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/)
She
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whenever she's feeling insecure
Whenever her face is frozen
Unable to fake it anymore
Her shadow is always with her
Her shadow could always keep her small
So frightened that he won't love her
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
She's been in disguise forever
She's tried to disguise her stellar views
Much brighter than all this static
Now she's coming through
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
Don't tell her to turn down
Put on your shades if you can't see
Don't tell her to turn down
Turn up the flame
She's a star
She's a star
It's a long road
It's a great cause
It's a long road
Its a good call
You got it
You got it
She's a Star
The lyrics to James's song "She" tell a story about a woman who struggles with feelings of emptiness and insecurity. She puts up a facade to hide her true feelings, but her shadow is always with her, reminding her of her fears. She is scared that the man she loves won't accept her for who she is, so she builds up a wall to protect herself. However, the lyrics also speak of the woman's inner strength, and her determination to break through the noise and come out as a star.
The line, "Whenever her face is frozen, unable to fake it anymore" suggests that the woman is tired of pretending to fit in with societal norms and expectations. The lyrics also mention that she's been in disguise for a long time, trying to suppress her unique views and personality. However, she realizes that she's much brighter than all the static around her, and it's time to break free from her insecurities.
The chorus emphasizes that the woman is a star, and that she shouldn't be told to turn down her light. It's a call to embrace one's uniqueness and shine in the world.
Overall, the lyrics to "She" are about overcoming insecurity and self-doubt, and embracing one's true self. It's a powerful message that many people can relate to, and serves as a reminder to be confident in who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever she's feeling empty
At times when she feels low and unfulfilled
Whenever she's feeling insecure
When she lacks confidence and feels uncertain
Whenever her face is frozen
When she can't hide her emotions anymore
Unable to fake it anymore
When she is done pretending and putting on a facade
Her shadow is always with her
She can't escape her fears and insecurities
Her shadow could always keep her small
She feels weighed down by her doubts and fears
So frightened that he won't love her
She is scared of rejection and not being loved
She builds up a wall
She protects herself by putting up barriers
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
She is familiar with hiding her true self and her vulnerabilities
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She is done hiding and is ready to be seen
She's a star
She has a shining quality and is worthy of admiration
She's been in disguise forever
She has been hiding her true self for a while now
She's tried to disguise her stellar views
She has attempted to conceal her valuable and unique perspective
Much brighter than all this static
Shining brighter than all the noise and negativity around her
Now she's coming through
She is ready to show her true self to the world
Don't tell her to turn down
Don't try to silence her and make her less than what she is
Put on your shades if you can't see
If you can't appreciate her worth, it's your loss
Turn up the flame
Encourage her to let her light shine brighter
It's a long road
The journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance is tough and takes time
It's a great cause
It is a worthy pursuit that makes one's life more fulfilling and authentic
Its a good call
It is a wise decision to embrace one's true self and pursue their passions
You got it
You understand and you're on board with her transformation
She's a Star
She has reached a point of self-acceptance and empowerment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIMOTHY BOOTH, JAMES PATRICK GLENNIE, JAMES LAWRENCE GOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marilynsalinas
Whenever she's feeling empty
Whenever she's feeling insecure
Whenever her face is frozen
Unable to fake it anymore
Her shadow is always with her
Her shadow could always keep her small
So frightened that he won't love her
She builds up a wall
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
She's been in disguise forever
She's tried to disguise her stellar views
Much brighter than all this static
Now she's coming through
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
Don't tell her to turn down
Put on your shades if you can't see
Don't tell her to turn down
Turn up the flame
She's a star
She's a star
It's a long road
It's a great cause
It's a long road
Its a good call
You got it
You got it
She's a Star
@rpmusic80
This is the greatest song ever to me. Never fails to send a shiver down the spine. I am a grown man but am proud to state that i struggle to get through this song in one piece its so emotive! Its awesome and was the soundtrack to my youth. Love it.
@dean9325
and then it came back, again. She'll be a star.
@FirstNameLastName-hahaha
Said like a real grown man .. hope you managed to de-sensitize a little over the past 12 years
@KeithSkillen-pc5it
True 😊
@angelantonio1074
I truly remember this song before I understand English, and it just gives me the same sensation 25 years later , dunno what to say , but thank you James 👏👏👏👏
@LS-kx5vj
There is something magical about this band the lead singer has an astounding vocal range and he and they write the badass songs of all time!.... This being the best one ever!!!.. she's a star
@freddiesfun344
This song was played at the end of Deborah James ‘Bowelbabe’ documentary. Such a sad but uplifting song.
@jdloer
man! I was 20 when this was released, i remember when I listened to it at the music store in the new arrivals. I was like Wow! I bought a tape, got out of the mall, went to my car, popped the cassette in, and drove away from the city into the country side and drove for hours listening to the entire album! amazing times! amazing music!
@cgrextreme
wow, this song brings back so many memories form my teenage years. great songs like this will never get old. fantastic
@marilynsalinas
Whenever she's feeling empty
Whenever she's feeling insecure
Whenever her face is frozen
Unable to fake it anymore
Her shadow is always with her
Her shadow could always keep her small
So frightened that he won't love her
She builds up a wall
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
She's been in disguise forever
She's tried to disguise her stellar views
Much brighter than all this static
Now she's coming through
Oh no, she knows where to hide in the dark
Oh no, she's nowhere to hide in the dark
She's a star
She's a star
Don't tell her to turn down
Put on your shades if you can't see
Don't tell her to turn down
Turn up the flame
She's a star
She's a star
It's a long road
It's a great cause
It's a long road
Its a good call
You got it
You got it
She's a Star