James Blunt Says He Wants to 'Punch' Himself 'in the Face' When He Looks Back on Past Self

James Blunt is reflecting on when he skyrocketed to success.

The singer-songwriter, 49, opened up in an interview with The Times about the negative reaction he got from fellow musicians when he broke out with the release of his 2004 debut album Back to Bedlam. He explains — in the profile published Friday — that, in retrospect, he agrees with some of the backlash he received from rockers like Noel Gallagher (who moved out of Ibiza when he heard Blunt was buying property on the island) and Mick Jagger (who wouldn’t shake his hand at the 2006 BRIT Awards).

“To be honest, when I look back I want to punch me in the face,” Blunt told the outlet of his “posh” background and the amount of attention he received when his single “You’re Beautiful” became a No. 1 hit across the globe. 

“I came out of boarding school and the army and I was very naïve and I got a bit of a kicking,” the British artist said, referring to how he served in the military and as a member of the Queen’s Guard before launching his music career. “Did I deserve it? Yes, probably. Has it kept my feet on the ground? Definitely.”

He continued: “And like boarding school, I’ve sort of come to enjoy it. Was I beaten at school? Yes, I was. Did I enjoy that? Yep, probably, and I’m just getting a bit more of it now.”

The “Goodbye My Lover” singer also explained that he’s come to accept his place in music. He added, “I’m a posh twat who makes comedy soft-rock music. I couldn’t see that at first but now I do. So I thank all those who set me straight.”

“I don’t need to let my ego get involved. I love my music, but my good review is selling out two nights at the Royal Albert Hall, as I have done for the forthcoming tour. That’s my good review,” he shared. “And the truth is I’m having an absolutely incredible time. I see some men my age lose their lust for life, but I’m only just getting started.”

Blunt will release his seventh studio album Who We Used to Be (via Atlantic) on Friday and take it on tour across Europe and the U.K. from February to April.

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Ahead of the record release, the singer-songwriter will also publish his memoir Loosely Based on a Made-Up Story on Constable, an imprint of Little Brown, on Thursday. 

The book is said to be a comedic look at the Grammy-nominated artist’s whirlwind career and lavish, partying lifestyle that followed, as well his experience of feeling unwelcome in the music industry for a time. 

The “You’re Beautiful” singer will also be the subject of an upcoming documentary One Brit Wonder, which is due out later this year. The film, captured on the road during his 2022 Greatest Hit Tour, examines his sense of humor and trajectory from being widely criticized to accepted for his self-awareness.