Mar 12, 2023 at 05:02 Update: an hour ago
It would have been close or the Netherlands would not have known Step Right Up as Jamai’s winning Idols song. Twenty years after winning the talent show, the singer says that he was told two possible singles in the run-up to the final. Step Right Up and nothing less than This Love by Maroon 5.
“Actually, This Love was going to be my single,” says Jamai. “Maroon 5’s record company had no plans to release it as the band’s single, so it was offered internationally.” Maroon 5’s version had already appeared on their debut album Songs About Jane.
“I had already recorded the song, but then it was decided that Maroon 5 would use it as a single themselves.” Written by Maroon 5 members Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael, This Love marked the American band’s big breakthrough in 2004.
In the end it became Step Right Up for Jamai. “That worked out well, because we knew that Jim Tell Her had chosen as the final single, which is also a mid-tempo song. That’s why we eventually went for up-tempo with Step Right Up.”
Step Right Up vs This Love
Step Right Up entered the Dutch Top 40 at number one and remained there for seven weeks. After twelve weeks, the number dropped from the list. This Love lasted a little longer in the Top 40 with sixteen weeks. The song did not get further than third place. In some other European countries it became a number 1 hit. In the United States, the home country of Maroon 5, This Love took fifth place. Unfortunately, this content cannot be displayed. We do not have permission for the necessary cookies. Accept the cookies to view this content.
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“If I thought both songs sucked, they probably had something up their sleeves”
“In the beginning I didn’t like Step Right Up very much. It didn’t feel like much of me,” admits Jamai. “But I was sixteen and had only done covers at that time. Before Idols I just sang at school and in the attic. I did not yet have the knowledge to know which song would suit me.”
During his participation in Idols, Jamai did not yet know what he wanted musically. “At that moment you only rely on the team around you that knows about it. If I had thought both songs sucked, they probably still had a song in hand. But there was no time to think extensively either The final was just around the corner, so everything had to be recorded and printed quickly.”
The great success of the No. 1 hit helped Jamai appreciate Step Right Up more. “Then you will catch up. I still receive videos every weekend from people who go wild on it. It now also has a nostalgic feeling for me and I am certainly proud of it.”
The singer regularly sings the song live. “If asked, I’ll do it.”
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