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James Blunt’s bold challenge: Name Change if ‘Back to Bedlam’ hits No. 1

Get creative and help the English singer-songwriter reinvent himself — what will his new name be?

James Blunt has made an unusual promise to his fans — if the 20th Anniversary Edition of his debut album Back to Bedlam hits number one on the charts, he’ll legally change his name. In a playful social media update, the singer-songwriter encouraged fans to suggest new names, announcing that the suggestion with the most likes across his platforms by October 11 will be the winner. This playful challenge coincides with the re-release of Back to Bedlam, the album that shot Blunt to stardom in 2004 with the iconic track You’re Beautiful. With the re-release around the corner, Blunt urged his fans to “ruin his life” by helping the album climb back to number one.

So far, some of the comments that have been dropped include “Blunty McBlunt,” “Yerb Eautiful,” “Just Bob,” and “James Blunt formerly known as James Blunt.” Blunt himself also added a couple of comments, saying, “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Pop Star Four Chord Song Machiney?”

In recent years, James Blunt has maintained a high profile, not just for his music but also for his sharp wit and self-deprecating humor on social media. He recently released his latest album Who We Used To Be in 2023, accompanied by a successful tour. Whether it’s engaging with his audience online or selling out live shows, Blunt continues to balance his role as an entertainer with his status as a chart-topping artiste. Fans now have the chance to cement his next chapter — with a brand-new name.

— Urvashi Bhattacharya