Just Jack: 'The Day I Died'

Released on Monday, Aug 17 2009

Published Wednesday, Aug 19 2009, 09:22 BST | By David Balls | 9 comments

Since breaking through with 'Starz In Their Eyes' in 2007, Just Jack has generally taken a more philosophical approach to songwriting than his contemporaries. His last two singles have explored warped sexual desires ('Doctor Doctor') and the meaning of life ('Embers'), so we're unlikely to find him doing a 'Boom Boom Pow' in a hurry.

'The Day I Died', single number three from his upcoming All Night Cinema LP, is a stripped back pop track on which Jack narrates the final day of a father tragically killed in a car accident. Yes, the subject matter is hardly laugh-a-minute stuff, but thanks to his chirpy Cockney twang, neat lyrical couplets and a haunting choral crescendo, it's somehow convincing when he sings: "The day I died was the best day of my life."

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Ross, on December 19th, 2010
Its a great song :) and I agree with Ashley the video made me sad too :(

John, London, on September 23rd, 2009
utter garbage. Songwriting skills of a 13 year-old. This is pretty much everything that is wrong with a vast amount of music at the moment. No talent whatsoever. Utter, utter crap.

woody, cornwall, on September 3rd, 2009
About time i read a positive review about this song! It is inspirational in the way it shows how the most simple things in life are the most important, without screaming in your face, like some pretentious hippy. Sees is as it is and appreciates it. I stick it on every time i get in the car... Give this song a try. He's no Mike Skinner, but I think The Streets would have been proud of this one. Superb, Jack!

Brendan, Surrey, on August 20th, 2009
Jack McFarland from Will and Grace has really had a career handbrake turn. Who'd have thought Jack 2009 would be so rad?

Dan, on August 20th, 2009
Utter crap.

ashley, on August 19th, 2009
great great song - it mad me sad at first :( but now i lovee it :D x x

Natalie from Kent, on August 19th, 2009
I really like this song and the video is really good too. I hope it gets into the top ten it is a grower. One of my favourite songs of this year.

James, Watford, on August 19th, 2009
it's an alright song but whatever happened to Doctor Doctor? as far as i know it never actually got released, there was a video made and everything, but i never heard it on radio or music channels, and it was never made available for sale. does anyone know why? did it get cancelled? i hope it gets another shot in the next few months instead, it's such a brilliant song, one of Jack's best, and could do well in the charts, better than this and Embers imo.

katy, london, on August 19th, 2009
morbid & wrong!