Who You Are (Jessie J song)
| "Who You Are" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Who You Are" is a song by English R&B and soul recording artist Jessie J taken from her first studio album of the same name. The song was written by Cornish, Toby Gad and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad.
According to Cornish, she wrote the song after a three month lonely trip. The song was released as a promotional single. The song received positive reviews from music critics who complimented Cornish's vocals in the song. The song peaked on several chart including number 86 on the Australian Singles Chart, number 40 on UK Singles Chart and number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100.
Background and reception
"The other day I had a girl message me saying 'I was ready to take my life and then I heard "Who You Are"'. That pressure is beautiful but scary at the same time. I want to be a positive role model for young people. I always say that I'm half-artist, half-therapist. I'm very much someone that lives to be happy. It's not just about the parties and I know so-and-so – I'm not that girl. So I looked in the mirror and started to cry and said 'who am I?' Music is my therapy."[1]
"Who You Are'" was written by Cornish, Toby Gad and Shelly Peiken, while the production was handled by Gad.[2] Cornish was inspired to name her first album, Who You Are after the song by the same name. She also revealed that she is proudest of the song.[1] According to The Independent, "Who You Are" is the song that draws the most messages from fans, on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.[1] Cornish wrote the song at the end of a lonely three-month trip to Los Angeles when she was 20, having been shunted from studio to studio with various producers.[1] The song was released as a promotional single in Belgium.[3]
Mike Diver from BBC Music wrote that the song returns Cornish "to an acoustic accompaniment, and makes for a fine closer – it's her Hometown Glory, without the raw emotion but touching nonetheless."[4] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote that the song is a "self-empowerment dirge" and compared its theme with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (2011).[5] "Who You Are" peaked at number 86 on the Australian Singles Chart,[6] number 40 on UK Singles Chart[7] and number 85 on the Canadian Hot 100.[8]
Track listing
- Digital download[3]
- "Who You Are" – 3:50
Credits and personnel
Credits for "Who You Are" are taken from Allmusic,[9] and album's liner notes.[2]
- Jessica Cornish - writing, vocals
- Toby Gad - writing, producing
- Shelly Peiken - writing
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[6] | 86 |
| UK Singles Chart[7] | 40 |
| Canadian Hot 100[8] | 85 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Jessie J - The girl from Essex who plans to take the pop world by storm". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 10 December, 2010. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ a b (Media notes).
{{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|Format=ignored (|format=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|Publisher=ignored (|publisher=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|Type=ignored (|type=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|Year=ignored (|year=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Who You Are - Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Diver, Mike (24 February, 2011). "Jessie J Who You Are Review". Virgin Media. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Sullivan, Caroline (24 February 2011). "Jessie J: Who You Are – review". Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "ARIA Charts > ARIA Report > 9 May 2011" (pdf) (Press release). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
{{cite press release}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b "UK Charts > Jessie J". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b "Canadian Hot 100 > Week of April 30, 2011 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Who You Are". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 20 August, 2011.
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