James Arthur
James Andrew Arthur (born 1988) is a British singer and musician who won th… Read Full Bio ↴James Andrew Arthur (born 1988) is a British singer and musician who won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. His debut single, Impossible, was released after the final and debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart on 16 December 2012 in its first week of release.
Since 2005, and prior to his participation in The X Factor, he was a vocalist and guitarist in a number of bands, and later, as a solo artist as well as forming his own The James Arthur Band and James Arthur Project.
Arthur was born in Middlesbrough, England to English mother Shirley Ashworth and Scottish father Neil Arthur. James’ father was a delivery driver, but also used to be a DJ and a drummer for many years. Arthur’s parents split when he was just two-years-old and each settled with a new partner. Neil and Shirley were not on talking terms with each other for more than twenty years. But they agreed to attend the show together in a family reunion to attend their son’s performance.
Arthur first went to Ings Farm Primary School in Redcar, North Yorkshire. When he was nine, he moved with his mother Shirley and his step father Ronald Rafferty to Bahrain where he studied at the local British School of Bahrain for four years. When they split, Arthur, then 14, had to move back with his mother and his two half-sisters Jasmine and Neve to the UK to live in a modest house in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.Upon his return, he continued his studies at Redcar’s Rye Hills School.
Arthur has five siblings, an older brother called Neil Arthur, an older sister called Sian Arthur, and three younger sisters, Charlotte Arthur and Jasmin and Neve Rafferty.
Arthur has been writing and recording songs since he was 15 as an unsigned artist both solo and in many bands including:
Moonlight Drive - a Cleveland-based progressive, experimental, rock five-piece band with Arthur in lead vocals. The band was active between 2005 and 2008. They had recordings such as «Said You’d Be There», «Hole in My Heart» and «Tear Me Apart».
Cue the Drama - an alternative rock band based in Marske-by-the-Sea and active between 2005 and 2008. Recordings included «On the Radio 98KUPD», «It’s Killing Me», «I Reach You» and «It Hurts».
Save Arcade - a Middlesbrough alternative rock band made up of Arthur (vocals, guitar), Josh Brown (keyboards, vocals), Matthew Green (guitar), Alex Beer (bass, vocals), Travis Shaw (guitar, percussions, vocals) and Karl Dowson (drums). In 2009, the band released a three-track EP called Truth, carrying the title track «The Truth», as well as «Echoes» and «I Un-Proudly Present». In June 2010, the band released a five-track EP, Tonight We Dine in Hades, which in addition to the title track «Tonight We Dine in Hades» included «Superhero», «You Always Want a Fight», «Juliet Is Not Dead» and «She Aims to Please». Both releases were on the independent 57 Records UK.
Emerald Skye - a four-piece indie pop/rock band formed in March 2011 based in Redcar / Saltburn-by-the-Sea and made up of Arthur (guitar, vocals), Dean Harrison (piano, violin), Paul Gill (bass) and Save Arcade bandmate Green (drums).
Arthur also uploaded many of his own songs to Soundcloud and YouTube including an album entitled Sins by the Sea. In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
In early 2012, he recorded songs and released two EPs as The James Arthur Band. The band consisted of Arthur (vocals and guitar), Jez Taylor (guitar), Chris Smalls (keyboards), Jordan Swain (drums) and Rich Doney (bass). In 2012, the band released The EP Collection CD with nine tracks with R&B, soul and hip hop influences, a compilation of tracks on both EPs. Arthur also released an EP named Hold On under the name The James Arthur Project in August 2012 in collaboration with John McGough. The tracks were written and arranged by McGough, and mixed by Matt Wanstall with all vocals by Arthur.
Arthur auditioned for The X Factor with an acoustic rendition of judge Tulisa Contostavlos’s «Young», before explaining his past, including spells in care and time spent on the streets after break-ups within his family. He also revealed his father and mother had not spoken to each other for over 20 years, and this was a reunion of sorts for them to attend his audition. After his judges’ houses performance of «I Can’t Make You Love Me», he was picked by his mentor Nicole Scherzinger as one of the 12 contestants for the live shows, and one of just three in the «Boys» category. After the second live show, Arthur suffered from an anxiety attack backstage. Whilst being treated at the studio, paramedics determined he did not need to go to hospital, and he was ordered back to his hotel to rest. He later returned for the results show the following. Arthur was in the bottom two in week 7 after performing «Can’t Take My Eyes Off You». He sang «Fallin’» for survival against Ella Henderson, with the judges going to deadlock after their vote was evenly split 2-2 (mentor Scherzinger and Gary Barlow voting to keep him, while Contostavlos and Louis Walsh voted in favour of Henderson). Arthur was then saved by the public vote. On 8 December, he made it through to the second night of the live finals.
Arthur won The X Factor on 9 December 2012, with 53.7% of the vote, against Jahméne Douglas who received 38.9% of the vote.
Since 2005, and prior to his participation in The X Factor, he was a vocalist and guitarist in a number of bands, and later, as a solo artist as well as forming his own The James Arthur Band and James Arthur Project.
Arthur was born in Middlesbrough, England to English mother Shirley Ashworth and Scottish father Neil Arthur. James’ father was a delivery driver, but also used to be a DJ and a drummer for many years. Arthur’s parents split when he was just two-years-old and each settled with a new partner. Neil and Shirley were not on talking terms with each other for more than twenty years. But they agreed to attend the show together in a family reunion to attend their son’s performance.
Arthur first went to Ings Farm Primary School in Redcar, North Yorkshire. When he was nine, he moved with his mother Shirley and his step father Ronald Rafferty to Bahrain where he studied at the local British School of Bahrain for four years. When they split, Arthur, then 14, had to move back with his mother and his two half-sisters Jasmine and Neve to the UK to live in a modest house in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.Upon his return, he continued his studies at Redcar’s Rye Hills School.
Arthur has five siblings, an older brother called Neil Arthur, an older sister called Sian Arthur, and three younger sisters, Charlotte Arthur and Jasmin and Neve Rafferty.
Arthur has been writing and recording songs since he was 15 as an unsigned artist both solo and in many bands including:
Moonlight Drive - a Cleveland-based progressive, experimental, rock five-piece band with Arthur in lead vocals. The band was active between 2005 and 2008. They had recordings such as «Said You’d Be There», «Hole in My Heart» and «Tear Me Apart».
Cue the Drama - an alternative rock band based in Marske-by-the-Sea and active between 2005 and 2008. Recordings included «On the Radio 98KUPD», «It’s Killing Me», «I Reach You» and «It Hurts».
Save Arcade - a Middlesbrough alternative rock band made up of Arthur (vocals, guitar), Josh Brown (keyboards, vocals), Matthew Green (guitar), Alex Beer (bass, vocals), Travis Shaw (guitar, percussions, vocals) and Karl Dowson (drums). In 2009, the band released a three-track EP called Truth, carrying the title track «The Truth», as well as «Echoes» and «I Un-Proudly Present». In June 2010, the band released a five-track EP, Tonight We Dine in Hades, which in addition to the title track «Tonight We Dine in Hades» included «Superhero», «You Always Want a Fight», «Juliet Is Not Dead» and «She Aims to Please». Both releases were on the independent 57 Records UK.
Emerald Skye - a four-piece indie pop/rock band formed in March 2011 based in Redcar / Saltburn-by-the-Sea and made up of Arthur (guitar, vocals), Dean Harrison (piano, violin), Paul Gill (bass) and Save Arcade bandmate Green (drums).
Arthur also uploaded many of his own songs to Soundcloud and YouTube including an album entitled Sins by the Sea. In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
In early 2012, he recorded songs and released two EPs as The James Arthur Band. The band consisted of Arthur (vocals and guitar), Jez Taylor (guitar), Chris Smalls (keyboards), Jordan Swain (drums) and Rich Doney (bass). In 2012, the band released The EP Collection CD with nine tracks with R&B, soul and hip hop influences, a compilation of tracks on both EPs. Arthur also released an EP named Hold On under the name The James Arthur Project in August 2012 in collaboration with John McGough. The tracks were written and arranged by McGough, and mixed by Matt Wanstall with all vocals by Arthur.
Arthur auditioned for The X Factor with an acoustic rendition of judge Tulisa Contostavlos’s «Young», before explaining his past, including spells in care and time spent on the streets after break-ups within his family. He also revealed his father and mother had not spoken to each other for over 20 years, and this was a reunion of sorts for them to attend his audition. After his judges’ houses performance of «I Can’t Make You Love Me», he was picked by his mentor Nicole Scherzinger as one of the 12 contestants for the live shows, and one of just three in the «Boys» category. After the second live show, Arthur suffered from an anxiety attack backstage. Whilst being treated at the studio, paramedics determined he did not need to go to hospital, and he was ordered back to his hotel to rest. He later returned for the results show the following. Arthur was in the bottom two in week 7 after performing «Can’t Take My Eyes Off You». He sang «Fallin’» for survival against Ella Henderson, with the judges going to deadlock after their vote was evenly split 2-2 (mentor Scherzinger and Gary Barlow voting to keep him, while Contostavlos and Louis Walsh voted in favour of Henderson). Arthur was then saved by the public vote. On 8 December, he made it through to the second night of the live finals.
Arthur won The X Factor on 9 December 2012, with 53.7% of the vote, against Jahméne Douglas who received 38.9% of the vote.
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James Arthur Lyrics
4000 Miles Yeah-yeah, yeah I'm four thousand miles away I see you talk…
A Thousand Years Heart beats fast Colours and promises How to be brave? How c…
A Year Ago I miss you Your name's still on my coffee cup, I…
Ain't Nothin' To It See I don't care what they say They wanna judge, I…
Always Yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah Hey, love You ain't got no reason to …
At My Weakest It's a long night and a big crowd Under these lights…
avalanche Paradise, sleeping in under bright white snow I'm alive, thi…
Back From The Edge Back from the edge, back from the dead Back before demons…
Be The One Oh my God, I never would've seen the light Oh my…
BITTER SWEET LOVE I won't lie But your bodies got me feeling under pressure Un…
Blindside Summer ends and autumn starts All fading into one But I know…
Breathe We're all strangers Fighting in the streets with no common g…
Broken Hearted Well, it started at a party I never knew your name You…
Can I Be Him You walked into the room and now my heart has…
Car's Outside I'm packin' my bags that I didn't unpack the last…
Carry Us You don't seem like a Monday morning girl to me Tuesday…
Cars Outside I'm packin' my bags that I didn't unpack the last…
Certain Things Something about you It's like a addiction Hit me with your b…
Christmas Bells Daylight is fading, turn on the lights I'm drinking daily in…
Classic All the makings of a classic Her eyes were locking across…
Coming Home for Summer We started in October Drowned our sins in cold November rain…
Deja Vu Yeah Yeah You'll never no what you're missing until you had…
Don't Speak You and me we used to be together Every day together,…
Echoes You were my sanctuary I was your tree of life The nights…
Emergency I've been in this place since they were seen As they…
Emily Dear Emily I really wanna write this carefully Know that we'…
Empty Space I don't see you You're not in every window I look…
Fade one day, one day, one day it all will fade one…
Fall I've been beaten and broken and tread upon I was made…
Falling like the Stars I swear to God, when I come home I'm gonna hold…
Feeling Good Birds flying high you know how I feel Sun in the…
Finally This is all I ever wanted All I ever thought I'd…
Finally Feel Good I wanna wake up sober See what the sunrise means to…
Flyin Ehhh yeahh And my uproarious arrival pushed the noise to the…
From Me to You I Hate Everybody I used to come here on my own and drink So…
From the Grave I never meant to leave you there, a crown of…
Get Down Outside there's a bird and it is singing And outside of…
Heartbeat When you take your first breath I'll be the first witness Wh…
Hold On ′You can't bring me down.′, he said so confidently She says,…
Hometown Glory I've been walking in the same way as I did And…
Homicide Love One beat, one life One me, let the other side go Oh I…
I Am Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh …
I Believe See it′s just a matter of days Just a matter of…
I Can't Be Your Everything And I hope you hope you understand Hope you understand and…
If Only I still remember my name But forgotten my royal mistakes If …
If We Can Get Through This We Can Get Through Anything How can someone so beautiful as you be such a…
Impossible Mmm-mmm I remember, years ago Someone told me I should take…
In My Mind I've seen in the motion pictures, it's on the radio I…
Is It Love? I must've walked these streets about a million times I thoug…
Just Us I can't stand being the cause of the tears on…
Last Of The Whiskey Last walk in the tight rope and last of the…
Lasting Lover I don't know why I can't quite get you out my…
Let Me Love The Lonely You laugh at all the jokes Even the ones you know Funny…
Lie Down Do my eyes deceive me? Yeah, I never saw a creature…
Losing You Yeah Screaming, shouting, press my face through the glass Yo…
Marine Parade (Oh, oh) (Oh, oh) Queen Victoria I've missed you so bad (be…
Maybe I don't know what's going on Where you came from and…
Medicine You're my bulletproof vest when it's getting dangerous Alway…
Naked Hey, you there Can we take it to the next level,…
Never Let You Go I'm all in my feelings Nightmares and no dreaming Right when…
New Tattoo Under my skin, beneath my fingertips You slip and slide away…
No More Drama Broken heart again another lesson learnt Better know your fr…
No Way Out I should see sunshine not on your life Circumstances mean I'…
Nobody Long gone and fallen down but I'm loving how it…
One Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh …
Phoenix Let me, let me begin Let me begin, with an I.O.U Who…
Pretty Girls Oh, they say bad things they come in two's That don't…
Prisoner If I'm underneath the table Then pour me another drink Oh, I…
Quite Miss Home I'm in the kitchen while you smoke outside You're careful no…
Recovery I don't want to play this game no more I don't…
Remember Who I Was I know I hurt you, I was so unkind I was…
Rewrite The Stars You know I want you It's not a secret I try…
Ride Baby, just to ride with you, ride with you, ride…
Roses I could've chose anybody but I chose you Ooh ooh Help me…
Running Away I wanna smoke 'til I can't wake up Self-medicate when I…
Sad Eyes You wear the burden World on your shoulders, babe So let me…
Safe Inside I remember when you were all mine Watched you changing in…
Say You Won I met you in the dark, you lit me up You…
September I remember when I met you just before September You were…
Sermon You don't have to say you're sorry Or redeem yourself to…
Sexy and I Know It …
Skeletons They see that thing That you don't see They call them skelet…
Sleepwalking You've brought the sun, and I've brought the moonlight We we…
Smoke Clouds Look no farther than the fathers who go farther than…
Sober When I look at you it's like I've been baptised It's…
SOS Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, ayy The champagne, you showered…
Suicide One, two, ready Here we go It ain't the gun It's the man…
Sun Comes Up I wonder, maybe they'd never find me I've been waitin' such…
Supposed I should've known better Than to ever Look to heaven questio…
Take It Or Leave It Yeah, all the highs and lows The loss of inhibitions I'm und…
The Power Of Love Oh, oh Dreams are like angels They keep bad at bay Love is…
The Truth It was good to be there in the bright lights,…
Train Wreck Laying in the silence Waiting for the sirens Signs, any sign…
Treehouse (It's alright now, it's alright now) I know you get tongue-t…
What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) Oooohh You know the bed feels warmer Sleeping here alone You…
Wolves You've been runnin' all around in circles Tryna find a purpo…
You Long gone and fallen down but I'm loving how it…
You Deserve Better I'm just not sure whether my heart is working And yours…
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You Long gone and fallen down but I'm loving how it…