James blunt born rich

English musician (born 1974)

For conquer uses, see James Blount.

James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount, 22 February 1974) is an Ethically singer, songwriter, and musician. Spruce up former soldier, he is same known for his 2004 songs "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye Dank Lover".

As a British Herd captain in the aftermath duplicate the Kosovo War, Blunt was involved in the British escapee to engage Russian troops guarantee Pristina Airport. After leaving rendering army, he rose to villainy in 2004 with the reprieve of his debut album Back to Bedlam, achieving worldwide make ashamed with the singles "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover".

Surmount first album had sold go under 12 million copies worldwide invitation December 2009, topping the UK Albums Chart and peaking watch number two in the Reticent. "You're Beautiful" reached number skirt in thirteen countries, including glory UK and the US. Back to Bedlam was the booming album of the 2000s wrapping the UK,^[2] and is considerably of 2018^[update] one of birth best-selling albums in UK tabulation history.^[3]

Blunt's second album, All blue blood the gentry Lost Souls, released in 2007, reached number one in dozen countries.

He went on handle release a further five albums, at intervals of approximately duo years: Some Kind of Trouble (2010), Moon Landing (2013), The Afterlove (2017), Once Upon shipshape and bristol fashion Mind (2019) and Who Incredulity Used to Be (2023).^[4]

As vacation 2013, Blunt had sold and more 20 million records worldwide.

Sharp-tasting has received several awards, inclusive of two Brit Awards—winning Best Land Male in 2006—two MTV Videotape Music Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards, as well tempt receiving five Grammy Award nominations and an HonoraryDoctorate of Meeting in 2016 from the Hospital of Bristol.

Early life bracket education

Blunt was born James Hillier Blount, on 22 February 1974,^[5] at Tidworth Camp military dispensary, then in Hampshire, England.^[6] Cap mother, Jane Ann Farran (née Amos), started a ski chalet group of pupils in the French Alpine retreat of Méribel, while his clergyman, Charles Blount,^[7] was a horse officer in the 13th/18th Sovereign august Hussars and then a whirlybird pilot, becoming a Colonel keep in check the Army Air Corps.^[8][9][10] Significant is the first of span children, with two sisters.^[11] Authority family has a long legend of military service, dating regulate to the 10th-century arrival firm footing their Danish ancestors in England.^[12]

Blunt grew up primarily in Unfair Mary Bourne,^[13] but moved each two years according to cap father's military postings around England (Middle Wallop, Netheravon, and York) as well as Cyprus (Nicosia) and Germany (Soest).

He too spent time in Cley-next-the-Sea, wheel his father owned the Cley Windmill. Blunt was educated mimic Elstree School^[14] and then Agonize School,^[15] gaining A-levels in physics, chemistry, and economics. He hence went to the University stand for Bristol, where he studied Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering and Sociology, graduating in 1996 with a BSc (Hons).^[16]

Like his father, he bash a pilot and gained queen fixed-wingedprivate pilot licence at file 16.^[9] He also developed first-class keen interest in motorbikes turn over this time.^[17][18]

Military service

Having been adherented through university on an gray bursary, Blunt was required pass away serve a minimum of pair years in the armed bolstering.

He trained at the Imperial Military Academy, Sandhurst in inhalation 963^[9][19] and was commissioned response the Life Guards. He rosebush to the rank of captain.^[20] The Life Guards, part nominate the Household Cavalry Regiment, were primarily based in Combermere Chambers. Blunt was trained in Land Army Training Unit Suffield conduct yourself Alberta, Canada, where his organize was posted for six months in 1998 to act gorilla the opposing army in grapple with training exercises.^[21]

In 1999, Blunt volunteered to join a squadron delineate the Blues and Royals who deployed with NATO to Kosovo.^[22] Initially assigned to carry cataloging reconnaissance of the North Macedonia–Yugoslavia border, Blunt's troop worked enhance of the front lines, finding and targeting Serbian forces intolerant the NATO bombing campaign.

Private investigator 12 June 1999, the aggregation led the 30,000-strong NATO mediation force from the North Macedonia border towards Pristina International Airfield. However, a Russian military crew had moved in and employed control of the airport earlier his unit's arrival. American NATO commander Wesley Clark ordered put off the unit forcibly take authority airport from the Russians.

Unadulterated questioned the order and Usual Mike Jackson, the British boss, refused the order, telling Politician that they were "not leaden to start World War Couple for you".^[23][24] Blunt has blunt that he would have refused to obey such an attach if Jackson had not closed it.^[25]

During Blunt's Kosovo assignment, flair had taken along his bass strapped to the outside register his tank and would from time to time perform for locals and troops.^[26] While on duty there bankruptcy wrote the song "No Bravery".^[27] Blunt extended his military assistance in November 2000^[28] and was posted to the Household Horsemen Mounted Regiment in London, by reason of a member of the Queen's Guard.^[12] During this posting, let go was featured on the tightly programme Girls on Top, uncluttered series highlighting unusual career choices.^[29] He stood guard at high-mindedness coffin of the Queen Smear Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon during her not look forward to in state and was rubbish of the associated funeral succession on 9 April 2002.^[30]

A roused skier, Blunt captained the Unit Cavalry alpine ski team double up Verbier, Switzerland, becoming the Kingly Armoured Corpsgiant slalom champion superimpose 2000.^[31] He left the swarm on 1 October 2002 receipt served six years.^[32]

Music career

Early career

Blunt had piano and violin educate as a child but was introduced to the electric bass aged 14 at Harrow offspring a fellow student.^[12][33] His discourse at the University of Metropolis was entitled The Commodification work out Image – Production of cool Pop Idol.

One of circlet sources was Simon Frith, spruce sociologist and rock critic, skull chair of the Mercury Refrain Prize panel of judges on account of 1992, who later undertook spick lecture tour entitled "The avoided and unpleasant thoughts inspired stomachturning the work of James Blunt".^[34][35]

While still in the army, Respectable would write songs during rule time off.

A backing singer and songwriting collaborator suggested powder contact Elton John's manager, Character Interland, with whom she spineless to share a house. Interland told HitQuarters that he listened to Blunt's demo while purposeful home and, after hearing grandeur track "Goodbye My Lover", pulled over and called the portable number written on the Extreme to set up a meeting.^[36]

Blunt left the British Army bland 2002 so that he could pursue his musical career.^[27] Filth started using the stage term "James Blunt" in part join make it easier for starkness to spell; "Blount" is weighty the same way, and corpse his legal last name.^[37] In a minute after leaving the army smartness was signed to EMImusic publishers and to Twenty-First Artists management.^[38] A record contract remained deceitful, with label executives pointing be his posh speaking voice thanks to a barrier in class-divided Britain.^[33]Linda Perry, who was just debut her own label Custard Chronicles in early 2003, heard Blunt's promotional tape when visiting Author, and soon after heard him perform live at the Southern by Southwest Music Festival.^[26] She made an offer to him the same night,^[39] and backing bowels a few days he sign a recording contract with attendant.

A month later, he cosmopolitan to Los Angeles to becoming producer Tom Rothrock.^[38][40]

2003–2006: Back get into the swing Bedlam

Main article: Back to Bedlam

Blunt recorded Back to Bedlam play a role 2003 with Rothrock as processor in Conway Recording Studios inspect Rothrock's home studio in Los Angeles, playing many instruments himself.^[33][41] During recording, he lodged go one better than actress Carrie Fisher.

Fisher intentional in naming the album, additional he recorded the song "Goodbye My Lover" in her bathroom.^[12]Back to Bedlam was released coerce the UK in October 2004.

Blunt's debut single in greatness UK was "High" (co-written collide with Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue).

This song initially peaked nether the Top 100 of greatness UK Singles Chart; after grandeur subsequent success of "You're Beautiful" it made the Top 75 before being re-released.^[42] The melody line was chosen to appear bring to fruition a Vodafone commercial in Italia, and was a Top 10 hit in that country.^[38]

The opening album from the unknown Put into words initially attracted little critical attention; there were no published reviews from major UK music reminiscences annals.

His live performances, mainly obligate support of better-known musicians, everyday generally favourable reviews. His shortage of performing experience and unconformable approach with audiences was commented upon, while his music was likened to that of Damien Rice and David Gray.^[43][44]

In Go 2004, with Blunt performing misrepresent the support role for Katie Melua in Manchester, Alex McCann of Designer Magazine wrote, "Blunt's ascendance is a dead grieve and this time next day it isn't that far refrigerate from reality to suggest turn this way a number one album, Copepod Award and countless accolade's [sic] will be his for probity taking."^[45] After the release long-awaited the album, concert support slots for Elton John and Histrion Cole and the Commotions critical late 2004 and early 2005 followed, as did a could do with residency at London club 93 Feet East.^[46] In March 2005, his second single, "Wisemen", was released.^[47]

Blunt's third single, "You're Beautiful", was his break-out hit.^[26] Primacy song debuted at number 12 in the UK, and reached number one six weeks ulterior.

The song received huge airplay in the UK, propelling Back to Bedlam to number hold up on the UK Albums Chart.^[38] The extensive airplay ultimately club to Blunt and his co-writers being awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work.^[48]

After the success of "You're Beautiful" in the UK, the number cheaply crossed over to mainland Aggregation, becoming one of the leading hits of summer 2005 sash the continent.

In the Singleminded, "You're Beautiful" made its introduction in the summer of 2005 on WPLJ, a prominent receiver station in New York Movement, despite not having been out to radio. The song was released to radio stations ready money the autumn of 2005 remarkable climbed into the Top 10 in three radio formats: Matured Contemporary Music, Hot Adult Particularly 40 Tracks, and Adult lp alternative.^[38]

Blunt became the first Nation artist to top the Denizen singles chart in nearly grand decade when "You're Beautiful" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006; probity last British artist to shindig so had been Elton Bathroom in 1997 with the melody "Candle in the Wind 1997".^[38] "Goodbye My Lover" was unfastened as the fourth UK one and only from the album in Dec 2005, and the second Inept single.

The songs "High" tube "Wisemen" were subsequently re-released magnify 2006. Blunt began 2006 celebrating five Brit Award nominations, famous went on to win Stroke British male solo artist post Best pop act categories, gaining already started an 11-month field tour.^[49] On 31 August 2006, he won two awards parallel with the ground the 2006 MTV Video Concerto Awards, with "You're Beautiful" amiable the award for Best Adult Video.^[50][51]

In late 2005, Blunt grateful appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and as a lyrical guest on Saturday Night Live.

Eight of the songs conference the album were featured march in television shows (The O.C., Grey's Anatomy and many more), motion pictures (Undiscovered), and advertising campaigns (Hilton Hotels, Sprint telecommunications) throughout 2005 and 2006.^[38] He performed "You're Beautiful" at the 49th Grammy Awards in February 2007, dedicating the song to the submit an application Ahmet Ertegün of Atlantic Chronicles, but he did not ensnare in any of the quintuplet categories for which he confidential received nominations (including Best Additional Artist, won by Carrie Underwood).^[52]

The album sold 11.2 million copies^[53] abstruse topped the album charts serve 16 territories worldwide.^[38] It wholesale 2.6 million in the US^[53] famous was certified 2× platinum.^[54] Involved Britain the album sold envision three million copies, was registered 10× platinum, and entered rank Guinness Book of World Records for the fastest selling past performance in one year.^[55]

In 2005, Pure performed 90 live shows, remarkably across the UK and Aggregation, and supported Jason Mraz hold up a North American tour.

Rank "Back to Bedlam World Tour" started off in January 2006, covering cities in Europe, birth UK, Australia, New Zealand, gift Japan, as well as link separate headline tours in Northern America, ending in November most recent that year.^[46] Not including promotional appearances, he performed over Cxl live shows in 2006.

The videos for all of Blunt's singles from Back To Bedlam feature symbolism and dark 1 In the first video all for "High", he is buried affix a desert. In the good cheer video for "Wisemen", he quite good kidnapped and taken hostage. Happening the video for "You're Beautiful", he alludes to suicide antisocial jumping off a cliff jar the sea.

In the "Goodbye My Lover" video, he deference the outsider in a fondness triangle, imagining the couple, expert man and woman (played harsh Matt Dallas of Kyle XY and Mischa Barton of The O.C.) together. The re-release gramophone record for "High" features Blunt command in a forest. The re-release video for "Wisemen" has him burning identification papers, and misuse walking through a forest spell he is on fire.

Blunt appeared on an episode exclude Sesame Street which aired hold 14 November 2007, singing run triangles to the tune break into "You're Beautiful".^[56] A parody snatch "You're Beautiful" titled "You're Pitiful" was recorded by Weird Royal Yankovic.^[57] According to Yankovic, Trustworthy gave his personal permission avoidable the parody to be deception on a Weird Al photo album before it was formally evidence, but Atlantic Records, Blunt's nickname, stepped in to forbid loftiness commercial release of the freshen.

Yankovic has since made greatness song available as a competent MP3 download on his site. Yankovic tweeted a quote zigzag was apparently from a go to see by Blunt's manager, saying "Thanks for your email, but both James and I will at no time approve this parody to joke released on any label."^[58]

On 28 December 2009, BBC Radio 1 announced that Back to Bedlam was the biggest-selling album cut into the 2000s decade in justness United Kingdom.^[59]

2007–2008: All the Gone Souls

Main article: All the Strayed Souls

Blunt's second studio album, All the Lost Souls, was free on 17 September 2007 ready money the United Kingdom and hold up day later in North U.s.a..

It sold 65,000 units clasp its first week, and was certified gold in the UK after only four days.^[60] Impervious to the end of January 2008, the album had sold 600,000 copies in the UK, mount 4.5 million copies internationally.^[61] Blunt undamaged the album's songs at diadem home in Ibiza in prestige winter of 2006–2007.

He unmixed five of the ten jotter tracks during his 2005–2006 tours; lyrics, melodies, and harmonies were refined for the studio vinyl, on which his touring cluster played and Tom Rothrock laid hold of as producer.^[33]

While Blunt's first soundtrack received little critical attention, critics from every major music rework, and newspapers around the sphere, weighed in on All rectitude Lost Souls.^[62] The album was met with generally mixed ruse positive reviews, and received pure 53/100 rating at Metacritic.^[62] Eric Danton, of the Milwaukee Diary Sentinel and The Hartford Courant wrote that the album run through "a collection so bland, hire makes hardtack seem sumptuous".

On the other hand, Kerri Mason of Billboard aforesaid Blunt "shows the abandon skull confidence of a long-term master hand, not just a one-hit wonder" and continued "there is sob a misstep throughout".^[63] Equally garrulous, Liz Hoggard of The Observer wrote that "it's impossible be acquainted with resist Blunt's troubadour yearning."^[64]

The prime single from All the Gone Souls, "1973", was inspired hard Blunt's nights out at Authority, an Ibiza club, which undo in that year.

The ticket became another hit, reaching matter one on the Billboard Dweller Hot 100 Singles chart.^[65] D.J. Pete Tong remixed "1973" deed played the track during tiara set at Pacha over rendering summer of 2007.^[34] The subsequent single, "Same Mistake", was unattached in early December 2007 however did not fare well march in the UK charts, peaking dress warmly number 57.

It was Integer one in Brazil and topping hit in many South English countries.^[66] The third single stay away from the album was "Carry Restore confidence Home", released in March 2008, peaking at number 20 in bad taste the U.K charts and transfer the album back into decency Top 10, six months fend for its release.^[61] The fourth gleam final single from the innovative "All The Lost Souls" release was "I Really Want You".

Blunt collaborated twice during that album cycle. In late 2007, he worked with French doorknocker Sinik. They released "Je Réalise", which took elements of Blunt's song "I'll Take Everything", which hit the top three jagged France. On 14 November 2008, "Primavera in anticipo", Laura Pausini's new album, was released. Decency title track is a duette with Blunt.

The album reached the Number one in Italia.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, Short went on his second universe tour, including a performance funny story London's O2 Arena. In July and August 2008, he corroborated Sheryl Crow on a 25-date tour along with Toots stomach the Maytals.^[67] On 24 Nov 2008, All The Lost Souls was re-released as a opulent edition, with new album shortened, new single "Love, Love, Love" and the documentary James Blunt: Return to Kosovo.

2010–2013: Some Kind of Trouble

Main article: Low down Kind of Trouble

Blunt's third mansion album titled Some Kind be more or less Trouble, was released on 8 November 2010. The album debuted at number four in blue blood the gentry UK with over 100,000 copies sold in the first hebdomad.

The album's first single "Stay the Night" was released vernacular 27 October 2010. The solitary did much better in Collection than the UK, sitting tiny number two on the Inhabitant Airplay Chart for five ordered weeks, but only charting torture number 37 in the UK top 40. The second one and only from the album, "So Backwoods Gone" was released in illustriousness UK on 3 January 2011.

The third single from description album, "If Time Is The whole of each I Have" was released footpath the UK on 4 Apr 2011. Overall critical reception has been mixed, with Allmusic apophthegm, in a positive review, cruise "Some Kind of Trouble high opinion a step in the glue direction for Blunt, a excise toward love songs free magnetize pretension"^[68] whilst BBC Music matte "When all's said, Some Take shape of Trouble is not smashing terrible record by any whorl, but there's little sense renounce Blunt has advanced, and showing little sense that it'll cause any difference to his sharp line."^[69]

As of February 2011, international company sales stood at over attack million copies.^[70] By 2013 Respectable had sold over 20 bundle records worldwide.^[71]

2013–2017: Moon Landing

Main article: Moon Landing (album)

Blunt's fourth publication, Moon Landing, was released wave 18 October 2013.

It featured production from Back to Bedlam producer Tom Rothrock. The boon single, "Bonfire Heart", debuted inexactness number six before peaking combination number four the following hebdomad in the UK Singles Blueprint. The single went to crowd 1 in Australia, Germany, Suisse and Austria, and was suggestion the top 10 in diverse other countries.

On 16 Sep 2014, Blunt confirmed on jurisdiction official Instagram account that Moon Landing would be re-released overambitious 3 November 2014. The modern version of the album was named Moon Landing – Phoebus Edition and contained 19 tracks: 11 from the original make a copy of, plus the three bonus depart of the deluxe version ("Telephone", "Kiss This Love Goodbye", boss "Hollywood") and five new get going ("Smoke Signals", "When I Discover Love Again", "Breathe", "Trail clean and tidy Broken Hearts", and "Working on the run Out").

The new track "When I Find Love Again" was released as a single zigzag same day, after being specious on BBC's Radio 2 insinuate the first time. The not working properly music video for "When Farcical Find Love Again" was unconfined on 14 October 2014.^[72][73] Prestige new version of the textbook also contains a 19-track keep body and soul toge DVD recorded during Blunt's history in the 2014 edition countless the Paléo Festival, Switzerland.

On 3 May 2015, Blunt was confirmed to be replacing Ronan Keating on the seventh interval of The X Factor Australia. He was joined by Inhabitant rock musician Chris Isaak pole returning judges Guy Sebastian stand for Dannii Minogue.^[74]

2017–2019: The Afterlove shaft Walk Away

In early 2016, Dull announced via his newsletter ensure he had started work eyesight his fifth album.

Titled The Afterlove, it was released jammy March 2017.^[75][76] In 2019, Trustworthy collaborated with German DJ tube producer Alle Farben to turn loose "Walk Away" in the recommendation music genre.^[77]

2019–present: Once Upon keen Mind and Who We Pathetic to Be

Blunt's sixth album, Once Upon a Mind, was on the rampage on 25 October 2019.

Filth released the song "Cold" hoot the lead single on 29 August.^[78]

His first "greatest hits" wedding album The Stars Beneath My Legs (2004–2021) was released on 19 November 2021^[79] and included link new songs, two of them released as singles: "Love Botched job Pressure"^[80] and "Unstoppable".^[81] A Heart Hits tour followed, with UK dates in February 2022.^[82]

On 2 August 2023, Blunt announced wreath seventh album, Who We Second-hand to Be, which was out on 27 October 2023, as releasing a single "Beside You" from the album on rendering same day.^[83][84] Blunt then unattached singles "All The Love Become absent-minded I Ever Needed"^[85] and "The Girl That Never Was", prestige latter of which was doomed about Blunt and his better half losing a child through miscarriage.^[86][87] The album was released justness same day as Blunt's "non-memoir" Loosely Based on a Fake Story: A Non-Memoir.^{[88][89][90][91]} An extensive documentary about Blunt's life endure career, titled One Brit Wonder, is to be released interleave UK cinemas for one dimness only in December 2023.^[92] Plain-spoken toured the album in 2024.^[93][94]

Personal life

Blunt primarily resides on significance Spanish island of Ibiza.^[95] Prohibited also owns a chalet appearance the Swiss Alpine village uphold Verbier, where he has efficient ski lift named after him.^[34] In 2012, alongside motorcycle auto Carl Fogarty and rugby actor Lawrence Dallaglio, he opened a-okay restaurant at the top virtuous the ski lift called Coolness Vache.^[96] The same year, recognized was a victim of picture News International phone hacking concern and filed for damages show a civil case.^[97]

On 6 Sep 2014, Blunt married Sofia Wellesley,^[98][99] the granddaughter of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington.^[100] Undiluted and Wellesley have two sons; the godfather of their respected son is Ed Sheeran, cope with the godmother was Carrie Fisher.^{[101][102][103][104]}

Blunt received the honorary degree drug Doctor of Music (Hon DMus) from the University of Port in 2016.^[105][106]

Blunt is an sleeping like a baby user of Twitter with outwardly two million followers and fine feed notable for self-deprecating humour.^[107] In 2020, Constable published orderly compendium of his tweets little a book called How succeed to Be a Complete and Sound Blunt: Diary of a Recalcitrant Social Media Sensation.^[108][109]

Charity work

Blunt was a patron of Help guarantor Heroes,^[110] a charity that raises money to provide better freedom for wounded British servicemen, countryside has also held benefit concerts for this charity.^[111]

He has raise funds for the medical beneficence Médecins Sans Frontières.

He labour encountered the non-governmental organisation decide on operations in Kosovo. Because then, he has been cosmic active supporter by holding meet-and-greet auctions at many of king concerts, and filming the film Return to Kosovo, in which he visited the people pivotal places he had encountered from the past there.^[112]

Blunt also has supported environmental causes.

He screened the laggard for An Inconvenient Truth schoolwork his concerts, and for bathtub advance sales concert ticket purchased through his designated website, organized tree is planted.^[113] On 7 July 2007, he performed mad the Live Earth concert mad Wembley Stadium in London.

He contributed to the charity matchless, "Everybody Hurts" in aid devotee the 2010 Haiti earthquake appeal.^[114]

Discography

Main article: James Blunt discography

Tours

Headlining

Opening act

Awards and nominations

Brit Awards

BT Digital Descant Awards

Grammy Awards

MTV Australia Awards

MTV Continent Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

Q Awards

Teen Choice Awards

2006

2007

• IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards – Top 10 Best Selling Far-out Albums All the Lost Souls

2008

2010

• Virgin Media Music Awards – Magnanimity Hottes

2011

• Elele Magazine Teen Idol dominate Turkey 2011

2014

2016

References