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/)
Really Hard
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takes much courage and a mind without doubt
I'm just some robot, wind up the clockwork jerk
Trying to impress is the nature of my work
And it's so hard to remain open
If it's true, it can't be spoken
Really hard
Rhetoriticians think they're running this show
Words as power is all they'll ever know
I'm just some reflex, when struck, the knee will jerk
Trying to impress is the nature of our work
And it's so hard to remain open
If you bend, you won't get broken
Really hard
Really hard
Wake up from this dreaming state
A long scream out, it's not too late
I am dying to begin
I am dying to begin again
Really hard
Really hard
The song "Really Hard" by James begins with a powerful message about the importance of love and standing up for what is right, even when faced with adversity. The opening lyrics suggest that being loving during difficult times takes immense courage and an unwavering mind. Yet, the following line emphasizes that the singer feels like a robot, someone who is simply going through the motions to impress others. He acknowledges that the need to impress others is a part of human nature, and it often overrides our ability to act with love and kindness, especially when the stakes are high.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "really hard," which suggests that the task of standing up for what we believe in and acting with kindness and love is not easy. The second verse takes a more critical look at the people who hold power in society, particularly politicians, portraying them as self-interested and concerned only with maintaining their power through words. The singer suggests that people are reflexive, reacting to pressure by jerking their knees. He again acknowledges the difficulty of remaining open and true to oneself in a society that values power over love and kindness.
In the final verse, the singer implores listeners to "wake up from this dreaming state" and to act with courage and kindness. He suggests that it is not too late to start anew and to begin again, even if it requires a great deal of effort and sacrifice. Overall, "Really Hard" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to prioritize love and kindness in a society that often values power and control above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
To be loving when the knives are out
It takes a lot of bravery and inner certainty to show kindness and love towards others, especially when faced with hostility or conflict.
Takes much courage and a mind without doubt
Being able to stay calm and loving in the face of adversity requires a strong sense of self-assurance and unshakeable belief in one's own values and morals.
I'm just some robot, wind up the clockwork jerk
Sometimes we feel like we're just going through the motions of life, like an automaton following a predetermined path without any real agency or control.
Trying to impress is the nature of my work
We may feel pressure to constantly prove ourselves to others or seek approval from others as a means of defining our self-worth.
And it's so hard to remain open
It can be difficult to stay vulnerable and receptive to new ideas and experiences, especially when it feels like the world is constantly closing in.
If it's true, it can't be spoken
Some things are hard to articulate with words, and the deeper truths of life often defy our ability to express them through language.
Rhetoriticians think they're running this show
People who excel in the art of persuasion and rhetoric may feel like they are in control of the people and events around them.
Words as power is all they'll ever know
For some people, language is the ultimate tool for shaping and manipulating the world around them, and they may rely on it as a means of exerting control.
I'm just some reflex, when struck, the knee will jerk
We can feel like our responses and reactions to events are instinctual, like a reflex that we can't control or avoid.
Trying to impress is the nature of our work
As human beings, we often feel driven to prove ourselves to others and to earn recognition and respect from those around us.
If you bend, you won't get broken
Sometimes it's better to be flexible and adaptable in the face of change, rather than trying to stand firm and immovable.
Wake up from this dreaming state
It's time to stop sleepwalking through life and become more aware and engaged with the world around us.
A long scream out, it's not too late
There's still time to change and make a difference, no matter how overwhelming or insurmountable things may seem.
I am dying to begin
There is a powerful sense of urgency and desire to start living more fully and authentically, with purpose and passion.
I am dying to begin again
Every moment is a chance to start anew, to let go of the past and embrace the possibilities of the present and future.
Really hard
The challenges of life can sometimes feel overwhelming and insurmountable, but it's important to keep pushing forward and striving towards our goals, even when it's tough.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: GAVIN WHELAN, JAMES GLENNIE, LAWRENCE GOTT, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind