May 21 2008
Eye Of the Beholder
Lately I’ve been listening to James Blunt’s “Back To Bedlam” CD and I finally decided to check out if there were any videos of him on YouTube. I particularly wanted to see how his song ‘You’re Beautiful” was interpreted.
As you know, I don’t own a TV. What you may not be aware of is that I seldom go to movies and now that I no longer travel, I don’t watch any movies and I don’t even rent ‘em.
I find the “official” video of “You’re Beautiful.”
Bad mistake.
I’m a reader. I like to create my own pictures.
I had a totally different picture in my head. Maybe it’s me but in MY picture, Mr. Blunt did not look like…a weenie.
My picture was also more literal and not so much whacking me upside the head with visual metaphors.
I still like the song, despite it being yet another sad love song. I also think that James Blunt is a talented singer-songwriter.
However, when it comes to his video for “You’re Beautiful”, I like this one better:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He was on Top Gear a short while ago and was very entertaining and modest. At one point Jeremy said something like, “You *do* make light of your own songs,” and Blunt replied, “Well, have you heard them?” (implying they just begged to be made fun of).
Weird Al did a parody of his song too called “You’re Pitiful”. He offered for free on his website because Mr. Blunt’s suits didn’t approve of it being released.
This one is better, though, far better. Frickin’ hilarious!
Oh, and I have that CD myself. I love it!
delmer: I recall reading that Blunt didn’t like “You’re Beautiful” all that much and was surprised it became a hit. I think the song is based on something that did happen to him and he it and found it a bit well, trite. Like overwrote romantic poetry. I think there is something a bit gooey about the song but well…I still like it.
I think I also read that he wasn’t too impressed with the video he made for it. My guess is that he feels that making these videos are a bit of necessary evil. I dunno. I did find some of his live performances - I like those better. I watched the video for “goodbye my lover” and that one is more in line with how I imagined the song.
Glad to know that Blunt is self-deprecating! I don’t generally read up on celebrity lives.
Sue: Weird Al does come up with some great parodies! I didn’t see “You’re Pitiful” but you know YouTube - they have those “related videos” links and that’s how I found this one and it was SO CLOSE in looks and lyrics (not that this video was hard to parody) that I also found it frickin’ hilarious! I love that last line, “..the truth…that I made out with a dood…” bwhahaha!
Funny how the vision of something can be destroyed by reality. Like watching a movie and loving it until the ending… The whole experience is ruined or tainted by it.
well, the song in question became my ex`s anthem while we were still living under the same roof……..and i thought that she was protesting too much.
shakespeare was always the psychologist.
and blunt`s vioce was always way too whiney for me.
give me amy winehouse any day.
UT: I know what you mean! Now I have this video superimposed on my original vision. But then I think about being Blunt and having to do the video! Can you imagine what he was going on in his mind if he has any type of grasp of the absurd?
Blunt:” So…I’m supposed to winge about looking serious and stripping and talking stuff out of my pockets and ending with jumping into the ocean? That’s..brilliant…just effin’ brilliant…”
Producers: “The birds’ll love it! You’ll be stripping and looking a bit like Byron-meets-grunge…”
alistair: OUCH! about your ex. I still like Blunt’s voice, not so much into this video. I do like Amy Winehouse’s voice but I like smoky rough-edged and sultry voices. Yow!! Hence my like Diana Krall as well.
smokey rough-edged and sultry. hmmm. that about sums it up. but when leonard cohen does it all i can think of is how can i get the last few minutes of my life back…..then i put achilles last stand on the cd player and the world seems right again.
i`m glad blunt doesn`t take himself too seriously though. not that it makes his music any easier to listen to.
as a musician myself, i am struck with the thought that i am being consumed……..and that i must detach from the process or get eaten.
it is odd to realise that the performer becomes a mask behind which he or she exists and that the person we are is somehow seperate from the image that people see as they consume us as we play.
OK … I did not watch the You Tube. I do know the song however… mushy!! I think I critique songs in a manner such as this when I can’t sing them with out pinching off my stuff
Seriously, I do understand exactly what you are conveying here. I remember back when MTV started it’s grand march into homes in the 80’s. So many artists that I had grown to love in the past were just not what I had expected, and many were ridiculous as I watched their videos for the first time. Funny how your mind pictures sounds, and musicians.
I recall a story from a previous comment (I think it was here…) about being at a wine bar on a trip. There was a female just belting out the blues. She was awesome! She was also 80 and frail as a wet cat with no dinner. When I looked away, I could see this verile, 20 something, “hot” red blooded hometown girl. It was almost surreal.
…. a weenie???? LMAO!!! That’s funny Ms Q
ps ~ @ wine bars? I drink grapefruit juice
That second one is funny! Yeah that first guy, his voice doesn’t seem to match him all that well maybe…or something. That’s interesting about him not liking the song all that much though.
Where are you?? ha haaaa!!! Me and Jill are still here … having some chicken!
Speedy!! (Part 1): Not sure what you mean by “pinching off my stuff” but inneresting visual. I love your simile: “frail as a wet cat with no dinner” hehehehe!
Even if you did drink, I can’t see you drinking wine. You look more of a hot chocolate type of guy in the winter, lemonade in the summer.
Jill: The first video, Blunt looks like he needs a transfusion. Having the hood didn’t help. I can’t recall where I read that bit about him not liking the actual song all that much. But I’ve read that about other artist’s top songs - where the singer/songwriter thought, huh, dunno about THIS and then it hit the big time.
Speedy!! (Part 2): I’ve been busy. I’ve even went out..ON A DATE! Go figure. Then I had a SECOND DATE. (Eyes bulging, to borrow your phrase) - 2nd date was with the same guy!! This is about as public as it’s gonna get! Interestingly, I didn’t eat no chicken on these dates - maybe it’s because I eat chicken on a regular basis.
Aw man! Are you sure that’s as public as it’s going to get? Because won’t you even tell us if the second date was on purpose or if it was just one of those things you didn’t really know how to get out of so you thought you’d give it another try????? How exciting!!!!!!!
I wonder if Jackson Browne was like that for his song, what was it called? Somebody’s Baby? The one that was in that Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie. It was more popular than a lot of his, I guess because of the movie but he has SO many better songs…or songs that I like better at least.
Jill: Mutually on purpose. Up front, direct: “This is going very well. I’m up for a 2nd date, how about you?” Him: “Yes. I’d like that, too.”
Regarding “getting out” of dates - I know how to get out of them: you tell the man you changed your mind, you rethunk it, whatever. I’ve done it or I’ve said directly, “I am unsure but WILL get back to you.” I’m fine with direct. It’s others (not just men!) who aren’t so good with it. I HAVE gotten the “I’ll call you.” and not been called.
I have no problem with calling, either. But if someone says THEY WILL CALL, I’m not going to. If they don’t, I still get the message!
I have trouble getting out of that second date thing because on the one hand it seems like everyone in the world has more to offer than they could possibly show on one date & it seems like there’s always a chance that a second date is worth a shot. But then on the other hand, if you didn’t have fun on the first date, why waste the time for a second date?
On the not calling if they say they’ll call, I like my brother’s advice: If the dude’s not calling, the dude’s not calling! At any rate, here’s to a third date…
Jill: I have the same thoughts as you regarding the 2nd date! I’m more willing to try for another date if I had a good time and I’m unsure. I used to think, “Uh, no sparks” and didn’t think a 2nd date would help but one man said that he used to feel the same way until he realized that it takes more than a single date to get to know someone and the more you like them as a person, the more attractive you find them.
I haven’t had a bad first date. At their “worse” we have a pleasant meal together or walk. By the time we actually meet, chances are very good that we’re “nice people” if you know what I mean.
No third date as yet but he did tell me he had a conference to attend.