The singer’s biggest hit sold more than four million copies worldwide, topped the charts in the UK for weeks on end and earned a string of award nominations – yet somehow, all of these listeners didn’t realise what Blunt was actually crooning about.
Spoiler alert: ‘You’re Beautiful’ isn’t the sweet and soppy love song you once thought it was.
In ‘You’re Beautiful’, Blunt essentially tells the story of how he ends up falling head over heels for a lady who smiled at him on the subway as she is an absolute knockout.
Or, in his words, she’s ‘beautiful’.
However, the singer himself has confessed that the character he takes on in the song should actually ‘be locked up’ rather than swooned over, as the inspiration behind the track is pretty dark.
During an appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch in November last year, Blunt discussed the inspirations behind some of his most popular songs.
James Blunt’s hit track isn’t as romantic as you might have thought (YouTube/James Blunt)
“I normally try and write songs for specific moments,” the 50-year-old said. “‘Goodbye, My Lover’ that’s obviously for separations, but I have a song for divorces called ‘I’ll Take Everything’.
“‘Bonfire Heart’ for Bonfire Night. ‘Wise Men’ is obviously about Christmas,” Blunt continued.
“‘You’re Beautiful’, obviously the most played song at weddings, even though it’s about a guy high on drugs stalking someone else’s girlfriend.”
Yep, that’s right – Blunt is singing his heart out from the perspective of some barmy bloke who’s high as a kite and has taken a liking to a random woman he’s seen on public transport.
Blunt divulged some details about the encounter which inspired the hit song in an interview with The Guardian back in 2020.
“One day I was on the underground in London and saw an ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend,” the singer explained.
“Our eyes met, but we just walked past each other, and I went home and wrote the words to ‘You’re Beautiful’ in two minutes.
He went on: “I went to see my songwriter friend Sacha Skarbek in Los Angeles, and, with Amanda Ghost as a co-writer, we finished the song. It’s always been portrayed as romantic, but it’s actually a bit creepy.
“It’s about a guy who’s high and stalking someone else’s girlfriend on the subway. But everyone has those moments where you wonder… what if I’d said something?”
The singer, 50, reckons people should really stop playing it at their weddings (Luke Brennan/Getty Images)
He also told the Huffington Post that he was keen to inform his fans about what they were really swaying to during their first dance on their big day.
Chatting to the publication in 2017, Blunt put it bluntly as he said: “Everyone goes, ‘Ah, he’s so romantic. I want ‘You’re Beautiful’ as my wedding song’. These people are f**ed up.
“You get labeled with these things like, ‘Oh, James Blunt. Isn’t he just a soft romantic?’ Well, f**k that. No, I’m not. ‘You’re Beautiful’ is not this soft romantic f**king song.
“It’s about a guy who’s high as a fucking kite on drugs in the subway stalking someone else’s girlfriend when that guy is there in front of him, and he should be locked up or put in prison for being some kind of perv.”
The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer told his supporters that if they really want to ‘ruin his life’, then tthey should make his 2004 debut album ‘Back to Bedlam’ go to number one ahead of the release of its 20th anniversary edition.
Taking to social media, the 50-year-old shared a video of what the stipulations were.
“My name is James Blunt, and you have the power to absolutely f**k my life,” he began.
“I know you’ve heard the rumours and they’re true. I’m re releasing my debut album, ‘Back to Bedlam’ on October the 11th, something that has kept me consistently rich for the past 20 years.
“So as a way to give back to you, my adoring public, if ‘Back to Bedlam’ re-enters the charts at number one, I will legally change my name.
“What will I change it to? Well, that’s entirely up to you.
James Blunt’s fans called his antics ‘brave’ (Luke Brennan/Getty Images)
“I’ve been called many things in my life, most hated man in pop, annoying, James beige.
“I’ll let the people decide. But if it doesn’t go to number one, I’m not changing my name.
“It’s safe to say this is the most important democratic moment of the year.”
So, after many of his fans expressed their favourite name change, it came as a shock when a former Premier League footballer was the top choice.
Ex-Liverpool forward Divock Origi, considered a legend at the club for his antics against Barcelona, was the most liked name and Blunt had to wait a month for the chat data rolled in.
This morning (5 November), the wait was finally over after the singer shared a fake driving license with ‘Divock Origi’ written on it.
The ‘You’re Beautiful’ singer told fans he would change his name if they could get his debut studio album to number one (X/@JamesBlunt)
Sadly, his 24th anniversary album fell a little short of number one, as he wrote: A belated ‘Thank You’ to everyone who helped get Back To Bedlam to No. 7 in the charts.
“It’s an amazing result after 20 years. I’m glad I didn’t have to change my name – looks like you’ll all have to put up with ‘James Blunt’ for another few decades.”
Commenting on the post, one fan joked: “Now go and score a last minute winner against Everton!”
Another pointed out how the ‘marketing campaign’ was a stroke of genius, writing: “The beauty of a campaign that works.
“I wonder how brave other artists would be to do this.”
And for anyone wondering, Origi, 29, moved to AC Milan in 2022 and after a disappointing loan spell at Nottingham Forrest, he went back to train with the Italian giants.
He is now listed in the Milan Futuro squad and is no longer involved in first-team duties.
