailey is known in his own right for his American, bluesy sounding guitar playing and his smooth voice.
As the clock ticked toward the time for Jessie J’s headlining set, the crowd was uncontrollably excited, screaming wildly even when the lighting technicians tested the spotlights and the giant ‘Jessie J’ sign behind the white curtain.
When that curtain finally dropped it revealed a vast stage set-up which even heavyweight stadium bands would be proud of. Under an enormous, light bulb bordered ‘Jessie J’ sign, her band made their way on to stage to deafening screams which escalated to pure pandemonium when Jessie strutted out on to stage wearing impossibly large heels and a revealing corset.
The comparison everyone seems to be making is to Lady Gaga, however, to me she looked like Katy Perry with a similar, kooky attitude and personality. “She’s a natural, she is fantastic to take a picture of,” a photographer told me; just then she stopped mid-set to stand in a ‘two tickets for the gun show’ pose for the adoring press contingent and fans who had their cameras trained upon the stage for the entire show.
As Jessie rattled through her set, she did not miss one note while at the same time grooving like Beyonce. In the crowd, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was spotted having a great time, just like everyone else.
During Jessie’s encore, she had the confidence to ask the audience to stand still in silence for a few moments, after three efforts, the crowd couldn’t be hushed, with every time the peace disturbed by someone shouting “you’re beautiful Jessie!” The bold ambition and arrogance that a move like this takes proves just why Jessie J will be a pop star which Britain will have a hard time ignoring.
Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Dru Hill; there have been a lot of comparisons in this review. However, crucially, they have been favourable comparisons which just proves just how far Britain has come in producing pop music. No longer do we need to go to America for our fix of urban pop music, we are now producing our own and leading that charge is Jessie J.
Dan Rumens
