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'''''Me Against Myself''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by [[Jay Sean]], released on 8 November 2004 in the [[United Kingdom]], January 2005 in [[Malaysia]],<ref name=Kaur>{{cite web|title=Danceable Jay|author=Kiren Kaur|work=[[New Straits Times]]|date=January 9, 2005|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18530665_ITM|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and February 2005 in [[India]].<ref name=Hindu/> The album includes three [[UK Singles Chart|UK top 20 hit]] singles: "[[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance With You]]" (#12), "[[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes On You]]" (#6), and "[[Stolen (Jay Sean song)|Stolen]]" (#4). Noted for its [[Experimental music|experimental]], creative [[Fusion (music)|fusion]] of [[contemporary R&B]], [[British hip hop]] and [[Music of India|Indian music]],<ref name=BoomBox>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=December 3, 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-03}}</ref> as well as its social commentary,<ref name=Telegraph/><ref name=Yahoo/> the album was universally acclaimed by critics<ref name=Star/> and sold more than two million copies worldwide, remaining Sean's most successful album to date.<ref name=About>{{cite web|author=Bill Lamb|title=Jay Sean|publisher=[[About.com]]|url=http://top40.about.com/od/s/p/jaysean.htm|accessdate=2009-12-14}}</ref><ref name=Independent>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Ahead of the race|author=Nick Duerden|work=[[The Independent]]|date=6 December 2009|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-sean-ahead-of-the-race-1832823.html|accessdate=2009-12-03}}</ref><ref name=mansized>[http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/196/323/ Rishi Rich - The Project - Review]</ref> ''Me Against Myself'' was influential in pioneering and popularizing [[Bhangra]]-R&B fusion in [[Asian Underground]] and [[Indian pop]] music.<ref name=AsianID>{{YouTube|6ZG_y_UlrZg|Jay Sean- Interview part 1/3}}</ref>
'''''Me Against Myself''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by [[Jay Sean]], released on 8 November 2004 in the [[United Kingdom]], January 2005 in [[Malaysia]],<ref name=Kaur>{{cite web|title=Danceable Jay|author=Kiren Kaur|work=[[New Straits Times]]|date=January 9, 2005|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18530665_ITM|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and February 2005 in [[India]].<ref name=Hindu/> The album includes three [[UK Singles Chart|UK top 20 hit]] singles: "[[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance With You]]" (#12), "[[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes On You]]" (#6), and "[[Stolen (Jay Sean song)|Stolen]]" (#4). Noted for its [[Experimental music|experimental]], creative [[Fusion (music)|fusion]] of [[contemporary R&B]], [[British hip hop]] and [[Music of India|Indian music]],<ref name=BoomBox>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=December 3, 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-03}}</ref> as well as its social commentary,<ref name=Telegraph/><ref name=Yahoo/> the album was universally acclaimed by critics<ref name=Star/> and sold more than two million copies worldwide, remaining Sean's most successful album to date.<ref name=About>{{cite web|author=Bill Lamb|title=Jay Sean|publisher=[[About.com]]|url=http://top40.about.com/od/s/p/jaysean.htm|accessdate=2009-12-14}}</ref><ref name=Independent>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Ahead of the race|author=Nick Duerden|work=[[The Independent]]|date=6 December 2009|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-sean-ahead-of-the-race-1832823.html|accessdate=2009-12-03}}</ref><ref name=mansized>[http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/196/323/ Rishi Rich - The Project - Review]</ref> ''Me Against Myself'' was influential in pioneering and popularizing [[Bhangra]]-R&B fusion music among the worldwide [[South Asia]]n diaspora.<ref name=AsianID>{{YouTube|6ZG_y_UlrZg|Jay Sean- Interview part 1/3}}</ref>


Despite initially failing to reach the top 20 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] (where it peaked at #29), the album gradually managed to sell 100,000 copies in the UK<ref name=Duerden/> and went on to become a substantial hit in [[Asia]]. "Dance With You" and "One Night" were included on the soundtracks for the [[Bollywood]] films ''[[Boom (2003 film)|Boom]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kyaa Kool Hai Hum]]'' (2005), with Sean making an appearance in the latter, while the Bollywood actress [[Bipasha Basu]] made an appearance in the music video for the song "Stolen".<ref name=Hindu>{{cite web|title=Brit sound, desi flavour|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=February 23, 2005|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/02/23/stories/2005022300480200.htm|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> This helped ''Me Against Myself'' sell over two million copies<ref name=Independent/><ref name=mansized/> and become five-times platinum in [[India]].<ref name=billboard>[http://www.billboard.com/#/news/jay-sean-featuring-lil-wayne-down-1003999822.story Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne, "Down" - Preview], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''</ref> Beyond India, the album sold over 300,000 copies across other parts of the world,<ref name=Amazon>{{cite web|title=All or Nothing: Jay Sean|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/All-Nothing-Jay-Sean/dp/B002SEW5Y0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257808220&sr=8-1-spell|accessdate=2009-11-18}}</ref> including [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[Southeast Asia]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=December 3, 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Bad boy turned good|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=22 January 2008|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/jay-sean-bad-boy-turned-good-13378016.html|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> His performance of tracks from ''Me Against Myself'' on [[MTV Asia]] (alongside the [[Rishi Rich Project]]) had a television audience as large as 165 million viewers.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|date=October 15, 2007|title=Smooth R&B|author=Jason Cheah|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|url=http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/15/music/19148271&sec=music|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> The album helped establish Sean as a major recognized artist across Asia and among the worldwide [[Desi]] diaspora.
Despite initially failing to reach the top 20 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] (where it peaked at #29), the album gradually managed to sell 100,000 copies in the UK<ref name=Duerden/> and went on to become a substantial hit in [[Asia]]. "Dance With You" and "One Night" were included on the soundtracks for the [[Bollywood]] films ''[[Boom (2003 film)|Boom]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kyaa Kool Hai Hum]]'' (2005), with Sean making an appearance in the latter, while the Bollywood actress [[Bipasha Basu]] made an appearance in the music video for the song "Stolen".<ref name=Hindu>{{cite web|title=Brit sound, desi flavour|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=February 23, 2005|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/02/23/stories/2005022300480200.htm|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> This helped ''Me Against Myself'' sell over two million copies<ref name=Independent/><ref name=mansized/> and become five-times platinum in [[India]].<ref name=billboard>[http://www.billboard.com/#/news/jay-sean-featuring-lil-wayne-down-1003999822.story Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne, "Down" - Preview], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''</ref> Beyond India, the album sold over 300,000 copies across other parts of the world,<ref name=Amazon>{{cite web|title=All or Nothing: Jay Sean|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/All-Nothing-Jay-Sean/dp/B002SEW5Y0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257808220&sr=8-1-spell|accessdate=2009-11-18}}</ref> including [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[Southeast Asia]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=December 3, 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Bad boy turned good|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=22 January 2008|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/jay-sean-bad-boy-turned-good-13378016.html|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> His performance of tracks from ''Me Against Myself'' on [[MTV Asia]] (alongside the [[Rishi Rich Project]]) had a television audience as large as 165 million viewers.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|date=October 15, 2007|title=Smooth R&B|author=Jason Cheah|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|url=http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/15/music/19148271&sec=music|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> The album helped establish Sean as a major recognized artist across Asia and among the worldwide [[Desi]] diaspora.
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| extra_column = Producer(s)
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro (Balcony Skit)
| title1 = Intro (Balcony Skit)
| extra1 = [[Rishi Rich]]
| extra1 = Jay Sean, [[Rishi Rich]]
| length1 = 0:59
| length1 = 0:59
| title2 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes On You]]
| title2 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes On You]]
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| length8 = 4:37
| length8 = 4:37
| title9 = Interlude (Irony Skit)
| title9 = Interlude (Irony Skit)
| extra9 = [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| extra9 = Jay Sean, [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| length9 = 1:01
| length9 = 1:01
| title10 = [[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance With You]]
| title10 = [[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance With You]]
Line 81: Line 81:
| length12 = 3:23
| length12 = 3:23
| title13 = One Minute
| title13 = One Minute
| extra13 = [[Rishi Rich]]
| extra13 = Jay Sean, [[Rishi Rich]]
| length13 = 4:04
| length13 = 4:04
| title14 = Meri Jaan
| title14 = Meri Jaan
Line 88: Line 88:
| length14 = 3:11
| length14 = 3:11
| title15 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Me Against Myself]]
| title15 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Me Against Myself]]
| extra15 = [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| extra15 = Jay Sean, [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| length15 = 3:11
| length15 = 3:11
| title16 = You Don't Know Me
| title16 = You Don't Know Me
| note16 = Hidden Track
| note16 = Hidden Track
| extra16 = [[Rishi Rich]]
| extra16 = Jay Sean, [[Rishi Rich]]
| length16 = 3:00
| length16 = 3:00
| title17 = Who Is Kamaljit
| title17 = Who Is Kamaljit
| note17 = Hidden Track
| note17 = Hidden Track
| extra17 = [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| extra17 = Jay Sean, [[Mentor Kolektiv|Mentor]]
| length17 = 3:44
| length17 = 3:44
}}
}}

Revision as of 01:15, 21 December 2009

Untitled

Me Against Myself is the debut studio album by Jay Sean, released on 8 November 2004 in the United Kingdom, January 2005 in Malaysia,[6] and February 2005 in India.[4] The album includes three UK top 20 hit singles: "Dance With You" (#12), "Eyes On You" (#6), and "Stolen" (#4). Noted for its experimental, creative fusion of contemporary R&B, British hip hop and Indian music,[11] as well as its social commentary,[8][9] the album was universally acclaimed by critics[12] and sold more than two million copies worldwide, remaining Sean's most successful album to date.[13][14][15] Me Against Myself was influential in pioneering and popularizing Bhangra-R&B fusion music among the worldwide South Asian diaspora.[16]

Despite initially failing to reach the top 20 on the UK Albums Chart (where it peaked at #29), the album gradually managed to sell 100,000 copies in the UK[17] and went on to become a substantial hit in Asia. "Dance With You" and "One Night" were included on the soundtracks for the Bollywood films Boom (2003) and Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005), with Sean making an appearance in the latter, while the Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu made an appearance in the music video for the song "Stolen".[4] This helped Me Against Myself sell over two million copies[14][15] and become five-times platinum in India.[18] Beyond India, the album sold over 300,000 copies across other parts of the world,[19] including Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia,[20] and Hong Kong.[21] His performance of tracks from Me Against Myself on MTV Asia (alongside the Rishi Rich Project) had a television audience as large as 165 million viewers.[12] The album helped establish Sean as a major recognized artist across Asia and among the worldwide Desi diaspora.

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Intro (Balcony Skit)"Jay Sean, Rishi Rich0:59
2."Eyes On You"Rishi Rich, Stargate3:11
3."One Night" (featuring Juggy D and Veronica)Rishi Rich4:08
4."Don't Rush"Rishi Rich3:49
5."On and On"Peter Biker, Karsten "Delgado" Dahlgaard3:39
6."Stolen"Stargate, Rishi Rich4:04
7."Come With Me"Paul Brown, Rishi Rich4:11
8."Holding On"Rishi Rich4:37
9."Interlude (Irony Skit)"Jay Sean, Mentor1:01
10."Dance With You" (featuring Juggy D and Rishi Rich)Iceman J, Rishi Rich2:56
11."Man's World (Ramta Jogi)" (featuring Sukhwinder Singh)Paul Brown, Rishi Rich, A. R. Rahman3:44
12."I Believe In You"Fitzgerald Scott3:23
13."One Minute"Jay Sean, Rishi Rich4:04
14."Meri Jaan" (featuring Juggy D)Rishi Rich3:11
15."Me Against Myself"Jay Sean, Mentor3:11
16."You Don't Know Me" (Hidden Track)Jay Sean, Rishi Rich3:00
17."Who Is Kamaljit" (Hidden Track)Jay Sean, Mentor3:44

Leftover tracks

  • "Girlfriend"
  • "Chance On You"
  • "Just Wanna Love Ya"
  • "Push It Up (Ajaa Kurieh)" (featuring Juggy D and Rishi Rich)

Critical reception

Me Against Myself was universally acclaimed by critics across the world, particularly for its experimental, creative fusion[11] of contemporary R&B, hip hop (including old-school and British hip hop)[22] and Indian music (including Bhangra and Bollywood music), as well as its social commentary. In the UK, Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, referring to Me Against Myself as "an album of phenomenally accomplished R&B" and "an album of indisputable quality." He praised the Asian musical influence, social commentary, and "well adjusted sense of humour", particularly the "hysterical crisis of integrity" shown in the title track "Me Against Myself" where "rapper Sean mercilessly derides his “pansy” singing alter ego".[9] Antony Hatfield of BBC Music praised the album, stating that it "is of major league significance" and, with "influences that enter from all angles," it is "an album by gifted people with a vision beyond boundaries and a simple devotion to music." In particular, he also praised the title track "Me Against Myself", where Sean's singer and rapper personae go into battle, for its honesty and self-awareness.[1]

Tareck Ghoneim of Contactmusic.com also praised the album, referring to Sean as an "Asian sensation" who is breaking barriers "making pop songs that include sounds from Sean’s cultural background and with potential mass appeal." He stated that the "album is progressive in that it shows a fusion of Asian sounds with r’n’b and pop music."[2] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, praising the "the Bollysoul arrangements that underscore his vocals", in reference to the fusion of Bollywood and soul music, especially in the song "Stolen".[3] The Liverpool Daily Post gave the album a score of 3 out of 4 stars.[5] Peter Culshaw of The Telegraph referred to the album as "highly accomplished R&B, with minor Indian musical elements", but considered the best tracks in the album to be the hip hop tracks "You Don't Know Me" and "Me Against Myself" for their social commentary which deal with Sean's inner conflicts and the difficulties in "trying to make it as an Asian in the hip-hop arena." Culshaw praised Sean's talent and stated that, "currently attracting the attention of demi-god producer Timbaland, it will be fascinating to see how Sean resolves his musical schizophrenia."[8]

The album received similarly positive reviews in Asia, where its British-Asian fusion sounds were also seen as a novelty. In India, A. Vishnu of The Hindu stated that, "After having kick-started the `British sound with an Indian flavour' concept, Sean has created a cutting-edge formula, which appeals to Hip-hop fans and Bhangra enthusiasts alike." He concluded that the "album previews the future of Brit-Bhangra music, which sure is here to stay. It's time to take Bhangra to the next level."[4] The Statesman stated, "A mixture of R & B, hip hop and rap, it has desi flavours as well. With bhangra influences in the background, this album is one of the most popular UK Asian crossover offerings till date."[7] In Malaysia, Kiren Kaur of New Straits Times also praised the album, referring to the songs "Eyes On You" and "Dance With You" in particular as "dance-floor favourites with the fusion of Desi rhythms with R&B tones."[6] In the African country of Zambia, Candice Soobramoney of the Zambia Post gave the album a rating of 8/10.[10]

The creativity and experimentalism of his debut album Me Against Myself later became a point of criticism towards Sean's more mainstream follow-up albums, My Own Way (2008) and All or Nothing (2009), for lacking the experimental British-Asian fusion sounds (alongside Rishi Rich) and the social commentary that had characterized his debut album Me Against Myself, in favour of mainstream American-influenced R&B pop music in his later albums.[23][24] In his review of My Own Way, Angus Batey of The Guardian stated that Sean "has lost - not for ever, one hopes - the stuff that made him stand out" in Me Against Myself.[24] Sean later responded that the reason he gave up on the Indian-R&B fusion music that he helped popularize is because it had eventually become too common in Asian Underground and Indian pop music.[16]

Charts and certifications

Country Providers Peak
position 		Certification Shipments/Sales
United Kingdom The Official UK Charts Company 29 Silver[25] 100,000[17]
India Indian Music Industry 1 5× Platinum[18] 2,000,000+[14][15]

Music Videos

References

  1. ^ a b Antony Hatfield (2004-11-08). "Me Against Myself Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  2. ^ a b "Jay Sean - Me Against Myself - Album Review". Contactmusic.com. 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  3. ^ a b Caroline Sullivan (5 November 2004). "Jay Sean, Me Against Myself (Relentless)". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  4. ^ a b c d "Brit sound, desi flavour". The Hindu. February 23, 2005. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  5. ^ a b "CD review". Liverpool Daily Post. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  6. ^ a b c Kiren Kaur (January 9, 2005). "Danceable Jay". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  7. ^ a b "Jay Sean: Me Against Myself". The Statesman. March 25, 2005. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  8. ^ a b c Peter Culshaw (15 November 2004). "Pop CDs of the week: Eminem, Destiny's Child, Jay Sean, Pavement". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  9. ^ a b c Dan Gennoe (8 November 2004). "Jay Sean - Me Against Myself". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  10. ^ a b Candice Soobramoney (2009-12-08). "Good food and fast horses". Zambia Post.
  11. ^ a b Nadeska Alexis (December 3, 2009). "Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake". The BoomBox. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  12. ^ a b Jason Cheah (October 15, 2007). "Smooth R&B". The Star. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  13. ^ Bill Lamb. "Jay Sean". About.com. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  14. ^ a b c Nick Duerden (6 December 2009). "Jay Sean: Ahead of the race". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  15. ^ a b c Rishi Rich - The Project - Review
  16. ^ a b Jay Sean- Interview part 1/3 on YouTube
  17. ^ a b Nick Duerden (6 December 2009). "Jay Sean: Ahead of the race". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  18. ^ a b Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne, "Down" - Preview, Billboard
  19. ^ "All or Nothing: Jay Sean". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  20. ^ Nadeska Alexis (December 3, 2009). "Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake". The BoomBox. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  21. ^ "Jay Sean: Bad boy turned good". Belfast Telegraph. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  22. ^ Alex Fletcher (January 21 2008). "Jay Sean: 'Ride It'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-12-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Mike Diver (2009-12-04). "Jay Sean All or Nothing Review". BBC. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  24. ^ a b Angus Batey (2008). "Jay Sean, My Own Way". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
  25. ^ BPI certification search engine
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