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/)
Hero
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weak and strong
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
Weak and strong
Weak and strong
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to change
You've got to change
You think you're strong
Cutting off love like an amputee
You're not alone
We all want love without the grief
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
Weak and strong
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
You're not alone
We can relate to your insecurities
You think you're strong
Measure your courage in empathy
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
Weak and strong
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
Weak and strong
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to change
You've got to change
You've got to change
Right, wrong, maybe
Option one's
The dangerous one
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet you make us wrong
And I'll bet you make us strong
Love the dangerous one
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
Another hero
Another hero
Another hero makes another villain
Another hero
Another hard on
Another right on makes another villain
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to change
You've got to change
The song "Hero" by James is about being a hero to oneself and to others. The lyrics talk about the importance of loving others as if they were one's own brother and changing oneself for the better. The chorus repeats the line "ever the hero you won't break, weak and strong," suggesting that one can be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. The lyrics also touch on the idea that cutting off love is like cutting off a part of oneself, and that courage can be measured in empathy.
The song's meaning is further reinforced by the lines "another hero makes another villain" which suggests that being a hero is not always easy, and one must constantly work on oneself to avoid becoming the villain. The use of the phrase "hard on" in the line "another hard on makes another villain" is likely a play on words, referring to both being tough and being aroused, suggesting that being too aggressive or self-centered can lead one down a dangerous path.
Overall, the song Hero is an uplifting and empowering message about the importance of love, compassion, and self-improvement.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, ever the hero you won't break
Weak and strong
No matter how weak or strong you feel, you are determined to be the hero and never give up.
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to change
You need to prioritize loving and caring for others, even more than you love yourself, and be willing to change to make that happen.
You think you're strong
Cutting off love like an amputee
You're not alone
We all want love without the grief
Thinking you are strong by avoiding love is like cutting off a limb, and you are not alone in wanting to love without experiencing pain.
You're not alone
We can relate to your insecurities
You think you're strong
Measure your courage in empathy
Others can understand your insecurities and you should measure your strength and bravery by your ability to show empathy to others.
Right, wrong, maybe
Option one's
The dangerous one
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
And I'll bet
There are many choices in life, and choosing the easy or dangerous one can have consequences.
And I'll bet you make us wrong
And I'll bet you make us strong
Love the dangerous one
And I'll bet
Taking the dangerous path may make you seem wrong to others, but it can make you stronger. Embrace the risks and love the danger.
Another hero
Another hero
Another hero makes another villain
Another hero
Another hard on
Another right on makes another villain
Sometimes being a hero can lead to creating a villain, and what is considered right or hard can also lead to negative results. Take care in your actions and choices.
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to love your brother like you don't
Love yourself
You've got to change
You've got to change
Repeated reminder to prioritize love and care for others over yourself and the need to change to make that happen.
Contributed by Matthew I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
R3N_SonOfSparda
“If your are angry about not being the best, then let it sit with you. It’s motivation and proof you are not ready to give up on yourself.”
Just Some Guy without a Mustache
It’s an immaculate masterpiece of a soundtrack, I’ve never been so moved and amazed by the violin until now, this is both epic and beautiful at the same time. James Paget is simply on a different level.
Isaac Clarke
A great hero is not forged through his sword...or rifle....but through his willingness to give to others and his selflessness....a hero...is forged through his heart and mind...and within the heart and mind....is....the hero within us all.
Vin P
That beat at 1:24 is truly awesome, makes u feel like u are ascending to a different realm..
Yee
so true
Senator Ammock
Truly glorious.
Senator Ammock
"Great works are not performed by strength, but by perseverence."
Aníron
I can't say how much I love this song!!
shadow raiden23
Some times heros are born ... Others made ... But deep down all of us know the true hero lies within
Theinsanegamer10
What it takes to find the hero within is less than one thinks. It's having hope where everyone has given up, it's believing in and having faith in the things you do. You don't need to be brave (It helps) but you need to be strong. Have strength to fight hard, and never give up. That is what it takes.