James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
Crystal Blue Persuasion
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do you see?
The sun is a-rising
Most definitely
A new day is coming (ooh, ooh)
People are changing
Ain't it beautiful? (Ooh, ooh)
Better get ready to see the light
Love, love is the answer (ooh, ooh)
And that's all right
So don't you give up now (ooh, ooh)
So easy to find
Just look to your soul (your soul)
And open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion, hmm, hmm
It's a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion
Crystal
Blue persuasion
Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
On every green field (ooh, ooh)
And every town
All of his children
And every nation
There'll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion, yeah
Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah
Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah
(Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah)
The lyrics of James's "Crystal Blue Persuasion" are about the dawn of a new day and the positive changes that are taking place. The first verse sets the scene for the listener by describing the sun rising and the promise of a new day. The second verse implies that people are changing for the better, and this change is beautiful. The chorus emphasizes the importance of love being the answer and encourages the listener not to give up hope; instead, they should look to their soul and open their minds to find the crystal blue persuasion.
The final verse is a call for unity and brotherhood amongst all nations, highlighting the power of love as a unifying force. The song's title, "Crystal Blue Persuasion," is symbolic of the optimistic and uplifting message of the lyrics. The crystal blue color represents a clear and positive outlook, and the word "persuasion" suggests the power of positivity to influence change.
Overall, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" celebrates hope and positive change. It encourages listeners to look for the good in the world and to believe that love is the answer to all problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Look over yonder
Directing attention to a specific place in the distance
What do you see?
Asking the listener to visually perceive the intended location
The sun is a-rising
Referring to the beginning of a new day
Most definitely
Emphasizing the certainty of the previous statement
A new day is coming (ooh, ooh)
Suggesting the arrival of a fresh start or a positive change
People are changing
The transformation of individuals is taking place
Ain't it beautiful? (Ooh, ooh)
Expressing appreciation or joy for those transformations
Crystal blue persuasion
A state of pure and positive influence
Better get ready to see the light
Advising the audience to prepare themselves for a revelation or realization
Love, love is the answer (ooh, ooh)
Advocating that love is the solution to many problems
And that's all right
Asserting that this view is acceptable or valid
So don't you give up now (ooh, ooh)
Encouraging the listener to persevere
So easy to find
Implies that the solution is accessible or readily available
Just look to your soul (your soul)
Suggesting that the listener look to themselves internally to find the answer
And open your mind
Encourages the listener to remove any mental restrictions or limitations
Crystal blue persuasion, hmm, hmm
Reiteration of the idea of positive influence
It's a new vibration
A change in the energy or atmosphere
Maybe tomorrow
Leaves open the possibility of a better future
When he looks down
Referring to a higher power overlooking the world
On every green field (ooh, ooh)
Encompassing all living things
And every town
Encompassing all people
All of his children
Referring to all humankind
And every nation
Encompassing all countries
There'll be peace and good brotherhood
Implies a future without conflict and with everyone being treated equally
Crystal blue persuasion, yeah
A declarative statement on the idea of positive influence
Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah
Reiteration of the idea of positive influence
Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah
Reiteration of the idea of positive influence
(Crystal blue persuasion, aah-aah)
Reiteration of the idea of positive influence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eddie Morley Gray, Mike Vale, Tommy James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gigicoyle4245
Matthew Hastings says "Adding it to 'Breaking Bad' only made it (this song) better".
Are you kidding?????????????????????
Satanic Hollywood wrecks EVERY good thing, dude!
...and so does methamphetamine. So many lives DESTROYED, man.
But most of all, the Satanists in Hollyweird -have destroyed morality, hopes, dreams, and families.
So, how's the Marxist/Communist ideology workin' for ya today in 2021???
If you love old songs so much, listen to:
"Ball of Confusion" or...
"Bye bye Miss American Pie" -they were written by conjurers of the demonic realm, and are about the END OF THE WORLD.
Jesus is on His Way! (can't you see it in this song?)
@davidbrown2096
This song grips me hard every time I hear/ play it.
The blued soul harmony
Is so tight, to the writing
& arrangement of all fascets
of the intraments- the
Soulful way this song was
Produced. Gives a whole
nother meaning 2 blue
eyed soul. This was a
masterpiece.
@adityashukla3627
This song is 99.1% pure
@addisonquinby295
This song is a result of basic chemistry
@Titochad420
Your goddamn right
@teakytube7179
It’s classic coke
@seandafny
Other songs are... Well they're just some tepid, off-brand nonsense
@baxterjones2021
I Like that!!!!!
@valzthegoat6933
I’m 99.1% confident this is incredible
@Aladoof
Your goddamn right
@vijaybaboolall4853
Haaaaa
@barbararyan1255
I was 12 yo when this came out. Still love it. 60 y.o. now.