Honestly, it’s kind of wild to think about how much pressure was on Jess Glynne back in 2018. After her debut album I Cry When I Laugh basically took over every radio station in the UK, everyone was waiting to see if she could do it again. Then she dropped Jess Glynne I’ll Be There, and suddenly, the answer was a massive "yes."
It wasn’t just another pop song. It was the moment she officially cemented herself as a record-breaker. When the track hit number one on the UK Singles Chart in June 2018, she became the first British female solo artist to score seven chart-toppers. That's more than Adele. More than Beyoncé. More than Cheryl. It's a heavy title to carry.
The Heartbreak Behind the Harmony
A lot of people think this song is just your standard "I've got your back" anthem. But if you dig into the lyrics, there's a lot of grit there. Jess has talked about how she wrote this during a time when her friend was going through a really brutal, soul-crushing heartbreak.
We’ve all been there. You see someone you love literally fading away because they’re so hurt, and you feel totally helpless.
When you listen to the line "when you're lost, I'll be there," it isn't just fluffy pop sentiment. She’s actually drawing from a vision she had of a hand reaching into deep, dark water to pull someone out. It’s pretty visceral. She actually went through a "shit time" herself when she was 21—feeling totally alone while everyone else was at uni figuring their lives out. She used that old loneliness to fuel the empathy in this track.
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Making History (and the Music Video)
The production is this interesting mix of gospel vibes and synth-pop. You've got Starsmith and Electric behind the boards, and they managed to make it feel organic even though it’s definitely a "big" studio production. It starts with those simple piano chords and just builds.
And the video? That was a whole different beast.
Director Adriaan Louw took the crew out to Mexico—specifically the Yucatan Peninsula—to film it. They were shooting in these incredible pink lakes that are actually part of an active salt mine. The crew had to rush and film in between the massive mining trucks moving around.
- Director: Adriaan Louw
- Location: Valladolid and Las Coloradas (the pink lakes), Mexico
- The Vibe: Raw, natural, slightly abandoned
One of the coolest shots is when Jess falls into the water at a cenote. The director actually had to find a waterproof housing for a small mirrorless camera the day before and jump into the water himself to get that underwater angle. It’s those little DIY moments that make the high-budget videos actually feel human.
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Why Some Critics Weren't Convinced
Now, look, not everyone was obsessed. Some critics at the time thought it was a bit "safe." The Arts Desk mentioned it felt a bit like her older stuff, maybe even a little bland compared to the high-energy "Hold My Hand."
But the fans? They didn't care.
There’s something about Jess Glynne’s voice—it’s got this raspy, soulful conviction that makes even simple lyrics feel like a promise. People needed that song. They still do. Even in 2025, her older tracks like "Hold My Hand" were blowing up on TikTok all over again, proving that her brand of "supportive pop" has some serious staying power.
The Technical Specs
If you’re into the nitty-gritty of who actually made the magic happen, the credits list is a who’s who of pop songwriters.
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- Camille Purcell (Kamille): One of the best in the business.
- Edvard Førre Erfjord & Henrik Michelsen: The duo known as Electric.
- Fin Dow-Smith (Starsmith): The guy who helped define Ellie Goulding's early sound.
- Jerker Hansson: Another heavy hitter.
It’s a massive team effort for a song that sounds so intimate.
Actionable Insights for Your Playlist
If you’re revisiting Jess Glynne I’ll Be There, or if you’re a songwriter trying to capture that same "uplifting" energy, here’s what makes it work:
- The "Gospel Build": Start small. If you're arranging a track, let the vocals lead the way before the percussion kicks in.
- Specific Empathy: Don't just say "I'm here." Describe the feeling of being lost. Use imagery like the "darkness" or "fading spirit" to give the listener something to visualize.
- Vocal Texture: Jess doesn't over-polish her voice. That slight rasp is what makes her sound like a real person talking to a friend, not a robot.
To really appreciate the song's impact, try listening to it back-to-back with her 2024 album Jess. You can see the evolution from the "record-breaking pop star" to someone who's a bit more settled in her own skin, even if "I’ll Be There" remains the definitive peak of her chart dominance.