Before you watch this video, be warned that it's pretty tough going if you're feeling in any way emotionally fragile, or have lost a parent.
James Blunt may be known as a peddler of middle-of-the-road pop songs and a Twitter jester par excellence - but his new music video is a tough watch.
'Monsters' sees Blunt share the screen with his elderly dad Charles, who has stage 4 chronic kidney disease.
The lyrics of the song include “I'm not your son, you're not my father / We're just two grown men saying goodbye" and "So Daddy, won't you just close your eyes?/ Don't be afraid, it's my turn to chase the monsters away.”
Blunt clearly gets very emotional as he sings the song, while the camera eventually pans back to reveal that his father is sitting beside him.
He said of the song and video: "Monsters is a eulogy to my father - except he’s still alive and kicking. But he’s not been well - his kidneys are functioning at just 11%. And with that realisation, I needed to tell him that, to me, he’s more than just a father. He’s my friend too, and that I love him."
No matter how cynical you are about 'You're Beautiful' et al, it's a very touching video.
Watch it below:
The video has generated quite the response on social media since debuting last week, too:
James Blunt (understandably) gets a lot of stick for his voice, but you CANNOT question his lyricism.
His recent single "Monster", a farewell note to his father currently battling kidney failure, bears all kinds of palpable emotion.
Hard to watch the visuals & not cry, too.— The Black Hemingway (@J_Chiemeke) January 21, 2020
My dad was killed in a car accident a decade ago, and would have turned 70 today. This is magnificent from James Blunt. https://t.co/AIS8TxOFVy pic.twitter.com/YBnmWPssjn
— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) January 20, 2020
Just listened to @JamesBlunt new song, monster. Fuckin hell, what an emotional song. I lost my dad 8 years ago to that horrible disease that is cancer. This song truly hits home and I miss the little sod so much.
— Dan Woodward (@Dan_woodward80) January 21, 2020
Wow @JamesBlunt you’ve got me here. Thank you for the raw emotion of this incredible song - one of the best you’ve ever written. And thank you for speaking to something so many of us feel about our dads. I know I do. Power in simplicity in this video. https://t.co/OBz17yF7ls
— Dan Wootton (@danwootton) January 20, 2020
Jesus
The new @JamesBlunt video is mad emotional isn’t it ?https://t.co/EBoY6jQkS6— Reverend&TheMakers (@Reverend_Makers) January 17, 2020
I’m not really one to be like “watch this” but honestly, this is one of the best things I’ve seen in a very, very long time. @JamesBlunt https://t.co/6fCqVPkqR1
— Damian Mc Ginty (@damianmcginty) January 17, 2020