Jay Sean on the Songs That Shaped His Life and Music

The earliest song I remember hearing

Tony Orlando and Dawn – ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree’

I clearly remember my parents singing this song during family road trips when I was young. My brother and I would attempt to join in from the back seat, even though we did not know the lyrics, which makes it such a warm childhood memory.

The first album that captivated me

Lionel Richie – ‘Back to Front’

Back then, you could visit HMV and listen to albums in the shop. I was about nine when I put on the headphones and discovered this Lionel Richie album. It was not an obvious choice for a child, but his songs immediately connected with me. I believe they helped shape my songwriting because, although Richie is a soul singer, his melodies often have a country influence—a quality people also hear in my music.

The song that reminds me of home

Alfonzo Hunter – ‘Just the Way’

As I was growing up, R&B and hip-hop became my favourite music. Tracks from the mid-1990s still take me back to listening to cassettes in the car with my friends. We recorded our favourite songs from the radio because that was how we made mixtapes. ‘Just the Way’ was one of those songs. My best friend and I played it repeatedly, and because he is still my closest friend today, it remains a track we always return to.

The first gig I attended

The Roots, Camden Jazz Cafe, 1998

My love of hip-hop meant that I went to see every major American act that visited England with my friends. We saw Wu-Tang Clan, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Biggie, among many others. The Roots were particularly memorable because they brought Rahzel on stage to perform his beatboxing, which completely fascinated me. It inspired me to learn the art myself, and I now incorporate beatboxing into my live shows.

The karaoke song I choose

Eminem – ‘The Real Slim Shady’

When my friends suggest karaoke, I am usually reluctant because singing is my job. I normally choose something that has nothing to do with my own music, often a rap song. Once, while touring in America, we stopped at a dive bar after a show. It was not even a karaoke venue, but the DJ asked me to come up and perform. A man approached me afterwards and told me to stick to my day job. I laughed because I must have sounded terrible. I have never been able to sing properly while drinking.

The song I want played at my funeral

Stevie Wonder – ‘Stay Gold’

The lyrics are beautiful and deeply meaningful. The song reflects on how短暂 life is and encourages people to live well and make a positive impact. My brother and I were obsessed with the 1983 coming-of-age film The Outsiders when we were children, and because this song appeared on its soundtrack, we played it again and again.

The song that makes me cry

Damien Rice – ‘The Blower’s Daughter’

After a couple of glasses of wine, several songs could make me emotional. But ‘The Blower’s Daughter’ can put me in a melancholic state at any time, whatever my mood. It is a beautiful song delivered with extraordinary honesty. Damien allows his voice to crack and drift slightly out of tune because the emotion behind it feels completely raw. His repetition of the melody gets me every time.

The song I wish I had written

Ne-Yo – ‘So Sick’

I could choose what many people regard as one of the greatest songs ever written, ‘Billie Jean’. But ‘So Sick’ has a special place for me because it influenced me at a crucial point in my career. I had always loved both R&B and pop, and when I heard how Ne-Yo brought the two styles together, I knew it was the kind of music I wanted to make. It was a groundbreaking record that helped inspire Ne-Yo’s later global collaborations with Stargate, including Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable’.

The song that makes me want to dance

Jay Sean – ‘Body’

I have made plenty of mid-tempo songs, but this year I have focused more on energetic music because I think the world needs it. ‘Body’ has a truly international sound, with a recognisably Jay Sean melody set against a fun Afro-house production. I cannot dance particularly well, but this song makes me want to get up and try.

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