is a star. The Kitchener, Ontario native has set the Canadian rock and roll scene on fire with record-breaking and historic achievements on the charts.
Her debut album, Ruthless (June 2020) is a gem that kicks ass, takes names, goes deep on some feelings, and formally announces her as a legitimate contender for the current Canadian rock and roll crown. In June, when the album came out, I said, "There are great dance moments on this album. There are sit and think moments. There and bang your head and rock moments. There are sing along moments. There's a darkness in places that made me think of TV soundtracks and where JJ Wilde's music would fit on Lucifer. There's a lot going on. And I'm into it." And I stand by it. It's a balanced album that has layers and changes in tempo and that's an underrated quality.
I also said that we should keep an eye out for nominations when awards season rolls around. And honestly, if Ruthless isn't nominated for Album of the Year awards and The Rush isn't recognized for its success as a single, some people are going to have some explaining to do.
What came as a surprise (a welcome one) and where the title of this piece comes from, is JJ Wilde's new single, Best Boy. Just two months after the release of her album, with The Rush still at #1 (for its 16th week), JJ went ahead and dropped a big one, with a stunning and provocative video attached, and showed that she isn't slowing down.
And in the words from the press release accompanying the single's release, she's "back and sick of your shit".
The song was easy to add to the this week where I said that we should all "turn it up, rock out, and be ready to celebrate JJ Wilde as she takes over the rock and roll scene." But I didn't include her own words there about the song or the video - and they matter. So here we go.
JJ Wilde on Best Boy ...
"For me, this song is about trying to change the narrative that society has accepted about women. It is clear, especially in the music industry that women are viewed more like objects a lot of the time than actual humans - seen not heard type of thing. Well, I want that to change - what women 'should and shouldn't do', what society deems acceptable, what women are shamed for. All of the above. We are beautiful creatures. And I don't think we should feel ashamed to express that. This song is taking a stab at what men have always been free to talk about in songs - doing whatever they want with whoever they want - but from a woman's perspective."
JJ Wilde on the video for Best Boy ...
"The music video for Best Boy was so empowering to film. I wanted all kinds of different people expressing themselves and being free when they heard the song, and try to capture that feeling. For me, it was really special. The night before we shot, I had cold feet, thinking 'what if I over sexualize myself, what if people don't take me seriously?' All of those thoughts crossed my mind. Then when we started shooting, I felt so empowered, I was having so much fun and never felt ashamed of what I was doing. And that feeling is exactly what I want people - especially women - to feel when they watch it. There is no reason for me to have had that self-doubt go through my mind, but it did. And that is what I want to change. No one should feel ashamed of self-expression."
The part that bums me out about these quotes is that JJ had to even think about whether this video concept was going to backfire on her because of the sexualization of herself or anyone else. It's bullshit and I know it's an issue for her because I've seen men comment on JJ's social media posts that she should cover up or that she doesn't need to dress sexy or whatever. Those men need to shut their mouths, throw their keyboards in a lake, and let JJ Wilde and all women live their lives, create their art, and be themselves without shitty commentary.
Watch the video now!
JJ Wilde - Best Boy
In her career already, JJ Wilde has shown herself to be a talented songwriter, singer, and entertainer. She can get big and rockin', she can slow it down and go for the feelings, and she can strip all the production away and capture our attention (check out her Coffee & A Cover videos on YouTube ).
She is young, confident, good looking, at the top of the charts, creating great music, and we can't wait for more.
It's also exciting for Canadian rock and roll to add another homegrown artist to the growing list of charting talent in a new generation that includes , , Crown Lands, The Dirty Nil , , and more. It makes us daydream of rock festivals that feature Canadian talent and charts that have men and women showing up on a regular basis, and the kind of success and love from fans and the media that once again shows the world that Canada has an amazing amount of killer rock and roll to offer to the world.
Be ready to hear more from JJ Wilde on your radio, streaming playlists, and on this website. She is high on the list of artists I can't wait to sit down with and talk about music and her career and ideas and life - and when we're able to make that happen, you'll hear about it.
For now, JJ will be supplying a healthy dose of the soundtrack in my condo and I'll be keeping my eyes open for news and my ears open for more new music, covers and whatever else she's got coming.
I recommend that you do the same.
And for now, hit play on Best Boy and the entire Ruthless album to get your JJ Wilde fix.
Turn it up.
