Tyler James’ ‘Higher Love’ Beats The Voice UK Winner

Tyler James managed to secure a runner-up position on The Voice UK singing ‘Higher Love.’ According to Entertainment Wise, the tracks bows at No.39 following à la carte downloads off The Voice compilation album. Last week, winner Leanne Mitchell peaked at No.45 with the cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Run to You.’ According to MTV, Max Milner’s cover of Tom Petty’s ‘Free Fallin’’ and Bo Bruce’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ are the second and third most popular tracks off the compilation according to digital sales statistics via iTunes.

There are rumors saying that  a further official winner single with Leanne Mitchell is expected according to Digital Spy.

Tyler James first appeared in the third of four ‘Blind Audition’ shows on The Voice UK. Tyler James first performance was ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’ by Otis Redding. The singer made it all the way to the final where he performed tracks by The Jackson 5, Usher and his current single ‘Higher Love.’

Tyler James singing Higher Love

Steve Winwood originally released ‘Higher Love’ back in 1986. The first single off the album “Back in the High Life,” the track was written by Winwood and Will Jennings. Chaka Khan actually sang on the track, also appearing in the music video.

‘Higher Love’ succeeded Madonna’s ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ atop the Billboard Hot 100. James Vincent McMorrow recorded a cover of the track which was used by LoveFilm’s TV ads in 2011. The McMorrow cover peaked just outside the top 20.

Earlier Chart Career

Tyler James first rose to fame as a guest vocalist on the r’n’b hit ‘Wilder’ by StarGate in 2001. In the early stage of his career, he was hailed as the British answer to Justin Timberlake. Both The Face magazine and NME favored him positively.

Tyler James was also best friends with Amy Winehouse, whom he toured with in the UK back in 2004. Winehouse appeared on the track ‘Best of Me,’ and the late singer contributed with three co-written tracks. He appeared on the UK singles chart back in 2004 when the reggae tune ‘Why Do I Do?’ peaked at No.25. The track made the ‘A’ playlist on the BBC Radio 2. The studio album ‘The Unlikely Lad’ was released in 2005, yet it never made it to a physical release.

He also toured with Natasha Bedingfield in 2005, the very same year his sophomore single ‘Foolish’ made it to No.16 on the UK singles chart. His third single was ‘Your Woman,’ a cover of White Town’s No.1 hit. James’ cover peaked at No.60. The flop led to James being dropped by his then label Island Records.