Since 2005, and prior to his participation in The X Factor, he was a vocalist and guitarist in a number of bands, and later, as a solo artist as well as forming his own The James Arthur Band and James Arthur Project.
Arthur was born in Middlesbrough, England to English mother Shirley Ashworth and Scottish father Neil Arthur. James’ father was a delivery driver, but also used to be a DJ and a drummer for many years. Arthur’s parents split when he was just two-years-old and each settled with a new partner. Neil and Shirley were not on talking terms with each other for more than twenty years. But they agreed to attend the show together in a family reunion to attend their son’s performance.
Arthur first went to Ings Farm Primary School in Redcar, North Yorkshire. When he was nine, he moved with his mother Shirley and his step father Ronald Rafferty to Bahrain where he studied at the local British School of Bahrain for four years. When they split, Arthur, then 14, had to move back with his mother and his two half-sisters Jasmine and Neve to the UK to live in a modest house in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.Upon his return, he continued his studies at Redcar’s Rye Hills School.
Arthur has five siblings, an older brother called Neil Arthur, an older sister called Sian Arthur, and three younger sisters, Charlotte Arthur and Jasmin and Neve Rafferty.
Arthur has been writing and recording songs since he was 15 as an unsigned artist both solo and in many bands including:
Moonlight Drive - a Cleveland-based progressive, experimental, rock five-piece band with Arthur in lead vocals. The band was active between 2005 and 2008. They had recordings such as «Said You’d Be There», «Hole in My Heart» and «Tear Me Apart».
Cue the Drama - an alternative rock band based in Marske-by-the-Sea and active between 2005 and 2008. Recordings included «On the Radio 98KUPD», «It’s Killing Me», «I Reach You» and «It Hurts».
Save Arcade - a Middlesbrough alternative rock band made up of Arthur (vocals, guitar), Josh Brown (keyboards, vocals), Matthew Green (guitar), Alex Beer (bass, vocals), Travis Shaw (guitar, percussions, vocals) and Karl Dowson (drums). In 2009, the band released a three-track EP called Truth, carrying the title track «The Truth», as well as «Echoes» and «I Un-Proudly Present». In June 2010, the band released a five-track EP, Tonight We Dine in Hades, which in addition to the title track «Tonight We Dine in Hades» included «Superhero», «You Always Want a Fight», «Juliet Is Not Dead» and «She Aims to Please». Both releases were on the independent 57 Records UK.
Emerald Skye - a four-piece indie pop/rock band formed in March 2011 based in Redcar / Saltburn-by-the-Sea and made up of Arthur (guitar, vocals), Dean Harrison (piano, violin), Paul Gill (bass) and Save Arcade bandmate Green (drums).
Arthur also uploaded many of his own songs to Soundcloud and YouTube including an album entitled Sins by the Sea. In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
In early 2012, he recorded songs and released two EPs as The James Arthur Band. The band consisted of Arthur (vocals and guitar), Jez Taylor (guitar), Chris Smalls (keyboards), Jordan Swain (drums) and Rich Doney (bass). In 2012, the band released The EP Collection CD with nine tracks with R&B, soul and hip hop influences, a compilation of tracks on both EPs. Arthur also released an EP named Hold On under the name The James Arthur Project in August 2012 in collaboration with John McGough. The tracks were written and arranged by McGough, and mixed by Matt Wanstall with all vocals by Arthur.
Arthur auditioned for The X Factor with an acoustic rendition of judge Tulisa Contostavlos’s «Young», before explaining his past, including spells in care and time spent on the streets after break-ups within his family. He also revealed his father and mother had not spoken to each other for over 20 years, and this was a reunion of sorts for them to attend his audition. After his judges’ houses performance of «I Can’t Make You Love Me», he was picked by his mentor Nicole Scherzinger as one of the 12 contestants for the live shows, and one of just three in the «Boys» category. After the second live show, Arthur suffered from an anxiety attack backstage. Whilst being treated at the studio, paramedics determined he did not need to go to hospital, and he was ordered back to his hotel to rest. He later returned for the results show the following. Arthur was in the bottom two in week 7 after performing «Can’t Take My Eyes Off You». He sang «Fallin’» for survival against Ella Henderson, with the judges going to deadlock after their vote was evenly split 2-2 (mentor Scherzinger and Gary Barlow voting to keep him, while Contostavlos and Louis Walsh voted in favour of Henderson). Arthur was then saved by the public vote. On 8 December, he made it through to the second night of the live finals.
Arthur won The X Factor on 9 December 2012, with 53.7% of the vote, against Jahméne Douglas who received 38.9% of the vote.
Is This Love?
James Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I knew them well but maybe I was blind
'Cause everything's brand new
Thought I knew my heartbeat but it was out of time
It's like my lungs are opening for the first time
Ever since I met you
And I'm on my way now
Is this love, really love?
Is this love, really love?
I swear that I was heading down a darker road
You got through my guard when I was in safety mode
Darling you're such a view
You're pulling down my walls like you're my only sun
You're the one to blame, you hold a smoking gun
So take your aim and shoot
And I'm on my way now
Is this love? Really love?
Is this love? Really love?
I need to know, need to know
'Cause I've never been this close
Is this love, is this love?
Really love, really love?
And all these demons I'm letting go
'Cause I can see what is beautiful
It finally feels like I'm coming home
Is this love? Really love?
Is this love? Really love?
I need to know, need to know
'Cause I've never been this close
Is this love, is this love?
Really love, really love?
And all these demons I'm letting go
'Cause I can see what is beautiful
It finally feels like I'm coming home
In James Arthur's "Is This Love," the singer expresses his newfound realization of love and how it has changed his perspective on life. He reflects on how he thought he knew the streets like the back of his hand but with this newfound feeling, everything seems so new and exciting. The singer also mentions how meeting the person he is singing about has made him feel like he can breathe for the first time. He is unsure about what he is feeling, hence the repetition of the phrase "Is this love, really love?".
Later on, the song mentions that the singer was going down a darker road before he met this person, and it seemed like he was in a mode of safety. However, when this person came into his life, everything changed. The person brought light into his life and pulled down his walls like they were the sun. The imagery here indicates that the person has played an integral role in his life, and he is feeling emotions that he has never felt before. The singer is in awe of this newfound feeling and wants to explore it more.
The singer deals with all these emotions and his past demons appropriately, saying that he can see what is beautiful and that he is finally coming home. These lines reveal the emotional transformation that he has undergone — how this newfound relationship has mended his heart and soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I must've walked these streets about a million times
I thought I knew my life so well and had experienced every corner of it.
I thought I knew them well but maybe I was blind
But with your arrival, I now see these same streets with fresh eyes.
'Cause everything's brand new
With you, everything feels like a new world, like I'm experiencing everything for the first time.
Thought I knew my heartbeat but it was out of time
Even my heart was not aligned with me, but with you I feel it sync with my mind.
It's like my lungs are opening for the first time
Breathing, which earlier felt monotonous, now feels like experiencing it for the first time.
Ever since I met you
All this change in me happened only after meeting you.
And I'm on my way now
I'm on a new path of life now, with you by my side.
Is this love, really love?
I wonder if this feeling that overwhelms me is true love.
I swear that I was heading down a darker road
Before you, my life felt hopeless and bleak.
You got through my guard when I was in safety mode
You managed to break through my protective barriers even when I was trying to keep my heart safe.
Darling you're such a view
You are a breathtaking sight to me.
You're pulling down my walls like you're my only sun
You bring such happiness and light into my life that all of my walls are beginning to crumble.
You're the one to blame, you hold a smoking gun
You are solely responsible for my new life, and all the love that comes with it.
So take your aim and shoot
I am ready for anything you're willing to give, I'm all in.
I need to know, need to know
I'm eager to find out if this feeling that I'm experiencing is genuine love.
'Cause I've never been this close
I've never felt this open and vulnerable with anyone before.
Is this love, is this love?
I need to know if this feeling is truly love, pure and simple.
And all these demons I'm letting go
With you, I feel I can finally let go of all my fears and insecurities.
'Cause I can see what is beautiful
I can finally appreciate the beauty that surrounds me, both inside and out.
It finally feels like I'm coming home
With you by my side, I feel like I have found my way to where I truly belong.
Really love, really love?
I need to know if this is the real thing, if this is true and genuine love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES ARTHUR, STEVE ROBSON, CLAUDE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sabrinavilla8086
I must've walked these streets about a million times
I thought I knew them well but maybe I was blind
'Cause everything's brand new
Thought I knew my heartbeat but it was out of time
It's like my lungs are opening for the first time
Ever since I met you
And I'm on my way now
Is this love, really love?
Is this love, really love?
I swear that I was heading down a darker road
You got through my guard when I was in safety mode
Darling you're such a view
You're pulling down my walls like you're my only sun
You're the one to blame, you hold a smoking gun
So take your aim and shoot
And I'm on my way now
Is this love? Really love?
Is this love? Really love?
I need to know, need to know
'Cause I've never been this close
Is this love, is this love?
Really love, really love?
And all these demons I'm letting go
'Cause I can see what is beautiful
It finally feels like I'm coming home
Is this love? Really love?
Is this love? Really love?
I need to know, need to know
'Cause I've never been this close
Is this love, is this love?
Really love, really love?
And all these demons I'm letting go
'Cause I can see what is beautiful
It finally feels like I'm coming home
@miscrits1x1
rse 1]
I must've walked these streets about a million times
I thought I knew them well but maybe I was blind
'Cause everything's brand new
Thought I knew my heartbeat but it was out of time
It's like my lungs are opening for the first time
Ever since I met you
And I'm on my way now
[Chorus]
Is this love, really love?
Is this love, really love?
Ohhh ohhh
[Verse 2]
I swear that I was heading down a darker road
You got through my guard when I was in safety mode
Everything's brand new
You're burning down my walls like the Miami sun
You're the one to blame, you hold a smoking gun
So take your aim and shoot
And I'm on my way now
[Chorus]
Is this love? Really love?
Is this love? Really love?
I need to know, need to know
'Cause I've never been this close
Is this love, is this love?
Really love, really love?
@alannajohnson5043
James Arthur , I'm your Biggest fan since your very first X Factor audition. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world. you're an inspiration to me. Despite all the heartache you lived through you still pushed through and changed your life for the better. you never gave up . God bless you and your Parents .
@alannajohnson5043
I would be so happy and appreciative if he would respond to me♡.
@tiasmith1997
Alanna I have also been his biggest fan since the X factor! I voted every night and went to a concert! His first album was amazing and it broke my heart as my friends forgot who he was, but people like you and me never did. He is an inspiration to me and has helped me through so many hard times and I can't thank him enough for that ❤️❤️ never left my heart or my ears xxx
@suhaibawad4479
Alanna Gonzalez I don't wanna be depressing but I don't think he replies here. You have a much higher chance of him replying to you on twitter
@nikolijacuckic9594
it's Arthur not Author...
@lovelystillsmiling5234
+Suhaib Awad lol
@alex4422
His songs are so strong I feel like even my brain got moves
@Salma-nv4xm
3 seconds in and im already in love
@monaisabella4238
Salma Styles When I saw the name James Arthur I already knew this song would be the best 😂😅
@deakaca5617
Salma Styles omg same