Back To Bedlam - James Blunt > Reviews > back to bedlam goes back to my heart

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	heartfelt lyrics and great music to listen to
Disadvantages:	would have liked to have seen a happier song to end the album

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Having just been able to buy this, I thought I might review this. If any of you people out there haven't heard of James blunt, then where have you been for the past few months? His first UK debut release, your beautiful, got into the number one spot for a week or so and is still being played on many radio stations these days. He then decided to go on and release wise men, high, and the most recent one which is about to come out, goodbye my lover. His songs are written from the heart, and really touch my heart and many other hearts out there in the world. The songs are beautifully played as well, either by guitar mainly or piano. James blunt came from a line of ancestors who all joined the army, and even though he didn't necessarily want to join the army, he went to university, and then somehow ended up in the army. Next thing he knew, he was laying down his rifle and picking up a guitar in America, even against his own father's wishes who considered any sort of music to be considered as unnecessary noise. Either way, I have decided, along with millions of other fans out there, that James blunt is a great singer, and has won many awards, all of which he deserves greatly.

High

This is a good song and I love the background music to it. It's funky and upbeat, and this just shows the whole world that James blunt can really sing well. This has been released as a single, but I'm not sure whether it was his second or third single released, but either way, it is a brilliant single and it puts you in a good mood. It's all about the dawn but I suppose that to some people, it could actually be translated as a girl he's madly in love with who lights up his whole entire world when he wakes up. But other than that, it's all about the dawn making things better for him, like things might be bad before he goes to bed at night, but then when he wakes up in the morning, and sees the dawn, the sunshine peeking through the blackness of the nights, it makes everything seem real, happier and better. This song really makes you feel good about yourself.

Beautiful dawn - lights up the shore for me.
There is nothing else in the world,
I'd rather wake up and see (with you).
Beautiful dawn - I'm just chasing time

You're beautiful

Have you ever caught the eye of a stranger in a random place, and you think to yourself that you should go up to them and ask them out, or for a phone number? Have you ever felt as if you connected with a stranger in a place where you thought you could never find love? Well this is all about this stranger that you meet each other's gaze with, then suddenly you spot the other half of them, like their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, and you know that there's no way that you will ever be with them, although you have momentarily made them think, 'wow isn't that great that they have smiled at me, caught my eye and sent out positive messages to me.' This song is absolutely wonderful, and it's no wonder that it spent quite a few weeks at number one, especially being his first debut single.

There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

Wisemen

This was another one of his songs on this album that has been released as a song. I'm not too sure on what he's trying to say in these lyrics, but I'm imagining it's about a girl who once was with him, but then left him. Then along came a few more boyfriends, who all hurt her at different times, even though they were just trying to be normal lads just having fun, they said goodbye to her, and they are now paying somehow. Like she's stopping them from getting other girls or playing mind games with them all, and in all this, James is sat at the side watching it all take place. It is a very thought provoking song this one and can make you confused if you listen to it too much. It's got a good tune to it though.

Look who's alone now,
It's not me. It's not me.
Those three Wise Men,
They've got a semi by the sea.
Got to ask yourself the question,
Where are you now?

Goodbye my lover

This is James Blunt's most recent single to be released and the video goes really well with the song I think. He got to film this video out in the states with one of the OC girls (I'm sorry, but I don't watch this program so I couldn't exactly tell you which one it is even though anyone who could tell me who it is, please leave a message) This song is all about saying goodbye to someone who was so close to your heart, so close to your life, spending all your time with that one person. No matter what happens in this life, between the two of you, you will still have a place in your heart for them, and you will always be there for them no matter what happens as long as long as they let you into their new life. It's like saying goodbye to half of your heart all in this song. It's slow, loving, sad and so beautifully written from the heart to make you feel like your part of the song. I think this song is just the best and it's one of the songs at the start of my mp3 player.

And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.
I've kissed your lips and held your head.
Shared your dreams and shared your bed.
I know you well, I know your smell.
I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

Tears and rain

This song is another one of the thought provoking lyrics he has written and sung, but it is still a good song to listen to and has a good beat to it. I imagine that's its something to do with a heart break and trying to find comfort within your own soul somewhere to help yourself, like you have to find something to hang onto, yourself and you can't rely on anyone else to get you through.

I've heard what they say, but I'm not here for trouble.
It's more than just words: it's just tears and rain.
How I wish I could walk through the doors of my mind;
Hold memory close at hand,
Help me understand the years.
How I wish I could choose between Heaven and Hell.
How I wish I would save my soul.
I'm so cold from fear.

Out of my mind

This is a more melodramatic slow song. It repeats itself quite a bit, and it's quite a short lyric song. I get confused with trying to work out what the lyrics are trying to say in this song, but I'm guessing something to do with the fact that you aren't controlled by yourself in today's society, but your controlled by others around you, like a 'puppet on a string'. Today, most teenagers have to copy one another to get through the day, to be someone, like starts are our icons, and we all need to copy a famous star or celebrity to get by in this world.

But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string.
I just need this stage to be seen.
We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real.
Hold my eye and know what it means.

So long jimmy

This song is all about saying goodbye to someone that you know that someday you'll miss, and knowing him was an experience, but at the end of the day, you're better off not knowing this person anymore, because they're trouble and you know it. It's like you should have paid more attention to them while they were here, but you didn't so you made them the person that they were, troublesome, but yet now you're relived that they've gone now though, even though there's a part of you that misses them. This is a funky beat in the background, but it's not one of the best songs on the album I have to say.

So long, Jimmy, so long.
Though you only stayed a moment,
We all know that you're the one. Singing,
So long, Jimmy, so long.
Sure we're glad for the experience,
We miss you now you've gone.
We're just swimming in your soul 'cause,

Billy

This is all about a guy named Billy who decided to cheat on a woman that he was with, and now he's left with nothing but an empty bed, sorrow for a soul mate and absolutely nothing left that's wholesome within his life. He had his fun, now he's paying the price by being alone. It's too late to turn the clock back no matter what. The lyrics are trying to say in this song as far as I know, that think before you do anything otherwise you could end up paying a big price for not thinking, then having nothing left at the end of it all. This has a great tune and is another one of James' great songs upon this album.

Once he was a lover sleeping with another.
Now he's just known as a cheat.
And he wish he'd had a mirror; looked a little clearer.
Seen into the eyes of the weak.
Tomorrow comes. Sorrow becomes his soul mate.
The damage is done. The prodigal son is too late.
Old doors are closed but he's always open,
To relive time in his mind.
Oh Billy.

Cry

This is such a sad song to be able to see the lyrics in front of your eyes, and you don't really understand the whole entire song until you write some of the lyrics down. This is all about being a friend to someone when they need you there, to celebrate with them, to comfort them in their time of need. And you hope in that circumstance, that they will do the same for you, especially when you need them most when you are upset. I love the lyrics to this and they are beautifully. I would love to see this song be released as a single. It's a slow down beat tune and I adore this song. It's like, have you ever had a friend so close that they could almost be your lover, but without the whole relationship getting tricky thing. It's like this friend in this song is your soul mate and will always be there for you no matter what, to be a shoulder to cry on. Today, you always see songs about heartbreak and relationships with partners, but you hardly ever see songs about friendships, so this makes this song pretty unique, and even more beautiful.

I have seen peace. I have seen pain,
Resting on the shoulders of your name.
Do you see the truth through all their lies?
Do you see the world through troubled eyes?
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
I'm a friend.

No bravery

This is the last song and to be honest, I would have liked to see a happy song to finish off this album, but all the same, this song is still a great song, it's just I was hoping for something to put me into a great mood. Instead, this song is more of a slower, depressing song. This is a good song, due to the fact that a lot of the lyrics are what I would imagine what he would have seen while he was out fighting for our country in he army. The lyrics are about trying to be brave, like fighting for your country, but at the end of the day, all you've caused is sadness and unhappiness. I couldn't tell you exactly who 'he' is within this song, but whoever he is, I would imagine is a devil of some sort, ripping innocent lives apart, and making sadness and unhappiness occur within people's lives. This is a really moving song, and I would like to see James release it as a comic relief or children in need song, to raise money for charities and to try and put a message across, to try and get it through to people out there that people are dieing, are hurting and are in a lot of pain, whether mentally or physically. This really gets into your heart and can tear your heart in two I would imagine if you listened to it too much as the lyrics are straight from the heart, straight into your heart.

There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
But no one asks the question why,
He has been here.
Old men kneel and accept their fate.
Wives and daughters cut and raped.
A generation drenched in hate.
Yes, he has been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

Overall, this album is absolutely awesome, and I adore it. It may only be almost 38 minutes in length, but it's just a really moving album. One song will have you smiling with joy, whereas the next song will have you crying your eyes out. It has some sort of song for each and every mood you get. The lyrics and the songs are written from the heart and can really make you think about what sort of message he is trying to get across. I hope that he releases more albums as I think that there are a lot of fans like me out there who would like to see more of his songs, lyrics and music straight from the heart.

Available: most music stores, Amazon, E-bay, supermarkets and at his website to download at:
http://www.jamesblunt.com

Thank you for reading this.

Angiexxx copyright 2005