James Blunt releases teary ‘Monsters’ video, a son’s heartbreaking ode to an ailing father: Review
James Blunt released a new music video January 15 and to call it a tearjerker would be an understatement. Possibly one of Blunt's most open and profound videos to date, the video shows the English singer-songwriter singing about his father who is dealing with a serious illness.
He sings an early goodbye to his father all the while becoming moved at his own touching lyrics and sheds tears throughout most of the video. The music video 'Monsters' is a special highlight from his highly-acclaimed U.K. Top 3 album 'Once Upon A Mind', released in October and is out on Atlantic Records.
“I think this is the most honest album I have ever made”, Blunt said in a statement, according to Rolling Stone. The honest and sincere video was filmed in Oxfordshire and directed by Vaughan Arnell, a British television commercial and music video director who has previously worked with James Blunt, George Michael, The Spice Girls, Robbie Williams, and One Direction to name a few.
The idea of 'Monsters' was birthed by Blunt personally and he said, “'Monsters' is for my father who has Stage 4 Chronic Kidney disease, so I asked if he’d like to be in the video with me”, according to WithGuitars.
The video does not boast in its nature and features a simple setting of a centuries-old Gothic house (which was also James Bond's home in the ‘Quantum of Solace’ film) and Blunt earnestly sings an ode to his father.
Perhaps the song's greatest strengths are found within the lyrics: "Oh, before they turn off all the lights. I won't read you your wrongs or your rights" and "I'm not your son, you're not my father. We're just two grown men saying goodbye. No need to forgive, no need to forget. I know your mistakes and you know mine". The song approaches a father-son relationship from a very human standpoint and is moving, to say the least.
You can watch the new video here.