“Down” is up on top

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I am definitely not a Jay Sean (a.k.a. Kamaljit Singh Jhooti) fan. Not trying to hate, it’s just not my type of music. That being said, this makes for quite a visual (especially considering #2 and #3):

down.jpg

50 thoughts on ““Down” is up on top”

  5. The force is strong w/ the desis. I sense a powerful trend.

    a while back: Punjabi MC w/ Jay-Z

    last year: MIA – paper planes

    today: Jay Sean w/ Lil Wayne

    tomorrow: ?

    “cuz we takin’ ooverrrrr….”

  7. This song is deliberately commercial and pop, but he is incredibly talented as a songwriter – as far as RnB goes his second album is superb, just about one of the best in the genre these days. Got to respect that.

  8. gangtok slim wrote:

    The force is strong w/ the desis. I sense a powerful trend.

    I don’t. Organized labor is still angry at the desh and desis over offshore outsourcing. Right-wing Americans still look down upon us because of the religions we practice. Left-wing Americans (esp. feminists) still look down upon us because of all the human rights violations that go on back in the desh. And I’m pretty sure the stereotype of the dorky, effeminate Asian male hasn’t gone away. The more things change, the more they stay the same

  10. TTCUSM: all of what you just said still has nothing to do with the fact that there are more desis in pop culture than a couple of years ago and it will only continue to grow.

  11. Does anyone else feel like today’s music, be it punk, rock, reggae, hip-hop etc is largely bereft of talent? I’m sure there is good music out there but it seems so much harder to find these days (recommendation engines from Amazon, iTunes etc. are weak at best). Maybe it’s because I’m not the target demographic for pop but I feel like pop, and by that I mean general popular music, is synonymous with crap today and that wasn’t always the case. (No offense to anyone intended; I know music tastes are personal and mine have varied over time but I just can’t seem to appreciate most tracks on any Billboard chart today).

    I find myself alternating between relative unknowns and classic songs for something inspiring/fun. Just today I bought an old Violent Femmes song – Kiss Off. How many songs of today will you hear 28 yrs later as is the case with this song? The same could be said for modern Desi music as well – whether film-tracks or independent songs by a litany of poser bands. I’m not saying we should all turn to classical music but there is a middle ground that seemed more fertile 10-30 yrs ago.

  12. phillygrrl wrote:

    TTCUSM
    The more things change, the more they stay the same
    Oh, my. And on a Friday too! Someone needs a hug.

    Alright, I’ll admit that my comments were a little bitter.

    Ena wrote:

    TTCUSM: all of what you just said still has nothing to do with the fact that there are more desis in pop culture than a couple of years ago and it will only continue to grow.

    True. But does their increasing popularity really trickle down to the average Amreekan desi?

  14. My sister introduced me to Jay Sean’s music..definitely hummable.Check out “Tonight” and “Ride It”. Enjoy your weekend boys and girls:)

  15. Juice,

    “Kiss Off” and that whole Violent Femmes album is a classic indeed that still sounds fresh today. And the same can be said for a lot of music that came out 20-30 years ago. But, i have to say, perhaps with the unlimited access one has to music today, there’s a lot of really good music out there. And, forget about what Itunes or Amazon tells you. Check out the plethora of internet/college radio stations available online, along with music blogs out there.

    And, as for Jay Sean, congrats to him, but the song is ok, nothing amazing.

  16. The song’s only on the top list because it features Lil Wayne (a.k.a Dwayne Michael Carter)

  17. TTCUSM: that is a very interesting and complex question that I don’t think I can answer exactly the way I want to…In a way no the day to day life of an average desi doesn’t change if Jay Sean makes it to # 1 or if Mindy Kaling is on The Office, etc. etc. I do think that the more exposure our diaspora gets in pop culture, the more we can break away from some of the points that you listed. For eg. you said “And I’m pretty sure the stereotype of the dorky, effeminate Asian male hasn’t gone away”. If you go on the Lost or Heroes fan sites or message boards, you will notice how many girls swoon over “Sayid” and “Mohinder”…..and how many Youtube comments for “Down” have girls saying “wow he’s Indian?! I didn’t think Indians looked like that!”. It’s a really slow process-one we may not fully realize of how integrated we will become into American culture. I hope when I have children it will be like second nature to them to see desis in different sorts of media and venues.

  18. Songs are “pop” because they are POPular. Obviously enough people like the song for it to be #1 on the charts. There are always going to be people who don’t like it, to each his own. But don’t deny the man/talent due respect.

  19. Songs are “pop” because they are POPular. Obviously enough people like the song for it to be #1 on the charts.

    Meh. Songs are POPULAR because of MARKETING. Also:

    Musicologists often identify the following characteristics as typical of the pop music genre: * a focus on the individual song or singles, rather than on extended works or albums * an aim of appealing to a general audience, rather than to a particular sub-culture or ideology * an emphasis on craftsmanship rather than formal “artistic” qualities * an emphasis on recording, production, and technology, over live performance * a tendency to reflect existing trends rather than progressive developments

    [link]

  20. Ena wrote:

    If you go on the Lost or Heroes fan sites or message boards, you will notice how many girls swoon over “Sayid” and “Mohinder”

    A minor quibble– Sayid from Lost is an Arab, not a desi. Or as boston_mahesh would say, you’re playing the desi game of false ethnic association.

    Ena wrote:

    It’s a really slow process-one we may not fully realize of how integrated we will become into American culture.

    I’m surprised that nobody’s brought up the fact that Jay Sean is a British desi (and a Scythian). They’re a lot more visible in British popular culture than desis are in America.

  21. TTCUSM: Sayid plays an Arab on Lost. Naveen Andrews is not an Arab-he is of Indian origin. No false ethnic association done. FYI-he played a Punjabi in Bride and Prejudice.

  22. I love this song. I love Jay Sean since back when he was making music with Rishi Rich. And his voice is way better than Chris Brown, who he keeps getting compared to, sans the domestic violence. Glad to see him at #1 – I don’t even think he ever charted at #1 in the UK.

  23. Habeer… whatever works… if all of those tactics “trick: the public into “thinking” that particular song is “good” more power to them.

    Please keep in mind that I am referring to a particular song, not an artist (evidenced by the quote withing the quotation marks in your post).

    If an artist chooses to appeal to a particular demographic, be it a sub culture or the main stream, that is their choice.

    I would hope that all artistic work has some regard for craftsmanship, and that talent is crafted in such a manner that it appeals to the desired audience.

    I’ve seen Jay Sean live and he sucked, but so did many other bands. (Also there was a nice little fight outside of the concert, yaaay for immaturity!!) But as a recording artist (and in regards to the SONG in question)… nice.

    If any music can be classified into a genre is it REALLY progressive? Since when is the goal of music to be progressive anyhow and how much music can be classified as being progressive?

    I think that we need to stop being “haters” (oh s**t I’m soooo street!!) and pay homage where it is due. Being a “good” song is subjective… and I respect all those who have different tastes that me.

  25. His song is now on very, very heavy rotation on the radio and is getting to the point where I will change the station if I have heard it for the 6th time that day.

    Very happy for the guy – apparently he’s been around for a while now and has paid his dues. Apparently his record label back home wanted to get him to change his sound to be more like James Blunt – imagine that. This is why he changed over to the US.

  26. Jay Sean is also successful since he doesn’t look like he’s Indian. He has the close cut hair, very strong features, and is fairly muscular. He definitely markets himself like an light skinned black guy or latino for that matter. When someone who looks like Kal Penn makes it in music, that’ll be the day.

  27. Never in my life did I think a singer with the same ethnic background as myself (Punjabi Sikh) would hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Granted, Jay Sean is totally a Punjabi-British version of Usher, but without Usher’s singing and dancing talent (yes, I freely admit to being an Usher fan). “Down” is getting played on R&B/Hip Hop radio stations, but I haven’t seen that song on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop chart (the top 50 for that chart is on the Billboard website).

  28. Jay Sean is also successful since he doesn’t look like he’s Indian. He has the close cut hair, very strong features, and is fairly muscular. He definitely markets himself like an light skinned black guy or latino for that matter. When someone who looks like Kal Penn makes it in music, that’ll be the day.

    What the hell?! Of course he looks Indian. I’m from UK and there’s load of guys over there who look like Jay Sean running around. The “nerdy” stereotype that is associated with some Indians in the US doesn’t really exist in the UK.

  29. SomeBodyUK: I agree with you and don’t know what this person is talking about. I’m from New York City and I also see plenty of desi guys that have similar cuts and style as JS. No such thing as not looking Indian enough!

    WHAT?: And if you watch interviews with Jay you will see he is very proud of his origins and is in no way misleading people into thinking he is latino or black…don’t know where you got that idea? LOL.

  30. OHHHH, PLLLEEEAASEE….I know there is a little tinkle in the deepest part of you that is proud for your fellow desi…

    Jay Sean has opened doors…he’s the Michael MacDonald for the the RnB desi community.

    Now if we can only get MC Chai onto the top of the charts for the Wannabe Desi gangsters…

  31. loooove that he’s punjabi sikh. there was an article on him in yahoo news that called him punjabi sikh and made 0 references to india. felt soo good.

  33. I can’t believe someone said Jay Sean markets himself as a black man that’s ludicrous! Jay Sean has always been very outspoken that he is proud of his South Asian heritage. He has never ever tried to be “black”. In relation to marketing Jay Sean of course he is muscular! He has to be extremely fit this is show biz in order to reach the female and gay market he has to have sex appeal.

  34. I also want to point out Jay Sean already had success in the UK, Europe, and India PRIOR to signing to Cash Money records. The guy has been around for seven years working very hard to build his fan base he did not explode overnight.

  35. I second the comments about not having too many ‘nerdy’ indian/asian stereotypes in the Uk and Jay sean is your typical trendy Asain who has worked very hard to get where he is. He is also def v proud of his heritage and even has a song making fun of his real name ‘it says ‘ who the hell is kamaljit’and how his parents wanted him to be doctors and his struggles in the music industry etc…

    Good for him.

  36. Well, this is TRULY horrible music but it is mainstream/popular/commercial R&B music so that’s a given. He may be “proud” of his Indian roots, but not proud enough to rock a turban, a full beard with a handle bar mustache, etc. because that wouldn’t sell. And this music, if you can call it that, is all about selling, selling the decadent, immoral, and empty western lifestyle of sex, materialism, and indulgence to as many impressionable youths as possible.

    I am not “down” with the b.s.

    In the words of dead prez, turn off the radio, turn off that bullshit.

  37. He may be “proud” of his Indian roots, but not proud enough to rock a turban, a full beard with a handle bar mustache, etc. because that wouldn’t sell.

    all indians should wear a turban or a beard or a handle bar now?

  38. all indians should wear a turban or a beard or a handle bar now?

    No. But wouldn’t it be fucking awesome if we did?

  40. all indians should wear a turban or a beard or a handle bar now?

    No. But if he did, like Yoga Fire said it would be awesome and would say a lot more about being “proud” than dressing and acting like everyone else out there. I mean, what would Guru Nanak think of a song where this “playa” is trying to make a respectable lose her morals?

    “Tonight is the night to let it go, to put on a show, I wanna see how you lose control”

    Make no mistake, this song like other pop/clubs songs is an athem for the corrupted, decadent, immoral, sodom and gomorrah lifestyle of the modern westerner.

  42. But if he did, like Yoga Fire said it would be awesome and would say a lot more about being “proud” than dressing and acting like everyone else out there.

    Oh I wasn’t referring to any Desi pride thing. I was just referring to how awesome and manly it would be if we all walked around sporting beards and handlebar mustaches.

    It’s what Teddy Roosevelt would do.

  43. Make no mistake, this song like other pop/clubs songs is an athem for the corrupted, decadent, immoral, sodom and gomorrah lifestyle of the modern westerner.

    no worries, there is a place in the taliban for you. at least for half of you.

  44. no worries, there is a place in the taliban for you. at least for half of you.

    Yes, because being disapproving of club culture is what makes the Taliban bad. It’s not the strapping bombs to their chests and blowing up buses, the treating women like chattel, or the killing everyone who doesn’t subscribe to their absurdly hardline and retrograde brand of Islam that makes them bad, but their disapproval of people getting their drink on and their smoke on and then going home with something to poke on.

    Yes.

  45. but their disapproval of people getting their drink on and their smoke on and then going home with something to poke on.

    for the corrupted, decadent, immoral, sodom and gomorrah lifestyle of the modern westerner.. yes sounds like simple, um, disapproval to me too.

  46. the treating women like chattel

    it never ceases to amuse me how those who find nuance, semantics, culture and history in indian practices like dowry, casteism, and the otherwise horrible treatment of a large swath of women and underprivileged suddenly become ardent and absolute defenders of women’s rights when it comes to taliban.

  47. I’m afraid the post-9/11 corollary to Godwin’s Law is in effect. It’s easy to dismiss concerns by throwing the word “Taliban” around. But at some point you just end up broad-brushing everyone who tells people to get a hold of themselves.

    He has every right to disapprove of the (sometimes) objectionable lyrics in mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop. It’s a concern that many people from many movements (including feminists and Black advocacy groups) happen to share. Trying to dismiss it as “Taliban-esque” is just lazy and unreflective.

    Moreover, you clearly didn’t get the sarcasm implied when he said he was being half serious. Hyperbole is a very useful literary device you know?

  48. Moreover, you clearly didn’t get the sarcasm implied when he said he was being half serious.

    i did. i said half of him.

    Hyperbole is a very useful literary device you know?

    i agree. this is why i used it.

  49. He has every right to disapprove of the (sometimes) objectionable lyrics in mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop.

    i agreed with him, didnt i? and disapprove is convenient shorthand instead of the tedious exactness of “the corrupted, decadent, immoral, sodom and gomorrah lifestyle of the modern westerner..”

  50. What’s this got to do with the Taliban? Let’s not stray too far off topic.

    I just find parroting of the most base, empty-headed, friviolous, hedonistic modes of western life ugly and not worth celebrating, but definitely worth condemning. And this is what Jay Sean and his ilk represent to me.

    Slackness.