In the ninth season of the X Factor UK, the world was introduced to James Arthur, who won the publics hearts and votes with his rendition of Shontelles 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 Wont 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 Arthurs goal with this album was to rise from the ashes and reclaim his place on the charts where he so rightfully belongs.
Say You Wont 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 Wont Let Go is a declaration to love; it discusses Arthurs need for love, but refusal to show it too early on. He sings, I knew I loved you then/But youd 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 were 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 Arthurs 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 cant go back and change the mistakes he made, even though people may view him differently now. In his song I Am he proclaims, Im a problem, Im the killer, Im the cure, I guess/Im the end, Im the beginning, the apocalypse/I am something from nothing, I heard em say/Rags to riches, your best mistake/Im the future, Im the relic, Im 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 Arthurs fight for change within himself and a start to a new season for himself and his listeners.
Back from the Edge is James Arthurs reclaim to the top of the charts and lets hope this is where he will stay.
