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/)
Rishtey
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile) - 2
Ristey Toh Nahi Rishton Ki Parchaayiyaan Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile
(ek Chhat Ke Tale Ajanabi Ho Jaate Hai Rishtey
Bistar Pe Chaadaro Se Chhup So Jaate Hai Rishtey) - 2
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Hai Bass Yahaan Tanahaayiyaan Mile
(jisko Bhi Dekhiye Woh Adhura Sa Hai Yahaan
Jaise Kahin Ho Aur Woh Aadha Rakha Huwa) - 2
Ho Jab Jahaan Jude Wahi Judaayiyaan Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile
(ristey Toh Nahi Rishton Ki Parchaayiyaan Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile) - 2
The lyrics of Rishtey by James talk about the complexity and loneliness of relationships. The song describes how in a crowd of people, sometimes it's only the shadows of relationships that are visible, not real relationships. The lyrics are a reflection of how people have become disconnected from each other despite being surrounded by a multitude of people. It talks about how relationships have become like vague shadows that people struggle to grasp in their hands. The lyrics convey the idea that love and relationships have become shallow and meaningless in today's world, and people are having a hard time finding true and genuine connections.
The lines "Jisko bhi dekhiye woh adhura sa hai yahaan, jaise kahin ho aur woh aadha rakha huwa" convey the feeling that no matter where you look, everyone seems incomplete, and it feels like they are only half-present. Relationships that were once the raison d'être for existence have lost their meaning, leaving people searching for something authentic.
Overall, the lyrics of the song, Rishtey, by James, are a poignant portrayal of the loneliness and disconnection experienced by people in today's world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ristey Toh Nahi Rishton Ki Parchaayiyaan Mile
We do not come across the impressions of relationships, just the crowded loneliness of people around us.
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile
What is this gathering where only loneliness is found?
Ek Chhat Ke Tale Ajanabi Ho Jaate Hai Rishtey
Under the same roof, relationships become strangers.
Bistar Pe Chaadaro Se Chhup So Jaate Hai Rishtey
Relationships hide under bedspreads and fall asleep.
Dhunde Se Bhi Iname Nahi Darmaayiyaan Mile
Even though we search for them, we cannot find lasting friendships.
Jisko Bhi Dekhiye Woh Adhura Sa Hai Yahaan
Everyone we see seems incomplete here.
Jaise Kahin Ho Aur Woh Aadha Rakha Huwa
As if they belong somewhere else and have only left a part of themselves here.
Ho Jab Jahaan Jude Wahi Judaayiyaan Mile
When we become one with a place, we find separations there as well.
Ristey Toh Nahi Rishton Ki Parchaayiyaan Mile
We do not come across the impressions of relationships, just the crowded loneliness of people around us.
Yeh Kaisi Bheed Bass Yahaan Tanhaayiyaan Mile
What is this gathering where only loneliness is found?
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Saeesh Sangodkar
Rishte Toh Nahi Rishto
Ki Parchayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile
Rishte Toh Nahi Rishto
Ki Parchayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile
Rishte Toh Nahi Rishto
Ki Parchayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile
Chhat Ke Tale Ajanabi
Ho Jate Hai Rishte
Bistar Pe Chadaro Se
Chhup So Jate Hai Rishte
Ek Chhat Ke Tale
Ajanabi Ho Jate Hai Rishte
Bistar Pe Chadaro Se
Chhup So Jate Hai Rishte
Dhunde Se Bhi Iname
Nahi Darmayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanahayiya Mile
Jisko Bhi Dekhiye Woh
Adhura Sa Hai Yaha
Jaise Kahi Ho Aur Woh
Aadha Rakha Huwa
Jisko Bhi Dekhiye Woh
Adhura Sa Hai Yaha
Jaise Kahi Ho Aur Woh
Aadha Rakha Huwa
Ho Jab Jahan Jude
Wahi Judayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile
Rishte Toh Nahi Rishto
Ki Parchayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile
Rishte Toh Nahi Rishto
Ki Parchayiya Mile
Yeh Kaisi Bhid Hai Bas
Yaha Tanhayiya Mile.
Timir Das
The solo sounds like a lot very much like Petrucci.. with this guitar player's own unique tone.. I love jame's guitar player's tones..
Shivram Mukherjee
Guru (James) is a different entity altogether. Ripping Guitar Riff, Powerful vocals has always been Guru's USP.
Vikas Kumar Vocalist
James , We want you to sing more songs in Bollywood 😍😍❤️❤️
Saeesh Sangodkar
The Pain. . . Can only be felt by some ❤️
Rong Mistri
Really legend of Bangladesh 💖💖💖
Animesh Nath
great song from bengali singer
Asowad
Wow wow wow this song is immortal James is our guru
Timir Das
God damn man\m/Solo guitarist and the female vocals please? simple composition but great harmonisation by the solo guitarist. The solo guitar player is in a different time zone altogether.
Ashish Nehra
PRITAM is too good
MD. MEHEDI HASAN
Love This Song.....