Blunt Humor

Recently I met singer James Blunt.  A friend of my mothers had won some tickets through a radio promotion and was unable to make the showing.  I don't know much about James Blunt. My mom asked me what I knew and I told her all I knew was that he sang that one "Beautiful" song and I was pretty sure he had an accent of some sort. She asked me if he sang anything else; I assumed he did though I wouldn't know what. I'm not very hip when it comes to popular music so I felt a little better when I overheard the station employees discussing their lack of knowledge in the station lobby.  The station administrator said to the receptionist that she knew James Blunt was a singer who sang that "Beautiful" song, and she assumed he sang other songs as well though she wouldn't know which ones. 

I must say I was pleasantly surprised.  Not only was James an excellent performer, he was quite funny.  Charming really. I kind of had this idea that James Blunt would be somewhat cynical and leave me feeling dismayed.  I always thought "Beautiful" was a bit of a depressing song.  A girl who is incredibly beautiful that he can never be with.  I'm pretty sure he jumps off a cliff in the music video.  He followed "Beautiful" with another song about a woman he was hopelessly pining for as she wed another man and how he would always love her even though she would never be his and he was dying on the inside.  After his audience was in a sufficient state of despair he joked about how his next song would be more upbeat as he clearly didn't get the last girl he was singing about.  He introduced his next song about another girl who he hadn't known quite as long as the previous one. Maybe 20 minutes.  Then he began his performance about wanting a one night stand.  He really had a delightful sense of humor throughout his performance, whether or not his music is inspired by a real heartbreak or that real soulmate who got away.

Laughter is one of the most fantastic gifts in life.  Sometimes I think it's life's free therapy. You instantly feel better after a good laugh.  Whether it's being silly with friends or watching a dumb youtube video.  It's a way of releasing lifes tension or lightening the mood.

I tend to be immediately attracted to funny people.  Witty banter is one of my favorite forms of conversation; I love people who have that quick wit and sarcastic quip on the tip of their tongue. There's just something comfortable to me about being able to joke and laugh and poke fun in an ordinary conversation. 

Have you ever used humor as a form of self defense? Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying that James Blunt  has some deeply saddening past and jokes away his agony, but it did make me think with how quickly he was able to lighten the mood with a few humorous remarks.  But in my own life, I can think of numerous times I've tried to keep the mood light with a joke or sarcastic remark.  I think it's how I protect myself.  People can't laugh at you if they're laughing with you.  You can't be hurt if a relationship or situation wasn't all that serious to begin with.  You can make people feel more comfortable if you joke about your less than fortunate life situations; it's sort of like saying, "I'm ok.. it's ok... see... we're joking about it."

While humor is great, sometimes I think it keeps us from enjoying some of lifes more serious moments.  Sometimes I think it's ok to be vulnerable; it's ok to be real and open.  Sometimes life hurts.  Sometimes relationships hurt.  Sometimes baseballs hurt.  In any event, I think this like most other predicaments in life comes down to finding that crazy thing called balance.  Don't be afraid to have real moments, but laugh when you can, and don't take yourself or your life too seriously.  Just be you.

If I inspired any interest in Mr. Blunt you can check out his new album "Some Kind of Trouble", available now.   James and band if you ever stumble across this, I do wish you the best of success in your musical as well as relational endeavors, and many laughs along the way.