The list of reasons why Jamiroquai’s 1993 debut is still so important could fill up the goofy hats made famous by the band’s frontman Jay Kay. Emergency On Planet Earth feels exactly like that even 30 years after its initial release, potent lyrics with a focus on global politics are hurled through a flurry of gigantic arrangements that fuse the soul of the ‘70s with jazzy psychedelia. Relistening to an album like this is both invigorating and disappointing at once. The sweeping arrangements and empowered vocal delivery fill the room with color, all the while these songs center around the vocalist Jay Kay’s pleas for help to understand the world around him. Even three decades later, the problems discussed on Emergency On Planet Earth are as relevant as ever, and the music that delivers Jamiroquai’s concerns is as lively and refreshing as the first time you stumbled upon the small mascot that graces the cover.
Exactly like the album, everything started with the blazing single “When You Gonna Learn?”. This is the song that landed Jay Kay his major label deal with Sony who released the album on June 14, 1993. The single was created by Kay himself along with his producer at the time. Once Kay had finished the song, his producer got his hands on it and changed its sound and structure to fit a more modern blueprint. Furious, Kay quickly changed the song back. This altercation not only seemingly ended Kay’s relationship with this producer, but sparked a fuse deep inside the artist that would explode into the band we love today. Kay saw to it forming a live band to properly execute his unique vision of music. The band formed quickly with Kay being joined first by didgeridoo player Wallis Buchanan, bassist Stuart Zender, and keyboardist Toby Smith (who you can also thank for the string arrangements on the LP) with the rest of the band being filled out by drummer Nick Van Gelder and a long list of contributing musicians. With Jamiroquai now in full force, Kay looked to put his band to work.
Emergency On Planet Earth is fueled by Jay Kay’s confusion with the world around him. We find our hero in the throes of political and social turmoil on a global scale. With the Cold War just wrapping up during the recording process and news outlets presenting nothing but the horrors of war for our viewing pleasure, like the rest of the world, Kay was angered by these sights. He decided to create an album that not only placed these issues directly in front of us all but displayed a resounding resentment towards the powers that be for leaving an acid jazz band to shine a light on these alarming realities. The aforementioned “When You Gonna Learn?” questions why history always finds a way to repeat itself despite lessons learned from the past while “Revolution 1993” explains exactly why these songs are built around immediate change. “Well it’s hard times, white lines, kids of nine getting down with gun crime” blatantly expresses his opinion on the gun issue with the song inevitably calling for a change in the patterns seen. With a bluntness that is unmistakable, Jamiroquai created a protest album that surpasses standards and not only introduced us to the hyperaware songwriting of the band but also welcomed their unique take on funk and jazz into a world on fire.
There are few things close to hearing the first notes of Emergency On Planet Earth. That subtle drum pattern and vocalizations welcome you to the wildly wonderful world of Jamiroquai’s production, a fusion of acid jazz and funk that borrows from the golden age of soul just as much as it does from the political exigency of punk. The album is boasting lush melodies and fields of horns that mingle in ecstasy, creating a sonic direction that points you toward a place you’ve never explored before. The mid-album instrumental relief “Music of the Mind” provides us a brief escape from the real-world issues that drive the LP while doubling as a stunning example of the influence jazz of the past has had on Jamiroquai. From the smooth funk of “If I Like It, I Do It” to the gritty didgeridoo outro “Didgin’ Out”, Emergency On Planet Earth pulls from all corners of the world it’s trying to save to find the sprawling instrumentals that elevate the album to its timeless status.
Even 30 years removed, Jamiroquai’s debut album sounds like it just came out yesterday. Despite the heartbreaking realization that not much has changed since its release, Emergency On Planet Earth is an album that can be played countless times for generations. From its lyrics that light fires to ivory towers to the cloud of unprecedented musicianship that shapes its sonic palette, it is a display of innovation that lifts its morals from an anarchist state of mind. In the 10 songs that make up Emergency On Planet Earth, Jamiroquai takes you through the harshest truths while softening the blow with whimsical arrangements that creates an unforgettable juxtaposition of our wildest fantasies and our darkest realities.
