James Blunt: One Brit Wonder

I love Heavy Metal, Indie Rock, Techno, Ska. But I also love The Bee Gees, Neil Diamond, Duran Duran, and I love James Blunt. Musically, I've never let trends decide what I like. I choose what I like no matter how unpopular it may be in a fashionable sense.

In regards James' popularity back in the days of Back To Bedlam - I was aware of how ridiculed he was by those who were on the other side of the Marmite argument, in regards James Blunt. However, I had no idea how horrific the online abuse was a few years after his initial success, when social media took off. I also had no idea how James eventually took to taking the pee out of himself, in response to these trolls.

What really mattered, over the whole of his career, was how many wonderful songs he wrote over the years. And we see all of this, while we see the story of how he became this lovely young man, and how he really was at the heart of war during his military career, and how this shaped the man he obviously became.

Not only is this a great documentary about a great singer/songwriter, with probably the greatest voice since Robin Gibb, but it's also a great documentary about a lovely man who deserves every second of success he has achieved - both from his obvious talent, and his infectious personality.

A beautiful documentary about a beautiful human being.

Last night I had the choice of watching what turned out to be a turgid England game at Euro 2024 or watch James Blunt: One Brit Wonder, I chose James Blunt, which is not a phrase I ever thought I would ever utter.

I made the right choice, this was a fun and interesting watch.

Ostensively, this is a documentary where we follow James across Europe during his much-delayed Greatest Hit Tour of 2022, yet it is much more than that.

At the outset I have to say that at times this comes across as a mockumentary which I think reflects James' own very dry sense of humour.

Aside from the obvious one "hit" and what a hit it was, I knew next to nothing about James but from watching this I came to the conclusion that he is a thoroughly likeable, decent and deeply self-effacing character.

This covers his life through from the boarding schools days where he was packed off at the age of seven through his army times, including the harrowing periods in Kosovo.

Eventually bringing us to the beginnings of his musical career as aided and abetted by the likes of his Manager Todd Interland and Linda Perry.

It seems that near-constant touring followed with the long-suffering Tour Manager Bobble at the helm, it also seems that James has a devoted following.

And from the comments made by the band, around those "pretty girls" who received golden tickets much fun was to be had in the after parties during the earlier days of that touring!

Speaking of the band, they really do seem to be a close-knit bunch.

I have to also say that both his wife and his slightly eccentric parents come across as being really lovely and again, a strong and close-knit unit.

He is a man that has been unfairly maligned, after all what did he do?

He proudly served his country, putting his life on the line, he also and amongst many other things created Back to Bedlam in 2004 which became the best-selling album of that decade, featuring of course, You're Beautiful.

His music isn't for me and it may not be for you, but that doesn't matter.

And lest I forget as he now moves to become a national treasure, he is also a Twitter aka X legend, with over two million followers.

How many famous account holders on X would have this in their bio: "cockney rhyming slang for the good stuff; Proof that one song is all you need."?

None, other than James I would venture.

So, there it is, James Blunt a man who is much more than a one Brit or indeed one hit wonder, I would happily recommend this for a watch.

Watched this documentary and I was so glad I did!

It showed him as a seriously kind guy who had been in the Army in war torn areas and had dealt with some sad situation's, yet at no point did he portray anything but a likeable and humble guy who had great friends and a lovely family.

I really get so disappointed with our press and how they put you on a pedestal to just as quickly knock you down!! They influence people to write so many derogatory things and a lesser person would have turned their back on all this but he retorted with great humour

It was interesting from start to finish, well done to him and I highly recommend watching this.