Are You Even Real?

Album: single release only (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, James Blake is so enamored with a girl, he wonders if she's even real. Such is the connection between him and this "Queen of Queens" that she is his ultimate fantasy. But (spoiler alert), it turns out Blake is just experiencing a very lucid dream.
  • The starry-eyed song originated with Blake getting together with songwriter Starrah (Rihanna's "Needed Me," Maroon 5's "Girls Like You"). The English singer explained to Apple Music's Zane Lowe that he played her a piano motif, which she immediately engaged with and started writing "one of the main refrains melodically."

    Blake tweaked some of the lyrics to make it more personal, then produced the track over the next two months. He also got together with another pop songwriter, Ali Tamposi (Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello's' "Señorita," Dua Lipa's "Break My Heart"), who helped pen parts of the song.
  • Peter Lee Johnson not only plays violin on the track, but also gets a songwriting credit. Other songs he's contributed towards include Offset's "Father of 4" and Ty Dolla $ign's "Never Be the Same."

Comments: 1

  • A from CanadaThis was written for Jameela Jamil, his love.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."