JADE // THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY!
Welcome to JADE's masterclass in how to MAKe the perfect pop album
★★★★★ (5/5)
ALBUM ARTWORK
Being a member of iconic British girl group, Little Mix, the now-mononymous JADE has always had a seat amongst pop royalty. But after branching out into solo stardom over a year ago, with the innovative single "Angel of My Dreams," JADE has continued to ascend up the ranking, now taking the crown as a new Queen of Pop, with the release of her hugely-anticipated debut album, THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
Electro-pop and dance-pop dominate the first seven songs of THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!, with frequent patterns of experimental-pop weaved within. Sampling Sandie Shaw’s 1967 UK winning Eurovision entry, “Puppet On a String,” JADE opens THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! with the tremendously chaotic “Angel of My Dreams.” This song fearlessly kicked off JADE’s solo career in July 2024, and depicts the love-hate relationship she has had with the music industry since her rise to fame at the age of 18. A sister track to “Angel of My Dreams,” “IT girl” continues the narrative with lyrics that confront and expose the treatment of young female popstars and the pressures of fame, encased in a bold, electro-pop, club anthem.
With “FUFN (Fuck You For Now)” and “Plastic Box,” it is JADE’s lyricism that excels through the productions; rather than being immersed in the song’s beats, these are songs that pull you in through their lyrics as JADE details her relationship woes in admirable songwriting manners. Co-written with RAYE, “Midnight Cowboy” rides on a sultry, experimental-pop wave with spoken-word sections gifted by actor, Ncuti Gatwa, with the song exploring themes of sexuality and desire. These themes wonderfully lead into the sex-positive anthem “Fantasy” that, alongside the moving single “Unconditional,” channel euphoric ‘70s and ‘80s disco fever, with the latter (written in dedication to her mum) also infusing a slight Gossip-esque rock sound.
The second half of THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! continues the genre pattern held by the first seven songs but with a slight shift into more of an R&B-pop and synth-pop focus, starting with the ethereal “Self Saboteur" and the sensual “Lip Service.” “Headache” takes a trip into a psychedelic-electronica movement before JADE completely changes the album's tone with the hauntingly beautiful and dramatic vocal-led ballad, “Natural at Disaster.” Through raw emotion and confrontational lyrics, “Natural at Disaster” touches on the emotional impact endured as a result of being around a negative person, whilst the following track “Glitch” reflects on the negativity and toxicity from within oneself, confronting JADE's inner demons and anxieties through a futuristic-R&B-trap production.
Circling back to the album's nostalgic flavours, the penultimate single “Before You Break My Heart” samples The Supremes's 1965 hit “Stop! In the Name of Love,” but with a recording of JADE singing the song as a child. Hearing the innocence in younger JADE's voice pulls on the listener’s emotions by conjuring up memories of our own childhood–a sentimental touch that provides a sense of musical comfort before the album ends on a bittersweet note, with flawless falsettos and elegant whistle tones in the gentle and intimate love song, “Silent Disco.”
JADE’s love and commitment to pop music shines through each of these songs that make up THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’s eclectic tracklist. Through themes of love, anger, freedom, and sexual liberation, JADE offers a glimpse into different aspects of her personal life and the chaos and complexities that come with being part of the music industry, with an accompanying visual album further accentuating her authenticity, personal experiences, and creative mind.
JADE is an icon, a superstar, and a creative genius, and THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! is more than just an album. It is a pop music masterpiece that is honest, raw, and unapologetically JADE, positioning her on a high bar amongst some of the greatest performers in Pop history.
Don’t miss JADE on her first solo headline tour, across the UK and Ireland, this October.
REWIEW BY: COURTNEY WILLIS