Friday February 3, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 05 |
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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer |
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| BLUNTLY SWEET | |
| UK hottie James Blunt celebrates Valentine's with the Seattle Gay News and goes heart to heart on Elton John's wedding, Gay fans and his fast-rising career.
This year, Valentine's dessert is on us. The featured item is a big slice of cutie pie, or as we like to call it. Him. James Blunt. The dishy Londoner, nominated for 5 Brit Awards and proud owner of the gold certified album Back to Bedlam, took time from a busy European tour to say hello to Seattle Gay News readers. While Valentine's focuses on love, the interview went in several other directions and we never quite hit the subject of romance directly on the nail. Nonetheless, Blunt was an absolute delight to speak with and did this especially for us. For you, actually. Blunt performed on a repeat episode of "Saturday Night Live" last weekend and will play at a swanky pre-Grammy Awards party in Los Angeles this week. "You're Beautiful" is currently moving up the American singles charts and the music video for that song, displaying a shirtless and yummy Blunt, is getting heavy rotation on the LOGO network. Grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and sink your teeth into James Blunt. This Valentine's treat isn't offered in any other Gay newspaper in the country. Or world. Enjoy. Albert Rodriguez: Hi James, where are you at? James Blunt: (Sounding quite chipper in a sweet voice with a sexy English accent) I'm in Amsterdam. Rodriguez: Congratulations on your Brit Award nominations! (He received five nominations total, including one for Best British Album) Blunt: Thanks! It's mad. It's not the thing you think about when you first start doing music. It was a shock. But a very nice shock. Rodriguez: Did you celebrate it in any way? Blunt: No. I'm looking forward to the night itself (Brit Award ceremony, February 15) because there's always a good party afterwards. Rodriguez: Did you personally get invited by Elton John to go to his wedding? Blunt: Yeah, I know him because I've toured with him, amongst other things. So I was invited there and then I played there as well. Rodriguez: From someone who was actually there, what was it like? Blunt: It was very special. It was the first week that same sex marriages were made legal in Britain and it was very touching and a very special occasion. It was a huge honor to be there. Rodriguez: What did you wear? Blunt: It was black-tie. So I didn't really have to think about it. You call it a tuxedo, am I right? Rodriguez: Yes, a tuxedo. Blunt: We call it a dinner jacket here. Rodriguez: Was there a really big party afterwards? Blunt: It was great fun. People really enjoyed themselves and enjoyed the meeting of two minds. Rodriguez: Did you have any creative input to your music video for "You're Beautiful", because a lot of Gay boys seem to like it? Blunt: It was the director's main idea. I had already thought about the idea for a different video, for a song called "High". It's a good way of getting attention, by taking your clothes off. Rodriguez: And showing your pecs! Blunt: Exactly. But it was also the simplicity about the video that I enjoyed. Rodriguez: When you performed in Seattle (with Jason Mraz last November), you told the audience a funny story about a microphone malfunction during a live performance. The microphone began to slip down and you kept singing and going down with it. Do you remember that story? Blunt: (Slight laughter) Of course I remember that story. It was in London. Why? What are you getting at? (Slight laughter again) Rodriguez: Well, the punch line was that from the audience's view, it looked as if you were giving yourself a blowjob. Blunt: Right! Like I was giving myself head, which isn't feasible. At least I don't think it is. Rodriguez: No comment. But, it was one of those moments when I had to ask a friend, who was with me, "did he just say that or am I imagining he said that?!" Blunt: (Laughing) No, you didn't imagine it. I did say it. Rodriguez: On a related subject, you have great interaction with your audience. Blunt: I feel quite relaxed on stage. I think it's the nice thing about music. I enjoy writing it because it's that form of expression I feel I have to have. And I enjoy recording because it's documenting the songs. But playing live is a real social interaction. It's a way of communicating and connecting with people. And I just really enjoy it. I feel very comfortable with it. You're dictating which way the emotions are going at that time and taking them on a journey. Rodriguez: Do you feel touring is hard work? Blunt: No I don't. I think it's great fun. I mean, what an amazing job to have, to go to all sorts of different places around the world. This month, in January alone, I've been to Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland and all through Scandinavia. And I'm in Holland now. I've played a show every night, and we've had a great after show with friends and others who come back and go out to see the town, then we pass out on the tour bus and sleep during the night and wake up in a new city the next day and start all over again. Rodriguez: Are you passing out from exhaustion or too much beer? Blunt: Probably the latter. (Laughs) Rodriguez: Do you get mail or any acknowledgement from Gay fans? Blunt: Yes. My audience ranges from all ages, from fifteen to sixty, I guess. And all sexes and it encompasses all sexualities. Rodriguez: Make more videos like "You're Beautiful" and you'll encompass more. Blunt: (Laughs) Okay. Fine. Rodriguez: Do you celebrate Valentine's Day in the UK, or is it an American thing? Blunt: No, it's something we celebrate as well. Rodriguez: Do you give anything to friends, family, or someone special? Blunt: It used to be so simple as a child, wasn't it? You just sent out a heart to people you fancied. Now it's much more complicated. I definitely wouldn't be one to ask advice from as to what to give someone else because I don't know (Laughs). If you have any suggestions, let me know. Rodriguez: You don't send any flowers to your mum? Blunt: Um, no. I definitely see Valentine's Day as something between you and someone you love, or fancy, or something like that. I don't think it's something I'd share with my mother. Rodriguez: What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not writing, recording or playing music? Blunt: I really enjoy going back home, to London, and catching up with my friends. That's what I really like to do. Go home and hang out with my mates and go to a pub or a club. Rodriguez: Has London been home to you for a long time? Blunt: For a few years. At the moment I don't have a house because I put everything into storage and just travel. So my tour bus is home. Rodriguez: What's happening for the rest of the year, besides touring? Blunt: The tour lasts for nine months. Then we're booking time with Tim Rothrock, who produced the first album, and we're going into the studio again some time after September. Rodriguez: James, I know you have to go. Anything else you want to share with us? Blunt: Just that I'm looking forward to coming back there, to Seattle. I really like it there. Rodriguez: We look forward to your return. I know you're very busy at the moment, so thanks for doing this. On behalf of Gay music listeners here in Seattle, I want to say that we love your album and that you've quickly become one of our favorites. Blunt: Thank you very much. I appreciate that and will see you soon! Rodriguez: And of course, Happy Valentine's! Blunt: Yes, of course. |
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