An Open Letter To TV Producers Who Continue To Use James Blunt Over And Over And Over Again
June 11th, 2006
Dear TV Producers:
I know that James Blunt’s latest album “Back to Bedlam” is probably one of the best-selling CDs to come out in a long time. I know that your music supervisors probably threw down the CD on your desk on the day in question as you were locking the final cut of that most recent episode and said something like, “This guy, James Blunt, is really hot right now and you know how all those other shows are selling Soundtrack CDs and stuff with music that has appeared on their shows? No? Well, they have. And if you put James Blunt’s music in that scene, in this episode, well, it’s going to really add a hipness factor to this show about ghosts and whispering and spirits and what not.”
I know that you sat watching that sequence with your female lead contemplating her life and the problems she’s faced and the tough road she’s traversed to get to this point in the episode you’re currently in post production on… And I know that when you watched that sequence you thought to yourself how beautiful that character looked and how if you could just find a song that could communicate just how beautiful she was in that moment that it would further hit home the point to the audience… But do you really need to use James Blunt’s song “You’re Beautiful” to do it? Are we really that stupid that we will hear that song, listen to the words, and think to ourselves how beautiful said character is even though she’s faced such tough problems throughout her life?
Maybe. But if it’s the fifteenth time we’ve heard that song this week, it may lessen the impact a little bit.
I know that in the wake of “You’re Beautiful”’s success, some of you decided that you would not be jumping on the “You’re Beautiful” bandwagon but since that sequence with your beautiful characters was also a scene that communicated just how happy they all were after that death in their family or that really tough emotional challenge they all just went through, that using James Blunt’s song “High” might be a far smarter way to go. I mean, everyone was telling audiences how beautiful their characters were, but were they communicating just how “High” they had been? At the time, they weren’t. But now, over 10 different shows and pilots have tried to hammer the “High” point home.
I know that some of you TV Producers were aware of that fact. I know that some of you shied away from using James Blunt to get your audience to realize that your characters were “Beautiful” and “High.” That was a really important step on your part in distancing yourselves from the “James Blunt Hipness Quotient” on National TV. You really stood strong there for a split second. That was, of course, until you sat watching that sequence from your TV show in which one character says goodbye to the love of their life and then goes inside from the rain and watches them go. You had real options here, splitting yourselves as a group down the line with “Goodbye My Lover” and “Tears and Rain.” Really, it was impressive. But when I was able to flip between all four networks and a few cable channels and literally listen to James Blunt’s new album on all your shows…well, things started getting out of control.
It’s just a good thing no one is producing an episode (yet) where someone named Jimmy goes away, or else “So Long Jimmy” would be gracing those TV speakers of ours in the very near future.
So, here’s a tip, TV Producers. James Blunt’s entire album has already been used on more than 10 different TV shows as background music. Everyone has heard his music on the radio over and over and over again. Every time someone hears James Blunt on your show, now all they can think is how behind the times you really are. So instead of carting out “No Bravery” when your main character runs away from a huge hit and run accident, or throwing down “Out of My Mind” for your new “beautiful actors in a mental facility meets 90210 show”… Or even turning up the volume and including “Wisemen” for your hip-new take on the Bible’s 3 Wisemen meets Michael Mann’s Heat type one-hour drama…
Think again.
Because James Blunt is so played out…it’s not even funny.
Right on! I was just thinking about this last week, wondering how many times I’ve heard “You’re Beautiful” in the past month.
Yet, is it bad that I have that song and a few others on my MP3 player? When it plays I have that tenderness in my heart, the aching of my soul, remembering that humanity — as souless as it seems — might have a chance. James Blunt gives me hope through his voice even if I think Mad TV’s parody of him was bloody hilarious.
Comment by kartooner — June 11, 2006 @ 10:21 am
the first itme I heard your bootifu-ull, I was like - who would like this song? didn’t even listen to all of it until my sister MADE ME watch a spoof video online - that was the first time I heard the enitre song…your bootifu-ull.
I have also never listened to Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of you” or “Be without you” by Mary Blige? or that awful Bon Jovi number…I don’t even know that name of it…..something about a home I think? Oh, and that woo hoo cherry tree song - bad. bad. bad.
Comment by Kathleen — June 11, 2006 @ 11:04 am
I love hearing James Blunt anytime anywhere and any song that is played.
Brenda, Texas USA
Comment by Brenda Miller — June 11, 2006 @ 11:24 am
Ugh. I do not like James Blunt AT ALL. I usually yell at the tv when they play one of his songs (because changing the channel would require effort).
Comment by Merel — June 11, 2006 @ 12:12 pm
*Ptooey!* Yes, that’s right, I spit on James Blunt’s CD. People seem to love him or hate him, and I am a James Blunt hater. But even if I did like him, I would have gotten sick of him real fast. He’s every freaking where! Make the insanity stop!!
Comment by kusems — June 11, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
Um . . . who?
(Yes, clearly I live under a rock. A rock that doesn’t get cable or Sirius satellite radio.)
Comment by Rabbit — June 11, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
I’ve been forced to here that “You’re Beautiful” song SO many times, because, as you said, it’s SOOOOO friggin played out. But, no matter how many times I hear that song, I ALWAYS think of the gay Brokeback cowboys.
Oh, and I didn’t even know WHO that was who sang that song. I thought maybe it was like some other wimpy band like Maroon 5 or some crap. I hate generic soft rock, especially when it becomes bumper/soundtrack/score music.
Comment by Eve — June 11, 2006 @ 6:59 pm
Thank you for saying all that, because I absolutely abhor James Blunt. At first, I was all, yay, I love him. His music is so … (gah) original and unique. Thanks, Target, for subliminally making me buy his CD with all your in-store music propaganda. And then I was all, I must see him in concert. And then I went, and it was all a MySpace convention of 15-year-olds and middle-aged moms taking camera phone pictures and acting like the song “Your Beautiful” was written for them. And James? He sucked. The show was so boring, I contemplated leaving. But then he had a slide show during “No Bravery” of his time spent in some war-torn country that was supposed to evoke tears and shock and awe, but it really just made me want to laugh because it was so cliche. So you were a soldier in the British army? So what! And to top it off, from where I was sitting in the amphitheater, I could see his thinning hairline, and he really just reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite-meets-Dana-Carvey doing his “Chopping Broccoli” song, what with the way he played his guitar. Ick. Ick. Ick. I’m so over him, I want to barf.
Comment by Jen — June 11, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
Oh, I meant “YOU’RE Beautiful.” What am I? I freaking idiot, with the “YOUR”?
Comment by Jen — June 11, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
Agree with the above post by Brenda. Have any of you considered the reasons why it is played so often? Its because its a great song. Its meaning can fit into so many tv shows, movies, and commericals. Its a song that sounds better every time you hear it.
James Blunt is a true superstar in music. After all, look at the record companies trying to find their own James Blunts. If it weren’t for James Blunt, we wouldn’t have Teddy Geigers, Howie Days, Daniel Powters, or Michael Blube.
Comment by jen — June 12, 2006 @ 7:52 am
I know that song, but I since I never watch TV or listen to Top 40 radio, I don’t have to hear it a lot.
Target, on the other hand, is another story. I love going to Target.
Comment by Alison — June 12, 2006 @ 8:17 am
i hear you. though it’s a shame, because the cd really is good and i was listening to it a few months before it was barfed all over television. i don’t like how people are now turned off by the cd simply because they want to make a point about being “non-mainstream” or whatever because of how heavily it’s been bastardized.
blech.
Comment by Sarcomical — June 12, 2006 @ 8:40 am
I feel the same way about that Howie Day song “Collide.” I don’t mind when they use it for WB teen-type shows, but when they used it to promote the Pride and Prejudice movie, a period piece set centuries before this song was ever dreamed of, it annoys me.
Comment by Boogie's Mom — June 12, 2006 @ 10:55 am
I have to agree - he’s played out, which is sad because I think he’s great…in moderation. Even I’m sick of him, and that doesn’t happen often.
I haven’t checked it out yet, but apparently Weird Al just released a parody called “You’re Pitiful.”
Comment by Nanette — June 12, 2006 @ 10:58 am
During our last chemistry class, my friend Nick’s cellular phone started ringing. His ringtone was “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt. Contrary to your last point, it actually was quite funny. But I guess that is solely due to the context.
Comment by Will — June 12, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
On a related note, would you mind telling the appropriate people that the Iron & Wine cover of The Postal Service song “Such Great Heights” is on too many damn commercials at the moment. Thanks Pauly.
Comment by Hilary — June 12, 2006 @ 1:48 pm
“James Blunt is a true superstar in music. After all, look at the record companies trying to find their own James Blunts. If it weren’t for James Blunt, we wouldn’t have Teddy Geigers, Howie Days, Daniel Powters, or Michael Blube.”
Um…no. Howie Day and Michael Bublé date from well before James Blunt was out of the army, let alone popping up in every darn TV show or ad imaginable.
Comment by Paul — June 13, 2006 @ 11:06 am
Naturally, “Weird Al” has a parody version lined up already. It’s called “You’re Pitiful.” Frankly, it’s more mean than amusing, but hey, it’s free to download at weirdal.com right now and who am I to pass up a freebie?
Comment by Jane — June 13, 2006 @ 6:10 pm
Screw James Blunt. The time has come for Michael Penn’s music on tv, and movies dammit! He’s an infinitely talented singer/songwriter and has been quietly making killer music for twenty years but does he get any decent recognition? Hell no he doesn’t. Producers listen up! If you want intelligent, meaningful music, Michael Penn is your man.
Ahem. I’m done now.
Comment by Monica Ricci — June 25, 2006 @ 2:36 pm
Actually I’m quite annoyed about all this over use of “Your Beautiful”, because it has turned a lot of people away from his music. This song is not even close to being one of his best songs in my perspective. James Blunt is actually amazing artist, his music shows more feeling and compassion than any artist i’ve heard in a long time. The first time I heard “No Bravery” I cried. That is definatly one of my all time favorite songs. He wrote it while serving in Kosovo and it is truly moving, and a real description of the meanlessness and destruction of war. So all you “Your Beautiful” haters, give James Blunt a chance.
Comment by Courtney — July 30, 2006 @ 9:41 pm
That whiner song has made me so annoyed that I’ve never listened to anything else he’s done. There are tunes I can listen to over and over again, but “You’re Beautiful” is not one of them.
Comment by Dave2 — July 31, 2006 @ 9:18 am