ETonline caught up with the UK songstress as she preps for her “Tough Love” tour.
When Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele steam up the big screen next month, they’ll be doing it to some very sexy tunes.
Among the standout tracks on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack is UK songstress Jessie Ware’s soothing-meets-seductive new song “Meet Me in the Middle,” which was actually penned for – and ultimately scrapped from – her sophomore album Tough Love. Luckily for us, Fifty Shades director Sam Taylor-Johnson had the good sense to work the track into her highly-anticipated film.
“I’d love it to be in a sex scene,” Ware says of the song, “but I don’t think it will be. The bassline lends itself to a sex scene, but I don’t know if the chorus does.” (For the record: we think it’d be right at home during one of Christian and Anastasia’s more tender trysts.)
Ware, who was recently nominated for a BRIT Award, is in good company on the film’s soundtrack. Ellie Goulding, The Weeknd and Skylar Grey have all penned original tunes, while Beyonce contributes two brand new stripped-down remixes. Annie Lennox, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and Sia are also featured.
ETonline caught up with Ware to talk married life, her upcoming tour, and how she found a place on the buzzy new soundtrack, out Feb. 10. (Fans won’t be able to hear “Meet Me in the Middle” until the full soundtrack is released, but check out Ware’s video for “You and I (Forever)” below in the meantime.)
Jessie Ware: I did, thank you very much. It was lovely. We went to Japan and Sri Lanka — we felt like we were away forever, it was just like three weeks.
I heard your song for Fifty Shades of Grey, it’s beautiful.
You’ve heard it? You must be like one of the people who’s heard it. Nobody’s heard it!
Can you give me an idea of when it will play during the film?
I have no idea. So, I’m sorry to be unhelpful. I’d love it to be in a sex scene, but I don’t think it will be. I think the bassline lends itself to a sex scene but I don’t know if the chorus does.
I’m guessing you wrote this song specifically for the project. Did you work with the filmmakers at all, or did they give you free rein to do what you wanted?
It was actually a song that I wrote for my album but it didn’t make it. It was a song that I really loved, and I met Sam Taylor-Johnson at a Chanel dinner. I wasn’t sure it was going to be in [the movie] but she was really lovely and said, ‘I really love the song.’ I just kinda kept my fingers crossed from there.
Have you seen the movie yet?
No, I haven’t, and I think I’m gonna miss the premiere, which I’m gutted about! I’m excited to see it, and I think everyone is – I think everyone is intrigued by it. I think it’s so funny that the boyfriends are gonna be dragged along and learn a thing or two about the realms of female sexual experience. I can’t wait for it!
Are you going to drag your husband along to the theater?
I think it would be rude for him not to see where my song has placed in the film, wouldn’t it?
It sure would be. Did you read the books?
I have read the first book.
Do you have a favorite scene or moment?
I just think that Christian Grey seems like the most attractive man. I don’t know what my favorite scene is off the top of my head. I need to f–king rehearse these answers!
Through your career, you’ve built your fan-base the old fashioned way with a lot of word of mouth. What does it mean to you to be a part of something like Fifty Shades, which is a huge worldwide phenomenon?
I think it’s really brilliant, I think it opens me up to a whole lot of people who won’t necessarily be my kind of music fans, but they may be massive fans of the book or film. I hope it actually introduces me to a lot of people! I’m really proud of the song, so I think my fans that I already have will really like it. This is a really wicked opportunity for me; it’s probably the biggest soundtrack that’s been out for ages, so I’m really happy about it.
I’m excited to see you perform in L.A., are there any North American cities you are particularly excited to visit during your tour?
I think L.A. was the best show of the last tour we did. It was absolutely amazing. San Francisco is a pleasure, really beautiful. Chicago is always a great, great place to play, but New York is like my second home. I think it would be a toss-up between San Fran and New York.
What can we expect from your live shows this time around?
Lots of fabulous gay men, gorgeous girls, maybe some reluctant boyfriends, and lots of fun. I hope it’s a good old night of me hosting and singing to you.
