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Tag: James Blunt

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  • James Blunt Has His Music Career Thanks To Gay People

    Global star James Blunt has described how two gay people gave him the strength to release his debut multi-million selling single ‘You’re Beautiful’.

    Embed from Getty Images

    “I’m a lucky man”, James Blunt said at the annual event, An Evening With Women in Los Angeles, as he revealed that hit song writer Linda Perry was the driving force behind his success when she signed him to her brand new label Custard Records in 2003.

    Speaking to GayStarNews, Blunt said,

    “She was the person who plucked me out of the UK and has given me a career. For me to come play here is an absolute pleasure and a huge honor.”

    Linda Perry

    Speaking about early conversations regarding his accent, Blunt revealed that before he teamed up with Perry, he was asked to change the way he spoke – and that he struggled to get signed because of his voice.

    “I was asked if i could change my speaking voice and my accent and I struggled to get signed in the UK because of that accent. I moved to America and a woman who is gay herself and had seen much harder prejudice didn’t give stuff about a speaking voice. She heard music instead and said, ‘Come on.’ She put her arms around me, signed me and has given me a chance.”

    After he signed to Perry’s label, Sir Elton John stepped in and signed the former Army Captain to his management company. Blunt has since gone on to sell over 20 million albums and 20 million singles – thanks to the faith that Perry and John placed in him.

    The 42-year-old singer continued,

    “The people who picked me up and looked after me have been from the LGBT community,

    “Really without them I wouldn’t be in the music business. If it’s a strange coincidence then it’s a coincidence I’ll take but I don’t think it is.”

    Revealing his admiration for the LGBT+ community Blunt said,

    “It’s a group of people who have to overcome a lot of prejudice, great adversity in different ways and they need support and need to support each other.”

  • GIG REVIEW | James Blunt, Moon Landing Tour, Doncaster Racecourse

    ★★★★ | James Blunt, Moon Landing Tour, Doncaster Racecourse

    On a warm summer evening, Doncaster Racecourse presented the closing concert of James Blunt’s Moon Landing tour. Without the need for flashy pyrotechnics, elaborate sets or backing dancers James Blunt kept the crowd entertained for his 90 minute set with just his voice, his guitar and a four piece backing band.

    Blunt rattled through some of his singles and a number of fan favourites from his four multi-million selling albums. He quite rightly concentrated on the more up-tempo songs with only a few of his slower songs nestled neatly between the upbeat numbers. Blunt casually chatted with the audience and encouraged them to join in with a number of the songs. The crowd absolutely relished in singing along to “You’re Beautiful”, “Carry You Home” and his closing numbers “Bonfire Heart” and “1973”. But there were very few songs where the audience couldn’t help singing along, mainly encouraged by Blunt, which led to the crowd feeling part of the experience as opposed to detached observers.

    “High”, “Wisemen”, “Goodbye My Lover”, “Stay the Night”, “I’ll Be Your Man”, “Satellites” and “Same Mistake” were amongst some of the songs performed over the course of the show. Blunt defied the media persona that has been created around him by coming across as charismatic, enthusiastic and as someone who clearly loved every minute of being on stage. His band was fairly note perfect and the mixture of sound between the vocals and the instruments was perfectly balanced, meaning each instrument could be easily heard. The stage and lighting were functional, with a simple presentation enhanced only by a few projected backdrops. But, to be fair, the show was more about music than spectacular presentation and the straight forward staging served to allow focus on the musicians and song writing, rather than being style over substance.

    It is unfortunate that James Blunt is really a victim of his own success. Having the biggest selling album of the last decade, selling 20 million singles and 17 million albums is no mean feat, but for some reason, the media and the public have seemed to taken a dislike to him. However that does not necessarily detract from the quality of his music, the surprisingly good live performer that he is and how much the huge crowd genuinely enjoyed the show.

    James Blunt was the final concert in Doncaster Racecourses Music Live events, which has also seen the Kaiser Chiefs playing earlier this year. Having never been to a concert with a dress code before, the whole day was incredibly enjoyable with 7 flat races presented over the course of the afternoon followed by the concert. There was the opportunity of being able to enjoy dressing up for the occasion, mixing with the smartly dressed crowd and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the day at the recently refurbished venue; even without any knowledge of horse racing or a desire to have a flutter.

    James blunt is touring the UK later in the year and details can be found on his website at http://www.jamesblunt.com/home.htm?force=show

    Doncaster Racecourse hold a number of racing events throughout the year, the next one being on the 24th august to raise money for breast cancer charities. Details can be found at http://www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk/