Is Jessie James pop or is she country? I’ve heard of country artists transitioning into pop (i.e. – Faith Hill, Leann Rimes,) and even the other way around (i.e. – Jessica Simpson, Jewel) but I don’t know if I’ve heard of a brand new artist straddling the pop/country line so early on in their career. Usually an artist establishes his or herself in one genre of music before crossing over into another, but Jessie James has embraced both from the get go.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. She’s a talented and beautiful girl but, I swear, when I first heard her single “Wanted” I thought ‘WHO is this new pop star?’ Follow up single “I Look So Good (Without You)” had a strong POP BALLAD vibe (it was even co-penned by hitmaker Rodney Jerkins!) THEN with the release of her third single, “My Cowboy” she was drifting back to country. Granted, all of her singles have had elements of country, whether it be instrumental or in her delivery so I guess it’s no big surprise that her new single “Boys In The Summer” is decidedly more country than pop.
While James’ debut single “Wanted” peaked at #40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 (not to mention #18 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart), follow up single “I Look So Good (Without You)” only managed to peak at #104 (although it did hit #4 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under chart). Due out June 29th, “Boys In The Summer,” is the first single off her as of yet untitled second album, released through Mercury Records. The song was produced by John Fields and co-written by James herself. The OFFICIAL single mix is a pop mix, due to impact Top 40 Radio at the end of June as well as the country mix (which has already been released). Roman White directed the video, which is playful and summery. James is GORGEOUS in it. Kind of like a country-singer version of Megan Fox.