What happened when the sexy singer-songwriter serenaded us in a Tapas bar?
We've always been a fan of his romantic lyrics at Company so we couldn't wait to quiz James Morrison about who his dream duet would be with (hopefully us!).
Ushered into a side room at the swanky Floridita restaurant in London's Soho where James was launching Lips: Number One Hits, the latest release of the Xbox 360 karaoke game, we found the star in an excitable mood. "I'm pumped and my Lips are moist and ready for action," he joked. Sadly he was referring to the gig he was about to play - not the snog we hoped he'd give us!
You're a professional singer so isn't doing karaoke cheating!?
I love singing karaoke and have murdered a few Stevie Wonder songs in my time. You think you know a song and then you start singing it and it's in another key or something - Heard It Through The Grapevine for example is really high and I can't always get it!
So how did your No 1 Hit Broken Strings end up on the Xbox game Lips? (He sang it karaoke style after our interview and got top marks - unsurprisingly)
I've played Lips before and did wonder why my songs weren't on there! So when they asked if Broken Strings could be of course I said ‘yes!'
But what if people murder your song?
I don't mind - I've already done my version! The game is just about getting up, having fun and singing along.
Got any karaoke tips then?
I realised when I did a practice run today that it's more about the diction and the timing of when you say the words rather than if you hit the notes.
My girlfriend (who's not a very good singer) has whooped me on it before because she's got the timing nailed.
You're getting married soon aren't you?
Am I?! No that's not on the cards yet unless she's planned it without me knowing! I've had a baby girl with her and we've been together for a very long time - we got engaged about four years ago.
So apart from your girlfriend who's your dream female duet?
I've got to say Nelly (Furtado), because she's one of the only people I've sung with and it's worked well. But I've got Paloma Faith's record and think she's got a great voice as well. I also think Adele is a great singer - I went on tour with her. She's really good.
What about all the other young female singers doing well at the moment like Pixie Lott, Little Boots, La Roux. . .
I think they're great. I can't stop listening to La Roux's songs - her voice is really unusual. I thought it was digitally altered in some way at first but it's not, it's just her voice. Her electronic pop dance records are wicked and I'm not usually in to that kind of thing. Pixie Lott is great as well, I've heard a couple of her tunes on the radio and she can really sing live too. There are some brilliant female singers around at the moment.
So what advice do you have for any aspiring singer songwriters out there?
Don't make dreary songs! I think you have to focus on what you want to say and what kind of artist you are and stay true to that. I always loved early 60's soul because they're great songs with passion in the voices. I've always tried to keep that feeling in whatever I do.
Where do you get your inspiration for the songs from?
Life in general! The second album (Songs For You, Truths For Me) was actually more about my relationship than the first one (Undiscovered), even though the first one sounds like it is! Undiscovered is more about the bad times my friends were going through. ‘A Wonderful World' was about a deaf guy I saw on the bus who was pissed. So you can write songs about anything that pops into your head really!
How about chilling out - where do you like to go out?
I went to Mahiki's in London recently. It's got a really cool atmosphere, everyone is just having a drink and dancing. I danced my arse off in there - it was wicked. My legs were killing me the next day! There's an old pub, Hangleton Manor, near where I live in Hove which is cool and they do great hearty food. It's a quiet place where I don't get too much attention which is why I like it!
* Xbox Lips: Number One Hits (£34.99, released 23rd Oct) features 40 of the biggest chart hits of the last 20 years including James Morrison, Coldplay, Rhianna, MC Hammer, Lady GaGa (we did a brutal version of Let's Dance) and Mariah Carey. Look out for the Xbox video pods in shopping centres, university campuses and gig venues where you can enter a nationwide karaoke competition. For more details visit: www.xBox.com
* Catch James Morrison on tour in the next couple of months - visit www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com for dates and information
