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/)
Say I Am
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If your lookin' for a lovin' man
A lovin' man, Say, say I am
If your lookin' for a huggin' man
A huggin' man, Say, say I am
If your lookin' for a kissin' man
Weeeell, if your lookin' for dancin' man
A dancin' man, Say, say I am
Ooooh yea (Shake it baby up) Come on an
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
Whooooh yea (Shake it baby up, Shake it baby up) Come on an
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
The song "Say I Am" by James is a playful and flirtatious declaration by the singer that he is the man that the woman he is addressing is looking for. The song is driven by a repetitive beat and catchy melody, punctuated with the singer's confident declarations that he is a "lovin' man," a "huggin' man," a "kissin' man," and a "dancin' man." The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they convey an energy and vitality that makes the song infectious and fun.
At its heart, "Say I Am" is a celebration of the joy of being alive and in love. The singer is exultant in his own abilities and attributes, and he wants the woman he is addressing to appreciate him too. The song is full of enthusiasm and passion, and it is easy to imagine it being played in a crowded club or at a party, with people dancing and singing along to the infectious beat.
Overall, the song "Say I Am" by James is a fun and upbeat declaration of the singer's confidence and charm. Its repetitive beat and catchy melody make it easy to dance to, and its simple and playful lyrics make it easy to sing along with. It is a song that celebrates the joy of being alive and in love, and it is sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
Line by Line Meaning
If your lookin' for a lovin' man
If you're searching for a man who will love you
A lovin' man, Say, say I am
I am that man who will love you
If your lookin' for a huggin' man
If you're looking for a man who will hug you
A huggin' man, Say, say I am
I am that man who will hug you
If your lookin' for a kissin' man
If you're looking for a man who will kiss you
A kissin' man, Say, say I am
I am that man who will kiss you
Weeeell, if your lookin' for dancin' man
If you're searching for a man who will dance with you
A dancin' man, Say, say I am
I am that man who will dance with you
Ooooh yea (Shake it baby up) Come on an
Oh yeah, let's dance together
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
Let's keep dancing
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
Let's enjoy dancing together
(Shake it baby up) Come on an
Let's keep shaking it on the dance floor
Whooooh yea (Shake it baby up, Shake it baby up) Come on an
Yeah, keep shaking it with me
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
Let's continue moving our bodies together
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
Let's have fun dancing together
(Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it)Come on an
Don't stop moving, keep dancing with me
Lyrics © DUNDEE MUSIC LLC
Written by: BARBARA TOMSCO, GEORGE TOMSCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Addrota Khan
I'm dreaming of you
You are free of all the pain
You kept from me
Your gaze is strong
I'm dreaming of you
With those black brown eyes
That seem to see
Right through me
Your wise half smile
I'm talking to no one
I'm talking to no one
No one but you
You who've moved on
I'm talking to no one
I'm talking to no one
No one but you
Now the raven has gone
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Hard to trust, hard to trust to change
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Hard to trust, hard to trust to change
I'm talking to no one
I'm talking to no one
No one but you
Now the raven has gone
I'm missing you
And your laugh that opened all the worlds to view
We never said goodbye
I'm dreaming of you
In a multiverse of meaning
Fractal shards
From a distant star
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Ride a wave, ride a wave from our birth to the grave
Hard to trust, hard to trust to change
All I'm saying, all I'm saying, all I'm saying, all I'm saying
I'm missing you
Holding a seance
Speak with the dead tonight
All I'm saying, all I'm saying, all I'm saying
Holding a seance
Meet you in dreams tonight
All I'm saying, all I'm saying, all I'm saying, all I'm saying
I'm missing you and all the worlds you opened up to view
I love you
See you next time
Rorschach
I first discovered James in 1989 when just 15, now i'm ready to turn 48, without their input i'd be someone else, thank you James from the bottom of my heart.
knelz9
I lost my 18-year old son, Andrew on 2/1/2021...I am heartbroken and a day had not gone by in the last 260-days when I have not cried over his loss. My son was, is, everything to me, and that he has "moved on"...this song so very much speaks to me about my loss and it had both helped me, but also leaves me tears when I hear it, or it starts rolling around in my head with the looping video that is the 18-years of my son's life which only stops when I am able to sleep. My was talented student, an accomplish athlete and he didn't have a mean bone in his body (expect on the soccer field) and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He is missed, and I love him, and I tell him that everyday when I visit him at the cemetery. Thanks for posting this video... Andrew's Dad.
David Dulaney
I want to say that I believe that you are incredibly strong for sharing this. I am so sorry for you, your family and especially Andrew. Being a point of hope and encouragement to people is really helpful. I hope you are able to find peace and happiness in the years to come.
Kerry Ferguson
Gorgeous, such a beautiful song and video, gets me every time I watch it
Galy Escriba
Me encantan tus canciones desde algunos años atrás... Son lo máximo! =)
Kevin White
Been a long time fan since the late 80s...love all their work and albums, probably my favourite band if asked on the street. I must give props to this band for wowing me STILL in their '(g)olden' years. Their music continues to impress, and this is one of their best songs. The album its on is an amazingly touching tribute to the death of Booth's mother and his coping. Simply geniuses at work. James...keep on keepin' on, please, for the sake of all of us. :)
Adam Yates
How good is it to see James back with such a strong album again :)
Luke Vargas
A great video considering the delicate and unconventional notion of this song, but a shame we're left with a "radio edit" of sorts, as more than 80 seconds have been trimmed off the album version.
By 1:15 it feels like we've already reached the emotional + musical climax that James songs usually, and so smartly, take much longer to work toward.
Kevin White
Wholeheartedly agree. They should have used the full track for the video. It seems rushed and lacks the build up of the original length track. Having said that, it is a fantastic video and it goes without saying, a standout James song. One of my favourites, even after all these years of quality music.
Edsuko
im in love with this song now with this video, it's so good, it really got me, the style, the message gotta LOVE IT :')