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{{Dablink|For the [[American Civil War]] general, see [[James G. Blunt]].}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|Name = James Blunt
|Img = James-Blunt.jpg
|Img_capt = James Blunt playing in Reading 2008
|Background = solo_singer
|Birth_name = James Hillier Blount
|Alias =
|Born= {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|2|22}}<br /><small>[[Tidworth]], [[Wiltshire]]<br /> [[England]]</small>
|Instrument= [[Singing|Vocals]], [[guitar]], [[piano]], [[violin]]
|Genre= [[Pop rock]], [[soft rock]], [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]]
|Occupation=[[Singer-songwriter]], [[musician]]
|Years_active = 2004–present
|Label= [[Warner Bros. Records]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Custard Records|Custard]]
|Associated_acts=
|Notable_Instruments= [[Godin Guitars|Seagull Acoustic Guitars]]
|URL = [http://www.jamesblunt.com www.JamesBlunt.com]}}

'''James Blunt''' (born '''James Hillier Blount'''; 22 February 1974<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fnftxqualdje~T1|title=James Blunt: Biography|publisher=Allmusic.com|accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>) is the [[stage name]] adopted by the [[Grammy Award]]-[[nominate]]d English [[singer-songwriter]] whose [[debut album]], ''[[Back to Bedlam]]'' and single releases, including "[[You're Beautiful]]" and "[[Goodbye My Lover]]", brought him to fame in 2005. His repertoire is a mix of acoustic-tinged [[pop music|pop]], [[rock music|rock]] and [[folk music|folk]]. After recording on the independent American label [[Custard Records]], Blunt won two [[BRIT Awards]], two [[Ivor Novello Awards]], and by 2006 was nominated for five Grammy Awards. The following year, he released his second album ''[[All The Lost Souls]]'', (2007).

Blunt was an officer in the [[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]], a [[Cavalry regiments of the British Army|Cavalry regiment of the British Army]], and served under [[NATO]] in [[Kosovo]] during the conflict there in 1999. While posted to Kosovo, Blunt was introduced to the work of [[Médecins Sans Frontières]]; ([[MSF]] or "Doctors Without Borders"). Since then, Blunt has supported MSF by holding meet-and-greet auctions at many of his concerts.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=James Blunt wraps up 'Beautiful' year |url=http://www.atlanticrecords.com/news/article/?articleId=atlnewsarticle35800031 |work= |publisher=Atlantic Records |date=2006-12-12 |accessdate=2009-10-04}}</ref>

Blunt's primary residence is now on the [[Spain|Spanish]] island of [[Ibiza]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=James Blunt set to pen new album in his hideaway |url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2006/08/08/jamesblunt/ |work= |publisher=HELLO! Magazine |date= |accessdate=2009-10-04}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Blunt was born James Blount at an army hospital in [[Tidworth]], [[Wiltshire]], [[England]]; the first child born to Jane A.F. (nee Amos) and Charles Blount. James spent his early childhood living in [[England]], [[Cyprus]], and [[Germany]], while his father, a [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|Colonel]] in the [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|British Army Air Corps]],<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=56261|supp=yes|notarchive=yes|startpage=7807|date=3 July 2001|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> and military helicopter pilot, was posted at various times.

James Blunt has two younger siblings. His father instilled in him a love of flying, and he earned his pilot's licence at age 16. The Blount family has a long history of military service, dating from the 10th century.<ref name="RS 07">{{cite news |authorlink= Austin Scaggs |title= The Blunt Life|work=[[Rolling Stone]] Magazine |publisher= Wenner Media LLC (Jann S. Wenner) |location= |id= |pages=56–58, 88 |date= 2007-10-04}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |first= David|last= Thomas|authorlink= |author= |coauthors= |title=To be blunt, James, you are a trooper |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/08/01/bmblunt01.xml |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Sunday Telegraph]]|date= 2005-08-01 |accessdate=2007-12-29 | location=London}}</ref>

At age seven, James was enrolled at [[Elstree School]], [[Woolhampton]], before continuing to [[Harrow School]] (Elmfield House) on an army [[bursary]]. From Harrow School he gained an army-sponsored place at the [[University of Bristol]], where he first studied [[Manufacturing engineering|Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering]] and then subsequently moved on to the study of [[Sociology]].<ref name="RS 07" /> He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science|BSc(Hons)]] in Sociology in 1996.<ref name="In Touch">{{cite news |url=http://www.alumni.bris.ac.uk/publications/intouch/intouch-aut05.pdf|format=PDF|title= In Touch (newsletter) |publisher= University of Bristol Alumni Association |page=2 |date= Autumn 2005 |accessdate=2009-05-31}}</ref>

=== Military service ===
Because the British Army sponsored his university education, Blunt was obliged to serve a minimum of four years in the armed forces. James stated on an interview in his ''Back to Bedlam'' sessions that he chose to join the military as "his Father was pushing for it, so that Blunt could obtain a secure work placement and income". Blunt trained at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]].<ref name="RS 07" /><ref name=commissioningGazette>{{LondonGazette|issue=54899|supp=yes|startpage=10720|date=22 September 1997|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> He was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant]] in the [[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]], a unit of the Household Cavalry, where he rose to the rank of [[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]].<ref name=commissioningGazette /><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=55776|supp=yes|notarchive=yes|startpage=2269|date=28 February 2000|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> One of his first assignments was to [[British Army Training Unit Suffield]] in [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], where his [[squadron]] was posted for six months in 1998 to act as the [[OPFOR|opposing army]] in combat training exercises.<ref name ="Reg History"
>{{cite web | title = Household Cavalry, Brief regimental history | url =http://www.householdcavalry.info/hcr1992.htm | accessdate = 2008-01-01}}</ref>

In 1999, he served as an armoured reconnaissance officer in the [[NATO]] deployment in Kosovo. Initially assigned to reconnaissance of the [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]-[[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] border, Blunt and his unit worked ahead of the front lines directing forces and targeting [[Serb]] positions for the NATO bombing campaign. He led the first squadron of troops to enter [[Pristina]], and was the first British officer to enter the Kosovo capital. His unit was given the assignment of securing the [[Pristina International Airport]] in advance of the 30,000-strong peacekeeping force; the Russian army had moved in and taken control of the airport before his unit's arrival. As the first officer on the scene, Blunt shared a part in the difficult task of addressing the potentially violent international incident.<ref name = "Q Jul 2006">{{cite news |first=William |last=Shaw |title= "You're Beautiful" got me Laid|work=[[Q (magazine)|Q Magazine]] |publisher= EMAP Metro Ltd|pages= 52–56|date=July 2006}}</ref> There were less intense moments during Blunt's Kosovo assignment, however. Blunt had brought along his guitar, strapped to the outside of his tank. At some places, the peacekeepers would share a meal with hospitable locals, and Blunt would perform. It was while on duty there that he wrote the song "[[No Bravery]]".<ref name="GW 2006">{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Epstein |title=Rocket Man |work= Guitar World Acoustic Magazine|publisher= Guitar World|pages=34–41 |date=June 2006}}</ref>

A keen skier, Blunt captained the Household Cavalry Alpine Ski Team in [[Verbier]], [[Switzerland]], eventually becoming champion skier of the entire [[Royal Armoured Corps]]. He had extended his military service in November 2000,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=56034|supp=yes|notarchive=yes|startpage=13081|date=21 November 2000|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref> and after an intensive six-month army riding course was posted to the [[Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment]] in [[London]], England.<ref name="Telegraph"/> During this posting, Blunt was interviewed about his responsibilities on the television programme "Girls on Top", a series highlighting unusual career choices.<ref name="Press Release">{{cite web | title = News Features, Week of 8-14 January 2001 | publisher =British Army Press Centre | url =http://www.army.mod.uk/presscentre/office/regional_cov.htm | format = Press release | accessdate = 2008-01-01 }}</ref><ref name ="TheSun">{{cite news |title=To be blunt, who knew?|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]] |date= 2005-12-28 }}</ref> He stood guard at the coffin of the [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Mother]] during the days of her lying in State and was part of the funeral procession on 9 April 2002.<ref name="guard">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4701924.stm|title=Blunt words of sensitive soldier|work=News.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2006-02-16 | date=2006-02-16}}</ref> Blunt finally left the army on 1 October 2002 having served six years.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=56708|supp=yes|notarchive=yes|startpage=11791|date=1 October 2002|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref>

== Music career ==
=== Early career ===
Blunt took piano and [[violin]] lessons as a child, but his first significant exposure to popular music was at Harrow School. There, he was introduced to the guitar by a fellow student, and started playing guitar and writing songs at age 14.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref name = "PS Blunt"> {{cite news |first=Chris |last=Neal |title=Back from Bedlam|work= Performing Songwriter|publisher=Performing Songwriter Enterprises, LLC |pages=56–60 |date=November 2007}}</ref> At [[University of Bristol]], his undergraduate thesis was ''The Commodification of Image - Production of a Pop Idol''; one of his main references for the thesis was [[Simon Frith]], a [[sociologist]] and [[Music journalism|rock critic]], and current chair of the [[Mercury Music Prize]].<ref name = "Q Oct 2007">{{cite news |first=Johnny |last=Davis |title= Where did it all go Wrong?|work=[[Q (magazine)|Q Magazine]] |publisher= EMAP Metro Ltd|pages= 54–58|date=October 2007}}</ref>

Blunt left the British Army in 2002 so that he could pursue his musical career.<ref name="GW 2006"/> It was at that period of time that he started using the [[stage name]] "Blunt", in part to make it easier for others to spell; "Blount" is pronounced the same way, and remains his legal [[surname]].<ref name = "RS Feb06">{{cite news|first=Austin|last=Scaggs|title=Q&A| work=[[Rolling Stone]] Magazine |publisher=Wenner Media LLC (Jann S. Wenner)|page=28| date=2006-02-09}}</ref> Shortly after leaving the Army, he was signed to [[EMI]] [[Music publisher (popular music)|music publisher]]s, and to Twenty-First Artists management.<ref name = "Billboard 2007">{{cite news |first= Michael |last= Poletta |title= James Blunt - Beautiful and the Beat |work=[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] |publisher=Neilsen Business Media |pages=26–29|date= 2007-07-21}}</ref> A [[Recording contract|record contract]] remained elusive however, with recording label executives pointing to Blunt's "[[wikt:posh|posh]]" speaking voice as a barrier in class-divided Britain.<ref name = "PS Blunt"/> [[Linda Perry]], who was just launching her own Custard Records label in early 2003, heard Blunt's promotional tape when visiting London, and soon after heard him perform live at the [[SXSW|South by Southwest Music Festival]]. She made an offer to him the same night<ref name="hitquarters">{{cite web|url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_LindaPerry.html|title=Interview with Linda Perry|work=HitQuarters.com|accessdate=2006-01-05}}</ref> and within a few days, Blunt signed a recording contract with Perry, and one month later he was in [[Los Angeles]] working with producer [[Tom Rothrock]].<ref name = "Billboard 2007" /><ref name = "PS Perry">{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Neal |title=Linda Perry |work= Performing Songwriter|publisher=Performing Songwriter Enterprises, LLC |page= 74|date= January/February 2007}}</ref>

=== ''Back to Bedlam'' ===
[[File:James-Blunt2.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Blunt performing in the United States, 2008]]
Blunt recorded ''[[Back to Bedlam]]'' in 2003 with producer Tom Rothrock at Rothrock's home studio, using session musicians and performing on many different instruments himself.<ref name ="PS Blunt"/><ref name="Album">{{cite paper |title=[[Back to Bedlam]] album liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records|date=October 2004}}</ref> While in Los Angeles, he lodged with actress [[Carrie Fisher]], whom he had met through the family of a former girlfriend. Fisher was very supportive of Blunt's aspirations, suggesting the name of the album and providing use of a bathroom in her home for Blunt to record the song "[[Goodbye My Lover]]".<ref name = "Telegraph"/> ''Back to Bedlam'' was finally released in the UK in October 2004. Blunt's debut single in the UK was "[[High (James Blunt song)|High]]" (co-written with [[Ricky Ross (musician)|Ricky Ross]] of [[Deacon Blue]]). This song initially peaked below the Top 100 of the [[UK Singles Chart]], however after the subsequent success of You're Beautiful it finally made the Top 75 before eventually being re-released.<ref name = "Billboard 2005">{{cite news |first= Margo |last=Whitmire |coauthors=Emmanuel Legrand |title=Blunt's Journey |work=[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] |publisher=Neilsen Business Media |page=31 |date= 2005-09-17 }}</ref> However, the song was chosen to appear in a [[Vodafone|Vodafone commercial]] in [[Italy]], and was a Top 10 hit in that country.<ref name="Billboard 2007"/>

The debut album from the unknown Blunt attracted little critical attention, and there were no published reviews from major UK music journals. His live performances, mainly in support of better known musicians, received somewhat mixed but generally favourable reviews. Blunt's lack of performing experience and inconsistent approach with audiences was commented upon, while his music was likened to that of [[Damien Rice]] and [[David Gray (musician)|David Gray]].<ref name="Rescue Rooms">{{cite web | last =Allcock | first =Anthony | title =James Blunt at Rescue Rooms | publisher =[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] (BBC)| date =2004-11-07 | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2004/11/08/entertainment_music_event_reviews_2004_11_james_blunt_feature.shtml | accessdate = 2008-02-10}}</ref><ref name="93 Feet East">{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Mugan |title=James Blunt, 93 Feet East, London |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/james-blunt-93-feet-east-london-486079.html |work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=[[Independent News & Media]]|date=2005-01-10 |accessdate=2008-02-10 }}</ref> In March 2004, with Blunt performing in the support role for [[Katie Melua]] in [[Manchester]], Alex McCann of ''Designer Magazine'' wrote, "Blunt's ascendance is a dead cert and this time next year it isn't that far removed from reality to suggest that a number 1 album, Brit Award and countless accolade's <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> will be his for the taking."<ref name="Lowry">{{cite web|last=McCann|first =Alex|title= Katie Melua/James Blunt - The Lowry, Manchester|work=Design Magazine|date=2004-03-07|url=http://designermagazine.tripod.com/KatieMeluaLIVEREV1.html|accessdate = 2008-02-10}}</ref> After release of the album, Concert support slots for [[Elton John]] and [[Lloyd Cole and the Commotions]] in late 2004 and early 2005 followed, as did a band residency at London club [[93 Feet East]].<ref name="tour">{{cite web|url=http://www.jamesblunt.co.uk/archives/tourdates.html|title= Tour Dates Archive|work=Jamesblunt.co.uk|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> In March 2005, his second single, "[[Wisemen]]," was released.

Blunt's third single "[[You're Beautiful]]" was his breakout hit. The song debuted at number 12 in the UK, and rose all the way to the number one position six weeks after its debut.<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> The song also received massive airplay in the UK, which helped propel ''Back to Bedlam'' to number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> The extensive airplay ultimately led to Blunt and his co-writers being awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work.<ref name="Novello">{{cite web| title =James Blunt's Coldplay at 2006 Ivor Novello Awards | publisher =LondonNet Inc.| date =2006-05-06| url =http://www.londonnet.co.uk/entertainment/2006/may/2206_20060526.php | accessdate = 2008-02-12}}</ref> After the success of "You're Beautiful" in the UK, the song crossed over to mainland Europe, becoming one of the biggest hits of summer 2005 across the continent. In the U.S., "You're Beautiful" made its debut in the summer of 2005 on [[WPLJ]], a prominent radio station in New York City, despite not having been released to radio yet. Once the song was released to radio stations in the fall of 2005, the song climbed into the Top 10 at three radio formats: [[Adult Contemporary Music]], [[Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks]], and [[Adult album alternative]].<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> Blunt became the first British artist to top the American singles chart in nearly a decade when his song "You're Beautiful" reached number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] in 2006; the last British artist to do so had been [[Elton John]] in 1997 with the song "[[Candle in the Wind 1997]]".<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> "Goodbye My Lover" was released as the fourth UK single from the album in December 2005, and was later the second US single. The songs "High" and "Wisemen" were subsequently re-released in 2006. Blunt started off 2006 celebrating five BRIT Award nominations, going on to win Best British male solo artist and Best pop act categories, having already started an 11-month tour that would take him around the world.<ref name="NME Jan06">{{cite web| title = Kaiser Chiefs lead Brit Award nominations| work =[[NME]] Magazine| publisher =IPC Media| date =2006-01-10| url =http://www.nme.com/news/kaiser-chiefs/21923 | accessdate =2008-02-12}}</ref>

There was extensive promotion in the United States starting in the fall of 2005, with Blunt making appearances on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' and as a musical guest on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Eight of the songs on the album were featured in television shows (''[[The O.C.]]'', ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' and many more), films (''[[Undiscovered]]''), and advertising campaigns ([[Hilton Hotels]], [[Sprint Nextel|Sprint]] telecommunications) throughout 2005 and 2006.<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> Blunt performed "You're Beautiful" at the [[49th Grammy Awards]] in February 2007, dedicating the song to the late [[Ahmet Ertegün]] of [[Atlantic Records]], but he did not win in any of the five categories for which he had received nominations.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web | title =49th Annual [[Grammy Awards]] Winners List| work =Grammy.com| publisher =[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] | date =2007-02-11| url = http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx| accessdate =2008-02-12}}</ref>

The album eventually sold 11 million copies<ref name="bbsales">{{Citation|last=Sisario
|first=Ben|title=Making a Career After a Monster Hit|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2007-09-19|url = http://nytimes.com/2007/09/19/arts/music/19blun.html?8dpc|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> and topped the album charts in 16 territories worldwide.<ref name = "Billboard 2007"/> It sold 2.6 million in the U.S.<ref name="bbsales"/> and was certified 2x platinum.<ref name= "riaa">{{cite web| title = RIAA Searchable Database | work = | publisher =[[Recording Industry Association of America]]| url =http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH RIAA Searchable Database| accessdate = 2008-02-10}}</ref> In Britain the album was certified 10x platinum, sold over three million copies, and entered the ''[[Guinness Book of Records|Guiness Book of World Records]]'' for the fastest selling album in one year.<ref name ="BPI">{{cite web| title = ''Back to Bedlam'' British sales certificate | work = | publisher =British Phonographic Industry | date =2007-02-02 | url =http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32865 | accessdate = 2008-02-10}}</ref>
In 2005, Blunt performed in 90 live shows, mainly across the UK and Europe, ending the year supporting [[Jason Mraz]] in a North American tour. The "Back to Bedlam World Tour" started off in January 2006, covering cities in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, as well as three separate headline tours in North America, ending in November of that year.<ref name="tour"/> Not including promotional appearances, Blunt performed over 140 live shows in 2006. He enjoys the touring experience, saying in July 2006 that he and his band were having the time of their lives going to new places every day.<ref name="Q Jul 2006"/>
{{listen
| filename = James blunt - you're beautiful.ogg
| title = "You're Beautiful"
| description = "[[You're Beautiful]]," Blunt's breakout hit was the third UK single and first U.S. single from ''[[Back to Bedlam]]''.
| format = [[Ogg]]
}}
The videos for all of Blunt's singles released from ''Back To Bedlam'' feature symbolism and dark imagery. In the first video for "High", he is buried in a desert. In the first video for "Wisemen", he is kidnapped and taken hostage. In the video for "You're Beautiful", he alludes to suicide by jumping off a cliff into the sea. In the "[[Goodbye My Lover]]" video, he is the outsider in a love triangle, imagining the couple, a man and woman (played by [[Matt Dallas]] of ''[[Kyle XY]]'' and [[Mischa Barton]] of ''[[The O.C.]]'') together. The re-release video for "High" features Blunt running in a forest. The re-release video for "Wisemen" has Blunt burning identification papers, and then walking through a forest while he is on fire.

Blunt appeared on an episode of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' which aired 14 November 2007, singing about triangles to the tune of "You're Beautiful".<ref name="LiveDaily">{{cite web | title =LiveDaily Interview: James Blunt| work =LiveDaily.com| publisher = [[IAC/InterActiveCorp|IAC]] | date =2007-09-27| url =http://www.livedaily.com/news/12879.html| accessdate =2008-11-01}}</ref>

A parody of You're Beautiful titled "[[You're Pitiful]]" was recorded by [[Weird Al Yankovic]]<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5482774 Weird Al Yankovic]</ref>. James Blunt gave personal permission for this parody to be included on a Weird Al album, but [[Atlantic Records]], Blunt's label, stepped in to forbid the commercial release of the song. Weird Al has since made the song available as a free [[MP3]] download on his website. In a request by Yankovic to include the song on an upcoming compilation CD, Blunt's manager replied via email, "Thanks for your email, but both James and I will never approve this parody to be released on any label."<ref>[http://twitter.com/alyankovic/statuses/2762953874 Weird Al Yankovic via Twitter]</ref>.

On the 28th December 2009, [[BBC Radio 1]] announced that ''Back to Bedlam'' was the biggest selling album of the noughties decade in the United Kingdom.<ref name ="Daily Mirror">{{cite web | title = James Blunt lands biggest-selling album of the Noughties |date = 29 Dec 2009 | url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/12/29/james-blunt-lands-biggest-selling-album-of-the-noughties-115875-21929806/}}</ref>

=== ''All the Lost Souls'' ===
[[File:James Blunt 2007.jpg|thumb|right|150px|James Blunt at a concert in [[Golden Gate Park]] in [[San Francisco]], 2007]]
[[File:James-Blunt3.jpg|thumb|220px|right|James Blunt in Madrid Spain, 2008<br />40 Principales Awards]]
Blunt's second studio album, ''[[All the Lost Souls]]'', was released on 17 September 2007 in the United Kingdom and one day later in North America. It sold 65,000 units in its first week, and was certified gold in the UK after only four days.<ref name ="BPI2">{{cite web| title = ''All the Lost Souls'' British sales certificate | work = | publisher =British Phonographic Industry | date =2007-02-02 | url =http://www.bpi.co.uk/index.asp?Page=news/press/news_content_file_1110.shtml | accessdate = 2008-02-13}}</ref> By the end of January 2008, the album had sold 600,000 copies in the UK, and 3.5 million copies internationally.<ref name ="Female First">{{cite news |title=James Blunt ''Carry You Home'' |url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/James+Blunt+Carry+You+Home-4703.html |work=femalefirst.co.uk |accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> Blunt completed the album's songs at his home in [[Ibiza]] in the winter of 2006–2007. He performed five of the ten album tracks during his 2005–2006 tours; lyrics, melodies, and harmonies were refined for the studio recording, on which his touring band played and [[Tom Rothrock]] worked as producer.<ref name="PS Blunt"/>

While Blunt’s first album received very little critical attention, critics from every major music publication, and newspapers around the world, weighed in on ''All the Lost Souls''.<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web| title =''All the Lost Souls'' aggregated reviews | work =Metacritic.com
| publisher =CNET Networks Entertainment| url =http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/bluntjames/allthelostsouls | accessdate =2008-06-21}}</ref> The album maintains a 53/100 rating at ''[[Metacritic]]'', which the website describes as "mixed or average reviews."<ref name="Metacritic" /> Eric Danton, of the ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'' and ''[[The Hartford Courant]]''
wrote that the album is "a collection so bland, it makes [[hardtack]] seem sumptuous", while ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said that the album contains "forgettable ballads that make [[Coldplay]] seem like the [[Arctic Monkeys]]."<ref name="RS Review">{{cite news |first=Christian |last=Hoard |title=''Rolling Stone'' Review of ''All the Lost Souls'' |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16259580/review/16266782/all_the_lost_souls |work=Rolling Stone Magazine |publisher=Wenner Media LLC (Jann S. Wenner) |date=2007-09-05 |accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> Yet, in her review of the album, Kerri Mason of ''[[Billboard]]'' said Blunt "shows the abandon and confidence of a long-term artist, not just a [[one-hit wonder]]". And of the album, Mason wrote, "there is not a misstep throughout".<ref name="BB Review">{{cite news |first=Kerri |last= Mason |title= ''Billboard'' Review of ''All the Lost Souls''|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ib1b99da9d9b5d7e2bf15ff78f509f5de |work= Billboard |publisher=Neilsen Business Media |accessdate=2008-02-13}}</ref> Equally effusive, Liz Hoggard of ''The Observer'' wrote that "it’s impossible to resist Blunt’s [[troubadour]] yearning.”<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |first=Liz |last=Hoggard |title= James Blunt, ''All the Lost Souls'' ([[The Observer]] Review)|url=http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/music/story/0,,2168696,00.html |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=Guardian Media Group |date=2007-09-16 |accessdate=2008-02-13 | location=London}}</ref>

The first single from ''All the Lost Souls'', "[[1973 (song)|1973]]", was inspired by Blunt's nights out at [[Pacha]], an [[Ibiza]] club, which opened in that year. The song became another hit for Blunt reaching number one the Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart.<ref name="BB 1973">{{cite web| title = European Hot 100 Singles Chart| work =Billboard.com| publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.| date =2007-09-29| url =http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=349&cfgn=Singles&cfn=European+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3090419&cdi=9621241&cid=09%2F29%2F2007
| accessdate = 2008-02-13}}</ref> D.J. [[Pete Tong]] remixed "1973" and played the track during his set at Pacha over the summer of 2007.<ref name = "Q Oct 2007"/> The second single, "[[Same Mistake]]", was released in early December 2007 but did not fare well in the UK charts, peaking at number 57. It was Number 1 in [[Brazil]] and a hit in many South American countries.<ref name="Acharts SM">{{cite web | title =''Same Mistake''| publisher =acharts.us (Music charts aggregator)| url =http://acharts.us/song/31097| accessdate =2008-02-13}}</ref> The third single from the album was "[[Carry You Home]]", released in March 2008, peaking at number 20 in the U.K charts and bringing the album back into the Top 10, six months after its release.<ref name ="Female First"/> The fourth and final single from the original "All The Lost Souls" album was "[[I Really Want You]]".

Blunt collaborated twice during this album cycle. In the end of 2007, he worked with French rapper [[Sinik]]. They released "Je Réalise", which took elements of Blunt's song "I'll Take Everything", which hit the top 3 in France. On November 14, 2008, "[[Primavera in anticipo]]", [[Laura Pausini]] new album, was released. The title track is a duet with Blunt. The album reached the Number 1 in Italy.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, Blunt went on his second world tour, including a performance in London's [[The O2 (London)|O2 Arena]].

On November 24, 2008, ''All The Lost Souls'' was re-released as a deluxe edition, with new album artwork, new single "[[Love, Love, Love (James Blunt song)|Love, Love, Love]]" and the documentary ''[[James Blunt: Return to Kosovo]]''.

== Personal life ==
Blunt says that he has become closer to his family since his musical success; his father manages his finances,<ref name="ES">{{cite news|first=Marianne|last=Macdonald|title=Blunt ambition|work=ES Magazine|publisher=[[Evening Standard]]|accessdate=2007-12-21}}</ref> and his mother arranged for the purchase of his principal residence in Ibiza, where Blunt has holidayed since he was a teenager.<ref name="Q Oct 2007"/> Blunt also owns a châlet in the Swiss town of [[Verbier]], which he purchased in February 2007, and he was named "godfather" of one of the town's new ski lifts.<ref name="Q Oct 2007"/>

Blunt was instrumental in introducing his sister to her eventual husband after offering her for "sale" on [[eBay]]. She was having difficulty obtaining transport to a funeral in Ireland, and Blunt listed her as a "damsel in distress". A person responded saying his friend had a helicopter his sister could charter, but it turned out he was in Sweden and she didn't make the funeral. But the respondent suggested she still meet up with the helicopter owner, Guy Harrison, and they began a relationship and eventually married.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2123786,00.html |title=Blunt sold sister on eBay|accessdate=2007-07-11|author=Rosie Swash|work=Culture &gt; Music|publisher=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | date=2007-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4619353.ece|title=Best of Times, Worst of Times: Emily Harrison, James Blunt's sister|accessdate=2009-09-21|author=Audrey Ward|accessdate=31 August 2008|work=Life & Style &gt; Women|publisher=[[The Sunday Times]] | location=London | date=2008-08-31}}</ref>

The musician's social life has been the subject of significant commentary, particularly in the [[tabloid|tabloid press]]. Blunt himself has found the degree of interest in his personal life to be bizarre, stating that "fame and celebrity is something that other people have constructed that I'm not really party to".<ref name="Strut">{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Lepage|title=Being Blunt|work=Strut Magazine|location=Toronto, Canada|page=143|date=Fall 2007}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Blunt has raised funds for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), translated as "Doctors Without Borders" in English, through benefit concerts and by auctioning meet and greet opportunities at his own shows. He first encountered MSF medical care workers during his tour of duty in Kosovo, and was impressed with their work despite minimal support and limited security.<ref name="PS Blunt"/>

He also supports environmental causes, screening the trailer for ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' at his concerts, and planting a tree for each advance sales concert ticket purchased through his designated website.<ref name = "RadioTimes">{{cite news |title= Earth songs |work= Radio Times |publisher= [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]]|date= 2007-07-07}}</ref> On 7 July 2007, Blunt performed at the [[Live Earth]] concert at [[Wembley Stadium]], [[London]], and is the owner of one of two prototype electric cars made by Hybrid Technologies under a Space Act partnership with [[NASA]].

As a former soldier, Blunt is also a patron of [[Help for Heroes]],<ref name="patrons">{{Citation
| title = ''Help for Heroes'' Patrons | url = http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/patrons.html| accessdate = 2008-02-03 }}</ref> a [[Charitable organization|charity]] aiming to raise money to provide better facilities to wounded British [[servicemen]], and has also held benefit concerts for this charity.

Blunt has also contributed with his vocals for the upcoming Charity Single, "[[Everybody Hurts]]" in aid of the [[2010 Haiti Earthquake|2010 Haiti Earthquake Appeal]].

== Discography ==
{{Main|James Blunt discography}}

* ''[[Back to Bedlam]]'' (2004)
* ''[[All the Lost Souls]]'' (2007)
* ''[[TBA]]'' (2010)

== Awards ==
==Grammy Awards==
The [[Grammy Award|Grammy Awards]] are awarded annually by the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] of the United States for outstanding achievements in the [[record industry]]. Often considered the highest music honor, the awards were established in 1958.
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan=5|[[Grammy Awards of 2007|2007]] || James Blunt || [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3 |"[[You're Beautiful]]" || [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]|| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]] || {{nom}}
|-
| ''Back to Bedlam ''|| [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album|Best Pop Vocal Album]] || {{nom}}
{{end}}

'''''2005'''''
* [[2005 MTV Europe Music Awards|MTV Europe Music Awards]] - Best New Act
* [[Q (magazine)|Q Awards]] - Best New Act
* Digital Music Awards - Best Pop Act
'''''2006'''''
* [[NRJ Music Awards]] (France) - Best International Newcomer
* [[BRIT Awards]] - Best pop act and Best Male Vocalist
* [[ECHO (music award)|ECHO Awards]] (Germany) - Best International Newcomer
* [[NME Awards]] - Worst Album
* [[MTV Australia Video Music Awards]] - Song of the Year for ''[[You're Beautiful]]''
* [[Ivor Novello Award]]s - Most Performed Work and International Hit of the Year
* [[2006 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]] - Best Male Video and Best Cinematography
* [[World Music Awards 2006|World Music Awards]] - Best New Artist in the World and Biggest Selling British Artist in the World
* [[Teen Choice Awards]] (United States) - Choice Music Male Artist
'''''2008'''''
* [[ECHO (music award)|ECHO Awards]] (Germany) - Best International Male Artist

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=993 TV interview with ''The Hour'' on CBC]
* [http://www.andpop.com/article/7416 James Blunt interview and video on ''and POP'']

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.jamesblunt.com/ JamesBlunt.com Official James Blunt website]
* {{Imdb name|id=1955540}}
* [http://www.tunesbaby.com/videos/jamesblunt/?x=4blTswIOV9Y James Blunt Videos]
* [http://www.allthelostsouls.co.uk Monkey King's Amazing Facts - James Blunt Online Encyclopedia]

{{James Blunt}}

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Revision as of 17:10, 15 May 2010

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