Music > Live Reviews

Jessie J

The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA

24/11/18

It may be four years since Jessie J had a top 40 album in the UK, but that doesn't seem to have dented her popularity here in Norwich. It is a long time since I have seen such a long queue ahead of doors opening at the Nick Rayns LCR, even though R.O.S.E., the four separate EP's released in May, and from which this tour takes its name, have yet to really dent the charts.

Collectively, R.O.S.E. constitutes what used to be referred to as a 'concept album'. Four distinct sections see songs arranged under headings of 'Realisation', 'Obsession', 'Sex', and 'Empowerment'. The live show sticks closely to this format, dropping individual songs into the correct segment, performing the four collections in sequence, and prefacing each with a pre-recorded spoken word overture (which also provides the time for the quick costume changes).

Twelve of the sixteen tracks from R.O.S.E. are fitted neatly into the setlist in this way. The hits, mostly from the 2011 debut album Who You Are, but also including Flashlight (from the soundtrack to Pitch Perfect 2), Bang Bang (the 2014 collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj), and Masterpiece (from the album Sweet Talker) are slotted in at regular intervals, albeit in a way to best maintain the show's momentum. Hence we get to hear debut single Do It Like A Dude really early on (in the Realisation section), whilst Masterpiece (a song that is actually all about empowerment) is shoe-horned into the 'Sex' sequence, leaving show-stoppers Price Tag and Domino for the finale.

But what really makes the evening such an powerful and rewarding experience is the connection that Jessie J creates with her audience. The LCR is a wonderful venue for an up-close and personal performance with artists who choose to embrace it. With the front row of the audience almost within touching distance, and the remainder packing the floor space, filling the steps on three sides and others looking down from the back, it is possible to see almost every face in the audience.

Jessie J uses this to maximum effect, making frequent direct eye contact, engaging with fans (including one from Changsha, the Chinese city in which she competed in, and won, the Singer 2018 television competition – the first foreign singer so to do), and being incredibly personable, honest and frank throughout the entire evening. She shares experiences of her own problems and difficulties - professional, health and emotional, and yet is at the same time incredibly empowering to her adoring audience. It is almost like a group therapy session. She only makes two demands of us – firstly, we are free to film as much as we want to on our mobile phones, as long as she can still see our faces. Secondly, she wants us to sing along, but only if we know the words and can sing in tune. Otherwise, as she half-jokingly warns, in best Liam Neeson style, she 'will come into the audience and look for you and find you, with a microphone'. She didn't need to, other than to wish one fan a happy birthday.

Big up to opening act Sincerely Wilson. I was slightly worried when he started his set with a cover of Wonderwall, but he delivered it such with a soulful interpretation, accompanied by acoustic guitar, that was rather beautiful. And he still managed to get the audience singing along. However, it was his own compositions that I really loved – listen to Chains, Love Junkie, and Hide and Seek, and tell me if you disagree.

Whether you are a fan of Jessie or not remains a matter of individual taste, but from what I saw and heard tonight the new material deserves a serious listen – her voice is strong and confident, and the songs are a million miles away from the frothy pop of 2011. Mind you, Price Tag still makes me well up every time I hear it. But then, I'm just a great big softie.