James Blunt - ‘The Iraq war lost me my GRAMMYS’

Oct 23, 2024

James Blunt, the iconic singer-songwriter known for his hit "You're Beautiful," shares his candid reflections on fame, success, and personal loss. He discusses the cultural backlash he faced, his humorous take on being labeled a 'one-hit wonder,' and his heartbreaking experience with miscarriage. Blunt also opens up about his military background and the emotional toll of the Iraq War on his music career. With dry wit and authenticity, he provides an engaging look at the absurdity of fame and the power of music to heal.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

The Journey of a Musical Icon

02:01 • 8min

Navigating Fame and Freedom in the Age of Social Media

10:22 • 2min

From Military to Music: A Journey of Identity and Healing

12:34 • 13min

Navigating Pregnancy Struggles and Grammy Reflections

25:53 • 4min

The Chaos of Fame: Reflections on Loss and Creativity

29:41 • 18min

Embracing Fame and Authenticity in Music

47:15 • 3min

TW: miscarriage and pregnancy loss

You’ll probably have heard of James Blunt. And if you haven’t, you’ve almost definitely heard his most famous song, You’re Beautiful. There was a time in the early 2000s that it was EVERYWHERE. And that’s because James Blunt was absolutely huge. His debut 2004 album, Back To Bedlam, was the biggest-selling album of the decade in the UK, shifting over 12 million copies. I know!! TWELVE MILLION.

He has released another six albums since then, every one of them a top 10 hit, winning two Brit Awards and two Ivor Novellos along the way.

But Blunt faced an astonishing cultural backlash for his ubiquity - eventually choosing to fight back in his own words on Twitter, where he rapidly became known for his acerbic put-downs and self-deprecating humour.

He joins me to talk about the ‘honour’ of being a ‘one-hit wonder’, his rejection by every single major record label and his failure to win any Grammys, despite being nominated for five in one night. We also talk about his friendship with the late Carrie Fisher, whether he bears a grudge against any of the musicians who slagged him off (looking at you, Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher), the absurdity of fame and - in a moving exchange - the male experience of miscarriage.

At points, his humour was so dry it took me a couple of seconds to realise he’d made a joke. Listening back, I can confirm I find him utterly hilarious.

Back To Bedlam is about to be released as a remastered 20th anniversary edition.

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