Monsters (James Blunt song) explained

Monsters
Cover:Monsters (James Blunt song).jpg
Type:single
Album:Once Upon a Mind
Released:1 November 2019
Genre:Pop
Length:4:19
Label:Atlantic Records UK
Prev Title:I Told You
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Halfway
Next Year:2020

"Monsters" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Blunt. It was written by Blunt, Amy Wadge and Jimmy Hogarth for Blunt's sixth studio album, Once Upon a Mind (2019).[1] It was released as the fourth single from the album on 1 November 2019.[2]

Blunt chose to donate all of the profit made from the song to Help for Heroes and British Legion charities.[3] [4]

Background

James Blunt's father Charles, himself a kidney donor, was diagnosed with stage four chronic kidney disease.[5] Blunt wrote "Monsters" to "express his feelings about his father and his illness, almost as if it's a touching farewell to his father". In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Blunt said:[5]

In the same interview he made a plea for type O kidney donors to step forward. In January 2020 MSN reported Blunt's father had been scheduled for a transplant.[6]

Music video

The music video was filmed in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, and it was directed by Vaughan Arnell.[7] The music video features James Blunt and his father Charles Blount.[8] The video focuses on a close up of James Blunt's face as he sings the first two verses and choruses of the song, and then switches to a wider angle showing himself and his father sitting at a table while he sings the final part. Throughout the video, Blunt is visibly emotional and tearful.

Australian television presenter Lisa Wilkinson said she was "left bawling" after watching the music video of the song.[9] Monika Barton of Newshub wrote about the music video, "Go on, have a little watch and see if you have a heart, or merely just a sharp, pointy piece of flint where it should be".[10]

Reception

Minnie Wright of the Daily Express wrote, "Heartbreaking perspective illuminates the place from which Blunt has penned the deeply personal Once Upon A Mind with the arrival of Monster".[11] Lauren Murphy of Entertainment.ie wrote, "Before you watch this video, be warned that it's pretty tough going if you're feeling in any way emotionally fragile, or have lost a parent".[12] Rudi Kinsella of Joe wrote, "This is one of the most emotional music videos we've seen in a very long time".[13]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[14] 13
France (SNEP)[15] 38
Ireland70
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 74

In popular culture

American Idol Season 21 winner Iam Tongi auditioned with this song, which went viral and became the show's most viewed audition video on its YouTube page. Tongi dedicated the song to his dad, who had passed away from kidney disease a few months prior to the audition.[18] [19]

Blunt did not know that Tongi would audition with "Monsters" until he learned that the song briefly topped the U.S. iTunes chart after the audition aired. He described Tongi's audition as "deeply moving... you can't help but be touched. I was like everyone else when I watched him do it, I became a fan."[20]

Blunt and Tongi performed a duet of the song on Idols season finale, with the pair trading lyrics until the latter broke down during the middle of the song. Tongi eventually regained his composure and finished, earning a hug from Blunt at the end. Blunt said of the performance,

"Breathe a last word/You can feel my hand on your own... That was the bit I sang on American Idol with Iam Tongi and he broke down in tears, thinking about his own father. You suddenly realize the desperation of that moment, because, for him, his father had died and [was] really living that."[21] [22] [20]
The song appeared on Billboards Digital Songs chart at No. 4, from 10,000 downloads.[23]

Blunt and Tongi released a studio version of their duet on August 25, 2023. Tongi wrote on social media, "From covering it on TikTok 3 years ago to singing it in my audition on @americanidol, to performing it at the Idol finale with @jamesblunt, “Monsters” means so much to me."[19]

On May 1, 2024, Tongi performed a duet of "Monsters" with fellow contestant Oliver Steele at Steele's father Toby's funeral. Steele posted the performance on his Instagram account, drawing condolences and praise from Idol fans and alumni. He wrote, "I'll be honest, I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to stand on stage and sing. Having @wtongi there to stand beside me helped me stay strong for my father. I love you brother. Thank you for being there for me, and for being there for my dad."[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James Blunt - Monsters. Discogs. en. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131125845/https://www.discogs.com/James-Blunt-Monsters/release/14282865. 31 January 2020. live.
  2. Web site: James Blunt Unveils Monsters Video - Stereoboard. Stickler. Jon. Stereoboard.com. en. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131130236/https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/226862/9. 31 January 2020. live.
  3. Web site: James Blunt's new video for the single "Monsters" • BRAINZONE. 28 January 2020. BRAINZONE. en-US. 2 February 2020.
  4. News: James Blunt breaks down in heartbreaking video starring his dying father. 20 January 2020. NZ Herald. 2 February 2020. en-NZ.
  5. Web site: James Blunt shares heartbreaking news about his father's health. 16 January 2020. HELLO!. en. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131132758/https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2020011683267/james-blunt-speaks-out-about-fathers-health/. 31 January 2020. live.
  6. Web site: James Blunt's father to have kidney transplant. www.msn.com. 21 March 2020.
  7. Web site: 'Absolutely heartbreaking' — James Blunt breaks down in tears in video dedicated to his terminally ill father. 21 January 2020. Extra.ie. en-GB. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131130408/https://extra.ie/2020/01/21/entertainment/james-blunt-father-music-video. 31 January 2020. live.
  8. Web site: Who is James Blunt's dad? Emotional Monsters video features singer's inspirational father. Fogarty. Paul. 21 January 2020. HITC. en. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131130750/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/01/21/james-blunt-dad-monsters-music-video-father-charles-blount/. 31 January 2020. live.
  9. Web site: Lisa Wilkinson breaks down over heartbreaking Project moment. Yahoo!. en-AU. 2 February 2020.
  10. News: I dare you to get through James Blunt's new music video without crying. Newshub.
  11. Web site: James Blunt album REVIEW: Once Upon A Mind explores mortality and time with a deft touch. Wright. Minnie. 25 October 2019. Express.co.uk. en. 2 February 2020.
  12. Web site: James Blunt's new video featuring his terminally ill dad has everyone in absolute bits. Murphy. Lauren. Entertainment.ie. 21 January 2020. 2 February 2020.
  13. Web site: Take some time to watch the music video for James Blunt's 'Monsters'. JOE.ie. en. 2 February 2020.
  14. James Blunt Chart History. Billboard. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131131636/https://www.billboard.com/music/james-blunt. 31 January 2020. dead.
  15. Web site: Monsters by James Blunt - Music Charts. acharts.co. 1 February 2020.
  16. Web site: Official Singles Chart Update Top 100 Official Charts Company. www.officialcharts.com. en. 31 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200131130153/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart-update/. 31 January 2020. live.
  17. James Blunt Chart History. Billboard. 5 June 2023.
  18. Web site: His ‘American Idol’ audition went viral. Now, this teen is the Season 21 winner. Yahoo. en. 23 May 2023.
  19. Web site: ‘American Idol’ Winner Iam Tongi And James Blunt Share Full-Circle Moment With Release Of New Duet. 2023-08-25. 2023-08-27. Melinda. Lorge. Music Mayhem Magazine.
  20. Web site: James Blunt on the Meaning Behind "Monsters" and Iam Tongi's cover. 2023-07-27. Cillea. Houghton. 2023-08-01. American Songwriter.
  21. Web site: James Blunt helps Iam Tongi get through emotional 'American Idol' duet of 'Monsters'. Today. en. 23 May 2023.
  22. Web site: 'American Idol' Winner Iam Tongi and James Blunt's Duet of 'Monsters' Brings Katy Perry, Jelly Roll to Tears. People. en. 23 May 2023.
  23. Web site: 10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Ella Langley, Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle & More. Xander . Zellner . 31 May 2023. Billboard .
  24. Web site: Iam Tongi Sings Heartbreaking Duet With Oliver Steele at His Dad’s Funeral. Lane. Liv. 2024-05-06. heavy.com.