R-L James Blunt with his father, former cavalry officer Colonel Charles Blount
British singer-songwriter James Blunt is best known for his sentimental heartbreak ballads “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover,” but his latest single “Monsters,” a tribute to his ailing father, is his rawest and most poignant yet.
In his devastating new “Monsters” music video, an anguished Blunt, in an extreme close-up reminiscent of Sinead O’Connor’s iconic, one-take “Nothing Compares 2 U” clip, stares down the lens.
Blunt struggles to maintain his composure throughout the first half of video, so much much so that it’s almost uncomfortable to witness. And when the camera finally cuts to a wider shot, it becomes clear why he is so distraught, that he isn’t acting, and that his tears are very real.
Sitting stoically beside him is his real-life dad, former cavalry officer Colonel Charles Blount, who is battling stage 4 chronic kidney disease.
Blunt appeared on Good Morning Britain last year and shared his father’s serious illness. At the time, he addressed any possible organ donors: “I’ve come on here to ask you what blood group you are. Some things have been going on in my life that I needed to write about. My father has not been very well, actually. He needs a new kidney and a kidney donor. And I’ve come on here to ask you what blood group you are. If you are an O-positive, I’ll take it off you.” The artist later revealed that, sadly, he is not a match. The video went viral after Star Trek star William Shatner tweeted the clip to his 2.4 million Twitter followers:
I couldn't make it past 1 minute.. I'm bawling… Brilliant. Lovely. Heartbreaking. @caitiegreen
— Michelle (@ammaright) January 17, 2020