In January 2017 the single became his first chart entry on the Billboard charts, eventually peaking at #11 on the Hot 100 chart while peaking at #1 on the Adult Top 40 chart. By the end of the year "Say You Won't Let Go" was the nineteenth biggest-selling song of 2016 in the United Kingdom, making him the biggest-selling British male artist of the year. At the Pride of Britain Awards he confirmed that he had stayed in contact after his departure from Syco, therefore debunking tabloid reports.
#JUDGES IMPRESSION ON JAMES ARTHUR IMPOSSIBLE X FACTOR SERIES#
The following month, he released his second studio album, Back from the Edge, which entered the UK charts at #1, making him the first winner of the original series since Leona Lewis to score a chart-topping album with his second release. He later performed the single on the first live results show of Series 13. In an interview broadcast on ITV's This Morning the same month he admitted that when he applied for the show he was not in a good place mentally and was embarrassed when he looked back at his behaviour following his win. Following this success, he revealed that Syco had contacted him and asked if he would like to work with them again, therefore making him the first act ever to resign to the label. In September 2016, his comeback single "Say You Won't Let Go" was released, and it entered the UK charts at #25 before peaking at #1 two weeks later, making him the first male winner of the original series to have two UK chart-toppers. Although not planned as a single, the track would later be included on the deluxe edition of his second album. In the new year, he released a song called "The Truth" which featured on VH1 show "Family Therapy with Dr. In September 2015 he confirmed on Twitter that he had signed a new deal with Columbia Records Germany to release his second studio album. The song entered the iTunes Top 150 on pre-orders alone.īack From the Edge, comeback success and US breakthrough (2015 - present) He performed at V Festival in August and in October he released a collaboration with British record producer Rymez entitled "Kryptonite".
Around the same time he revealed that he had begun writing songs for his second studio album. He also appeared as a guest judge on X Factor Bulgaria and later duetted with finalist Mihaela Marinova, who eventually finished in third place. He then toured around Europe and won two European music awards for "Impossible" and for International Breakthrough Act respectively. He independently released his rap mixtape "All the World's a Stage" on May 16, 2014. Finally, on June 11, he admitted that he had indeed parted ways with them. The following month, several media outlets reported that he had been dropped by Syco Music but he denied this, stating that he was still signed to the label until the end of May. In March 2014, he released the album's final single "Get Down" but due to the negative press he had received it peaked at #96 on the UK charts. There were also calls for his appearance on Series 10 of The X Factor to be cancelled but despite this the performance of his third single "Recovery" went ahead with James apologising live on-air for his behaviour. Following this he handed control of his Twitter account over to his management and refunds were offered for his album on iTunes. Due to the track, tabloid reports painted James as homophobic, leading to a series of Twitter spats with comedians Frankie Boyle and Matt Lucas and even fellow Series 9 finalist Lucy Spraggan. The same month he was the subject of British tabloid reports following the release of a rap track “Hey Mickey”, which was aimed at an unknown rapper called Mickey Worthless, who had criticised James for presenting himself as a battle rapper on UK radio. His eponymous debut album was released in November 2013, also peaking at #2 behind Eminem’s “Marshall Mathers EP 2”.
Later that year he announced plans for his follow-up single “You’re Nobody til Somebody Loves You”, which would stall at #2 behind New Zealander Lorde’s debut single “Royals”. However, it reclaimed the top spot for two weeks in January 2013 – a first for any winner’s single. Post The X Factor Initial chart success and controversy (2013 - 2014)įollowing his win, ‘Impossible’ went on to top the UK Charts spent two weeks at the summit before being denied the Christmas #1 by the Military Wives. " Make You Feel My Love" (with Nicole Scherzinger)