Masterpiece (Jessie J song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Masterpiece
| cover = Jessie J - Masterpiece (Official Single Cover).png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jessie J
| album = Sweet Talker
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2015|01|13}}
| recorded =
| studio = Cryptic Studios, Venice; The Record Plant, Los Angeles
| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=40}}
| label = {{Flat list|
| writer = {{Flat list|
- Josh Alexander
- Britt Burton
- Emily Warren
- Bistro
}}
| producer = Josh Alexander
| prev_title = Burnin' Up
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Flashlight
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|PTOFEgJ9zzI|"Masterpiece"}}}}
}}
"Masterpiece" is song recorded by English singer Jessie J released as the third single from her third studio album, Sweet Talker (2014). The song was written and produced by Josh Alexander and was co-written by Britt Burton and Emily Warren, the latter of whom also co-wrote the album's opening track "Ain't Been Done". "Masterpiece" was released to iTunes on 7 October 2014, alongside "Ain't Been Done", as the second and third promotional singles off Sweet Talker, respectively.{{cite web|last1=DeGroot|first1=Joey|title=Jessie J Shares Two New Songs From Upcoming Album 'Sweet Talker': 'Ain't Been Done' And 'Masterpiece' [LISTEN]|date=7 October 2014|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/11688/20141007/jessie-j-shares-two-new-songs-from-upcoming-album-sweet-talker-aint-been-done-and-masterpiece-ariana-grande-nicki-minaj.htm|publisher=Music Times|accessdate=24 October 2014}} It was released to US radio January 13, 2015 as the third international single and fourth from the album overall, while its music video premiered December 10, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Strecker|first1=Erin|title=Watch Jessie J's 'Masterpiece' Video|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6398465/jessie-j-masterpiece-video|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=10 December 2014}}
It received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who applauded the song's anthemic nature but others criticized it for being too generic.{{cite web|last1=Wass|first1=Mike|title=Jessie J Gets It Just Right On Mid-Tempo Pop Anthem "Masterpiece": Listen To The 'Sweet Talker' Highlight|url=http://www.idolator.com/7565431/jessie-j-masterpiece-single|website=Idolator|date=6 October 2014 |publisher=Spin Media|accessdate=24 October 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Hanratty|first1=Dave|title=Album Review: Jessie J - Sweet Talker|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18475/reviews/4148354|publisher=Drowned in Sound|accessdate=24 October 2014|archive-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202034643/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18475/reviews/4148354|url-status=dead}} Even before being promoted as an official single, "Masterpiece" entered the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 at number 82 for the week of October 25, 2014. It later charted in the top 10 in European territories following its official release.
Composition
Critical reception
The song has received mixed to positive reviews. Lewis Corner at Digital Spy declared the song "ballsy", but was critical of its clichéd lyrics. "It's a trap Jessie falls into a few times on the record," writes Lewis, "either diluting a song's impact with hackneyed lyrics or trilling beyond reason."{{cite web|last1=Corner|first1=Lewis|title=Jessie J Sweet Talker album review: "Far from being down and out"|url=http://www.digitalspy.ca/music/review/a603080/jessie-j-sweet-talker-album-review-far-from-being-down-and-out.html#~oTzNi1XUlltYym|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|accessdate=24 October 2014}} Mike Wass of Idolator cited "Masterpiece" as a highlight of the album, noting that Jessie J "gets it just right" and that it is "a genuinely good pop song". Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe found "Masterpiece" to be demonstrative of what he called Jessie J's "disconcerting tendency to over-emote".{{cite web|last1=Capobianco|first1=Ken|title=Jessie J, 'Sweet Talker'|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/10/12/jessie-sweet-talker/t0jyleUtOhbo0BHjx7plrI/story.html|publisher=The Boston Globe|accessdate=24 October 2014}} Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian compared "Masterpiece" to the music of American singer-songwriter Pink for being "heavy with pop-rock melodrama and strength-from-within ruminating".{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Caroline|title=Jessie J: Sweet Talker review – British star goes all out for US success|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/09/jessie-j-sweet-talker-review|website=The Guardian|date=9 October 2014|accessdate=24 October 2014}} In his review of Sweet Talker, Dave Hanratty of Drowned in Sound condemned "Masterpiece" for being overly generic, but was moderately receptive of the production and Jessie J's vocals. Time named the track as the third worst song of 2014, commenting that "a song about how one's undaunted by mistakes in the public eye seems delusional when sung by someone with no persona to speak of".{{cite magazine|last1=|title=Top 10 Worst Songs|url=http://time.com/3613505/top-10-worst-songs/|magazine=Time|publisher=Time Inc.|accessdate=13 February 2015|archive-date=18 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218035417/http://time.com/3613505/top-10-worst-songs/|url-status=dead}}
Chart performance
Across Europe, "Masterpiece" was a moderate success, managing to chart inside the top 10 in countries such as Germany and Austria. In the United Kingdom, however, the single charted outside the top 100 at number 159. This is Jessie J's lowest charting single of her career in the UK due to the fact it was not actually released as a single and the version that charted was the album version with streaming included.{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6616/JESSIE-J/ | title=Jessie J | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company | website=Official Charts }}
In Oceania, the single had greater success. In Australia the single debuted at number 14 and was certified Gold by ARIA for sales over 35,000. In New Zealand, the single was successful charting at number 13 and was certified Gold by RMNZ for sales over 7,500.
In the US, the single managed to chart inside the Billboard 100 at number 65 as well as charting in Canada at number 74.
Live performances
"Masterpiece" was performed in the UK on The Graham Norton Show in January 2015.
In the US, Jessie J performed the single on Jimmy Kimmel Live and on The Voice of Germany featuring all four finalists of the show, in November 2014, and on The Voice US in December 2014 as part of the finale featuring finalist Chris Jamison. Jessie J performed the single at the 3rd Indonesian Choice Awards on May 29, 2016.
Music video
An official lyric video premiered on the official YouTube channel for Republic Records on November 10, 2014.{{cite web|author1=Republic Records|author-link=Republic Records|title=Jessie J "Masterpiece" Lyric Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjcTPiNdT6Q|website=YouTube|accessdate=11 November 2014}} The clip revolves around an aspiring dancer training in a studio space with the lyrics displayed in a graphic all-capital font.
The official video for "Masterpiece" was recorded in Los Angeles on November 13 and 14.{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=John|title=Jessie J Gives Leather & Face On The Set Of Her 'Masterpiece' Video|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1998495/jessie-j-masterpiece-set-photos/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117081922/http://www.mtv.com/news/1998495/jessie-j-masterpiece-set-photos/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2014|website=MTV|publisher=Viacom Media Networks|accessdate=11 December 2014}} Directed by Tabitha Denholm, it premiered December 10, 2014.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sweet Talker.{{cite AV media notes|others=Jessie J|title=Sweet Talker|year=2014|type= inlay cover|publisher= Republic Records}}
Locations
- Recorded at Cryptic Studios, Venice; The Record Plant, Los Angeles
- Mixed at The Larrabee North Studios, Universal City.
Personnel
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
- Songwriting – Josh Alexander, Britt Burton, Emily Warren
- Production – Josh Alexander
- Vocal production – Kuk Harrell
- Engineering – Daniel Zaidenstadt, Josh Alexander
- Assistant engineering – Blake Mares, Robert Cohen
- Mixing – Manny Marroquin
- Mixing assistant – Chris Galland, Ike Schultz
- Logic and Pro-Tools Technician – Scott Roewe
- Instrumentation – Josh Alexander
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Chart (2014–15)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Australia|14|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|accessdate=27 February 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| Australia Urban (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/urban-singles |title=ARIA Australian Top 40 Urban Singles |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=31 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=http://www.freezepage.com/1396688009FBPVWOPUBN?url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/urban-singles |archivedate=5 April 2014 }}
| 3 |
| {{singlechart|Austria|9|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|accessdate=10 December 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Canada|74|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|accessdate=23 October 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|10|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|songid=1344495|accessdate=7 February 2019|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|New Zealand|13|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|accessdate=6 March 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| South Korea International (Gaon Chart){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php?f_chart_kind_cd=E&f_week=43&f_year=2014&f_type=week|title=Gaon Digital Chart|publisher=Gaon Chart|accessdate=30 October 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030235511/http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/digital.php?f_chart_kind_cd=E&f_week=43&f_year=2014&f_type=week|archivedate=30 October 2014}}
| 27 |
| {{singlechart|Switzerland|9|artist=Jessie J|song=Masterpiece|accessdate=8 December 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/150131cluk.txt|title=UK Singles Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=13 January 2015}}
| 159 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|65|artist=Jessie J|accessdate=3 January 2015|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|30|artist=Jessie J|accessdate=12 March 2015|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2015)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2015.htm|title=ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=6 January 2016}}
| 97 |
| scope="row"| Australia Urban (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2015.htm|title=ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Urban Singles 2015|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=19 March 2016}}
| 14 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|certyear=2021|relyear=2015|artist=Jessie J|title=Masterpiece|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|access-date=February 4, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Jessie J|title=Masterpiece|award=Platinum|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|access-date=26 June 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Masterpiece|artist=Jessie J|type=single|digital=true|award=Gold|relyear=2015|certyear=2017|access-date=27 September 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Jessie J|title=Masterpiece|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|certmonth=3|access-date=4 April 2025|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Country
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format !scope="col"|Label |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|United States
| rowspan="2"|January 13, 2015 | Mainstream radio{{Cite web|url=http://www.republicplaybook.com/genre/top-40/|title = Top 40 | Genres | Republic Playbook}} |rowspan="3"| {{flatlist| }} |
| rowspan="1"| Hot adult contemporary{{cite web|url=http://www.republicplaybook.com/genre/hot-ac/ |title=Hot AC | Genres | Republic Playbook |accessdate=2014-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030044020/http://www.republicplaybook.com/genre/hot-ac/ |archivedate=2014-10-30 }} |
| United Kingdom
| March 23, 2015 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Jessie J songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Republic Records singles
Category:Songs written by Josh Alexander
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads