James Blunt’s hilarious promise to fans ahead of album re-release: ‘Power to f**k my life’
James Blunt has made a hilarious promise to fans in an attempt to get his album back to number one.
James Blunt has given fans the “power to f**k my life” if the re-release of his debut album reaches number one on the charts.
In a hilarious marketing ploy, the British singer has promised fans he will legally change his name to “whatever the public wants” if Back To Bedlam returns to number one when he releases it again on October 11 for its 20th anniversary.
In a video message posted on Instagram and X, the 50-year-old asked fans to list their name suggestions in the comment sections, with the most-liked suggestion crowned the winner.
“I know you’ve heard the rumours, and they are true, I’m re-releasing my debut album Back To Bedlam on October 11. Something that has kept me consistently rich for the past 20 years,” he began in the short video.
“So as a way to give back to you, my adoring public, if Back To Bedlam re-enters the charts at number one, I will legally change my name. What will I change it to? Well, it’s entirely up to you.”
Blunt went on to list the names he has been called throughout his career, including “the Most Hated Man in Pop”, “Annoying”, “James Beige” and James C**t”.
“I’ll let the people decide. But if it doesn’t go to number one, I’m not changing my name,” he added, before concluding, “My name is James Blunt and you have the power to absolutely f**k my life.”
On X alone, the video racked up 1.7 million views and garnered close to 4000 comments as of the time of writing.
Within hours of being posted on Wednesday, fans were quick to suggest new names for the singer. Among the more tamer suggestions included: James Who, Jimmy Twunt, Smoking A. Blunt, J Diddy, and Damn I-never-thought-I’d-really-have-to change-my Name.
However, so far the most-liked name has been Blunty McBluntface, which is the exact name Blunt said he did not want.
“I swear on my life and the life of my one fan – Brian from Glasgow – I will change my name should it hit number one,” he said during an interview on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X in the UK on Monday.
“I swear on Brian’s life and my life. To whatever the public want – and of course the public are going to kind, they’re not going to go for anything that rhymes with Blunt, are they?
“But you know, as long as it’s not, you know, Blunty McBluntface.”
The singer first dropped Back To Bedlam in 2004 and it featured a string of chart-toppers, including You’re Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover and High.
The album went on to become one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s in the UK, where it reached the top spot and went certified 10x Platinum. The album also went to straight to number one here in Australia.
Blunt went on to release another seven albums, his latest Who We Used To Be dropped last year and peaked at number 5 on the UK charts, while only hovering at number 61 here in Australia.