EJ's Thoughts: Jessie J Says She Wrote Britney Spears A 'Very Diva-Ish' Song

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Jessie J Says She Wrote Britney Spears A 'Very Diva-Ish' Song

British singer/songwriter wants Spears to show off her 'iconic' status.
By James Dinh

Jessie J
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Despite her megastar status, Britney Spears isn't usually referred to as a diva, at least in the traditional sense of the word. But if British singer/songwriter Jessie J has her way, Brit might be singing a different tune soon. Jessie J — who's co-written songs for Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown — recently submitted a track for Spears' forthcoming album, dropping in March, and she dished to MTV News about its sound.

"I know with her new album, she's been working with a lot of dubstep producers," Jessie J said, referring to the dance-music influence already present in the album's first single, "Hold It Against Me." "I kind of didn't want to do anything other than what I think Britney is, and to me Britney's an icon. She's one of those people that can do whatever she wants because she's so iconic. There's no one that does what she does like her, and that's what I wanted to write about."

Describing the song's lyrics as "very diva-ish" and "really hippy-like," the "Do It Like a Dude" star said that pop stars deserve to be as boastful as MCs. "You know how rappers get away with so much?" she asked. "They can say so much about how cocky they are, and no one will bat an eyelid. If a singer does it, it's like, 'She's got an ego,' but I think Britney deserves to say, 'I can do it really well and I can do it as good as anyone else.' "

Jessie J offered Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce alter ego as an example of a female singer who proudly showed off her assertive persona. "She almost had to create an alter ego to get away with it," she said of B, who remains one of Jessie's dream collaborators. "I don't think Britney needs to have an alter ego. She is just Britney Spears. She will always be Britney Spears."

Do you think Britney deserves her own diva-like track? Sound off below!

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