Growing up, our generation was listening to artists that stood out and music that made us dance across our bedrooms. Did we focus on lyrics or know what they were fully singing? Probably not. But the older we got, the more we heard the stories between the lines and were captured through all these emotions. So when you grow up listening to someone’s music, not only does your perception of the art change, but you experience the lyrical growth of an artist. Popular dance hits became authentic masterpieces, just like the view through children’s eyes becomes the brutal reality of a growing adult. One of the greatest female vocalists in history has been exactly that musical influence to our generation. Everyone has heard the name Jessie J and probably associates it with songs like Price Tag, Bang Bang or Flashlight. She became a household name, but to this day, Jessie is one of the most underrated female artists out there. Does it make sense? Is it justified? Absolutely not.
When you compare the judgmental image the media has created with the enormous impact Jessie has had on fans around the world, you will notice two completely different worlds colliding. And while journalistic strangers talk about her struggles with mental and physical health and mainly focus on her body image, her fans know exactly who she is behind the tabloid media curtains. The question is: Who knows an artist better than the ones whose lives she changed in the most positive way? I think we can all agree that the fans’ perspective is the closest you’re ever going to get to the truth and the actual reality.
Not only has Jessie’s music allowed fans to evolve and overcome struggles they have faced growing up, but she helped them find their way to accepting themselves the way they are. Through being unapologetically herself, she has inspired our generation to be who we wanna be without letting anyone change who we are deep down. Her artwork is described as medicine for the soul and something that gave fans a newfound sense of hope. Imagine having songs to listen to, when you’re going through the darkest times in your life and that being the reason you made it out alive. The power music holds is absolutely life-changing. Something that might not mean that much to someone, could be someone else’s entire world. Despite anyone’s doubts, being a fan of someone who can pick you up in a heartbeat is not something we will ever take for granted nor should it ever be belittled. In fact, each Heartbeat is living proof of how much difference a certain artist and music can make. Here is one story that touched me personally:
When I discovered Jess, I had recently gotten out of the hospital and had just suffered a minor stroke. I was watching an interview of hers and she was speaking about how she also had a minor stroke. It was classified as the exact same one that I had gone through. At such a young age, I didn’t really think I could relate to anybody more than I did to her. Her positivity was something that really helped me move forward, even though I felt like life wouldn’t ever be the same. I know it sounds crazy but she gave me so much strength and light in what was one of the darkest points of my life. – Paige Roundy
As a fan of Jessie’s, you are constantly reminded to be proud of who you are, to always trust your intuition and that whatever happens to you, is all life experience. You don’t have to fit the mold or let society’s price tags define you. And that counts for people in the public eye as well as the “average” population. Nobody’s perfect and it is often forgotten that celebrities are human too, the only difference is the constant magnifying glass over them that catches every small mistake, bad hair day and sudden slip. If they are having the worst day and act a certain way towards people they cross paths with that day, they are immediately being labeled as rude or ungrateful and these rumors spread like falling dominos.
There is so much more to an artist than what you hear or see across social and tabloid media. Ask those, who would not be who or where they are – or maybe even alive today – if it wasn’t for uplifting female artists like Jessie J and so many others. It is time to stop overlooking the value behind someone’s name and the great work and inspiring gift they contribute to this world. Don’t let your opinion be based on an untrue headline or angry trolls on social media who are the furthest away from reality. Jessie puts her heart and soul into her music and shares her most vulnerable self through songs that have healed millions of young people growing up. She has talked about the darkest times in her life, challenges she had to face and how hard it is to carry on sometimes. With that, she has shown others that it is OK to feel that way, but that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Her bravery and overall advocacy have been like a beautifully colored rainbow that reminds us how, after every storm, better days are not that far away. The importance of her impact should never be overlooked and rather seen and appreciated for the greatness it has resulted in.
Once you really get to know Jessie, you will see her as the incredible songwriter she is and notice that her songs don’t require too much analysis and interpretation. They are raw and authentic and fans relate to that the most. She has brought strangers together who – over the last decade – were able to thrive in a community that shares a mutual love for an artist. Today, they all start to realize how much their lives have changed since they first became Heartbeats. Some of them have children now, some have excelled in great careers and many of them have made huge progress in personal battles. They got to grow up together and see Jessie evolve into the strong woman she is today; wishing nothing more than to see her succeed. How beautiful is that?
Besides her gift for lyrical expression and outstanding vocal ability, her kindness, insane humor and inspiring story are reasons why our generation has connected to her tremendously. Jessie never hid behind a character or put up a mask, just because people made her feel like she wasn’t good enough. Her music might not be the best selling out there, but she has touched millions of hearts worldwide and made her fans feel less alone in their own tough reality. At the end of the day, the masterpieces she has created have had the positive influence she was aiming for. Believe it or not – for so many of us – she is that luminous flashlight guiding the way to the inner happiness we have been searching for.
ROARA Magazine 