“Back to Bedlam” is 20 years old, James Blunt offers a crazy bet to his fans but perhaps he shouldn’t have

MUSIC – You may only remember him today for the old theme song of Love is in the meadow. James Blunt, the interpreter of You’re Beautifulcelebrates the 20th anniversary of his first album Back to Bedlam released on October 11, 2004 in the United Kingdom. For the occasion, the singer launches a crazy bet to his listeners: if the reissue becomes number 1 in the charts, he undertakes to change his name to the one they choose.

The story begins this Tuesday, October 30, when James Blunt is invited on the set of the British show The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X to promote the reissue of Back to Bedlam, which will be released on October 11. The singer then shares his label’s desire to campaign for the album, which still holds the record for the best-selling debut album in the United Kingdom over a year, to return to the top of the international charts.

The singer of the single Goodbye My Lover intends to participate in the marketing strategy and reveals having signed a clause obliging him to legally change his name if the album becomes number 1. He formalizes his commitment in a short video posted on his social networks 2 days later, in which he invites his fans to “ruin his life” by choosing his next identity.

James Blunt, soon to be a footballer?

The singer says he will remember the most liked comment on his social networks on October 11, the album’s release date. You will then have to wait for the album to become number 1 to validate the bet. The most popular suggestion on Instagram so far is “Blunty McBlunt”, which the singer himself mentioned in the interview on Radio X, saying that his fans wouldn’t dare choose a name like that.

The proposal is also present on four-chord songs”, or “Jimmy Spliff” after the stage name of James Drescher, lead singer of the punk band Murphy’s Law. But the one that goes back the most is that of “Divock Origi”, the name of a Belgian international football player and former striker for the Liverpool club whose proposal the community is pushing.

While waiting to know if the album returns (or not) one day to the top of a music ranking and if he is forced to change its name, the former pop star seems to have succeeded in his communication stunt. The reissue of his album Back to Bedlam will contain all of the original songs remastered, as well as previously unreleased songs recorded at the time such as Butterfly, Dancing Days, Close Your Eyes, Standing All Alone or exclusive demos. An international tour is also planned from February 2025.

Also see on HuffPost: