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.
Medicine
James Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always make me feel blessed, you're my guardian angel
You are, you are, you are
Yeah, you are, you are, you are
You put your body on mine when they're taking aim
You're the pin in my heart, it's a hand grenade
You are, you are, you are
I feel like you
Could save me now
When I'm suicidal
Don't let me spiral
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You kiss away the pain of all the hell I'm in
You're gonna make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, you're my medicine
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You take the pain whenever I'm in hell again
I know you'll make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, yeah, you're my medicine
You always say we should move to LA, yeah
I'll buy you a plane and I'll fly you away
You are my heroine, you're my escape
Everything gonna be Gucci today
I feel like you
Could save me now
I know I hurt you
I don't deserve you, no no
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You kiss away the pain of all the hell I'm in
You're gonna make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, you're my medicine
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You take the pain whenever I'm in hell again
I know you'll make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, yeah, you're my medicine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause you're my medicine
Yeah, yeah, whoa oh
I love the way you look in that Balenciaga
One sip of you, I'm hooked, I wanna hit it harder
No drug could feel this good, now I'm addicted to you, ooh
(Yeah)
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You kiss away the pain of all the hell I'm in
You're gonna make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, you're my medicine
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You take the pain whenever I'm in hell again
I know you make me better than I've ever been
'Cause you're my medicine, yeah, you're my medicine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause you're my medicine
Yeah, yeah, whoa oh
The song "Medicine" by James Arthur is about a person who is struggling with depression, and their partner acts as a "medicine" to help them through it. The partner is compared to a bulletproof vest, a guardian angel, and a cure for all their scars. They are a source of comfort and safety, protecting the person from the dangerous thoughts that come with depression. The lyrics "I feel like you could save me now, when I'm suicidal, don't let me spiral" highlight the severity of the depression and the importance of the partner in helping them through it.
Throughout the song, the partner is also compared to a drug or addiction. They are described as being more powerful than any other drug, with the line "No drug could feel this good, now I'm addicted to you, ooh." The person acknowledges that they are dependent on their partner for support and comfort. The line "I know I hurt you, I don't deserve you" shows their guilt for burdening their partner with their struggles and the gratitude they have for them.
Line by Line Meaning
You're my bulletproof vest when it's getting dangerous
You protect me when I am in a perilous situation
Always make me feel blessed, you're my guardian angel
You bring me comfort and support as if you were sent from above
You are, you are, you are
You are always there for me
You put your body on mine when they're taking aim
You literally shield me from harm's way
You're the pin in my heart, it's a hand grenade
My heart is like a ticking time bomb, but you keep me from exploding
The cure for all my scars
You heal my emotional wounds
I feel like you
Could save me now
When I'm suicidal
Don't let me spiral
I trust that you have the power to prevent me from hurting myself
You make my heart beat faster than adrenaline
You excite me and give me a rush of emotion
You kiss away the pain of all the hell I'm in
Your loving gestures take away all my problems
You're gonna make me better than I've ever been
You improve my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined
'Cause you're my medicine, you're my medicine
You are the cure for all that ails me
You always say we should move to LA, yeah
I'll buy you a plane and I'll fly you away
You want us to start a new life together, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen
You are my heroine, you're my escape
You are my savior and my way out of the darkness
Everything gonna be Gucci today
Everything will be good and fashionable today
I know I hurt you
I don't deserve you, no no
I acknowledge that I have caused you pain and I cannot believe how lucky I am to have you
I love the way you look in that Balenciaga
I am deeply attracted to your sense of style
One sip of you, I'm hooked, I wanna hit it harder
No drug could feel this good, now I'm addicted to you, ooh
Being with you is the ultimate high and I am completely addicted to you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Cause you're my medicine
Yeah, yeah, whoa oh
You are the elixir that cures all that ails me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Tizzard, James Arthur, James Michael George Bell, Rick Parkhouse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesarthur
Hello everyone!
@elainrobyns1740
Heyyy!
@Jennah0908
Hi James! Question: It seems as if you were a bit disappointed with your last album - what do you hope to do differently? Just remember you have nothing to prove!!
@michellewhittinghan1271
Hi
@laurechicot9799
AHHHH YOU THERE BA
@jamesarthur
@@Jennah0908 I wouldn’t say disappointed, I am super proud of many of the songs on the record I just felt as a body of work it felt a little disjointed and I’m looking forward to sharing a more cohesive body of work this time. Thanks for your question.
@jamesarthur
See you all soon! X
@joannacaney8855
See you soon 🤍🤍
@jennifermurshid556
Bye 😘😘😘
@laurechicot9799
See you soon ❤️