Single Tear

Album: A Place I Go (2012)
Charted: 28
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tyler James is a British singer-songwriter who grew up in Canning Town, East London. James met Amy Winehouse at the age of 13, when they both trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. After briefly dating, they remained close friends for the rest of Winehouse's far too brief life as well as touring together in 2004.

    James signed to Island Records in 2003 after they heard a demo tape featuring his future debut single, "Why Do I Do?" The song reached #25 on the UK Singles Chart and its follow-up, "Foolish" did even better peaking at #16. James then slipped off the radar for several years, before returning to prominence in 2012, when he appeared as a contestant on the first series of The Voice UK, finishing as the series' runner-up behind Leanne Mitchell. His version of Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" was released as a single, reaching #39 on the UK singles chart.
  • This ballad was issued as James' first original single following his successful stint on The Voice. The singer penned the track with Robbie Williams' former collaborator Guy Chambers, who also produced the tune with Norwegian production team Electric. The song was released October 7, 2012.
  • James told Digital Spy the song "is not about a specific person or situation." He added: "It's more a bunch of thoughts about how I've felt about myself and my life in the past few years. It's for anyone who ever broke up with someone, lost someone or misses someone. It's for people who have experienced heartache in any way. The concept is putting a brave face on because you have to."
  • James said regarding the song: "It came out of nowhere. It's an emotional song. I think I've poured the last year into it, it's the culmination of the most intense, life-changing year of my life. "I learnt falsetto from Maxwell," he added. "I love Lauryn Hill and Otis Redding, people who sing with soul. That's not about doing a million riffs - when they sing, I believe them."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul Station

Paul Stanley of Kiss, Soul StationSongwriter Interviews

Paul Stanley on his soul music project, the Kiss songs with the biggest soul influence, and the non-make-up era of the band.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.