Over the influence by Joanna " JoJo " Levesque

 

Published on September 17^th, 2024 by Da Capo

352 pages

I read the hardcover version

A breathtakingly candid memoir by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the chart-topping, multi-platinum recording artist behind hits like “Leave (Get Out),” “Too Little, Too Late”, and the Grammy Award-winning "Say So"

Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?

In OVER THE INFLUENCE, JoJo holds nothing back as she brings her against-the-odds story of adversity and triumph to center stage. From being raised by parents who were both battling addiction and depression, to emerging victorious in a never-ending lawsuit with her record label, to putting the fragmented pieces of herself together after a maddening period of rebellion and self-betrayal, she takes the reader through the turbulent years that led her to where she is now: releasing new music under her own imprint, performing in shows and festivals around the world, headlining a Broadway show, and beyond.  In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at her life, both personal and professional, JoJo’s unflinching vulnerability allows readers to connect with her on a whole new level through stories of success, heartbreak, redemption, and resilience.

More than a victory lap from an artist with over two decades in an ever-changing entertainment industry, OVER THE INFLUENCE is an unapologetic rallying cry to anyone who’s ever been terrified to fail and still said, “Count me in.”

My review

I probably heard Too little too late at the radio in the 2000, but I did not really know her music until I saw a resent live version of that song on Instagram. I thought it was a sign since I heard it at a time, I needed the most. With Christmas that was coming, I decided to ask for The high road album and her memoir. Since music always been one of my passions and I like knowing other people stories, I thought it would be a chance to know what happened behind her music. 

2024 teaches me two lessons: Give a chance to someone to tell you her story, it might surprise you and you should always listen to your inner voice. Even though the author mentions a lot about her addiction, I think the fact you should listen yourself instead of others is something I noted from this book. Even though, Joanna Levesque was pretty new to me, her story touched me in a way I don’t have enough words to describe.

I don’t drink much and I never tried drugs, but I could relate to her story since I ignored what I really wanted to do for so long, I doubt myself and I am scare to go for it and I have to deal with my anxiety every day. I think lot of reader could relate to this as well. You don’t have to be in the music industry or having an addiction to enjoy the memoir. I just admire people who does everything they can to make their lives better so much and I think it’s one of the reasons why hat singer touched me so much. I admit that I could make links between the music and the books industry, it’s hard to know who to trust.

I felt that there was a reason why I bumped into her video after all this time. Not because I could relate to the lyrics, the lyrics from a few of her songs touched me as well and when I closed her book, I felt less alone.

Excerpts

Now, feels like the best possible time to release the shame, embarrassment, and fear of rejection that I absorbed over the years and wore like a second skin. (p. X)

And we are all hungry ghosts in this society, we all have this emptiness, and so many of us are trying to fill that emptiness from the outside, and the addiction is all about trying to from the outside. Sure, that could be drugs and alcohol, but it could also be other things, too, like consumerism, sex, food-the list goes on. The problem is that none of these things address the real root of this emptiness, and so we can never fill ourselves up from the outside, no matter how hard we try. (p. XII)

One time, I brought back a book on Wicca from Salem and couldn’t wait to show it to them. Around the time of my first Holy Communion (I would’ve been seven or so), I was casting little spells in this Jewish family’s coat closet. Needless to sat, the parents had a sit-down discussion with Mom the next day. So much for starting my first coven. (p.12)

Even though I loved learning, school was a double-edged sword. Yes, it was a place where I could feed my insatiable curiosity and learn about the world around me, but it was also a place where I was forced to deal with other kids, kids I didn’t like because they didn’t like me. (p.18)

And the goal was to make me the most easily acceptable version of myself. Not changing who I was, she stressed, just polishing it up for the world to see and connect with. (p.58)

People were starting to pay attention and compliment me on my talent and original music, and yet whenever I went to shoots or industry events, I felt just ostracized as I was in elementary school. Once again, it seems like no one wanted to sit with me. (p.72)

At eighteen, I was just starting to come into myself creatively, and even though you’d think success would bring a certain amount of freedom with it, I hadn’t actually felt that free since I was a little girl playing around with watercolors and brushes. (p.121)

The more I got to know him, the worse of a person I deemed him to be and the more I hated myself for acting desperate and naïve. (p.195)

I’d entrusted my managers-first Mom, now M.M-to make the final decisions for me since I was obviously incapable of making the right ones on my own. First, because I was a child, and then, because I just innately wasn’t strategic the way I lived my life. I believed what I was told, that indulging my nonmainstream tastes would not propel me forward. (p.223)

" And you definitely should not be made to feel like, after all this time, you don’t know what you’re doing. She doesn’t know better than you. Only you know what’s right for you. You have more experience in this industry than most people ever get. If you’re not happy, stop acting like a victim and make a change. " (p.270)

I had been praying for something to make it abundantly clear which direction I should head in next. The tree-lined street in Burbank turned technicolor, and I knew right then I would not be taking any ex along into this next chapter. (p.306)