The Bottom Line
Jessie J is easily the most hyped new artist of 2011 thus far. She is listed here as the top new artist to watch in 2011. Now the rubber hits the road and it is time for Jessie J to live up to the hype. "Price Tag" is a good first start. The song has a sharp, timeless point to make and its laidback, soulful vibe will slot into pop radio that is now suffused with the sound of Bruno Mars and the Smeezingtons.
Pros
- Laidback soulful vibe
- Timeless message
- Easy to sing along
Cons
- Questions about the authenticity of the message
Description
- Written by Jessica Cornish, Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly, and Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr.
- Produced by Dr. Luke
- Released January 2011 by Lava
Guide Review - Jessie J - "Price Tag" featuring B.o.B.
It is not a new argument to make that concerns about money get in the way of delivering the highest quality popular music. However, there is something about Jessie J's laidback vibe here that makes us want to listen again and nod our heads in agreement. The sound is soulful and, for a Dr. Luke production, surprisingly restrained. There is depth here and verses to mull over in your head.
From a marketing standpoint, it seems wise to have "Price Tag" be the first Jessie J single with a major push in the US. She hit #2 with "Do It Like a Dude" first out of the box at home in the UK. However, that song is more ruggedly in your face and could have had difficulty convincing pop radio programmers here. "Price Tag" will easily sit next to hits by either Bruno Mars or Katy Perry. Pop radio is already snatching up the song, and you will soon be singing, "Forget about the price tag" in the car.
With the subject matter of the song, however, I am left with one significant question. Just how relevant has the "price tag" been in the marketing of Jessie J? It seems the primary reason here for the inclusion of a rap by B.o.B. is an interest in the bottom line. His spotlight moment is pleasing, but it is hardly essential to the song. I suppose we can just blot out that little irony and enjoy the song as is...."It's not about the money, money, money..."
