James Blunt Bluntness

Have you ever wondered what was the inspiration behind some of the music you listen to or love? Do you ever think about how long it took to write and produce the song? Music, in some ways, is taken for granted. I mean this in the sense that we often don’t stop and think about the creative process. Sometimes artists draw inspiration from very painful circumstances in their life. Sometimes the songs are written on a piece of napkin. However the song came to be is meaningful in its delivery.

James Blunt song “You’re Beautiful” was written in the span of two minutes following a brief encounter with his ex-girlfriend on the London Underground. His ex-girlfriend was riding the tube with her boyfriend. Blunt was high as a kite. Their eyes met for brief time but for Blunt felt like a lifetime. Evidently, he was heartbroken she had moved on but the moment was beautiful for him in spite of the way life turned out for the course of their relationship. “You’re Beautiful” is a staple romantic song and yet the true context of the meaning behind this song is not romantic in the least.

James recounts, “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?”.

Life is too short to leave things unsaid. Worst thing that can happen is rejection. And yes, rejection is painful…but perhaps it would be more painful playing the what if scenario over and over in your head. Rejection is conclusive. The what if game is endless rumination.