Jessie J may have had one of the biggest hits of 2014 with "Bang Bang," but before she was a solo singing star in her own right, she was a songwriter for other pop stars. And she had a hefty price tag. In a new interview, the "Masterpiece" singer revealed that one hit she penned helped to pay her rent for more than three years.
And what was it? Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA."
Speaking to Glamour magazine, J revealed that songwriting is where all the good money is (via The Daily Mail). "You've got to write songs, that's where the money is, being an artist. 'Party in the USA' paid my rent for, like, three years," she said. "Actually it was way longer than that. That's where I get most of my money. I write songs. I'm a singer. I love endorsements and stuff, but that's all added on."
J originally recorded "Party in the USA" for herself, but when her label decided it wasn't the right single for her, they offered it to Cyrus, who released the song as a single from her 2009 EP The Time of Our Lives.
"Party in the USA" then went on to peak at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cyrus's biggest success until she released her 2013 album Bangerz, launching "Wrecking Ball" to No. 1.
As for J and "Party in the USA," she admitted that the reworking and Cyrus version of the song was bizarre for her. "You know what's more weird though, is that you're not actually there when they record it," she said.
