Review: Jessie J's mindblowing Melbourne Future Music Festival headline show

Jessie J @ Festival Hall, 07/03/12
Review: Jordana Borensztajn
Photo: Cameron Stewart

The honest, emotional, fierce and captivating UK songbird will remind you that not all high-charting commercial artists are guided by money and material objects.

Some of them, like Jessie J, peak on global music charts and rub shoulders with all the necessary A-listers, while managing to hold on to their integrity and stay true to the motivation that originally drove them toward music; to connect with, and inspire others, by sharing their emotions and experiences.

Hitting the stage with an intense air of confidence and an intoxicating spirit, Jessie J showed her Aussie fans that the long wait to see her live has been totally worth it.

Opening with her bold and gutsy revenge-laden single “Who’s Laughing Now” – which takes aim at the bullies that made her life hell through her school days – Jessie J set the tone for what became an unforgettable show for fans.

Jessie J performed her infectious tracks from her debut delivery Who You Are with conviction. Despite suffering from vocals issues that forced her to cancel one of her Perth appearances, she didn’t hold back last night.

Highlight songs included her Jamaican-themed self-empowerment anthem “Stand Up” which she mashed up with Bob Marley’s classic “One Love”; “Nobody’s Perfect” - performed with such raw emotion that it felt like she was reflecting on her mistakes, and experiencing the pain that inspired the track, for the very first time right in front of our eyes; a ripper version of “Rainbow”; a mind-blowing rendition of “Do It Like A Dude” performed by Jessie J’s blokey, baseball-cap wearing alter ego, and of course, her closing track; an explosive, high-energy, glitter-filled rendition of her inspirational party power anthem “Domino”.

Despite never previously performing in Australia, Jessie J’s support base here is intense. And she told the crowd just how smitten she was to have such dedicated fans, who sang along to every lyric, of every track, at every show.

“It’s very surreal for me… to see my face on t-shirts... knowing you guys have all bought tickets to see me,” she said. “To have a sold-out tour… You guys are really bad ass. Thank you. A lot.”

Jessie J didn't just give the passionate crowd a huge buzz because of her unreal performance. She gave fans the most important thing an artist can deliver; the reality that what you see is what you get. Because there's nothing more rewarding to fans than that realisation.

Jessie J believes in her tracks and embodies the messages of her songs, and last night shared her insight, providing everyone with inspiration that will stay with them long after she packs her bags and leaves our shores.

“Life is tough for everyone, everyone. Some of the people I have met in my lifetime make me understand… how much I have and how much I appreciate,” she told the capacity crowd.

“Every day I pinch myself and wanna just put good out in the world. Being happy being yourself is the most important thing. Love who you are and always be who you are.”

 Jessie J, it's kinda ironic that “Nobody’s Perfect” became such a huge hit for you... because you seem pretty damn perfect from where I'm sitting.