James Blunt "The Girl That Never Was" | Artist & Vocal Performance Coach Reaction & Analysis

[@glennvanzandt3011]

He's one of the most underrated artists there is. I live his music.

[@caffeinerequired3136]

I cant imagine the pain, so brave of him to put his grief into a song

[@tcat6133]

Another emotion masterpiece…heart wrenching…

[@vladimirpetrovic7954]

The girl that never was, Where to start...? The theme is extremely delicate, rare in music, and interwoven with perhaps the greatest human sorrow, the loss of a child. This time, not only did James push the boundaries of writing with the text and bring an incredibly serious text full of life and thought, but the video is incredibly vivid, perfectly tuned to the music and lyrics. His voice lends itself beautifully to this elegy, as does his British accent. Now a little about the text. The text is actually about a girl who was not born. Whether it was a miscarriage or a stillborn child, I didn't understand or the songwriter left it up to the listener to decide. The text has two climaxes, both beautifully emphasized tonally. The first: "First casualty of life is a plan!" is a philosophical review of the song's theme and the very meaning of life, and the second, in my opinion, is both wonderful and creepy, sensitive and tragic: We should never picked her name, cause now she has a face, and no matter what we do no one can take her place'' is that moment that causes immediate braking of the organism, the culmination of sadness on a completely different level. Parents who had to replace all their wishes and best intentions with sadness and tragedy that they will struggle with on a daily basis. And finally, I would like to emphasize the relationship between the stanza and the chorus of the song, both textually and tonally, and visually (video). The text of the stanza, which in a subtle, lyrical manner gradually intensifies the listener's empathy and sadness, is the complete antithesis of the chorus. The chorus describes what their little girl would be like a wonderfully idealized, real princess placed on the pedestal of parenthood. The music along with the rhythm gradually accelerates from the stanza to the chorus and culminates here, which is James' way of showing that hope and love always overcome sadness and pain. Visually throughout the stanzas, James and the actress playing the role of the wife pack away unused items and wardrobe for the baby, and the chorus is visually warmer with a shot of a smiling blonde girl running freely through fields of wheat bathed in the sun. Also, great contrast that is meant to enhance the message of the text. All in all, The Girl That Never Was is one of the best musical achievements of this century, a song that breaks even the hardest hearts into pieces and puts them back together with the hope that everything will be overpassed with hope and love!! It's my humble opinion

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

The line when he says "we neverf should've picked a name" got to me as well. Powerful, sad and relatable. He's so good at telling real life stories that most don't want to talk about. Thank you for sharing your view on this.

[@TheCrankyCrafter]

@@jacquelinevanbierk this is about his and his wife’s loss of their unborn child , so his pain is real

[@glyjack]

Ever though of being a writer?

[@christinesanchez2141]

I wish I could copy your words the best explanation it broke my heart

[@stevenlemons2602]

I'm a metalhead but James just punches me in the heart. Simply amazing and sad at once.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Same. Good music knows no genre!

[@hushus10021971]

My girlfriend lost two babies and I cry everytime I hear this song by James. Luckily my two sons live and I love them both

[@hichembarrak]

James Blunt usually writes his lyrics from personal experience and from what I gathered here and there, he and his wife lost a baby girl before they had their 2 boys. And thinking about it, you wouldn't expect a singer to write a song about such a subject unless you've been through the exprience yourself. Thanks for the reaction Jacqueline.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

It's so sad yet beautiful that he shares his story, healing others.

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

On the other hand, Brad Paisley's wonderful song He Didn't Have to Be is about stepparents, but Brad based it on a friend of his, not himself. Also Mac Davis wrote In the Ghetto (made famous by Elvis Presley), but never lived that life himself, but instead was inspired by a childhood friend of his.

[@andrewthach1989]

James blunt is the goat of songwriting

[@glyjack]

Sorry, that's Hank Williams Sr.

[@anselmotrindade4874]

Just last weekend me and my wife went to watch his first concert for the tour for this album. This song played live it's just unbelievable, his voice is amazing.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

OMG I bet !Songs like that hit even harder when experienced live.

[@davidkettell1073]

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HE GETS THROUGH THESE SONGS. I have not lived through this devastating loss but i am crying before the first chorus every time . James is a premier story teller ,certainly the best of this century so far.

[@Jeff-ge9kt]

JBV you do an amazing job of reacting and analyzing this song. It’s one of the best songs he’s done. It’s heart wrenching but I believe the song can help people who have lost a child. Thank you Jacqueline.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Thank you and I agree, I love that he addresses issues that are heartbreaking yet healing 💖

[@Jeff-ge9kt]

In my opinion, songs written from personal experience seem to leave a greater impact on the hearer. James does this in a masterful way. I think he said once that he song Beautiful was written from an experience he had. Not sure.

[@susanstokes-wt2gb]

❤❤ I love it.of you haven't been there you can never understand but I get it it's been over 20 years ago and now I have a wonderful memories in sted of the sadness I v felt for years and it lets me know one day I ll be with her one day.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🌟💔💞

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

I love that so much!

[@dianeritthaler7792]

Hes such a great song writer. So many can relate to this song. A friend of ours just losttheir new born son..Its the second son they lost😢

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Oh no. My heart goes out to your frie nd. Much love.

[@larssullivanfan2496]

This is certainly the best reaction to the song I've seen. Lady, you are amazing. Sending so much love to you. ❤

[@kimwatchesstuff]

My daughter was stillborn 16 yrs ago. I first heard this while driving...after the first 2 lines I had to turn it off and watch the video at home. I just knew where it was headed. I love it, even though it hurts. Sometimes I just need a good cry.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Much Love to you!

[@CesarMadrid-bb2ng]

You should do no bravery or carry you home by James blunt, they are old song but really underrated ones

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

I will check them out, I've truly become a fan of his music.

[@Jako74]

OMG! I'm broken by this Song. His Voice and performance 😢

[@myungcolbert1139]

Thanks for reacting to this song. James voice is so unique, and song is so sad but relatable.❤

[@mrchickflick4444]

James blunt is the only artist that can make me cry because his lyrics have a story

[@jimmymolle7273]

I idol James Blunt, his work is very beautiful even though this very sad

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Very true!

[@schattenfell4474]

Great reaction. Next one: No bravery or Carry you home. Another beautiful songs of him.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Thank you!

[@pensiveowl7791]

I agree. Carry You Home is another slice from his life.

[@JM-dm3qk]

@@pensiveowl7791 So is No Bravery.

[@eamonndoyle4753]

Lyrically brilliant.

[@newlenmedia]

This song is a tragic masterpiece. Beautiful!

[@phihz513]

Excellent analysis, complete with beautiful emotion.

[@StraightUpRC]

As a parent this song is one of the most powerful things to ever hear. Crazy how good it is.

[@annettelane]

James said in an interview he struggles to verbalise his emotion but he is able to write it down turn it into a poem and add it to music its how he deals with trauma

[@davidcowley7665]

So Beautiful

[@justitia257]

Emotional song, Gorgeous Jacqueline

[@johnbrowne2170]

It's a true story.

[@derekpetersen7571]

Hey my talented friend just checking on you you sound good look good love your reactions as always Dan Vasc Did it my way from on Jovi it’s epic when you have time see ya soon and this is tough loosing a love in is beyond hard I just lost my mom in Feb your reactions have helped me

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Thank you so much, Derek My deepest condolences. Much love to you and I will definitely check it out.

[@jaqikennedy9990]

Honest & sincere reaction..... thank you 🙏

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

Thank you so much!

[@32a34a]

Give James major respect for not only being able to write such a personal song but he also has a keen ability to leave his listeners in a tattered mess.

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

I agree. So much respect for him.

[@dannyboynffc87]

i love this guy!

[@kevinmcneice8989]

no words needed 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@marknich1577]

❤

[@Sunshine-yp7km]

❤❤❤

[@lisamckee3756]

As a woman who can’t bear her own children this song absolutely guts me every time I hear it. Tho it has a different meaning for me.

[@LinhNguyen101010]

When he switched from "she" to "you" in the last chorus, 💔

[@didrikvegemdidriksen4250]

try his song, : "no bravery"

[@paulbeatham6530]

Not sure to many people catch the visual in the video. James starts off singing in the fully furnished nursery. By the end of the song, the room is empty. All packed away. Empty. Just like their lives without "The Girl That Never Was."

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

The visuals are so powerful and emotional 🤧

[@WapawikoscikanNapew1969]

1988, Would have been 36…😢

[@simonmetcalfe5926]

My ex wife and myself, lost a boy that never was.

[@ronaldbucher7476]

Starchild 😢

[@Powerstroke98]

Reading in other comments, apparently James and his wife lost their first child.

[@MetalMonkey]

20 years ago he was the "one to hate" just like Nickelback a few years later. I never thought they were bad but I wouldn't buy an album. Here's where the Hate will come: I would rather listen to James Blunt and Nickelback than Tool. I just can't get into Tool, bring on the hate!

[@docholliday5439]

James first child was a girl and was lost to a miscarriage...

[@derekpetersen7571]

Bon Jovi sorry

[@jacquelinevanbierk]

I knew what you meant 😉

[@davidkettell6236]

THE ULTIMATE ANTI ABORTION SONG.

[@Maerahn]

I get what you 'think' you're saying.... but it's WAY more complicated than that, which makes your comment actually quite insensitive. Not every abortion is simply a matter of the mother 'not wanting' the baby and therefore 'getting rid of it.' If a baby dies in the womb about midway through the pregnancy, it can put the mother's life at risk to force her to continue to carry her dead baby to term - sometimes for months - and make her go through labour and childbirth (not to mention traumatic for her.) Removing the corpse (because that's what it is now, tragically,) along with the placenta, is necessary to prevent an infection that could leave the mother infertile or even kill her, since the body will be decomposing inside her the longer it stays there. This might even be what happened to James' wife for all we know, so let's not jump to conclusions and shame the very concept of 'abortion' without considering all the nuances of both the word and the procedure itself.

[@allankirk1128]

Bit slow to the game.

[@AlexanderFa-m7s]

❤❤