James Blunt
Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions
Studio: Atlantic/WEA

Breaking up is hard, and throughout the course of musical history, there is probably not a more utilized muse than heartbreak. If you’re an artist who has turned a break-up song into a #1 singles, a top Billboard album, commercial sponsors, soundtrack offers and an international sell-out tour, the logical next step is — no, not suicide or a Scott Stapp-influenced bender — it’s a DVD.

In our review of James Blunt’s Back to Bedlam in Oct. 2005, we noted its phenomenal U.K. pop success: #1 for nine weeks (bumping Coldplay’s “X & Y” from the top), that year and single, “You’re Beautiful,” spent 5 weeks at #1 — a feat unparalled by any except Rod Stewart 30 years ago. Oh wow (note sarcasm).

And because Americans love all things British (especially when it comes to Pop), there was really no question that the radio friendly version of “You’re Beautiful” would light up the U.S. charts. What was unsual is how Americans embraced and obsessed over the crusty British singer-songwriter and his forlorn girlfriend issues - all set to music in a track declared #4 of the 111 Wussiest Songs of All Time.

Since it’s devolution into cell phone ringers, wedding dances and MySpace streams, the song inspired parodies by Weird Al (”You’re Pitiful”) and MAD TV and became the first non-urban or American Idol song to reach the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 since Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” in 2001. BARF. Have we mentioned how much we hate American pop music?

But if you’re still not sick of Blunt and/or your girlfriend likes her mood music with a dash of marmalade, Blunt has a new DVD for sale full of live performances, interviews, documentaries, and videos. We didn’t watch it or even open the package, so we suggest looking elsewhere for a review.

However, we will tell you that in October, Back to Bedlam will be three years old, and we’d like to see some new material. Is Blunt good for more than just rebound pity sex, or is he the next great crooner? Regardless, short of the “You’re Beautiful” snowglobe, we think the marketing potential for this break-up song is tapped.

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