Can I Be Him

"Can I Be Him" is a song performed by British singer and songwriter James Arthur. The song was released as a digital download on 15 April 2017 in the United Kingdom by Columbia Records as the third single from his second studio album, Back from the Edge (2016).^[1] The song became a moderate hit on a number of charts. As of 2021, it had sold 652,698 copies in the UK.^[2]

"Can I Be Him"
Single by James Arthur
from the album Back from the Edge
Released	15 April 2017
Recorded	2015
Length	4:06
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	James Arthur George Tizzard Rick Parkhouse Negin Djafari
Producer(s)	Red Triangle
James Arthur singles chronology
"Safe Inside" (2017) "Can I Be Him" (2017) "Go for Broke" (2017)

Music video

On 8 May 2017, Vevo released the music video "Can I Be Him" on YouTube. It shows James Arthur performing the song in a moving subway carriage. He also seems to have some distant eye contact with two girls. The interior subway shots were mainly made in a DT3 unit servicing the U3 line of the Nuremberg U-Bahn, Germany.

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Can I Be Him"	4:06

Digital download^[3]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Can I Be Him" (SJUR Remix)	3:45

Charts

Chart (2016–2017)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[4]	46
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[5]	97
Ireland (IRMA)[6]	76
Portugal (AFP)[7]	99
Scotland (OCC)[8]	31
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[9]	72
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	69
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[11]	24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[12]	3× Platinum	180,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[13]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[14]	Platinum	90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[15]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[16]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[17]	Gold	25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Platinum	600,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	15 April 2017	Digital download	Columbia
United States	26 June 2017	Adult contemporary radio		[20]