James Blunt

James will be stopping by ‘The Today Show Summer Concert Series’ in New York City on May 29th to perform 3 songs.
Even better, visit msnbc.com to vote for which song you’d like James to play!
If you’ll be in the NYC area, James would love to have you show up to watch the performance in Rockefeller Center on 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue.
It’s free and early at 7 AM, so come on out and show your love for James!

James Blunt is headed to a television screen near you this week.

Tonight, May 23rd, the British singer-songwriter is the musical guest on CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman.” During the program, James will perform a song from his bestselling debut album “Back To Bedlam.”

Then, tune in to NBC’s “The Today Show” on Monday, May 29th, to catch another performance by James. He’ll play three songs for viewers, and fans can vote for the tracks they’d like James to play at msnbc.com.

And if you happen to live in New York City, come down early Monday morning and watch James’ performance live at Rockefeller Center on 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue.

On May 29, James Blunt will be back on ‘Today.’ His first national network appearance was on the show. So what are some of his other firsts?

James Blunt’s first U.S. network television performance was on “Today” last November, so we thought we would ask him a few other firsts he’s had …

What was the first record you bought?
“Wish You Were Here” Pink Floyd.

The first concert you attended?
My own at Water Rats, King’s Cross, London

When you turn on your iPod, what is the first song you have to listen to?
“Hard Drive” Evan Dando

How old were you when a girl broke your heart for the first time?
I had a bad experience playing Kiss Chase at age 4 that has left me deeply, psychologically scarred. As a result, to this day, I have never played Kiss Chase again.

When was the first moment you realized you had become a rock star?
When my mum asked me for my autograph

What was the first song you wrote for this album, “Back to Bedlam”?
No Bravery in 1999

You have been on the road non-stop since the release of “Back to Bedlam.” What is the first thing you do when you get home?
There is no end of tour, and I have no home, but if I did, I’d have a bath, wash my clothes and order a congratulatory pizza with pepperoni, onions and sweet corn and a can of Coke from Tops Pizza and then head to the pub.

You will wake up pretty early for your “Today” show concert on May 29, what is the first thing you do every morning?
Ask the girl her name.

Tune in to “Today” Monday, May 29 to watch James Blunt perform live on the Plaza as part of the “Toyota Concert Series on Today.”

Singer/songwriter James Blunt has gently hit back at Tara Palmer Tomkinson’s tabloid rants.

The socialite claimed she and posh boy Blunt were more then just friends, but that she was unaware the singer had a girlfriend, the severely miffed Camilla Boler.

TPT said of her Blunt experience: Let’s just say the whole experience was small in every sense of the word.”

“He’s a liar, and I can’t abide liars. Poor Camilla.”

However, all the gossip surrounding his love life has actually pleased Blunt as it has helped clear up rumours that he may be gay.

He said: “My private life is private and not for comment. However, it seems to have killed the, ‘Is James gay?’ thread, which is desperately sad.

“But rest assured that those in my private life are well supported and unaffected by the gossip.”

If you’ve listened to the string of melancholy songs on James Blunt’s debut CD, Back to Bedlam, and wondered if a suicide hotline should be put on alert, you can relax.

A sold-out show Thursday night at Downtown Disney’s House of Blues demonstrated that although his music may channel angst, regret and loss, Blunt himself is quite chipper.

“For a small town, you make a big noise,” the thirtysomething (his age is disputed) Brit teased the crowd, his piercing eyes flashing, after facing a blast of screams from appreciative female fans.

Later in the 75-minute show, he offered some advice on romance to the aforementioned women’s very patient boyfriends.

“Grab onto somebody, just start feeling around.”

A pause and a devilish grin.

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter what she looks like. It’s pitch black in here.”

Blunt’s charisma went a long way toward keeping the atmosphere fun in light of his songs’ subject matter.

The most serious moment came when he performed “No Bravery,” a song he wrote while serving in the British army during the international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

“Houses burnt beyond repair/the smell of death is in the air,” he sang as images of war’s destruction were projected behind him. He avoided politicking , however, singing the song without comment.
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Noel Gallagher was mystified by the recent rock rich list – because James Blunt’s got more money than him.

The Oasis songwriter was aghast to find he wasn’t even placed in the money charts – whereas Blunt, with only one album behind him has already amassed a £9 million fortune.

Speaking in an upcoming MTV interview he says, “Did you see the rich list? I wasn’t in it for third year running. James Blunt has supposedly got nine million quid. He’s only been going a year! I’ve been going 12.

“I’ve spent a lot on sweets but I should have more than nine million quid in the bank!”

April proved to be a successful month for many diverse artists as the RIAA handed out its latest Gold and Platinum album awards. British singer James Blunt was certified double Platinum for his 2004 album Back To Bedlam. Another fellow British artist, K.T. Tunstall, also received an award for the month of April. Eye To The Telescope was certified Gold less than two months after being released.

All in all, the RIAA awarded a total of five multi-Platinum, seven Platinum and 17 Gold albums for the month of April.

British singer-songwriter James Blunt’s Back to Bedlam, released in October 2004, sold all of 482 copies in its first week. By the end of 2005, however, Blunt’s debut had sold 2.4 million copies in England.

The album’s slow start “genuinely was the plan,” Blunt says.

“So many record companies start talking about the importance of first-week sales, and as I understand the music industry, first-week sales is all about how much you hype up an album, and then the album seems to disappear.

“It seems much more relevant if you just put it out and see if anyone likes it, see if they tell their friends,” he adds.

Back to Bedlam eventually spent nine weeks atop the British charts, thanks in great part to the delicate, inescapable single You’re Beautiful. The most-played track on British radio last year, it has become almost as ubiquitous in America, where the album came out last October.

Blunt, who plays the Verizon Wireless Theater tonight, is managed by the same folks who handle Elton John, who has called You’re Beautiful a modern-day Your Song. One much-predicted consequence — that You’re Beautiful was destined to become a first-dance favorite at weddings — gained credence when Blunt was asked to play it at John’s wedding in December.

You’re Beautiful also became a video hit, no doubt because of Blunt’s fragile falsetto, soulful eyes, tousled hair and — as the video winds down and he empties his pockets and takes off his shirt — well-chiseled torso.

The song, inspired when Blunt exchanged glances with a former lover whom he happened upon in a London subway station with a new man, addresses the sudden recognition of failed love and closed doors.

Blunt, 28, insists he always planned a music career, though he also explored a family tradition of military service dating back several generations.
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Chart-topping singer James Blunt has fallen in love with karaoke after treating some revellers in Sydney to an impromptu gig.

The former Army captain was in a sing-a-long bar in Sydney with some mates when he heard a gaggle of girls belting out one of his tunes.

Having had a tipple he decided to step in and help them.

James said: “It was one of those places where you get a small room to yourselves and happily sing away in the privacy of your own group.

“We did it for an hour then we heard three English girls singing Goodbye My Lover from the next room.

“I burst in, grabbed a microphone, sang them the last chorus, said ‘Thank you and goodnight!’ and left. All we heard for the next 20 minutes was them screaming.”

The singer and songwriter had such a good time he hopes he can repeat the experience very soon.

He said: “I’m going to start hanging around karaoke bars more often.”

A year ago, no one in the U-S knew who James Blunt was.

Now he’s beautiful.

Blunt is one of the people on People magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful People” list.

Other musicians on the list include Jewel, Beyonce’ Knowles, Pink, Jessica Simpson, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Jennfer Lopez, Amerie and Lindsay Lohan. Ryan Seacrest also makes the list, and he reveals he’s obsessed with ear hair and nose hair, as well as fresh breath.

There must be more beautiful people in the world, because this marks the first year People has named 100 of them instead of 50.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson isn’t holding back after being branded a publicity seeker for talking about getting together with Beautiful crooner James Blunt…

The It Girl says she was completely in the dark about the fact that he was still with girlfriend Camilla Boler, 24, when she stayed with him in New York.

Tara, 34, told the paper: “I was deceived by this guy and that’s it.

“One thing I will say is I was never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, told by James Blunt that there was a girlfriend. One thing’s for sure I don’t think I did anything wrong.

“I mean all the stuff about how I went to America and I did this and I did that, I was never told there was a girlfriend, in fact James told me he had split up with her at Christmas.

“I am certainly not the type of person who would tread on somebody else’s toes. I completely disrespect women who do that to other women.

“I don’t know who’s lying but it’s not me. But one thing’s for sure - he may have a reputation as a bit of Casanova but he’s not.”

It’s been reported that James and Camilla since split about two weeks ago.

The word from James’ spokesman: “No comment.”
Source, SkyShowbiz, IOL etc..

James Blunt is heading to the Catskills next month to help out some dogs.

The British singer-songwriter will headline an intimate, “unplugged,” benefit concert at the Belleayre Music Festival on May 28th in Highmount, New York, with proceeds from the show going to the ‘Snuffy Suites’ dog shelter in the town of Shandaken. The concert will also raise funds for the Belleayre Music Conservatory, a non-profit founded to promote cultural programs in the Catskills.

The idea for the benefit was conceived by Atlantic Records A&R executive Mary Gormley, a Phoenicia native. The ‘Snuffy Suites’ dog shelter was named in memory of Mary’s canine companion, ‘Snuffy,’ who passed away last year. At that time, Mary asked James if he would consider doing a benefit to raise funds for the shelter, and he readily agreed.

“James is truly a man of his word,” Mary related. “His career is now a whirlwind of fame and he is gladly taking the time to perform the Snuffy Benefit.”

Tickets for this special acoustic evening with James Blunt will be available May 1st, only through Ticketweb.com. For more information, visit www.BelleayreMusic.org.