The English singer and songwriter
Olly Murs has recorded songs for five
studio albums and collaborated with other artists on their respective singles. The singer came to prominence after he finished in second place on the
sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, losing to
Joe McElderry.[1] While competing on the show, Murs, along with the other finalists, was featured on a cover of "
You Are Not Alone" originally performed by
Michael Jackson.[2] Released as a charity single, the proceeds were donated to
Great Ormond Street Hospital.[3]
Despite being the runner-up,
Simon Cowell's record label
Syco revealed that they had signed Murs as a
joint-venture with
Epic following the show in February 2010.[4] The singer began to work on his
self-titled debut studio album, which was released on 26 November 2010.[5] The album was preceded by the release of its lead single,
reggae-pop track "
Please Don't Let Me Go". Lyrically, "Please Don't Let Me Go" is based on a previous relationship of Murs', in which the woman did not love him back, he asks her to not to let go of him so soon.[6] Some of the tracks present Murs as being critical of his ex-girlfriends' new boyfriend, including "A Million More Years" and the second single, "
Thinking of Me".[7] Written by Adam Argyle and
Martin Brammer, "I Blame Hollywood" draws influence from
pop rock.[7] Murs co-wrote the song "Love Shines Down" with
Ed Sheeran, and it features guest vocalist
Jessie J, while "
Heart on My Sleeve" is a cover song written by
James Morrison and originally performed by
Michael Johns.[8]
Murs' second studio album, the retro-pop themed In Case You Didn't Know, was released on 25 November 2011.[9][10] The composition of "
Oh My Goodness" is composed of an organ and horns, while the title track, "
Heart Skips a Beat" and "Tell the World" draw influence from reggae.[10][11] "
Dance with Me Tonight" is a 1950s saxophone style record with elements of
Doo-wop,[11][12] while the track "Just Smile" is reminiscent of the work of
Burt Bacharach.[12] The
disco-pop themed Right Place Right Time, Murs' third studio album, was released on 26 November 2012.[13][14] Murs co-wrote the majority of the album with songwriters
Steve Robson,
Wayne Hector and
Ed Drewett.[15] "
Troublemaker" was released as the lead single from the album, and it features
Flo Rida. Lyrically, it documents Murs' obsession for a woman who he knows is not good for him but he cannot resist her, while Flo Rida delivers a rap verse explaining why he finds alluring women attractive.[16] The
BBC's critic John Aizlewood described album tracks "Head to Toe" as adult-themed and "
Dear Darlin'" as solemn in its composition.[17]
Murs' fourth studio album, Never Been Better, was released on 20 November 2014.[18] Murs stated that he wanted the album to have a more serious tone and less of a "cheeky" style owing to him turning 30 years old.[19]Travie McCoy and
Demi Lovato feature on the songs "
Wrapped Up" and "
Up", respectively.[20] The former is a
funk track which whereby Murs suggestively sings "You got the lock, I got the key/ You know the rest, you know just where I want to be," while the latter is a
folk song about the "merits of perseverance".[21] The song "Stick with Me" addresses loneliness, while the piano-ballad "Tomorrow" documents how difficult it is to hold onto "fleeting private moments" when in the public eye.[19] Murs co-wrote the track "Let Me In" with
Paul Weller, which was described by Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph as "unexpected".[20][22]Digital Spy writer Amy Davison likened the
disco track "Did You Miss Me?" to
Justin Timberlake's song "
Take Back the Night".[23]
English singer
Jessie J was featured on "Love Shined Down", 2010Singer-songwriter
Ed Sheeran co-wrote "Love Shine Down" which was sung by Murs and Jessie JBritish hip hop duo
Rizzle Kicks performed rap verses on the original version of "
Heart Skips a Beat"American rapper
Flo Rida was featured on "
Troublemaker" in 2012French singer
Alizée was featured on a remix of "
Dear Darlin'" which was placed on the special edition of Right Place, Right TimeAmerican rapper
Chiddy Bang was featured on the remix of "Heart Skips a Beat" which was released in Canada and the United StatesMurs and
Robbie Williams recorded a version of "
I Wan'na Be like You" for Williams's 2013 album, Swings Both WaysAmerican rapper
Travie McCoy was featured on "
Wrapped Up" in 2014Singer
Demi Lovato and Murs collaborated on "
Up"American singer-songwriter
Ryan Tedder co-wrote "
Seasons", which was released as a single in 2015
Name of song, songwriters, originating album and year of release.
^Busy (Media notes). Olly Murs. United Kingdom: Epic Records, Syco Music. 2011.{{
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