Half the Man

The song Half the Man by Jamiroquai, released in November 1994, emerged from the minds of Jay Kay and Toby Smith. The recording, which runs for 4:50, delves into a style that fuses funk and acid jazz, with soul influences that some critics compare to the sensibility of Stevie Wonder. Producer Rick Pope (though other sources mention Jay Kay as arranger and producer) worked on this piece which, according to James Masterton's comments, might sound familiar to Jamiroquai followers, almost as if operating on autopilot with their distinctive sound. However, others describe it as a melody that grows with repeated listens, showcasing a maturity in the group's songwriting.

The context of Half the Man is framed within the preparation of their second album, The Return of the Space Cowboy, whose recording sessions began in the first half of 1994. The inspiration for this piece, according to Toby Smith, came from a woman named Gabriella. The track was released as a single by the S2 Records label and reached number 15 on the UK charts. The music video, directed by Paul Boyd, was filmed in black and white and executed in a single take. This video, officially published on YouTube in November 2009, has accumulated millions of views by 2025. The song was also part of the soundtrack for the film Blue Juice and, with the exception of Japanese editions, was not included in the compilation High Times: Singles 1992–2006.