This is a special evening as the English
singer-songwriter and guitarist James Morrison performs in Manila on October 9,
2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Morrison achieved worldwide success in 2006 with the release
of his debut single “You Give Me Something.” His first album, Undiscovered,
debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart and sold millions of copies, making
him the biggest-selling British male solo artist in 2006. The album, which also
has the hit singles “Wonderful World,” and “The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore” won
him a BRIT Award in 2007 for Best British Male Solo Artist.
"You Give Me Something"
You only stay with me in the morning
You only hold me when I sleep
I was meant to tread the water
But now I've gotten in too deep
For every piece of me that wants you
Another piece backs away
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might know my heart
You only waited up for hours
Just to spend a little time alone with me
And I can say I've never bought you flowers
I can't work out what they mean
I never thought that I'd love someone
That was someone else's dream
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might call you from my heart
But it might be a second too late
And the words that I could never say
Are gonna come out anyway
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might know my heart
Know my heart, know my heart, know my heart
You only hold me when I sleep
I was meant to tread the water
But now I've gotten in too deep
For every piece of me that wants you
Another piece backs away
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might know my heart
You only waited up for hours
Just to spend a little time alone with me
And I can say I've never bought you flowers
I can't work out what they mean
I never thought that I'd love someone
That was someone else's dream
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might call you from my heart
But it might be a second too late
And the words that I could never say
Are gonna come out anyway
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
You give me something
That makes me scared alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
Because someday I might know my heart
Know my heart, know my heart, know my heart
He released his second album, Songs for You, Truths for Me
in 2008, which entered the UK Album Chart at number three. The singles from the
album reached the top ten of the UK Singles Chart: “You Make It Real,” and “Broken Strings,” a duet with Nelly
Furtado.
Morrison’s is currently touring to promote The Awakening
album, released in September 2011. As the title of his third and by far best
album suggests, The Awakening is the sound of an artist coming of age. In his
personal life, Morrison has become a father, while losing his own father after
the latter’s long battle with alcoholism and depression. At the same time,
Morrison, 26, has matured as a singer, songwriter and musician, enabling him to
channel all of that emotion into his most accomplished collection of songs yet.
“My first two albums felt like practice shots,” he says, “and now I’ve
graduated. In many ways this feels like my first proper album.”
Fortunately, The Awakening has turned out to be the album
that James Morrison always had the potential to make – at last a worthy
platform for his extraordinary singing voice.
“This time I wasn’t worrying
about success at all, and that’s why it was really enjoyable. I didn’t feel I
had to go for the big, loud notes all the time – I just sat back and sang how I
felt and it all just came flooding out.”
The Awakening is a warm, live-sounding collection of classic
but contemporary folk-soul songs. There are musical similarities with
Morrison’s debut, but with added panache and self-belief. There are soaring
strings, uplifting harmonies, soulful ballads and, in Slave to the Music, a
hand-clapping dance floor groover – a new string to his bow. There are nods to
Motown, gospel, country and a hint of Latin. Technically, Morrison remains one
of the finest white soul singers, equal parts Stevie Wonder and Paul Young. But
he is more than just a Big Voice – he sings from the heart.
“To me, pop music
is just great music that lasts for years,” he says.
“Though there is the other
side of pop, which is where you have a hit, but then, after it comes out, it
never gets heard again. I never wanted to make that sort of music.”
He has retained the services of regular co-writers including
Steve Robson, the man behind Take That’s “Shine,” Eg White (Duffy), Dan Wilson
(Adele); as well as Toby Gad, best known for Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy.” Ten
of the 12 songs are produced by Bernard Butler – the acclaimed former guitarist
in Suede. Butler, who also played guitar on The Awakening and is hailed by
Morrison as “the director of the album”, has forged an impressive studio-based
career, producing the likes of The Libertines, Tricky and Duffy .
The song “Up,” a duet with Jessie J has “hit” written all
over it. It is one of two songs produced by Mark Taylor, who helmed “Broken
Strings.” Morrison’s strained relationship with his father, who died last year
from heart failure after a protracted and painful battle with alcoholism,
inspired the lyrics for “Up” – and several other songs on the album.
The Awakening is full of raw emotion, but these are not
“downer songs”, says Morrison. “Yes, some of it’s about dealing with shit – but
it’s also about looking at yourself and what you’ve got around you, and
weighing stuff up to keep yourself thinking positively. I think a lot of people
will be able to relate to that, because that’s what life’s like, what
relationships are like.”
Tickets may be purchased from Ticketnet outlets or the
Ticketnet Website www.ticketnet.com.ph. For inquiries please call 911-5555.
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