James was always a Mama’s boy, even before his parents got a divorce. His dad was never around (I like to believe he was a truck driver or something for some reason), so he spent time with his mom when she was getting her cosmetics company up and running. When her cosmetics company took off, she put James into singing/acting classes because she always wanted him to amount to big things and, in her opinion, the biggest thing that he could ever accomplish would be fame. The classes give James more confidence than he’s ever had.
Mr. Diamond felt that these things were making James too feminine and enrolled him in hockey because he felt like it would ‘man him up’. James hated hockey at first, but started to like it once he met the guys because they were the first people that were willing to be friends with him despite his slightly self-centered nature.
Fast forward a few years and James’ parents get a divorce. James stays with his mother because his dad’s off being a truck driver and launches himself more into his singing/acting/modeling ventures because he thinks if he’s famous, his mom will be happier. She’ll have something to be proud of. Not only that, after the divorce, his mom launches herself more into her company after the divorce and James wants nothing more than her attention. If he can’t get her attention, he’s convinced that the fame will provide him with enough attention from complete strangers to feel contented enough.
Which brings me to how the song “Trust No One” by The Pink Spiders fits into this. ‘Behind the mirror, it’s all fair game with all these demons in your head…’ James thinks that if he’s pretty enough, all of his problems will disappear. ‘And the word on the street’s you sleep with everyone you meet’. There are rumors around school that James is willing to get into bed with anyone. No one really knows who started them (and as much as the guys hate to admit it, they’re pretty sure that it was James), but James doesn’t do anything to dispel them. ‘But no one will ever love you if you love no one. […] But no one will ever trust you if you trust no one.’ James doesn’t like to put himself out there. He knows that it affects his relationships with other people, but he can’t bring himself to do it. He pretends, but he feels like no one will ever be able to care about him.
When James hears that Gustavo Rocque is coming to Minnesota, he’s convinced that this is his chance to get famous. He’s crushed that Gustavo says he has no talent, but he’s even more crushed that Gustavo picked Kendall because as far as James is concerned, Kendall has everything. Sure, there’s no Mr. Knight to speak of, but Mrs. Knight is always there when Kendall needs her. Not only that, Kendall has Katie to talk to when he’s lonely.
The reason that James is so dedicated in Audition and Concert when the other boys are willing to give up is because he feels like this is his one shot at the big time. The other guys except Carlos, though he thinks he does, have back up plans. Without this, he’s got nothing and in James’ mind, if becoming famous is going to make his mom’s life, failing at it will kill her.
That being said, the song “River Below” by Billy Talent could sum this up perfectly. ‘I’ll take all the blame, the front page and the fame.’ and ‘They’ll think I’m insane, but you’ll all know my name’. James is perfectly willing to do whatever it takes to be famous. He doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt; he’s going to make this dream come true.
lol I don't even think that's all of it, but I gave up