In the ninth season of the “X Factor UK,” the world was introduced to James Arthur, who won the public’s hearts and votes with his rendition of Shontelle’s “Impossible” during the finale.
Since his win on the “X Factor,” Arthur has gone on to win the NRJ Music Award for International Breakthrough of the Year and the Bravo-Newcomer award. He released his self-titled album in 2013 and has come back with his sophomore album “Back from the Edge.”
“Back from the Edge” is his second studio album by Columbia Records and includes the single “Say You Won’t Let Go,” which spent three weeks on top of the UK charts in September and October.
After listening to the album, it is clear that James Arthur has earned the title “Comeback Kid,” given to him by The Sun, after being cut from his label Syco by “X Factor” judge Simon Cowell in 2014.
“Back from the Edge,” is an alluring album all about forgiveness and redemption. With titles like “Phoenix,” listeners know that Arthur’s goal with this album was to rise from the ashes and reclaim his place on the charts where he so rightfully belongs.
“Say You Won’t Let Go” is not the only great song on the album, but it definitely makes my top three.
As this is the second song on the album, Arthur chose to go with a guitar ballad as the foundation. The best way to describe this song is breathtakingly beautiful.
“Say You Won’t Let Go” is a declaration to love; it discusses Arthur’s need for love, but refusal to show it too early on. He sings, “I knew I loved you then/But you’d never know/’Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go/I know I needed you/But I never showed/But I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old.”
Arthur expresses the need to show emotion and the fear of doing so in this song, a feeling people know all too well.
Part of Arthur’s journey for redemption is his ability to admit what he was and where he wants to be. Arthur admits his faults and acknowledges that he can’t go back and change the mistakes he made, even though people may view him differently now. In his song “I Am” he proclaims, “I’m a problem, I’m the killer, I’m the cure, I guess/I’m the end, I’m the beginning, the apocalypse/I am something from nothing, I heard ‘em say/Rags to riches, your best mistake/I’m the future, I’m the relic, I’m the not done yet.’”
Besides the powerful lyrics that he belts out in this song, I love the ending. At the conclusion of “I Am,” what sounds like a preacher lets the listener know that, “A path of corruption and destruction/Every day that they live/They have another opportunity to be saved,” a reminder that no matter how much sin you commit you have the ability to be forgiven for it.
This is not the first time this particular sermon has been used in a song. In 2014, Logic released his album “Under Pressure” and the same snippet can be found at the end of his song “Till the End.”
James Arthur continues his soulful search in “Coming Home for Summer.” The song starts out slow with a choir behind him giving it a gospel feel, but when he reaches the chorus the tempo picks up making the song more pop.
What I enjoy most about this song is the emotion found in it, especially during the gospel section. “Coming Home for Summer” is a great end to the album. The song signifies the end of James Arthur’s fight for change within himself and a start to a new season for himself and his listeners.
“Back from the Edge” is James Arthur’s reclaim to the top of the charts and let’s hope this is where he will stay.