James Blunt: One Brit Wonder

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.