Everybody Needs Someone

Album: Leap (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • James Bay was Ed Sheeran's opening act for the 2019 leg of his Divide Tour across Europe. Though he was having a fun time on the surface, inside he felt lost and alone. "I was feeling lonely and I felt like I couldn't connect with anybody," Bay told The Sun. "It's a difficult thing."

    That experience inspired this song.
  • The feeling of being lost and alone came like a quiet tidal wave. "It really threw me around for a while," Bay said. "But thanks to the people closest to me in my life, I made it through that time. They know how to hold me up when I'm down."
  • James Bay wrote "Everybody Needs Someone" with British songwriter Phil Plested (Little Mix's "Touch," Lewis Capaldi's "Before You Go") and Mojam. The production duo Mojam (Mustafa Omer and James Murray) have also contributed to hits by Naughty Boy ("La La La"), Aitch ("Buss Down") and Anne-Marie (her collaborations with KSI, "Don't Play" and Little Mix, "Kiss My (Uh-Oh)").
  • James Bay recorded "Everybody Needs Someone" at RCA Studio A in Nashville with Dave Cobb in the producer's chair. Cobb is a noted producer in Music City who has worked with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile and Slash.
  • Cobb brought together a band to play on this song and other tracks for Bay's Leap album. Bay played guitar for "Everybody Needs Someone" and Cobb percussion. The other musicians are:

    Philip Towns: synth bass, piano, keyboards
    Brian Allen: bass guitar
    Nate Smith: tom-toms, drums

    Those of you familiar with the Nashville scene may recognize Nate Smith's name. He had success as a solo artist with his 2022 single, "Whiskey On You."
  • "Everybody Needs Someone" is a song about togetherness in the face of loneliness. "We can all easily find ourselves on our own these days," Bay told The Sun. "Busy in our own heads and isolated."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.