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/)
Get Out Now
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My bed feels larger than when I was small
Lost in memories, lost in all the sheets and all old pillows
So alone tonight, miss you more than I will let you know
Miss the outline of your back, miss you breathing down my neck
All out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you, once again
Insecure, what ya gonna do
Called you up, answer machine, when the human touch
Is what I need, what I need is you, I need you
Looked in the mirror, I don't know who I am any more
The face is familiar, but the eyes, the eyes give it all away
They're all out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you
Here they come again
Insecure, what ya gonna do
Feel so small, they could step on you
Called you up, answer machine, when the human touch
Is what I need, what I need is you
Let me breathe, if you'd let me breathe
They're all out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you
The lyrics of James (Hip-Hop)'s song "Out To Get You" describe the feeling of loneliness after a breakup or separation from someone close. The singer reflects upon their memories and feels lost in their bed, surrounded by pillows and sheets. The song is written in first person, making the lyrics more personal and relatable for the listener.
The singer misses the physical presence of their loved one, especially the outline of their back and the sound of them breathing down their neck. However, the singer feels vulnerable and insecure as they believe that others are trying to hurt them or bring them down. This is illustrated by the repeated line "they're all out to get you, once again". In the second verse, the singer calls their loved one but only reaches their answer machine. They long for the human touch that they need, and express their desperation with the line "what I need is you, I need you".
The pre-chorus and chorus convey a sense of powerlessness and helplessness, as the singer feels small and overwhelmed. They look in the mirror and struggle to recognize themselves, hinting at a loss of identity. The song ends with a plea for space and air: "let me breathe, if you'd let me breathe". Overall, "Out To Get You" explores the emotional toll of separation and the struggle to maintain a sense of self in the face of external pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so alone tonight
Feeling isolated and lonely tonight.
My bed feels larger than when I was small
Feeling vulnerable and insignificant, making the bed feel extra big.
Lost in memories, lost in all the sheets and all old pillows
Drowning in a sea of past experiences, seeking comfort in the familiarity of his bed.
So alone tonight, miss you more than I will let you know
Feeling longing for someone but keeping it hidden.
Miss the outline of your back, miss you breathing down my neck
Craving physical proximity of someone he misses.
All out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you, once again
Feeling threatened by unknown forces that keep coming back to haunt him.
Insecure, what ya gonna do
Feeling doubtful and uncertain.
Feel so small, they could step on you
Feeling extremely vulnerable and insignificant.
Called you up, answer machine, when the human touch
Trying to reach out to someone for comfort, but receiving only an automated response.
Is what I need, what I need is you, I need you
Expressing a deep desire for the presence and comfort of a specific person.
Looked in the mirror, I don't know who I am any more
Feeling lost and confused about personal identity.
The face is familiar, but the eyes, the eyes give it all away
Recognizing the outer facade of oneself but detecting inner turmoil.
They're all out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you
Feeling under attack from unknown forces repeatedly.
Here they come again
Feeling invaded and under constant threat.
Let me breathe, if you'd let me breathe
Asking for space and freedom.
They're all out to get you, once again, they're all out to get you
Reiterating the feeling of being constantly threatened by unknown forces.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LoganTheobald
Being at the Denver show was one of the highlights of my year, I never thought I’d get the chance to see you live!
@genevievetillens1402
when i went to porter’s concert, i had no idea james was performing because there wasn’t anything written about it on the ticket AND I WAS SO SHOCKED THAT HE WAS THERE❤️ definitely a core memory to see you live and i’m so happy to have experienced it :)
@kuhnzy2272
Same!
@FlorianNexuzZ
i hope he comes with Porter on porters Europe tour
@kerrigancoyle8324
Same!!
@xQMA
@Florian NexuzZ good news, it's confirmed he is!
@FlorianNexuzZ
@QMA thanks for the good news :)
@itsjvck1
Im so fucking hyped seeing your progression as an artist. When I was in Richmond for Porter, seeing you perform put so much inspiration into me as an aspiring music artist myself. I was at the very front and center singing all of your songs haha I’ll never forget that
@Hilly_LittleFeatheryCorner
Im so glad I saw you through Porter's concert in ATL! I fell in love with your style and songs and Im so glad Porter brought you! I even remember someone threw you a shirt and you wore it! :D
@GameCraftGames
Saw you in Berlin yesterday and it was MENTAL. Great performance and the crowd was absolutely feeling it. I hope to buy tickets for your own concert in the future!