Just Jaded
JAMES BAY IS LEAPING TOWARD MORE SUCCESS
Written By: Jade Zalevsky and Vivienne Huynh
Hello everyone! Welcome back to another edition of Just Jaded! We recently had the opportunity to attend a press conference with James Bay, thanks to °1824! So today, we’re excited to bring you all the details on James and his most recent album Leap.
You may know James Bay from his ultra-famous songs like “Hold Back The River”, “Let It Go”, and “Us” (actually played in the first movie of the “After” series)! On July 12th of this year, James dropped Leap, giving us his signature James Bay sound with a new and fresh twist, all inspired by experiences that he’s had in his life. And, if you’re planning to listen to this album by sitting and staring at your speaker, change your plans. James recommends that you listen to Leap while you’re on the move, whether that be in a car, train, bus, or on a walk.
Although he has become known for his somewhat sad songs, James wants to create music that is a message of hope. That message seems to carry through in “Save Your Love”, which we’ll review below, but seems to be about someone in a relationship with a person who doesn’t appreciate their love, so they should save it for someone else. This song beautifully walks the line between sadness and hope. And, it was a collaboration with Finneas. James put it best when he said “collaboration is the spice of life”, because we got a magnificent song from these two and their creativity combined.
With the creation of this new album, James felt a duty to show that he isn’t just one thing. And that shows in songs like “Endless Summer Nights”, which was inspired by moments in his life that he never wanted to end. And, when talking about a summer night that he wished never ended, he referenced a night in 2019, when he was on tour with Ed Sheeran. They were in Iceland during the summer (which is only about 40° F), and he and Ed were at a house party one night. Ed mentioned that there was a lake behind the house, and said “we’re going in it”. So they did, but it was so cold that they ran back to the hot tub after. Leave it to Ed Sheeran and James Bay to have such a main character moment.
So what does the future look like for James Bay? He wants to be able to sell out venues in 2022, and in 2032. He loves music and loves performing for live audiences even more. He even said that it doesn’t matter if fans at shows know the lyrics or not, because it means the world that they’re there and they’re feeling the energy of the performance. And, he’s not even sure he’s at his peak yet, as he feels like he has so much more to offer! Very good news for James Bay fans, as it seems the best is yet to come!
We’ll leave you with some wise words from James Bay himself: “you have to reach high and not worry if there’s a net there to catch you”. Check out our reviews of some of our favorite songs on Leap, and make sure to follow James on social media! See you next time Jaded Babes!
Song Reviews:
Give Me The Reason- The first song on the album, it opens with James’ raw, emotion filled voice. Though this may sound a bit contradicting, the best way I’d describe this song is an upbeat ballad. The juxtaposition of the instrumentation and the melody of the lyrics adds to its beauty. It helps carry the message of the song, trying to find reasons to save a relationship. You can feel the yearning and the passion, and it’s just so dang catchy.
Nowhere Left To Go- The second song on this album is what I’d describe as someone’s dream love letter. Its soft melody makes it so calming to listen to, and when you listen closer it’ll give you butterflies. It gives the feeling of a “great love story”, when I listen to it I picture dancing in the rain with your partner or running down the street to make a confession. This song is the embodiment of what a first love feels like, and definitely a song I’d want to be serenaded with (if someone actually does it they’re a keeper!)
Save Your Love- Sometimes all you need for an amazing song is a guitar and a great voice. This song is just that! The acoustics on this song allows the lyrics to stand out. It’s a song that has a message everyone needs to hear, save your love. Protect yourself and your heart, and make sure you give it to the right person, someone who deserves your love. This song is what a best friend would tell you, it’s warm and comforting.
Everybody Needs Someone- Just like the title of the song, it talks about how everyone needs someone, even if we don’t openly say it, we all crave that special connection with someone. Given the events of the last 2 years, this song is saying what we all felt during quarantine. It’s a song that feels hopeful. It makes you feel like you’ve gotten a pat on the back, and someone telling you it’s okay to feel lonely because we all do, and we are all looking for that someone.
One Life- I’ve already said that Nowhere Left To Go is a love letter, this song is the perfect wedding vow. This song was inspired by Lucy Smith, James’s life partner, and you can feel the love in it. Listening to this song feels like a fairy tale, it’s the embodiment of unconditional love. I picture making coffee in the morning for each other, the warmth of the sunlight on bed sheets when listening to this song.
Endless Summer Nights- Picture this, you’re flipping through the photos of your favorite memories with your friends, smiling at each picture, remembering exactly what happened that day. The feeling you get from that scenario is how this song feels. Endless Summer Nights is the perfect song for a coming of age movie montage, listening to it feels so nostalgic yet youthful. The slow build up of the guitar makes you feel as if you are chasing an era of your life you want back, but at the same time you are also as if looking fondly back on those memories. It’s the perfect song to drive down the coast while chasing the sunset!
Better- The last song is on the softer side & is a song that is perfect to close off the album. With the slight strum of the guitar, and James’ falsetto, the song brings a feeling of peace & contentment. Despite the uncertainty of life and what you might face, everything's better with love on your side! This song is a great way to end the album because it leaves you feeling whole again.
These were just some of my favorites off the album Leap, though the whole album is spectacular! Compared to his last few albums, this one contained more upbeat songs but you can hear the “James Bay sound”. You can feel the care free spirit in this album, and how meaningful each lyric is. Check out Leap, as well as Leap (Deluxe Edition) out on all streaming platforms & let us know what your favorite songs are!
