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Rex Features
The Brit Award winner, who is taking part in ITV1 reality show Popstar To Operastar, said that he felt like he had achieved everything pop music had to offer and described opera as a "new world".
"It occurred to me that listening to young bands - the music didn't connect in the same way anymore," James told ITV. "It reminds me of that line from 'Panic' by The Smiths - 'Because the music that they constantly play, it says nothing to me about my life'.
"Pop music is about running away and getting the girl, and I've done that. Okay, I've done what you told me to do - what do I do know? That's when I started listening to classical music. I heard the William Tell Overture and thought, 'That sounds amazing!'"
Popstar To Operastar kicks off on Friday at 9pm on ITV1.
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