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/)
Johnny Yen
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
See the Jean Genie on his high-wire act
At the back of his mind lies a suicide pact
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger where war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
On fire again
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
See Houdini and his underwater tricks
You were sitting at the front hoping his locks would stick
Watch Knievel hit the seventeenth bus
You got crushed in the souvenir rush
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
I said, poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
See the young men itching to burn
Waiting for their own star turn
Needing danger where war would do
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
On fire again
I said, poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
Ladies and gentlemen
Here's my disease
Give me a standing ovation
And your sympathy
(Come on, somebody, finish him off please!
Put the poor fool out of his misery, will you?
Can't you see he's had enough?
Finish him off, somebody!)
The song "Johnny Yen" by James is a commentary on the human desire for danger and excitement. Throughout the song, Johnny Yen is used as a metaphor for anyone who seeks out risky behavior in order to feel something. When the lyrics say "here's my disease, give me a standing ovation and your sympathy", they are acknowledging that the behavior is unhealthy, but also that people are drawn to it and glorify it.
The line "needing danger where war would do" speaks to the idea that sometimes people crave an adrenaline rush or a sense of danger even when it's not necessary. This can lead to self-destructive behavior, as is evidenced by Johnny Yen setting himself on fire repeatedly. The song also highlights the vicarious thrill-seeking that can occur, with people waiting for their own "star turn" and getting caught up in the spectacle of dangerous stunts, like Houdini's underwater tricks or Evel Knievel's motorcycle jumps.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that while the dangers people seek out may seem glamorous or exciting, they often come at a great cost. The repetition of "poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again" serves as a reminder of the toll this behavior can take over time. In the end, the call to "finish him off" could be interpreted as a plea to end the cycle of self-destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Ladies and gentlemen, here's my disease
Introducing himself, James likens his personal struggles to a disease that he is sharing with the audience, seeking their acknowledgement and perhaps understanding.
Give me a standing ovation and your sympathy
He wants the audience to recognize, and appreciate the suffering he has endured and give him a platform, hoping they could empathize and show him compassion.
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
Johnny Yen is a symbolic representation of all the people who despite knowing the consequences inflict harm upon themselves or burn bridges in their personal and professional lives.
See the Jean Genie on his high-wire act
Here, Jean Genie (possibly David Bowie) is someone who is living dangerously or walking a fine line of possibilities in his/her personal or professional realm.
At the back of his mind lies a suicide pact
While seemingly, everything that Jean Genie does appear to be rewarding, still, the individual is also aware of the dire consequences and has agreed to take responsibility for their actions.
See the young men itching to burn
This line refers to the restless energy in youth who are bored and in search of ways to find excitement and distractions. They do not necessarily want to create a lacerating situation but crave stimuli.
Waiting for their own star turn
The youth are looking for an opportunity where their potential can be recognized, but in the absence of that, they resort to seeking excitement and create a situation where they can at least be noticed.
Needing danger where war would do
While these restless youth are not looking for war, they still need an equally powerful source like bombastic dangerous distractions to quell their restless thirst.
If they can't let it out, they'll pick on you
If the youth cannot find ways to release their energy, they will create trouble or pick up fights with someone who they feel is inferior in some way.
See Houdini and his underwater tricks
Houdini (possibly Harry Houdini) was a legend when it came to his ability to perform tricks under extreme duress. Here James is analogizing Houdini's skills to survive in impossible conditions with people's ability to deal with their problems.
You were sitting at the front hoping his locks would stick
While the audience gathered around to watch Houdini's underwater magic, someone is present in the audience who desires to see him fail.
Watch Knievel hit the seventeenth bus
Here Evel Knievel refers to daredevil motorcycle stunt riders. The mention indicates how striking visual stunts they perform, which can go either way, though it creates immense excitement for the audience.
You got crushed in the souvenir rush
People try to grab as many souvenirs from such daredevil stunts as possible. In this situation, people get careless and may result in injury while striving for a keepsake.
Poor old Johnny Yen's set himself on fire again
Reiterating that people such as Johnny Yen will continue to hurt themselves, irrespective of receiving appreciation or compassion from others because of their inability to break the cycle of self-distancing behavior.
Come on, somebody, finish him off please!
This is said in a sarcastic tone, indicating how people can sometimes be insensitive and cruel towards someone who is suffering and struggling with their mental health.
Put the poor fool out of his misery, will you?
Again, someone says this trying to be funny, but it highlights the stark reality of how insensitive, and sometimes cruel, people can be towards others who are struggling with their internal demons.
Can't you see he's had enough?
This line represents how some people believe that a person's suffering has reached a point where they cannot be helped, and they need to end their life or pain.
Finish him off, somebody!
This is an attempt to create humor over someone's misery, which is a dark reality of our society, that makes fun of the struggles of others that may push more people towards despair and desperation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GAVIN WHELAN, JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind