“I’ve always looked over my shoulder, especially in my hometown.”
― James Arthur
“Everyone loves a comeback story, and everyone loves the underdog as well. I kind of feel like I’ve been the underdog. Hopefully that inspires people to not give up on themselves and their lives and not give up on their dreams.”
― James Arthur
“I wasn’t a happy kid. I felt like my mum ruined our chance of a better life, because when she remarried, we went to live in Bahrain, on a compound with a swimming pool, and she ruined it all.”
― James Arthur
“I have been through and seen so many dramas and traumas and been in so many situations that I can probably interpret a few different characters.”
― James Arthur
“I’m a Honey G fan. She can spit some vibes on one of my songs; she’s got rhymes for days! She’s gangster. I love her.”
― James Arthur
“What’s fulfilling is being happy and being able to help other people. The simple things.”
― James Arthur
“’The X Factor’ saved me.”
― James Arthur
“My Number 1 Award is going to go on my mantelpiece, and I’ll probably kiss it for two weeks solid every time I pass it!”
― James Arthur
“I’ve always thought I’m pretty ugly.”
― James Arthur
“I really want to do acting, and I don’t want to be typecast because of my tattoos.”
― James Arthur
“I’m always going to have to manage my mental health issues.”
― James Arthur
“I think a lot of things get blown out of proportion in the media.”
― James Arthur
“There is a lot of pressure on pop stars, and I think a lot of it is the pressure that we put on ourselves. In our minds, we build up these huge, huge standards that we think people want from us, and actually, when you break it down, people just want you to make music and perform to the best of your ability, but anxiety can stop you from doing that.”
― James Arthur
“I have nothing but respect for 1D. They are great lads.”
― James Arthur
“I’d say to all kids, don’t have a tattoo until you’re 21.”
― James Arthur
“You do need money to make a good demo; you do need a bit of financial support.”
― James Arthur
“People had told me to try ‘The X Factor’ for years, but I thought I’d be moody and hate it all. But it’s what I needed. I asked Mum and Dad to come to my ‘X Factor’ audition, and it was the first time that they’d been in the same room in years.”
― James Arthur
“I have a fan who suffered with leukemia, and apparently, the only thing that helped him through that was my music, so of course that’s the ultimate sense of achievement. It’s an incredible feeling.”
― James Arthur
“I don’t think I made it clear where I was mentally when I appeared on ‘X Factor.’ There was so much pressure and a lot of judging. But I wanted to take a chance on the show because I wanted to make something of myself. ‘X Factor’ seemed like the only way out.”
― James Arthur
“I think Sam Smith’s dad got a huge loan or something to help his career. Those things can help artists get attention, but I guess my song ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ proved it’s about the song.”
― James Arthur
“It’s all about respect. I’m not going to treat a woman like a piece of meat.”
― James Arthur
“I have regrets, but you live and learn.”
― James Arthur
“Anxiety is a really crippling condition, and I suffer with it myself, and I feel for anyone who suffers from it. The way that I deal with it is try as much as possible to stay in the moment to not think about the past and not think about what’s coming up in the future: to try and just seize the moment as much as possible.”
― James Arthur
“I’m a big UFC fan.”
― James Arthur
“I’m not much of a public speaker.”
― James Arthur
“I often think about starting a band again, doing my solo stuff and a band. I grew up in bands.”
― James Arthur
“Kurt Cobain is one of the reasons I started doing music because I just loved to watch them rock out.”
― James Arthur
“Everybody’s gone through some kind of struggle in their life, and I’d like to be the type of voice who talks about it.”
― James Arthur
“Being in bands and plugging away with not many opportunities and no money for many years really shaped me and taught me about work ethic.”
― James Arthur
“I can’t go on Tinder; I’ll get in trouble.”
― James Arthur
“I want to become a Hollywood film star. I genuinely would love to be in some movies.”
― James Arthur
“I am a massive film geek, and I love movies.”
― James Arthur
“When I had my first panic attack, I believed that it was a heart attack.”
― James Arthur
“Romance and girls I don’t talk about anymore: it’s off limits. I just want to keep it private.”
― James Arthur
“I’ve made some very silly mistakes.”
― James Arthur
“I want to say sorry for abusing my position as an ‘X Factor’ winner because I owe everything to this thing.”
― James Arthur
“I had a style before I was signed, but now I’m developing my commercial sound as well as trying to strike a balance between authentic music and music that the masses will love.”
― James Arthur
“I got ideas above my station, and I made mistakes.”
― James Arthur
“All my confidence has disappeared because the whole nation thinks I’m a homophobe who looks like a monster.”
― James Arthur
“I’m 100 million percent not homophobic. I despise that label being attached to me.”
― James Arthur
“I’ve found a way to live in the here and now.”
― James Arthur
“I don’t have anything against SyCo or ‘X Factor’ or any of that. I’m just a guy who got really afraid of not being in control.”
― James Arthur
“I want to put out music I really believe in, and when I felt that was threatened, I lashed out at everybody.”
― James Arthur
“I have people telling me what I can and can’t do, what music I can and can’t make.”
― James Arthur
“People who aren’t artists don’t think about creativity and art; they think about money.”
― James Arthur
“When you find fame, or you get signed to a record label, it’s not what you imagined – because you imagined they would have 100 percent trust or faith in you as an artist. Unfortunately, that’s not really the case – it’s what sells.”
― James Arthur
“Having watched ‘X Factor’ over the years, they just haven’t got it right. The male winners haven’t been believable. They look like puppets; they sound like puppets.”
― James Arthur
“I’m just achieving goals left, right and centre, and I just feel incredibly lucky because I never thought it would happen.”
― James Arthur
“I just think you have got to bring out good music.”
― James Arthur
“When an attractive woman shows any interest in me, I’m immediately alerted.”
― James Arthur
“Who hasn’t had interest from Rita Ora?”
― James Arthur
“I have the words ‘love’ and ‘life’ on my knuckles, and I would half like those removed.”
― James Arthur
“I probably suffered with depression.”
― James Arthur
“I was having anxiety attacks, calling ambulances out and saying I was having a heart attack, as there was something weird going on with my body and mind.”
― James Arthur
“’X Factor’ was the best experience of my life to be part of a show watched by so many people.”
― James Arthur
“I didn’t realise how devastating my behavior could be – looking back, I’m very embarrassed. I just buckled under the anxiety.”
― James Arthur
“I felt like I couldn’t wallow in self-pity forever. I can’t beat myself up forever.”
― James Arthur
“The thing is, I knew from the very first audition that I did not fit the classic ‘X Factor’ criteria.”
― James Arthur
“I had a bit of a strange childhood, to be honest.”
― James Arthur
“Me and my mum didn’t see eye-to-eye for a lot of years, and I’ve never really felt connected with my dad, because he wasn’t there.”
― James Arthur
“When I’ve got a girlfriend, I like to be with them as much as possible, and I’m very affectionate.”
― James Arthur
“I’m very much a ‘boyfriend’ type of guy. I’ve been in relationships since I was 16.”
― James Arthur
“I had some glamour models messaging me on Twitter and saying they think I’m hot, but I’m being careful.”
― James Arthur
“There are many things people don’t know about me, and maybe when they read about those things, they will have an understanding of the journey I have been on, why I’ve made the mistakes I have, and hopefully help other people overcome their adversities.”
― James Arthur
“I was asked, ‘Why do you think the male ‘X Factor’ winners haven’t been successful in the past?’ And I said, ‘Because obviously the body of work that they’ve brought out wasn’t good enough,’ and that was it.”
― James Arthur
“I don’t do media training. I don’t do that.”
― James Arthur
“I’ve done a few face palms after things I’ve said because it’s stupid. But if I’m not like that, I won’t feel human anymore. I’ll just feel like some robot saying what I’m supposed to say. I think that’s when people lose it.”
― James Arthur
“I don’t think about consequences too much.”
― James Arthur
“I really want to work with Eminem. I know it will never happen, but I would love if he let me do a hook on one of his songs or he featured on one of my songs. It would be incredible. I’ve just always admired him since I was young.”
― James Arthur
“I’m trying this thing where I don’t regret as much ’cause it doesn’t really work that well to regret things.”
― James Arthur
“I’ve made mistakes, and I’m very aware of them, and I’ve tried to better myself from those mistakes.”
― James Arthur
“I’ve always maintained a good relationship with Simon Cowell, and obviously I have a great respect for him, and his show provided me with a platform to reach a lot of people, so I have the upmost respect for Simon Cowell.”
― James Arthur
“I was on the dole.”
― James Arthur
“There’s no doubt in my mind or anyone else’s mind that people like Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, and Sam Smith are where they are because they’re supremely talented people, and I have a lot of respect for them.”
― James Arthur
“My first instinct is always to fight back because ever since I was a kid, that’s what I’ve always had to do to survive.”
― James Arthur
“I grew up in a house full of women – I have four sisters. I’m more feminine than some gay men.”
― James Arthur
“People were telling me it was refreshing I was real because previous ‘X Factor’ winners were too afraid to say anything. I decided to go against the grain. But I took it too far.”
― James Arthur
“For me, I’ve always been the guy who self-sabotages.”
― James Arthur
“It’s always amazing when a fan will say you’ve helped them through some kind of adversity.”
― James Arthur
“One of my fans made a lifelike doll of me. It was incredible – it looked just like me – but an effigy is kinda weird.”
― James Arthur
“I always made my songs very conversational, and if anyone ever has a conversation with me, they know I’m a very open guy, very open and honest.”
― James Arthur
“I had nothing and lived in the most insignificant place.”
― James Arthur
“If you haven’t got help, all you can do is make good music.”
― James Arthur
“I got offered loads of reality shows, including ‘I’m A Celebrity’ and ‘Celebrity Big Brother.’”
― James Arthur
“I don’t know if speaking to a therapist is right for everyone.”
― James Arthur
“My approach is to be open and honest.”
― James Arthur
“I think Justin Bieber and Zayn have both been listening to me a lot, and they basically wanna be me.”
― James Arthur
“I’m not saying none of these guys are talented, but people think Ed Sheeran crawled off a couch and lived on the street or something, but him, Ellie Goulding… they all come from Suffolk, Surrey, Richmond… they come from support.”
― James Arthur
“My music is about love, and I don’t discriminate against any type of person.”
― James Arthur
“There had to be a point where I had to stop feeling sorry for myself.”
― James Arthur
“It can feel like your whole world is caving in on you, and if you don’t speak about it, it gets worse. You have to talk about your problems.”
― James Arthur
“I’m a positive guy, even if I don’t smile a lot.”
― James Arthur
“Inside, I’m optimistic.”
― James Arthur
“I went from absolutely nothing to a lot of people judging me overnight, and it was really tough for me.”
― James Arthur
“I want to help people to get to know my story and really tell them in detail what I’ve been through.”
― James Arthur
“Not only was I an ‘X Factor’ winner that got dropped by Syco – and when that happens, you’re never heard of again – but everyone thought I was a clown.”
― James Arthur
“Yes I got into things with girls who only liked me because of who I was. But I learnt my lesson quickly.”
― James Arthur
“Everyone wrote me off, including me.”
― James Arthur
“I’d like to think that maybe the average person is rational, and they realise that I’m not this crazy monster that, at times, I’ve been perceived to be.”
― James Arthur
“I’m not a shiny pop star.”
― James Arthur
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