One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Just Like Fred Astaire

Posted on Posted in Song

Just Like Fred Astaire is track two off the 1999 James album Millionaires and was the second single from it prior to the album’s release. An acoustic version recorded live at Glasgow’s Lighthouse features on the special 2 disc edition of the album.

First revealed on the Winter 1998 tour, it is an unashamed love song, written for Tim for his fiance Kate. It was originally titled simply Fred Astaire, but Fred’s estate objected to the use of the name and his image.

Released ahead of the upcoming Millionaires album, the song reached a disappointing number 15 in the charts despite being described the band as a potential number one and a song to replace Sit Down as the band’s most well-known song.

However over time its popularity has grown. It is a firm fan favourite and is regularly used as the first song that the bridge and groom dance to at weddings and is always one of the most requested songs from fans.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Doctor what is happening to me?
Palpitations, my mind is diseased
Even my vision is impaired
I'm losing my hair
Cause when I hold her in my arms I feel like Fred Astaire

Lovesick, my temperature's high
Just met a girl, who believes we can fly
I'm a bull, not a bear
I'm a millionaire
Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like Fred Astaire

I believe in happiness
I believe in love
I believe she fell to earth from somewhere high above
I believe in Hollywood
Don't believe that love must bring despair
Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like Fred Astaire

He said love is just a disease
A plague for the naive
These days no one believes

Meteors may strike the earth
Nations live and die
I'm the boy who got the girl
And now we're gonna fly
We can cross the race divide
Bridge a gap that wasn't really there
Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like Fred Astaire

I'm gonna hold her in my arms, just like Fred Astaire
I'm gonna hold her in this charm, like Fred Astaire
Like Fred Astaire (come dance the water's rising)
Like Fred Astaire (come dance the water's rising)
Like Fred Astaire

Open in Spotify

Campfire Version

Open in Spotify

Song:Just Like Fred Astaire
Released:4th October 1999
Main Associated Album (or Single):Millionaires
First Heard Live:Newport Centre – 8th December 1998
Played at:
JUST LIKE FRED ASTAIRE

Your basic chords are:

E--0-------0------2------0
B--2-------2------3------0
G--2-------1------2------1
D--2-------2------0------2
A--0-------0------X------2
E--X-------X------X------0

A Amaj7 D E


Amaj7
Doctor, what is happening to me? Palpatations, my mind's diseased,
D Amaj7
Even my vision is impaired, I'm losing my head.
E D Amaj7
Cos when I hold her in my arms, I feel like Fred Astaire


This is the same throughout the song.

THERE ARE TWO BASS PARTS IN THE SONG - Do not get them confused with the guitar parts

Throughout the first half of the song, one guitar plays

E--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
B--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
G--6-6-6-6-7-7-6-6-6-6-7-7 Whilst the other guitar plays Amaj7
D--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7
A--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
E-------------------------

The short solo after the 'I believe in happiness...' part of the song

E------------------------
B------------------------
G--7=9--11---7-----------
D------------------------
A--5=7---9---5-----------
E------------------------


When the guitars come in after the quiet bit, the lead guitar plays

E---------------------------------------------------------------
B-9-10-10-10-9-9-9-10-10-10-9-9-9-10-10-10-12-9-9-10-10-10-12-9-
G-9--9--9--9-9-9-9--9--9--9-9-9-9--9--9--9--9-9-9--9--9--9--9-9-
D---------------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------

over the top of a basic A chord

And thats it!
Share:
Facebooktwitterredditpinteresttumblr