Who's Laughing Now (song)
Encyclopedia
"Who's Laughing Now" is a song by English singer-songwriter Jessie J
from her debut studio album, Who You Are
. The song was written by Jessie J, Talay Riley
, Astasio, Pebworth, Shave - collectively known as The Invisible Men
, Abrahams and Ighile and it was produced by Parker and James and The Invisible Men
. It refers to people who have put down or bullied Cornish and how she is living her life as a famous R&B star. The song was released as the fourth UK single of the album on 21 August 2011.
that "The track has her lashing out against acquaintances who she claims bullied her and dissed her early music, but now show an interest in her since she has attained some degree of success." Eric Henderson explained for Slant Magazine
that "Who's Laughing Now serves up a catty riposte to old schoolyard mates emerging from the woodwork, wanting to tag old photos of them together on Facebook
."
that "Flanked by pounding hip-hop kick-beats and twinkling piano pinches, Ms. Cornish rightfully addresses all those hanger-ons with diva ad-libbing perfection." Ailbhe Malone wrote for NME
that "Who’s Laughing Now’ offers a little insight, but it’s via her grind and career rather than who Jessie actually is." Caryn Ganz wrote for Spin
that "Who's Laughing Now, her update of X-tina's
"Beautiful
," is such a tart kiss-off, you can almost hear Jessie's neck swiveling." Johnny Dee wrote for Virgin Media
that the song "is a brilliant revenge song aimed at playground bullies." Adam Markovitz wrote for Entertainment Weekly
that "Jessie's outside-the-box persona gets buried under maximalist production and mainstream themes like bullying on Who's Laughing Now."
, just after the music video release, making it already Jessie's fifth top-forty hit. On the week of 21 August 2011, the song climbed to number twenty-one and on the week of its release (28 August 2011), the song peaked at number sixteen. It became her first single released in the UK to not reach the top-ten.
, Wimbledon, is set in a primary school, where an actress (Adrianna Bertola) plays younger Jessie seems to be bullied by preppy girls, while Jessie J is seen as many characters during the four minutes in the video. She is seen as a teacher, a janitor and a lunch lady. The video ends with young Jessie standing up to the bullies by emptying a fire extinguisher on the girls.
Festival and the Radio One Big Weekend. She also performed the track on "Alan Carr: Chatty Man
" on 5 August 2011. Jessie performed the track on the 2011 V Festival
. Also she performed the song at V festival on the 20 and 21 August 2011. Jessie performed the song on Red or Black on 9 September, with Adrianna Bertola reprising her role as Young Jessica on-stage. Also, the Jessie presented the song in the 2011 MTV VMAs
.
Jessie J
Jessica Ellen Cornish , better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English recording artist currently signed to Island Records. She began her career as a songwriter for artists including Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus. Her debut single, "Do It Like a Dude", was released in November 2010 and peaked...
from her debut studio album, Who You Are
Who You Are (Jessie J album)
Who You Are is the debut studio album by English recording artist Jessie J, released on 28 February 2011 in the UK and on 12 April in the US. Due to high demand and interest from fans, the release date was pushed ahead by over an entire month, from its original 28 March 2011 release date....
. The song was written by Jessie J, Talay Riley
Talay Riley
Talay Riley is a British singer signed to record label Sony Music. Riley began his musical career after featuring on rapper Chipmunk's single "Look for Me". He is due to release his fourth single, Make You Mine on August 28, 2011....
, Astasio, Pebworth, Shave - collectively known as The Invisible Men
The Invisible Men
"The Invisible Men" are a songwriting and production trio based in London. The team are Jason Pebworth and George Astasio and Jon Shave ....
, Abrahams and Ighile and it was produced by Parker and James and The Invisible Men
The Invisible Men
"The Invisible Men" are a songwriting and production trio based in London. The team are Jason Pebworth and George Astasio and Jon Shave ....
. It refers to people who have put down or bullied Cornish and how she is living her life as a famous R&B star. The song was released as the fourth UK single of the album on 21 August 2011.
Background
The song finds Jessie taking pride in her achievements in the music industry and having the last laugh at the scoffers in her younger days who doubted she could be successful. She told The Sun: "This song always makes me laugh. I have had so many supporters but also many non-believers and this track is my 'haha' to them. As I say: 'Let the haters hate, they're like way too late!'" Matthew Perpetua wrote for Pitchfork MediaPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
that "The track has her lashing out against acquaintances who she claims bullied her and dissed her early music, but now show an interest in her since she has attained some degree of success." Eric Henderson explained for Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
that "Who's Laughing Now serves up a catty riposte to old schoolyard mates emerging from the woodwork, wanting to tag old photos of them together on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
."
Critical response
Critical reception to the song has been generally mixed. Perpetua went to said that "Who's Laughing Now" seems to be pitched as a motivational song, but it's so narcissistic and myopic that it's hard to imagine anyone connecting with the singer's petty grudges and desperate need for constant affirmation." Lewis Corner wrote positively for Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
that "Flanked by pounding hip-hop kick-beats and twinkling piano pinches, Ms. Cornish rightfully addresses all those hanger-ons with diva ad-libbing perfection." Ailbhe Malone wrote for NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
that "Who’s Laughing Now’ offers a little insight, but it’s via her grind and career rather than who Jessie actually is." Caryn Ganz wrote for Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
that "Who's Laughing Now, her update of X-tina's
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
"Beautiful
Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song)
"Beautiful" is a song written by Linda Perry and recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped...
," is such a tart kiss-off, you can almost hear Jessie's neck swiveling." Johnny Dee wrote for Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
that the song "is a brilliant revenge song aimed at playground bullies." Adam Markovitz wrote for Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
that "Jessie's outside-the-box persona gets buried under maximalist production and mainstream themes like bullying on Who's Laughing Now."
Commercial perfomance
On the week of 14 August 2011, the song debuted at number thirty-seven on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, just after the music video release, making it already Jessie's fifth top-forty hit. On the week of 21 August 2011, the song climbed to number twenty-one and on the week of its release (28 August 2011), the song peaked at number sixteen. It became her first single released in the UK to not reach the top-ten.
Music video
The music video directed by Emil Nava was released on 10 August 2011 and it features an actress playing a young Jessie J who overcomes school bullies. Jessie J plays a school teacher, janitor, and dinner lady in the video. Speaking of the track, she said: "Music is about making a change but also being able to laugh at yourself. I think this song tells a story a lot of people have been through and I hope it will raise awareness to the serious issue of bullying." The video, filmed at King's College SchoolKing's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
, Wimbledon, is set in a primary school, where an actress (Adrianna Bertola) plays younger Jessie seems to be bullied by preppy girls, while Jessie J is seen as many characters during the four minutes in the video. She is seen as a teacher, a janitor and a lunch lady. The video ends with young Jessie standing up to the bullies by emptying a fire extinguisher on the girls.
Promotion
Jessie has performed the track in many live shows, including the GlastonburyGlastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
Festival and the Radio One Big Weekend. She also performed the track on "Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
" on 5 August 2011. Jessie performed the track on the 2011 V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
. Also she performed the song at V festival on the 20 and 21 August 2011. Jessie performed the song on Red or Black on 9 September, with Adrianna Bertola reprising her role as Young Jessica on-stage. Also, the Jessie presented the song in the 2011 MTV VMAs
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards took place on August 28, at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. On July 20, the nominees were announced...
.
Track listing
UK CD single / Digital EP- "Who's Laughing Now" – 3:55
- "Who's Laughing Now" (DJ Fresh Remix) – 4:16
- "Who's Laughing Now" (XaphoonXaphoonThe Xaphoon is a single-reed keyless woodwind instrument. Its construction is very similar to the chalumeau, a European keyless single-reed instrument that was the ancestor of the clarinet. The tone color produced by a Xaphoon is somewhere between that of a saxophone and a clarinet, and the...
Remix) – 3:52 - "Who's Laughing Now" (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire) – 4:57
- "Abracadabra" – 3:50
Chart performance
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 21 August 2011 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... airplay |
Lava Records, Island Records Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |