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James Arthur’s Journey from ‘The X Factor’ to Mainstream Music

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Singer James Arthur rose to stardom after winning The X Factor UK in 2012. He’s since found success in the music industry, releasing four studio albums in under 10 years. Some people may have even forgotten that he got his start on a talent show.

James Arthur Won ‘The X Factor’ in 2012

Arthur competed on Series 9 of The X Factor UK in 2012. For his audition, he sang “Young” by Tulisa. At the time, he shared that his estranged parents had reunited after 20 years to see his performance. He later joined the Boys category and was mentored by judge Nicole Scherzinger .

Throughout the competition, Arthur performed songs such as “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO and “Fallin'” by Alicia Keys. In the finale, he joined Scherzinger for a duet of “Make You Feel My Love” followed by his winner’s single, “Impossible” by Shontelle.

At the end of the season, Arthur was announced as the winner against runner-up Jahméne Douglas, who was also mentored by Scherzinger. The judge stood between the two singers on stage as host Dermot O’Leary announced that Arthur was the winner.

Arthur’s cover of “Impossible” was released as a charity single after the show and ended up topping the UK Singles Chart in the first week. The next year, he released his debut self-titled album, which featured “Impossible” and his second single, “You’re Nobody ’til Somebody Loves You.”

SEE ALSO: ‘X FACTOR’ WINNER JAMES ARTHUR PERFORMS NEW SONG ‘EMILY’ FOR HIS FUTURE CHILD

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Arthur Has Released Four Studio Albums

Arthur’s time in the spotlight hasn’t been without controversy, including backlash over homophobic lyrics in 2013. Even Simon Cowell spoke out about it, saying , “Somebody should have told him to shut up and just put the records out.”

The singer ended up parting ways with Cowell’s label Syco. In 2015, he signed with Columbia Records, and the next year he released his second studio album Back from the Edge . It featured the lead single “Say You Won’t Let Go,” which became a massive hit. The music video currently has over 1 billion views.

Arthur ended up re-signing to Syco in 2016. When the label ceased operations in 2021, he signed with Columbia Records UK and Columbia Records Germany. He’s released two more studio albums, including 2019’s You and 2021’s It’ll All Make Sense in the End .

Now 34, Arthur has gone from being a talent show contestant to having his songs performed by other artists on talent shows such as The Voice . He also recently made an appearance on American Idol to duet with contestant Fritz Hager in the finale.

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He’s a lyrical genius .

Fantastically talented Performer Singer/ Song writer. Amazing live gigs. Just finished two sold out tours of UK & North America. Check out his latest album #IAMSITE. It’ll All Make Sense In the End. His latest single with Lost Frequencies ~Questions too 👏💖 Great Summer track!

I remember his first audition we’re young”..mesmerizing

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James Arthur Reflects On His 2012 X Factor Journey For 'First Time' & Says It Was 'Emotional'

1 June 2020, 15:41 | Updated: 1 June 2020, 16:03

James Arthur has been reflecting on his first X Factor journey for the 'first time'.

James Arthur has come a long way since his first X Factor audition.

The 32-year-old appeared on the 2012 series of the ITV show, which he went on to win, and he has since gone on to release three studio albums and sold out several arena tours.

James Arthur Shaves His Head And Donates £5k To NHS Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

James Arthur's X Factor Audition

However, he recently admitted in an Instagram post that he hasn’t always found it easy to look back at where his career started.

Taking to Instagram, he said: “So I noticed that the  @xfactor  posted my journey on YouTube yesterday and I think for the first time since I was able to look beyond the teeth and the naughty haircuts to have a look back.

“Give this a like and a comment if you want to see me do a reaction video to this.

“It was emotional to reflect on how far this scruffy idiot from Redcar was able to come.”

It’s hard to believe somebody with so much talent can be so full of self doubt!

View this post on Instagram So I noticed that the @xfactor posted my journey on YouTube yesterday and I think for the first time since I was able to look beyond the teeth and the naughty haircuts to have a look back. Give this a like and a comment if you want to see me do a reaction video to this. It was emotional to reflect on how far this scruffy idiot from Redcar was able to come. #xfactor A post shared by James Arthur (@jamesarthur23) on May 30, 2020 at 3:12am PDT

Fans of the singer rushed to the comments to praise him for being 'the best winner ever’ on the show.

One wrote: “After all these years, I still love to watch this journey of yours, Mr. (Im)Possible!! And now look at yourself, back from the edge to the real  #YOU !! Love you!!”

Another added: "James, it was already so obvious that you were going to be an amazing singer. How much of your soul you put into singing amazes me every single time. Love u.”

Others begged him to do ‘please do a reaction video.' with one fan writing: “Please react to this!! I can’t watch this without crying!! You’ve come so far and I couldn’t be more proud of you. You are such an incredible person James and I can’t thank you enough for you all you do for us fans. Thank you so much for changing my life.”

Another added: “Pleaseeee do a reaction to this. That first audition was when I fell in love. The voice & just you. Absolute perfection.... JA fan through and through ever since.”

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James Arthur: ‘If X Factor is finished, then I’m part of the history of that’

The singer on lockdown anxiety, imposter syndrome and picking fights on twitter.

James Arthur: ‘I made some mistakes in the spotlight. I was thrust into fame very, very quickly and out of nowhere. I didn’t know the game’

James Arthur recently lost his temper with some idiots on the internet. “I’ve forever got people telling me, ‘don’t rise to people online,’” shrugs the 33-year-old singer and former X Factor winner. “But I’ve always defended myself.”

The triggering event was the Soccer Aid charity tournament in which Arthur played and for which he was then body-shamed on social media. Deciding enough was enough, he went on to Twitter and took to task the detractors. There was no shame, he said, in putting on some lockdown weight. We’ve all been there.

“I’ve never really listened to people who say, ‘oh you shouldn’t stoop to their level,’” says the pop troubadour, perhaps best known for his 2016 number one Say You Won’t Let Go. “I don’t see it that way. I see it as speaking up for myself and not letting people say whatever they like.”

It's almost as if everyone is catching up to that way of thinking now. We've seen with all the racism and stuff – let's shed light on these people

As he gears up to release a heartfelt and uplifting fourth album, It’ll All Make Sense in the End, Arthur reflects that he’s always been ahead of the curve in his willingness to call out unacceptable behaviour. But perhaps others are now following suit. Just look at how the England soccer team stood up for themselves amid a torrent of racist abuse at the European Championships.

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“It’s almost as if everyone is catching up to that way of thinking now. We’ve seen with all the racism and stuff – let’s shed light on these people. If you’ve got the balls to get online and hide behind some pseudonym or a bunch of numbers or an egg and [write things] that might make someone go and kill themselves, I’m going to shed light on you and let people see that and stand up to it.”

Arthur may have been catapulted to fame via a TV talent contest. But a few minutes in his presence confirms he’s no cookie-cutter pop star. He’s made mistakes, picked fights with the wrong people and on several occasions seemed to have actively attempted to sabotage his career.

Yet, as his response to the Soccer Aid boo-boys demonstrates, he’s also got a streak of raw honesty. You can hear it as he speaks over Zoom, his voice sometimes catching with emotion. And it’s front and centre of It’ll All Make Sense in the End.

The record is a showcase for Arthur’s rasping falsetto and brooding pop. There are songs about hope and fear (Running Away), enduring love (Always – written before his split from long-term girlfriend Jessica Grist) and about numbing your spiritual pain with alcohol (Last of the Whiskey). He even pens an ode to a future daughter (Emily) – an epic weepy sure to sets lips wobbling everywhere.

Spilled out

All of these feelings spilled out during lockdown, he explains. “I’ve always struggled a bit with anxiety,” he says. “With the pandemic, and being isolated, I suffered. In the end it forced me to do what I loved doing, which is make music. And to try to put that anxiety into songwriting.”

Life in the spotlight has been a tricky business for Arthur. He freely admits to having had a few blots on his copybook since his X Factor single, a cover of Shontelle’s Impossible, became the biggest-selling winner’s song in the show’s history.

James Arthur performs a an X Factor concert in February 2013. Photograph: Aidan Crawley

His bleakest moment arguably came in 2014 when he free-styled a homophobic rap song (bad) and then shared it with his two million Twitter followers (disastrous). This was followed by spats with everyone from X Factor colleague Lucy Spraggan to One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson.

“The bad boy thing doesn’t bother me,” he says. “If being real and authentic and speaking my mind makes me a bad boy, I don’t mind. My music’s pretty soft. Maybe at one time it used to bother me when people would spin things or sensationalise things. Make me out to be scum or something. That’s not who I am.”

Arthur’s honesty is surely his most compelling trait as an artist. And yet his determination to speak his mind has caused issues too. To say nothing of giving him the distinction of being the only musician fired and then re-hired by Simon Cowell.

The firing occurred in 2014 when Arthur became embroiled in a row with Spraggan. The point of contention was the aforementioned homophobic rap Arthur made as a diss towards grime star Micky Worthless (for which he apologised). As the storm raged, Cowell cut his ties. “I think James, unfortunately, has had so many issues with what he has done publicly – which is a real issue with me,” said Cowell. “Somebody should have told him to shut up and just put the records out.

Just two years later, though, Cowell’s SyCo label had a change of heart. They did so in the aftermath of Arthur’s single Say You Won’t Let Go – a juggernaut which put the singer in the record books as the first solo male X Factor winner to have two number ones.

“I was brought up to a be a good person,” reflects Arthur. “I made some mistakes in the spotlight. I was thrust into fame very, very quickly and out of nowhere. I didn’t know the game. I didn’t know how to play the game. I said what I thought. I got into spats with people on Twitter. It was a lot to deal with all at once. Some of the residue of all that followed me around. At the end of the day it’s about the music. That’s what’s going to stand the test of time.”

Foster care

Arthur was born in Middlesborough to an English mother and Scottish father. His parents split when he was three and for a time, from the age of 14, he lived in foster care. Having played in bands since early adolescence, in 2012 he auditioned in Newcastle for the ninth season of X Factor.

He sang Young by Tulisa, watched on by an audience that included his parents. It was the first time his mother and father had spoken in 22 years. By the end of the performance, tears were streaming down Arthur’s face.

X Factor finalists Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur with X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger in December 2012. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

“My mum and dad didn’t have any relationship,” he told an X Factor panel that included Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh. “I went off the rails, especially at school. I used to get suspended, thrown out. I ended up sleeping rough sometimes. I volunteered myself into foster care. I wanted to get away. Music was a coping mechanism.”

Arthur is slightly nervous about the new LP. He has built his name with big emotive ballads. Say You Won’t Let Go, for instance, is quintessential Arthur: it’s got a booming chorus and radiates sincerity.

It’ll All Make Sense in the End is no less searing. But it’s also something new. There are hip-hop elements – at moments he sounds like a Teeside Khalid or an ITV Saturday night version of Frank Ocean. And some of the big guitar outros recall Coldplay or Ben Howard. He shrugs. Maybe it won’t be universally beloved.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t for everyone,” he says. “I am trying to transition stylistically – be a bit edgier, do a bit more of the hip-hop and rock stuff. ”

Artists at his level are rarely so upfront about their doubts and insecurities. Arthur, though, is an open book who confesses to having suffered imposter syndrome through his career. That little voice has always been there. Was he good enough? Is he blagging a living? Would people eventually see through him?

It was Robbie Williams who helped overcome those doubts. The former Take That man took Arthur aside and explained he had suffered through the very same long, dark night of the soul.

“I was talking to Robbie about this. You go through phases of imposter syndrome. Robbie is one person I really, really admire. When I spoke to him, a lot of the things he said really resonated with me. He said that sometimes he would get on stage and Robbie Williams – that persona –  didn’t follow him on.

Simon Cowell is an innovator. I'm sure if he wants to do a singing contest again, he'll think of something fresh that will work on television. I owe a lot to X Factor

“You do have those imposter syndrome moments. You find yourself in front of thousands of people. And it’s just you. You aren’t part of a band. A lot of the time, you feel you’re on your own.”

He certainly wasn’t on his own in sensing an era had ended when it was announced earlier this year that X Factor had been cancelled after 15 seasons. How does it feel to have outlived Simon Cowell’s hit factory?

“Simon Cowell is an innovator. I’m sure if he wants to do a singing contest again, he’ll think of something fresh that will work on television. I owe a lot to X Factor. Everything to it, in a way. It’s cool that, if X Factor is finished, then I’m part of the history of that. I had the most successful winner’s song of all time. No one can beat that now. That’s gone down in history.”

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Everything you need to know about James Arthur

He's had an amazing career so far!

The X Factor winner James Arthur has had a super successful career since winning the popular TV series in 2012. Singer-songwriter James' hits include his gorgeous cover of 'Impossible', his fantastic collaboration with Anne-Marie , ' Rewrite The Stars ', which was a cover of a song from The Greatest Showman soundtrack.

As he's now released his fifth album 'Bitter Sweet Love' , and his 'Bitter Sweet Love' tour is taking place, let's find out more about the dad - who said being a father to Emily has changed him ! Most recently, James has released a new version of his song 'From The Jump' with Kelly Clarkson . Find out how he became famous, what his ideal collab would be and what we can expect from him over the coming months.

Who is James Arthur?

James Arthur started playing in a band when he was a teenager, however his pop music career really started back in 2011, when he uploaded some tracks to SoundCloud and YouTube. It was in 2012, when he auditioned for The X Factor that his career sky-rocketed. James won The X Factor and his winner's single, 'Impossible' went on to become the most successful winner's single at the time, selling 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Is James Arthur going on tour?

James announced in September 2023 that he would be going on a world tour in 2024. The tour is called 'Bitter Sweet Love' and in support of his album of the same name. He stared the UK leg of his tour on 5th March 2024 in Bournemouth, before performing across the UK and beyond. In December 2023 he then announced some summer dates. Tickets for the tour are now on sale.

Who is James Arthur's song Emily about?

In September 2021, James released his single 'Emily', a track he penned to his future daughter. He said: 'Wrote a song for my future daughter if I ever have one. Emily'.

Does James have a daughter?

Yes, he does. James' daughter Emily was born in November 2022, he shared a video saying: 'Dear Emily, Welcome to the world'.

James opened up in an interview with OK! telling them that being a dad has changed him . He revealed: "As soon as she was born I felt like I grew up overnight.

"People often say I’m emotionally intelligent, but I failed to really understand what the real point of life was. I had this unhealthy obsession with just wanting to be recognised for my music. Now I’ve got Emily, I realise my whole motivation has changed. I’m super happy with life."

Who would James like to collab with?

James revealed in an interview with Sam Thompson for his Hits UK show that he would like to collab with two huge artists. "I'd love Taylor Swift to be part (of it the song), or Miley Cyrus ," he told Sam: "Those girls cross over into the country and pop world and I'm kind of going there on this new album."

James also explained how one of his songs from his album has a country feel to it, so they would be perfect to collab with.

Does James have a collab with Kelly Clarkson?

He certainly does! On Friday 19th April, James re-released his album track 'From The Jump' with the one and only Kelly Clarkson .

The track showcases the pair's amazing vocals, with fans loving their voices together.

What music does James like?

Although James describes most of his music as: "Sad and heart-wrenching," he told us that he actually loves house music and would be up for a night out in London, where he has lived for 10 years.

What is the name of James Arthur's fifth album?

James' fifth album is called 'Bitter Sweet Love'. He took to Instagram to announce the album's name, as well as revealing that it had been inspired by 'indie, rock’n’roll and Americana music'. He said: 'Bitter Sweet Love largely grew out of my last album.

'Where my last album hit more of a niche, I wanted to go back to creating songs that really resonate with my audience. I dug into my archives of indie, rock’n’roll and Americana music, and wanted to create an album inspired by that sound. I love feeling the palpable energy in the room when playing live, so this album was written with that in mind.'

When will his fifth album be released?

James' fifth album 'Bitter Sweet Love' was released on 26th January 2024 and is available now.

What is the name of James Arthur's fourth album?

James' fourth studio album is called 'It'll All Make Sense In The End' and was released on 5th November 2021. He has since followed it up with a deluxe edition of the album with six extra songs.

On the day of the original album's release he posted to Instagram to say: 'It’ll All Make Sense In The End is out now! Feels good to finally have this out in the world, it’s a project that got me through the lockdown and a particularly tough period in my personal life. It’s full of honest and authentic stories. This album is a vibe, I love the sound of it and I hope you enjoy it too. Love JA x'. (sic)

When was 'It'll All Make Sense In The End' out?

James fourth album came out on Friday 5th November 2021, with a deluxe edition the following year .

He wrote: 'What’s up guys, wanted to share a little update with you regarding It’ll All Make Sense In The End. Due to delays in vinyl production, I’m going to have to push the release date back to 5th November. It’s so important to me everyone gets to experience the album together, so this means we can do that. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise! Love, JA x' (sic)

Listen to 'Running Away' from 'It'll All Make Sense In The End' by James Arthur:

How old is james arthur.

James was born on 2nd March 1988, meaning he is currently 36-years-old.

Where is James from?

James was born in Middlesbrough and he began performing in pubs and bars when he was a teenager.

What year did James Arthur win The X Factor?

James Arthur won The X Factor in 2012 with Nicole Scherzinger as his mentor . James' winner's single, 'Impossible' went on to become a UK Number 1, and the most popular winner's single at the time selling millions of copies around the world.

Just like One Direction , who were runners up in The X Factor back in 2010, James has had a number of popular songs, including, 'Say You Won't Let Go', which was his second Number 1 hit.

In 2020, The X Factor shared a video of James Arthur's X Factor performances while he was on the show, captioning it, 'it all started with just a boy and his guitar...'.

The video includes James' first performance on the show, when he was just 24 and unemployed.

Since the release of the video, James has taken to Twitter to reveal how the watching the video has made him feel. In a tweet he said, 'So I noticed that @TheXFactor posted my journey on YouTube yesterday and I think for the first time since I was able to look beyond the teeth and the naughty haircuts to have a look back.'

In another tweet he continued, 'It was emotional to reflect on how far this scruffy idiot from Redcar was able to come'.

During the lockdown, James teamed up with his formed mentor Nicole Scherzinger online for his acoustic series on YouTube. They sang her song 'Wet'.

What did he do before going on The X Factor?

Before going on The X Factor, music had always been a big part of James' life. He started off singing in a band as a teenager, he then went on to write his own songs, even releasing an album independently in 2011 called 'Sins by the Sea'. Also in 2011, he began to upload some of his music to SoundCloud and YouTube.

How many albums does he have now?

As well as the independently released album 'Sins by the Sea' mentioned above, he has released four other studio albums; his self-titled, 'James Arthur', in 2013, 'Back from the Edge' in 2016, 'You' in 2019 and 'It'll All Make Sense in the End' in 2021.

His self-titled debut album included his X Factor single as well as hit, 'You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You', whereas his second album 'Back from the Edge' spawned his second Number 1 single 'Say You Won't Let Go'.

His fifth album 'Bitter Sweet Love' was released in January 2024.

When did James Arthur release 'YOU'?

On 18th October 2019, James Arthur released his album 'YOU', which was also the name of two of his tours. On the album release day, James shared an emotional video about his new album. In the video he explains how all of the songs are inspired by other people saying, "Even if it's things that have happened in my life, I'm trying to sing from the point of view of someone else."

James Arthur's career: Take a look at how he went from winning The X Factor to a pop star

Career beginnings.

James began writing and recording songs at the age of 15, performing as both a solo artist and in bands including Moonlight Drive, Cue the Drama, Save Arcade and Emerald Skye from 2005 to 2011. In 2011, James wrote an album called 'Sins by the Sea' which was uploaded to social media sites, before forming The James Arthur Project and releasing EPs 'Hold On' and 'The EP Collection CD'.

2012: The X Factor

James auditioned for The X Factor in 2012, attending the auditions which took place throughout May and June that year. He sang a cover of 'Young' by Tulisa, who was on the judging panel that year, then 'A Million Love Songs' at Boot Camp - a song by fellow judge Gary Barlow's band Take That. He was in the final against Jahméne Douglas, winning the show.

2013: Debut self-titled album

James released his winners' single, a cover of 'Impossible' by Shontelle in December 2012, which hit the top spot in the UK charts. His self-titled debut album was released in November 2013 and went to Number 2 in the UK, featuring songs like 'You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You', 'Get Down' and 'Roses' featuring Emeli Sandé. In January 2014, he embarked on his first tour, the 'James Arthur Tour', performing 37 dates around Europe.

2014: Controversy and parting ways with Syco

James caused controversy after taking part in rap battles, causing Simon Cowell to say: "I think James, unfortunately, has had so many issues with what he has done publicly – which is a real issue with me... Somebody should have told him to shut up and just put the records out." In June 2014, he announced that he had parted ways with Syco by mutual agreement.

2015-2016: Signing with Columbia Records and second album

James signed a deal with Columbia Records in September 2015 and announced that a new album was on the way. His second album 'Back from the Edge' was released in October 2016, featuring songs 'Say You Won't Let Go' - which was a Number 1 single - and 'Can I Be Him'. James became the first X Factor performer to have two singles sell over a million copies in his home country.

2017: BRIT Awards nominations

In 2017, James' single, 'Say You Won't Let Go', was nominated at the BRITs for British Artist Video of the Year and British Single of the Year. He also released his single 'Naked', and attended The Grammy Museum at one of their Spotlight events after joining OneRepublic on their massive North American tour.

2018-2019: 'Rewrite the Stars' and third album 'You'

In 2018, James teamed up with Anne-Marie on their amazing cover of 'Rewrite The Stars', for The Greatest Showman: Reimagined. He also appeared on Brazilian soap opera O Tempo não Para, singing his song 'Empty Space'. James released his third album 'You' in October 2019, debuting at Number 2 in the UK, it was certified Silver.

2020: Fourth album

James revealed on Twitter in July 2020 that he was working on a fourth album, writing, 'I've been writing the new album for the last couple of months. I couldn't be more excited to share with you this new lane I'm playing around in, I think you'll be surprised in a good way. This is the album I've wanted to make for so long! #IWAMSITE.' He also worked on song 'Lasting Lover' with DJ Sigala.

2021: New singles and release of fourth album

James delighted his fans in 2021 when he dropped a number of new tracks, including 'Medicine', 'September' and 'Emily'. The singer's fourth studio album 'It'll All Make Sense In The End' was released on Friday 5th November 2021.

2022: James releases the deluxe version of his album

On 11th March 2022, James released the deluxe version of his album 'All Make Sense In The End'. On the day of release he shared a heartfelt message to his fans saying: 'I love you all so much it hurts my heart ❤️❤️❤️❤️'. In 2022, James also bagged the Award-Winning Song gong, for his track 'Lasting Lover' with Sigala, at the BMI London Awards.

2023: James announces collab with Alok

In January 2023, James announced he and Brazilian DJ Alok have a new song called 'Work With My Love', it was released on 13th January. The song samples 'Lola's Theme', by The Shapeshifters.

2023: James teases his fifth album

On top of that, James announced in January 2023 that not only did he have a fifth album on the way, but he was putting the finishing touches on it! Despite not letting any details slip on a release date, it certainly got fans excited for the year ahead.

2023: Big wins for James

In June 2023, James took to Instagram to celebrate some pretty huge wins! As well as bagging a Brits Billion Award from BPI, for over a billion streams in the UK, he also celebrated a diamond award, for going 10 x Platinum in America... Impressive! Sharing a snap of him holding his shiny new awards, James wrote: 'What amazing year so far. I managed to pick up a diamond award for going 10 times platinum in America and a @brits billion award for over a billion streams in the UK alone. Thank you for all your continued support on this bizarre rollercoaster we're on.'

2023: New singles

On 12th May, James released a brand new single titled 'A Year Ago'. Fans were elated with new music from the singer. On top of teasing his fifth album, James then announced another single on 24th July. The song, which was released date of 4th August, is called 'Blindside' and showcases a more upbeat vibe from the award-winning singer.

2023: James releases his fifth album

James took to Instagram in September 2023 to finally reveal the name and release date of his highly-anticipated fifth album. Titled 'Bitter Sweet Love', the album was released on 26th January 2024.

2023: James Arthur announces his 'Bitter Sweet Love' tour

James Arthur's 'Bitter Sweet Love' tour will see the artist perform eight UK dates as part of a wider world tour. He starts the UK leg of his tour in Bournemouth in March 2024.

2024: James Arthur releases collab with Kelly Clarkson

In April 2024, James announced he was re-releasing his album track 'From The Jump', with the one and only Kelly Clarkson. Fans loved how amazing the pair's vocals sounded together.

Which are James Arthur’s most successful songs?

Since winning The X Factor, James has had many hugely successful songs. Straight from winning The X Factor, 'Impossible', which was a cover of Shontelle's song from 2010, went to Number 1 in the UK. Within the first 24 hours of release the song had 187,000 downloads.

His 2016 single, 'Say You Won't Let Go' was also an incredibly popular song also reaching the top spot in the UK and in a number of other countries. The song was written by himself along with Neil Ormandy and Steve Solomon, and was the lead single from his second studio album, 'Back from the Edge'.

James also released 'Falling Like The Stars' in May 2019, and he released an incredibly moving video for the track that same month - it reached 6 million views on YouTube in less than two weeks!

James teamed up with producer Sigala where he lent his vocals to the 2020 hit 'Lasting Lover'. In May 2023, Sigala took to Instagram to share the story behind the track, which was co-written by Lewis Capaldi and even had Liam Payne sing on it before it was released.

NOW WATCH: James Arthur talks about singing 'Rewrite The Stars' with Anne Marie

How tall is james arthur.

According to many sources, James is 6ft 2in!

What is James Arthur’s net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth website, James Arthur's net worth is around $5 million (around £4 million), mostly due to his single and album sales and tours.

Is James Arthur on social media?

Yes, James Arthur is on social media. You can follow him on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook .

WATCH: James Arthur talks about working with Anne-Marie on 'Rewrite The Stars'

You can hear James Arthur's songs on Downtown Radio.

James Arthur shares heartfelt message after fans' reaction to his album's new deluxe edition

James Arthur's career timeline so far

Kelly Clarkson and James Arthur show off vocals in new duet 'From The Jump'

How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our apps and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.

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James Arthur – review

A s if remaining loved as an X Factor alumnus wasn't job enough under typical circumstances, 2012 winner James Arthur made things infinitely harder for himself when his taboo terminology-laced diss track directed at Croydon rapper Micky Worthless caused a public relations car crash, leading to his departure from Twitter . But at least he can laugh about it. "This one will hopefully get played on the radio," the tattooed Middlesbrough lad in the Deirdre Barlow specs says, introducing new single Get Down , "'cause I'm not a homophobe any more."

The fierce censure directed Arthur's way rather flattered the image of a singer who seems to have been cynically cultivated as the tearaway TV talent-show star. At this gig early in his first tour, Arthur cuts a dismayingly normal, even shy figure who grasps for words between songs and at one point apologises: "I'm not much of a public speaker." It all feels much less about music than it does people – predominately female – screaming lustily at a guy who used to be on the telly. Signs that sternly warn against photography or filming are flagrantly ignored. Even Arthur's mum, watching from the balcony, poses for photos.

If there was anything truly worrying about Arthur's diss track it was his dodgy rapping. When he starts rhyming during the aptly titled Emergency, you could be forgiven for seeking the nearest fire escape. For the most part, though, he sticks to the unthreateningly tepid faux soul and gospel-tinged stuff of his self-titled debut album , from Recovery's rote balladry to the neutered hip-hop of Supposed . After Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On receives a signature oily crooning, things can and do lead only one way: to Arthur getting a pink frilly bra chucked at his face. If strapping on an electric guitar and politely rocking out is the ace of authenticity up his leather jacket sleeve, it's overplayed beyond effect by the time he reaches his million-plus selling winner's single Impossible at the end of the show. As the audience quit shrieking and singing along, it's a sudden and much too brief reminder of what a proper pop show actually sounds like.

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James Arthur’s life since X Factor from reuniting with ex to becoming a dad

James Arthur has been on quite a journey since winning X Factor back in 2012, including a struggle with addiction and his mental health to eventually embracing fatherhood

• 08:30, 27 JAN 2024

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James Arthur has navigated a rollercoaster journey since he rose to fame as the winner of The X Factor in 2012.

Known for hits like Impossible and collaborations such as Rewrite The Stars, James has faced both triumphs and tribulations in his personal and professional life.

Fast forward to the present day, and James is embracing a new chapter as a first-time parent, welcoming his daughter into the world in 2021 with his long-time on-and-off girlfriend, Jessica Grist.

However, James' life has been far from smooth sailing, marked by struggles with mental health, addiction, and the harsh scrutiny of fame .

Growing up in foster care as a teen, James has been open about his mental health battles both before and after The X Factor. His candid discussions have shed light on the pressures of fame, revealing that the intense scrutiny nearly led him down a destructive path of drug addiction.

In his book Back to the Boy, James candidly confessed: "I became as addicted to sex as I was to weed. I craved sex, I had to have it and I needed it to fill the void and make myself feel better.

"I was chatting to hundreds of women online or on WhatsApp after swapping numbers with them via Twitter, and I started to sleep with so many of them I lost count.

"They were usually the same type — Babestation girls or glamour models. If I saw someone I fancied I’d contact her on social media and tell her blatantly I wanted to have sex."

The consequences were severe, leading to a parting of ways with Simon Cowell's record label just two years after his X Factor triumph.

Despite rising sales, James faced repercussions for using a homophobic slur in a live rap battle. Online trolling added to his struggles, prompting him to quit Twitter in 2019.

The musician previously tweeted: "Have to be honest some of the things I read on here go a bit too far and quite frankly f***** hurt, if that was your goal you win. Maybe I should have thicker skin at this point I don’t know but either way this is my last tweet, I’m logging off."

One of the darkest periods for James involved drug abuse and contemplating suicide. Losing his record deal, battling depression, and resorting to substance abuse marked a low point. The artist, at the age of 35, even got an "upside down cross" tattooed on his face during this tumultuous time.

However, James eventually found redemption through overcoming addiction, making a triumphant comeback with the hit single Say You Won't Let Go.

Amidst his struggles, he also opened up in 2021 about a heartbreaking loss – an ectopic pregnancy with his long-time partner Jessica, who he first started dating in 2012 when she was a back-up dancer on the X Factor. They had split previously in 2015 before they patched things up and got back together in 2017.

James and Jessica named their unborn daughter Emily and dedicated a song to her. Despite the tragic loss, they later welcomed their firstborn daughter in 2021 , choosing to name her Emily as a poignant tribute to their miscarriage.

James expressed how fatherhood has transformed him, shifting his motivations and bringing newfound happiness.

In an exclusive interview with OK !, James revealed: "As soon as she was born, I felt like I grew up overnight. I’m super happy with life."

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X Factor viewers were VERY confused by James Arthur's literally impossible “live” performance

Either James has a Tardis, or there’s something he’s not telling us…

• Huw Fullerton
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The X Factor began its semi-final process last night, and amid all the trials, tribulations and high-energy performances there was also a guest appearance from a former winner – 2012 champion James Arthur, who was there to sing his brand-new single Naked.

But soon his appearance had many people asking one question – was he really there at all? Because while the X Factor live shows are, ahem, recorded live (phone votes would be a bit of a waste otherwise, eh?) some eagled-eyed viewers noticed that Arthur was also playing a gig that night somewhere else – the Genting Arena in Birmingham, where he was performing the latest leg of his nationwide tour at around the same time the X Factor was on TV.

• All 6 X Factor semi-finalists will tour in 2018
• 6 things we need to talk about after Saturday night’s X Factor
• The X Factor weekly results - who was eliminated and who won the Sunday night prize?

Given that the 105-mile journey between The X Factor studios and the Arena would take a good hour and 45 minutes by car, it was clear that Arthur couldn’t have pulled off the double appearance if everything was as it seemed, so viewers quickly began calling foul play.

Confusing stuff – but when spelled out, the truth is actually fairly simple. While the majority of the X Factor studio shows are live, Arthur’s performance was actually recorded a little earlier to fit in with his schedule, then slotted in seamlessly with the main X Factor broadcast.

Still, we can understand all the hoo-ha; the whole thing did leave us scratching our collective RadioTimes.com heads for a while too. But for James Arthur, NOTHING is impossible.

More like this

The X Factor continues on ITV tonight (Sunday 26 th November) at 7.30pm

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The X Factor (British TV series)

• Edit source
• View history
• 1 Background
• 2 Performances
• 3.1 Auditions
• 3.10 Week 9
• 3.11 Week 10
• 4 References

Background [ ]

James Arthur auditioned in the 9th series, doing his own version of the song "Forever Young" by Tulisa. In the Boys' Group, he performed "How to Save a Life" with Curtis Golden and James Vickery, all three passing through to the next round. Arthur then performed "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt for the Judges' House, with Nicole Scherzinger choosing to be his mentor. For the first six weeks, he was safe, performing the following songs "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson, "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige, "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, and "Hometown Glory" by Adele. In Week 7, he landed in the Bottom Two with the performance of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli and Lauryn Hill, facing off Ella Henderson with the song choice of "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys, being saved.

In Weeks 8-9, he had the most votes with his renditions of "SOS" by ABBA and "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, followed by "One" by U2 and " The Power of Love " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, respectively. The 10th and final week saw his performances of "Feeling Good" from the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd and "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan, which continued his most-votes streak, ending with his win with the two performances of "Let's Get It On" by Martin Gaye and " Impossible " by Shontelle. The latter song was digitally released as his debut single following the the show, released through Syco Music. Part of the proceeds were donated to the charity Together for Short Lives.

Performances [ ]

Auditions [ ].

• Forever Young
• How to Save a Life
• I Can't Make You Love Me
• Judges' Houses

• No More Drama

• Sexy and I Know It

• Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

• Don't Speak

• Hometown Glory

• Can't Take My Eyes Off You

• Let's Get It On

• The Power of Love

Week 10 [ ]

• Feeling Good
• Make You Feel My Love

References [ ]

• ↑ Doria, Matt. "'The X Factor' is ending after 17 years" . NME . 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.

Template:James Arthur live performances

• 1 Rewrite the Stars
• 2 From the Jump
• 3 James Arthur