Jessica Simpson
Biography
On her
sterling new Columbia Records collection, Irresistible, Jessica
Simpson delivers an important message: She's a young woman now.
The pop ingénue who made waves in 1999 with her powerhouse
debut, Sweet Kisses, says that she's done quite a bit of growing
up over the past three years--and it's vividly illustrated in her
music.
"I
was 17 when I recorded Sweet Kisses, and now I'm 21. I'm so proud
of what I've accomplished so far," she notes, reflecting a
track record that includes the smash hits "I Wanna Love You
Forever," "Where You Are," and "I Think I'm
In Love With You." "But that period between albums provided
a lot of emotional and spiritual discovery for me. During that time,
I also got in close touch with who I want to be as an artist. You
can hear that on this new album.
"Collaborating
with a stellar cast of performers, producers, and writers including
Columbia labelmate Marc Anthony, Nick Lachey of 98°, Walter
Afanasieff (Celine Dion), and Cory Rooney (Jennifer Lopez). Irresistible
shows Jessica boldly travelling down several fresh new musical avenues.
In addition to offering more of the lush, passionate ballads that
have become her signature, she has effectively expanded her creative
palette to include ebullient rhythm-pop and sultry R&B--gliding
through a collection of funk-fortified grooves and sophisticated
contemporary ballads with the finesse and confidence of a seasoned
performer.
"That's
what I really wanted to come across on these songs... confidence,"
Jessica notes. "I wanted to show that with that inner strength
and inner light, nothing is impossible.
"The
singer is also out to prove that confidence can be sexy. Case in
point, the album's title cut and first single, a percussive shuffler
that smolders without stepping over the line of what Jessica deems
as good taste. "You have to have boundaries," she asserts.
"I'm trying to give an image of a young confident woman on
that song, as well as on the rest of the album."
That
confidence shines through on "A Little Bit," the second
single from Irresistible, which finds Jessica boldly declaring her
love and her needs while underscoring the fact that she will not
be taken for granted and will settle for nothing less than mutual
understanding when conflict arises. "We can work it out together,"
she sings. "A little less talk, a little more do, a little
more me, a little less you, baby, at the end of the day, a little
bit goes a long way.
"Though
some might find her style provocative, Jessica's allure goes beyond
the physical. "That's not what's sexy about me," she adds
with a smile. "I believe that my soul and my faith are what's
sexy about me. It's all about what's inside."
That
said, Jessica admits that she does occasionally enjoy flexing a
little external heat... even if it's completely innocent. "There's
a cut on the album, 'Hot Like Fire,' that I think will take people
by surprise," she says of the self-assured hip-hop-flavored
cut produced by Cory Rooney. "It's a hardcore 'attitude' song.
You might not even recognize my voice at first. It's totally raw
and intense. It's a shake-your-hips kind of song. I love it."
While
the young artist enjoyed the process of experimentation while recording
Irresistible, she was equally pleased to perform stately ballads
like "To Fall In Love Again" and "There You Were,"
on which she duets with Marc Anthony. Jessica says cutting the latter
tune was "an experience unlike any other."
"His
voice is amazing, but the best thing about him is his passion,"
she beams, remembering the day they met in the studio. "He
sat me down and said, 'For the next six hours, I'm going to be in
love with you. I work on my songs like movie scripts.' And from
there, he made up a complete relationship between our two characters."As
a result, Jessica believes that "you can feel the love in the
song. The connection we had in the studio was incredible."
However,
the song on Irresistible that most reflects Jessica's true spirit
is "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," a gospel standard that
she has been singing since she was a young girl in church.
"My
relationship with God is the most intimate in my life, and it always
will be," she shares. "I wanted to give my fans something
special about that."
Recording
that song was a trip back to Jessica's roots, as she began her career
as a gospel singer. "It's taken me to where I am today,"
the Dallas native says, recalling that one of her gospel performances
first drew the attention of Columbia Records. "And it's the
music that means the most to me--particularly 'His Eye Is On The
Sparrow.' It's about all of the discouragement in life, and how
none of it is very important in the grand scheme of things because
we are all ultimately free and capable of being happy. I know that's
true for me. I sing because I'm happy. And I sing because I'm free.
I want to share that with my fans."
And Jessica's
relationship with her fans is of tremendous importance to her. "They
keep me going. They inspire me. I do all I can to keep in close
touch with the fans who support my music--whether it be via my shows
or on the Internet. The energy I get from them is extraordinary."
That
energy is just as vital to Jessica as the support she derives from
her friends and family. "You have to have a support team around
you. My best friends are on the road with me, and I hold my family
close to me. If you don't surround yourself with good people, then
you have nothing to artistselop character from."
In the
end, it's the strength of character that is propelling Jessica Simpson
to immeasurable pop music heights. She's more than merely Irresistible...
she's unstoppable.
Jessica Simpson Filmography
Room Service (2006) ....
Katya Morgan
The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) .... Daisy Duke |
