I HAVE fallen a little bit in love with Jason Derulo – and not just because of his enormous brown eyes, bulging biceps or soft American accent.
Inviting me backstage at London’s O2 arena for an exclusive interview, the singer greets me with his two-year-old son, who remains firmly on his dad’s lap during our chat.
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Heart melted, and after a few words with mini-Jason about our mutual love of TV series Paw Patrol, the chart-topper opened up about his rollercoaster four years.
Jason quit his record label Warner in early 2020, admitting: “It was a tough situation.
“Every year there were brand new staff and they go about finding new artists and I’m there going, ‘Hi, it’s me’. Like, I’m keeping the lights on here.
“I got out of that deal and I thought I’d have my pick of what label they wanted me to go to.
“But all I could hear were crickets. I couldn’t believe it.
“I sold 250million records, I was like, ‘What the f*** is going on right now?’
“Then yeah, everything happens for a reason.”
The “reason” Jason mentions is Savage Love, the viral track that got every teen and their long- suffering parent dancing along to TikTok during the pandemic.
He released the track in June 2020 as an independent artist and it stormed to No1.
Unsurprisingly the record deal offers rolled in and Jason signed a lucrative contract with Atlantic Records the following year. His fifth album, Nu King, which was released three weeks ago, is the culmination of his hard work over the past two years.
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The 27-song tracklist is packed with huge numbers including new single, Spicy Margarita with Michael Buble and Hands On Me with Meghan Trainor.
Jason says: “The 27 songs is a big cut from what it was before, but Nu King has songs like Swalla and Take You Dancing, which didn’t have a home.
“I was born with a crazy work ethic.
“Like when I was trying to play basketball and I didn’t make my team.
“I put all the work into that and never left home without a basketball.
“I went on to become one of their star players and we were the 14th team in the country. It’s all about the work ethic.”
With 15 Top Ten UK hits under his belt, including five No1s such as Talk Dirty and In My Head, Jason is still working to better himself.
He is in the middle of his Nu King world tour and will play in Birmingham tonight before going on to Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Dundee — then over to Europe.
Jason adds: “The UK is one of my favourite places to perform.
“I feel like the Brits get my humour more. But touring is hard. It’s difficult with a show of this magnitude and it’s really tough to be on the road, performing in a different city every night.”
Jason had his son with his ex-partner, model Jena Frumes, and having the lad by his side backstage helps to lighten the load.
Jason explains as he jiggles the youngster on his knee: “It’s been two weeks since I last saw him.
“He’ll be with me for a week. He loves the park and he loves to swim and he’s into gymnastics and basketball.
“And he loves Paw Patrol.”
JASON follows in the footsteps of Christina Aguilera and Kylie Minogue, by landing a coveted ten-date residency at The Venetian hotel in Vegas from May 17.
He says: “In America this is where you get legendary status. It is the most beautiful venue. I shot the Spicy Margarita video there.
“I’m so looking forward to it. I’m a musical theatre kid so it’ll be theatrical and very personal.
“I have the best band and the best dancers on the planet.
“They’ll be there with me.”
A SPICY LINK-UP
AS one of the smoothest men in music, it’s only fitting that Jason has collaborated with Canada’s slickest crooner, Michael Buble.
The duo teamed up for Jason’s new single Spicy Margarita, after Michael turned down his suggestion to make a joint festive No 1.
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Jason said: “I wanted to do a Christmas song and he was like, ‘No, I did that’.
“He was like, ‘I’m surprised more people aren’t utilising the American songbook. You know it is the genesis of all problems, like even today.’ And I was like, ‘Hold that thought’.
“I walked into the studio and I created a bit of what you hear today and he was like, ‘Jason, you f***ing genius.’ Then he went off and did his thing.
“Honestly, you cannot ask for a better collaborator. He is so invested.
“I’m like, ‘Damn, this is amazing’. He is just super-cool.”
STUNNING MASTERCLASS IN MUSIC
CAUGHT LIVE
JASON DERULO @ London’s O2 Arena
★★★★☆
MY ears are still ringing from the screams of the 18,000 fans as Jason whipped off his vest at the end of Savage Love.
He worked up a sweat thanks to his fast-paced 24-song set, showing off his dance moves as well as his incredible vocals – and singing higher notes than a choir boy when the collection plate goes round.
Jason has truly mastered his craft and catered to old fans with classics such as Ridin’ Solo and Whatcha Say, as well as new songs.
In a nod to the baying female fans, he even took to the floor of the arena for a victory lap before finishing on a high with Want To Want Me.
A SONG & DANCE FOR RYAN
MOST Oscar nominees are cr*pping it before the big day.
But Ryan Gosling doesn’t just have to have a speech ready for when he rocks up at the Dolby Theatre in LA on Sunday – because he is performing on the night too.
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I have been told the Barbie star, who is up for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Ken in the film, has been secretly working for weeks with a top Hollywood vocal coach to prepare for it.
Ryan, will perform I’m Just Ken alongside co-writer Mark Ronson. He will have 65 male backing dancers and has been locked in choreography rehearsals for days.
A source said: “Ryan is already one of the biggest names in the industry but he knows there’s a lot riding on this performance.
“The world will be watching and he is taking no chances.
“Over the past few weeks he’s secretly been rehearsing with a vocal coach to perfect his live performance.”
The track – which won Best Song at the Critics Choice Awards in January – is up for Best Original Song alongside Billie Eilish’s own Barbie single What Was I Made For?
May the best tune win.
ARIANA GRANDE leads the new releases today as she drops seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine.
The record’s second single is the not-so- subtly titled We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love), so I’m sure her ex Dalton Gomez is already ducking for cover.
Brit rapper Arrdee’s collaboration with French star Fave, a song called Time, is also out today, while girl band FLO are back with new track Walk Like This.
COUNTRY music is having a real moment, and with Beyonce poised to hold on to the No1 spot for a third week today with Texas Hold ’Em, Zayn Malik is now getting involved.
The former One Direction star will drop his next single, What I Am, next Friday.
Zayn has worked alongside nine-time Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb on his new record, with Zayn “tapping into his Western and country influences”. Giddy up, lads.
RAY & GUY’S 30-YEAR FEUD
THEY have teamed up for Netflix series The Gentlemen, but Guy Ritchie and Ray Winstone, had been secretly feuding for almost 30 years.
Ray told Virgin Radio’s Chris Evans Breakfast Show: “We had words years ago – a fallout.
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“I was going to do Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and it didn’t happen for whatever reason. And I thought he was in the wrong and he probably thought I was in the wrong.
“Fisticuffs never came about, thank God. Over the years we snubbed one another but then you grow up.
“We had a meet and had a little cuddle and a chat about it. And he is a good guy.
“All those wasted years . . .”
