Virgin.net Music news

 

Double winner Blunt blasts critics

 

James Blunt had a defiant message for his critics after he won two prizes at the Ivor Novello Awards.

 

Blunt's song 'You're Beautiful', which he co-wrote with British singer-songwriter Amanda Ghost, was named International Hit of the Year and Most Performed Work.

 

And afterwards, Blunt said: "To all those bast*rds who don't like my music - you're all adults, you can switch your radio off."

 

Asked if he ever got sick of hearing 'You're Beautiful', he replied: "I don't have to listen to it, I'm the one who sings it. And it's continued to get me laid."

 

Accepting the award for Most Performed Work, he told the audience: "I should probably be rude about it before anyone else is, so thank you very much for the Most Overplayed Song award."

 

Blunt was in no mood to talk about his fling with Tara Palmer Tomkinson.

 

"I really don't enjoy the notion of celebrity gossip," he said.

 

Scottish singer KT Tunstall won Best Song Musically and Lyrically for 'Suddenly I See'.

 

The judges chose Tunstall's song ahead of Coldplay's 'Fix You' and Arctic Monkeys, nominated for their hit 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'.

 

"This means the world," she said.

 

Other winners included the Kaiser Chiefs, who won the Album Award for 'Employment'.

 

Gorillaz duo Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were named Songwriters of the Year.

 

Athlete won Best Contemporary Song for 'Wires' while 'That's My Goal' by X-Factor winner Shayne Goal was honoured as the best-selling UK single of 2005.

 

What do you think of James Blunt?

 

Personally I cannot stand him as a person & his music gives the singer/songwriter genre a bad name! :o

 

 

And nothing for Kate Bush's comeback album? Bizarre.......

I know Kate Bush's Aerial was up for nomination along with the Gorillaz, yet they both lost out to a "second rate XTC tribute act" (© Paul Weller - Brits 2006) for the best album prize.

What do you think of James Blunt?

 

Personally I cannot stand him as a person & his music gives the singer/songwriter genre a bad name! :o

 

Well I don't know him as a person, I've never even met him, so I can't really say on that score, if I'd like him or not? As for the article, it may be taken out of context, or perhaps it was tongue-in-cheek humour aimed as a dig back at the press? he's taken some stick, so why shouldn't he give some back? I dislike how the media has a tendancy to build people up/put them down etc... Generally, I don't take much notice of what's written in the press/in the media about much at all, because I know how misleading that can be sometimes. But, whatever his personality might be like in real life, I don't know if that would really affect what I think of his music, I'd like to think not - he'd have to do something pretty drastic to have that effect on me I think.

 

When he first broke on to the scene and I first heard it, I loved the song - You're Beautiful - it made me stop in my tracks literally, but I struggled to like his singing voice for a while, but it grew on me though. I also had a semi-conscious nark with him a bit I think at the time, because he nicked off with Darius's drummer :lol: He didn't really, 'nick' him, just that he was working more and more with James and less and less with Darius and even though I understood it, it fizzed me off at the time, because I felt that Darius had written acoustic songs just as good as James Blunt's and has a nicer voice for my taste. So I had a silly-chip on my shoulder for a bit and even though, I didn't seriously begrudge Karl, or James anything - I was narked that it wasn't Darius :rolleyes: - but my angst was at the industry really - not James ;) ... I overcame my nark pretty quickly, especially when I listened properly to the rest of the album + some other stuff - Goodbye My Lover and No Bravery, had me hooked particularly at first, then Out of My Mind. I love everything about the album, not just the songs/music, but also, the design/artwork; the videos and the same with the website - it just all really appealed to me :wub:

 

I do think he's been over-hyped and that You're Beautiful was over played, but even though I tired of hearing it, I still think it is a good song, from a good album though - and I think the over-hype/overplay has fostered a back-lash resentment towards him, which the media have helped to perpetuate - in both directions :rolleyes: It does annoy me, but in the sense that there are loads of really good artists out their fighting to squeeze through the bottle-neck to get some radio airplay, on such restricted playlists - a few less spins of the same thing and a bit more variety, would surely be better for the artists and listeners alike -I won't kid myself that will ever happen though :rolleyes:

 

So, what is it about his music, that you think gives the singer/songwriter genre a bad name then?

And nothing for Kate Bush's comeback album? Bizarre.......

Everyone knows that this award is based only on sales, they wouldn´t make much profit to the label awarding the brilliant Aerial.

I love his music! :P

 

As someone who first saw him supporting Katie Melua over 2 years ago, our instant reaction was sheer pleasure at a support act who was worth watching/listening to - even more so than Katie!!! :blush: He's worked hard, gigged incredibly hard, and his music obviously struck a chord with one or two people, so why shouldn't he reap the rewards?!

 

I wouldn't read too much into the article as James is renowned for feeding the press silly info, as he knows what he says will more than likely be taken out of context - he likes to play them at their own game - but likes his private life to be just that, private. He's said as much in some posts on his message board.

 

I've met him once, briefly, and he was incredibly curteous and seemed totally overawed by the audiences response to him/his music. He has always come across as very grateful to and for his fans.

 

And, like Secret Song has said, it's so unfair that the British press always feel the need to build a person (whether actor or musician) up just so they can tear them down. But then that's par for the course these days! :rolleyes: :(

A bit of topical news about this from the 7Digital site:

 

James Blunt Banned From Radio Station

 

A regional UK radio station has banned the music of James Blunt.

 

Essex FM has announced that it will no longer play Blunt's hits “You're Beautiful†and “Goodbye My Loverâ€.

 

Blunt's chart-topping “You’re Beautiful†won two Ivor Novello awards - International Hit Of The Year and Most Performed Work - last week.

 

After claiming his prizes at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Blunt said: "To all those bast*rds who don't like my music - you're all adults; you can switch your radio off.â€

 

Picking up his award for Most Performed work he said: "I'm going to be rude about this before anyone else has the chance - thank you so much for the award for most overplayed song."

 

Chris Cotton, the programme controller, said: “We don’t have anything against James Blunt. We’re pleased he’s been so successful, but we really need a break. While his songs have been very popular, there is a tremendous amount of industry pressure to play certain artists very frequently. Often this can be out of step with the audience’s tastes which results in songs being overplayed…We're happy to stand up to this pressure. We encourage other radio stations to take the same step."

A bit of topical news about this from the 7Digital site:

 

Essex FM is my local radio station and although I don't listen to it very much these days because of certain grievances!! :angry: it is the main station I hear in the local shops. I have heard the DJs advertising the station as 'James Blunt free' and (although I'm not a James Blunt fan) I think it is terrible the way the media try to influence public opinion and 'play' with artists' careers!! :angry:

 

Julie

If people like him, they're not going to stop listening to him just because one radio station says so... They should grow up -_-

If people like him, they're not going to stop listening to him just because one radio station says so... They should grow up -_-

That's only part of it though David, as some artists are stifled before they are known. You can't like something if you have never heard it before!

Virgin did it to all the PI people including Darius didn't they? Capital don't actually say they're banning so and so but in the selection of their playlists they do. When did you last hear Darius on a Capital station?

The fact he wasn't in the top hundred of the airplay chart at all and just crawled in at 98 on the week of the release of LT attests to the fact that they're not the only radio stations who do it. LT was a good song . If it had been by someone else, it would have got airplay.

 

It's petty of any station to advertise itself as JB free. They're only making themselves look stupid. They won't make any dent in his popularity. As soon as his 2nd album comes out, they'll be lining up to play the singles.

Edited June 3, 200619 yr by Baytree