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/)
Five-O
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your salvation
For something
For some thrills
Is a body of work
For your inspection?
You can trace
Trace my concerns
I've been looking for truth
At the cost of living
I've been afraid
Of what's before mine eyes
Every answer found
Begs another question
The further you go
The less you know
The less I know
I can feel your face
Gonna make it mine
I can be the man
I see in your eyes
Can you take my weight?
Are we both too small?
Know each other well
We've met before
Will we grow together?
Will it be a lie?
If it lasts forever
Hope I'm the first to die
Will you marry me?
Can we meet the cost?
Is the power of love
Worth the pain of loss?
Can you pay the bill?
Will you keep the change?
Are you here for the party?
Or are you here for the pain?
I can feel the fate
Gonna make it mine
I can be the man
I see in your eyes
Will we grow together?
Will we be a lie?
If it lasts forever
Hope I'm the first to die
Hope I'm the first to die
The song "Five-O" by James is a reflection on the complexity of relationships and the pursuit of truth. The first verse begins with the question of whether one is willing to trade their salvation for something more exciting, implying that there is a desire for something more from life. The use of the phrase "body of work" suggests that this exchange is not a simple exchange but rather involves a deeper look at oneself. The second half of the verse is a question directed towards the listener, asking whether they are capable of understanding the singer's concerns.
The second verse is a meditation on the difficulty of finding truth, especially when the search for answers seems to lead to more questions. The use of repetition emphasizes the idea that the further one goes, the less they actually know. In the chorus, the singer asks if the listener is willing to take on the challenge of a relationship, with all its complexities and potential pain. The idea of growing together is juxtaposed with the possibility of it all being a lie. The singer hopes that if the relationship lasts, they will be the first to die, suggesting that the pain of losing someone is preferable to living in a world without them.
Overall, "Five-O" addresses deep questions of truth, love, and the human experience. It suggests that these are not easy or straightforward issues but rather complex and difficult to understand.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you open for trade?
Would you be willing to trade your salvation or morals for excitement or pleasure?
Your salvation
Referring to one's own personal faith or moral code
For something
In exchange for temporary worldly pleasures or excitement
For some thrills
The temporary excitement, fun or pleasure offered in the trade or exchange
Is a body of work
The exchange might require effort or time, possibly a lengthy process
For your inspection?
Are you willing to examine or consider the terms of this exchange?
You can trace
You can investigate or follow
Trace my concerns
Address my worries or apprehensions
Our concern
The worries, anxieties or doubts that are shared between the two individuals
I've been looking for truth
I've been searching for answers or enlightenment
At the cost of living
Despite the challenges or difficulties I face in life
I've been afraid
I've felt scared and uncertain
Of what's before mine eyes
Of what I see and experience in my life
Every answer found
Each solution or answer discovered
Begs another question
Raises further doubts or uncertainties
The further you go
As you delve deeper or explore more
The less you know
The more you realize how much you don't know or understand
The less I know
Even though I've searched for truth, I still feel uncertain
I can feel your face
I'm drawn to your presence or essence
Gonna make it mine
I want to claim it or make it mine
I can be the man
I can fulfill the expectations or desires you have for me
I see in your eyes
The qualities or potential that you see in me
Can you take my weight?
Can you handle the responsibilities or burdens of being with me?
Are we both too small?
Are we both too weak or unprepared for the challenges that may come our way?
Know each other well
Have a deep understanding of one another
We've met before
We have some kind of history or connection
Will we grow together?
Can we develop and progress together?
Will it be a lie?
Will our relationship or partnership be based on deceit or dishonesty?
If it lasts forever
If our relationship endures for a long time
Hope I'm the first to die
I hope I am the first to pass away to spare the pain of losing the other
Will you marry me?
Will you commit to a lifelong partnership?
Can we meet the cost?
Can we handle the challenges and sacrifices that come with marriage?
Is the power of love
Is the strength and passion of our love
Worth the pain of loss?
Is it worth the risk of experiencing the pain and sorrow of losing each other?
Can you pay the bill?
Can you bear the financial or other costs of staying together?
Will you keep the change?
Will you be willing to adapt, change and compromise?
Are you here for the party?
Are you only seeking short-term fun or enjoyment?
Or are you here for the pain?
Are you willing to endure the hardships and difficulties that may come with a long-term relationship?
I can feel the fate
I have a sense of destiny or purpose with you
Will we be a lie?
Will our relationship or partnership be based on deceit or falsehoods?
Hope I'm the first to die
I hope I am the first to pass away to spare the pain of losing the other
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind