James grew up in Dorset and was raised primarily by his grandparents. He starred in A Midsummer Night's Dream when he was 15, and played Puck. He also played Dr Watson in Sherlock Holmes when he was a teenager.
In early 2000, James, along with Antony Costa, convinced Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe to form the group Blue. Blue's R&B-influenced pop allowed the group to achieve commercial success in the United Kingdom and many other countries, including Italy, Australia, and New Zealand. From May 2001, when the group released its first single, "All Rise," to 2004, when the group released its final chart-qualifying single, "Curtain Falls," Blue had 11 top ten singles in the UK.
Though Blue has never formally announced its permanent breakup, it split in July 2005 and all four members have moved on to solo careers. James has criticized the solo efforts of some of his former bandmates, referring to Ryan's first album as "rushed" and Costa's bid to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest as "cheesy."
In October 2004, James collaborated with Keedie to release the single "I Believe My Heart", which entered the UK singles chart at #2. He returned to the solo music scene in May 2006 with his single "Sooner or Later", releasing the video in early May and planning to release the single commercially on June 5, 2006. The video reached #2 on The Box and #5 on The Hits.
Duncan James has a daughter named Tianie-Finn, born in 2005 to an ex-girlfriend whose name is only known as "Claire". (He refuses to reveal her complete name) He has been quoted numerous times expressing his frustration with the media's constant obsession with who he is having a relationship with. Nevertheless, as is true for many celebrities, his love life has been a focus of frequent media speculation.
James is now enjoying being a part of the boyband Blue again, they released the album Roulette in 2013 and have taken part in popular TV show The Big Reunion, which caused some controversy as they joined the show later than the other acts.
Albums:
Future Past (12 June 2006): #55 UK; #2 Italy, #25 Belgium, #30 Germany, #68 France.
Singles:
"I Believe My Heart" (October 2004), with Keedie: #2 UK
"Sooner or Later" (5 June 2006): #35 UK
"Can't Stop A River" (August 14 2006)
Breathing
Duncan James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I can't tell and I can't feel
Nothing seems real
Saw you cry today
And deep inside subconcious mind
There's another way
So believe, trust in me, I'm alive
And I'm finding the way
Since you brought me back to life
Please don't walk away
Promise me you'll stay
Now I'm breathing
I'm alive today oh
And I can tell and I can feel
Everything is real
No more tears today
And deep inside my concios mind
We found a perfect way
You can see, trust in me and we'll fly
I'm breathing and I'm learning to survive
And I'm finding the way
Since you brought me back to life
Please don't walk away
Promise me you'll stay
Now I'm breathing
Now I'm breathing
I'm breathing
So long I've played your game
I'm sick and tired of always being led
You really turned my head
You really turned my head
Strange to fall for jealousy
Another love-struck fool
Ooh maybe I was blind, blind
I'm breathing and I'm learning to survive
And I'm finding the way
Since you brought me back to life
Please don't walk away
Promise me you'll stay
Now I'm breathing
So long I've played your game
I'm sick and tired of always being led
You really turned my head
You really turned my head
You really turned my head
You really turned my head
The lyrics in Duncan James's song "Breathing" describe a sense of disconnection from reality and the struggle to find meaning in life. The opening lines "Did I die today/Cause I can't tell and I can't feel/Nothing seems real" suggest that the singer may be experiencing a period of existential crisis, questioning the nature of their own existence. The mention of seeing someone cry also hints at a sense of emotional distance or numbness from the world around them.
Despite this, there is a glimmer of hope in the lyrics, as the singer sings about finding a way to survive and rediscovering a sense of purpose. The lines "And deep inside my concios mind/We found a perfect way/You can see, trust in me and we'll fly" describe a newfound confidence and optimism, as the singer begins to trust themselves and their own abilities.
The later verse "So long I've played your game/I'm sick and tired of always being led/You really turned my head" could be interpreted as a statement of rebellion and independence, as the singer takes control of their own life and refuses to be led by outside forces.
Overall, "Breathing" is a song that explores themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and finding one's own path in life. It acknowledges the difficulties of this journey, but ultimately encourages listeners to keep pushing forward and to believe in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Did I die today
I am unsure if I am still alive
'Cause I can't tell and I can't feel
I don't feel anything and sensation in my body is lost
Nothing seems real
Everything around me appears illusory
Saw you cry today
I witnessed you shed tears today
And deep inside subconcious mind
My subconscious is trying to tell me something
There's another way
There exists an alternate path that can be taken
So believe, trust in me, I'm alive
Have faith in me, I am alive
I'm breathing and I'm learning to survive
I'm trying to stay alive and learning how to do so
And I'm finding the way
I'm figuring out what I need to do to survive
Since you brought me back to life
You saved me from danger and made me feel alive
Please don't walk away
I need you to stay with me
Promise me you'll stay
Please assure me that you won't leave
Now I'm breathing
I'm alive and breathing
So long I've played your game
I've been playing your game for so long
I'm sick and tired of always being led
I'm exhausted of being constantly led by you
You really turned my head
You completely caught my attention
Strange to fall for jealousy
It's odd for me to feel jealous
Another love-struck fool
I am another person foolishly in love
Ooh maybe I was blind, blind
Perhaps I was oblivious
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Duncan Matthew James Inglis, Peter John Vettese, Pete Francis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind