Both James and his dad were Soldiers. The line “I’m not your son, your not my father, we’re just two men saying goodbye” is something they used to say to each other before they were deployed.
Dad donated a kidney years ago, sadly the one he had left failed. James and his siblings weren't a match. The end was coming, the video went out a distant relative saw it and was tested, a match, so dad is alive and that distant relative is probably no longer distant anymore.
James and his father were both military men. James was actually a tank commander in the first gulf war. When he was being deployed, his father would say: "You're not my son, I'm not your father, we're just two grown men saying goodbye...". This song breaks me every time I hear it. The video was shot in one take, because James wanted the emotion to be raw and genuine. Yes, its a real story. His father was diagnosed with terminal kidney disease and this was written as a goodbye. In a positive irony, the song was so popular, it got the attention of a distant relative who turned out to be a match for a kidney donation and his dad is now doing great. 👍🏻🏴
This song is a gift to the world, we all need permission to show our emotions, men especially struggle to give themselves permission. James did a wonderful thing, I’m glad his dad is still ok.
Listen young brother.., never apologize for allowing your heart to be seen. To do so takes a type of courage of the highest order. Thank you for sharing your reaction, it was real and I commend you for posting.. peace ☀️
James’ dad was dying from stage 4 kidney disease. A donor had not been found. After this video came out a distant cousin came forward and was a match and his kidney saved James’s dad. James and his dad were both high ranking military men and emotions were not always easy but James’s feeling we’re just raw in this video. Wonderful tribute to his dad about roles being reversed and love for a parent .
Firstly may I please send my love and say that I hear you dear man. Sometimes songs can just stop you in your tracks and it's ok to just allow yourself to 'Be' . ((hugs)) That is James' dad sitting next to him. He was very ill at the time and dying with kidney disease and they couldn't find a donor. All proceeds of this song were donated to finding a cure for this disease. Thankfully his father did get a compatible donor. Both these men served in the British Army. James has had many big hits. I can't see this without shedding a tear or two. A remarkable performance from James on such an emotional subject.
Thank you so much for the information and i was wondering if his dad is still with us. This song is bigger then i though omg it saved his dad life wow... This song hit my chest and came out my back Justlinsu.
All proceeds were donated to Help for Heroes and The British Legion, organizations that help returning military men and women since both James and his father were officers (James was a Captain and Charles was a Colonel). James has said in interviews that he and his father were close and his father was always his hero.
@@kiwigirljacks That's what it is to be a parent. When my mom died suddenly at age 59, I had a seven year old daughter. And as the grief washed over me and I was crying so hard I could barely breathe, all I could think about was how sorry I was that I won't be here to help my daughter through this when I go.
James wrote this about hus dad that had kidney disease. Luckily all is well with his dad now. But at the time he didn't know which is why it's so raw. Yes that's his dad in the video
You came up in my recommended today. Your reaction is so raw and so genuine. I’ve now subbed to your channel. My ex husband walked out leaving me to raise 2 sons on my own. My youngest was 2 and my oldest was 8. They are now almost 16 and 21. I feel your pain with not having a father in your life. I watch their struggles and see how it’s affected them their whole lives, watching the damage he has caused because they feel abandoned. I’ve been the best mum I know how and even though they have struggles, I couldn’t be prouder.
Both James and his father were military men. Their way of coping as they would part to go on operations would be to try and deal with parting like 2 grown men saying goodbye ( not father and son as those goodbyes are so painful). James served with UN forces in Kosovo. I would highly highly recommend his song No Bravery with the official video that uses clips he took while over there. Enjoyed your sensitive and intelligent reaction ❤️
@@CVTECK1 you should check out Jelly Roll “save me” live, one of those songs that hits hard. Jelly Roll is a rapper but in this performance he sings his heart out
I heard that James donated all the proceeds from this amazing video to the wonderful UK based charity 'Help For Heroes' who do incredible work to support ex-servicemen and ex-service women. As both James and his dad were former officers in the British military, it was a fantastic gesture and I salute him for that.
Oh I was thinking when you posted the update about this video that it was Monsters. Such a beautiful song, sung from the heart. His eyes says it all. His dad was dieing at the time from kidney disease, but after this went viral a distant relative was found and he he doing fine now. James Blunt is a huge artist from the 90s onwards, you probably know Your Beautiful and Goodbye my Lover. But yes this one is raw and beautiful and have watched over 20reactions to it and I still well up! Btw it's just the water you drank ofc.😊😊
Bro it was the water for sure its new but you still have to be 21 to but lol..this song is something man i think if i watched other react to it ill still cry bro lol... I just learned about the story and that is amazing that his voice saved his dad wow. i never heard any of his song so i will look them up.
I love that you found James and Monsters. He is British and wonderful. He writes his own songs and music. You cannot listen to this without emotion. His father, Charles allowed James to make this song in one take so he had it when he was gone. This song saved his life instead. Not easy to really cry and sing at the same time. When it finished everyone behind the scenes was crying until Charles said, I am not dead yet. They are both very proud of that. I just watched a video made up of reactors crying to this song. You are not alone and I taught my sons that real men do cry.
This song came out just 2 weeks after my dad died from 10 month battle with colon cancer...hits home....even for daddy's girls😢 my dad definitely was better than his up bringing. He was our hero!
Sorry for you loss and yes dads are our hero and it's the little things we remember. Keep your head up and remember the good times and crying is ok too get it out the system. thanks for sharing.
Dude, Lovely reaction. So real. This song is just so raw and full of emotion. I love it. I have watched a hundred reactions to it and cried everytime. My Dad is still here, but the pain that pours out is just so real. Amazing song. Really glad you posted this and shared it with us. Thank you
Yeah the love and the pain in the song was so raw you can't help but to feel it. I didn't know what the song was about and my first time so it hit me and im happy i posted it.. I got emails from people who said this songs helps them and seeing a man cry that way makes then release that pain and not hold it in.
I think of my father as well! He just passed away at the age of 86, from type 1 diabetes. He was, and is still one of my hero's still today! I get emotional every time I listen to this song. I only hope I can be as good a mom to my children as he was a father to me.
This song makes me ugly cry every time i hear it. The line of "don't be afraid, it's my turn to chase the monsters away" punches me in the chest every time. It's a beautiful, powerful, vulnerable song.
That was his father next to him. You will be glad to know that because of this song his father who was in acute kidney failure got a kidney from a family member who did not know and saw the video. So he is alive. Thankfully. They both served in the army. His father was a hero to James Blunt. They share a dark sense of humour. Apparently all the studio was crying during this. When they got to the car his dad said what was that all about, the crying. James said never mind dad just think if you die the record will make millions...which Apparently broke the atmosphere and had them both laughing.
@@CVTECK1 Your absolutely right, i lost my father when he was 65 to cancer i was only 22, he will always be my hero and now i have a 6 year old son and i will dame well make sure i do everything in my power to make sure he feels the same way about me. Good decision on posting this reaction well done.
Don't take song lyrics so literally. James was a military guy, as was his dad. Every time James got deployed, he'd say to his dad (to make the parting of ways easier emotionally) "I'm not your, you're not my father, we're just 2 grown men saying goodbye". It was said to reassure his father and so his dad wouldn't cry. The line was said out of love, not discourse.
Thank you for sharing this reaction with us . . . in this song, the line "I'm not your son, you're not my father" is his way of making the good-bye easier - we're just 2 grown men saying good-bye. Beautiful song and even more beautiful is his ability to share these thoughts and feelings with his dad.
Every man I have seen watch this, cried their eyes out. Look up the back story. When he sang this to his dad, he only had 4 weeks or so to live without a donor. A distant cousin in Australia saw the video, got tested and was a match. music saves lives, I've always known that. Never be afraid or ashamed to show emotion, it's a human and humane, response. Check out some other guys watching.
I'm from England and I'm really pleased that you posted this video. My father was always a great disappointment to me but I've tried to be the best father I can to my daughter. For all sorts of complex reasons this song makes me very emotional.
That is James dad sitting next to him. He was dying of Kidney disease and this was James telling his dad how he felt. His dad had the operation and it was a success , The music executives wanted to do Auto-tune but James said no, he wanted it this way, It was done in 1 take....Everyone behind the camera was crying.
I'm glad you posted this. This is your own personal courage. I had the same reaction to your honesty as I did with the song. Two powerful catalysts for honest vulnerability and straight-out realness. Thanks for this.
I lost both parents in 2021. This song encapsulates everything I went through watching my Father get beaten by Parkinson's. It breaks me every time i hear it.
I want to say thank you for introducing me to this song and for your reaction to it. Thank you for your emotion and your advice. I appreciate you, my brother. Keep up the good work!
This was pure, raw angst... This song represents the son trying to make a powerfully difficult acknowledgement your father is dying... It's okay to hurt, to cry.. holding it back or inside doesn't show strength, rather FEAR to show hurt, pain. You did great... And the take away is this: Tomorrow is not promised, whether you get a head's up or get "that" call... NEVER, EVER, let a day go by that you don't tell those you care about that you LOVE THEM... and top it off with a tight hug... Like it was the last one. PEACE to All, 🙏🏻🤗🔥💞
James Blunt had the honor of guarding the Queen while she lay in state before her burial. His music is amazing there is a song, "you're beautiful" and another called, "the girl that never was". The latter song he wrote after he and his wife suffered a loss of their child. Its absolutely beautiful as well. I don't think there's a bad song anywhere in his repertoire of music. Thanks for reacting to a beautiful song.
Simply touching! I immediately felt with you because I have the same fate... A hint that family is something to be cherished and enjoyed! Great video man!
When he said "I'm not your son, you're not my father" he meant they are on equal footing and can look at each other as just two men saying goodbye and all the past mistakes are unimportant. I cry every time I hear this song and the pain on his face is very real.
Thanks for the reaction. The line “I’m not your son and you’re not my father” James said that he wrote that to let his dad know that he is not only a father to him but a friend also.
I’m glad you chose to post this. I cried when I listened to this and went to YT looking for reactions to see if others had the same reaction. Almost every reviewer was deeply touched
It was done in one take because James didn't think he could get through it twice ,in front of his dad. After they finished,James and the crew were in pieces,his dad patted his arm again and said " I'm not dead yet"😪 . He had terminal kidney failure at the time of recording. A distant relative saw this bid,got in contact,found to be a match,and so far the transplant is doing well. James and both his sister's didn't match well enough!. God moves in strange ways.
Apologizing? No need for that man!~ I'm 64 and this hit my earbuds for the first time while I was driving down the road. I had to pull over and spend a half hour in a gas station parking lot. You did great. This song has crazy power in its direct simplicity.
This is a hard one, as people have said, James and his dad were high ranking British military and this was a line they said to each other before they deployed, also being British maybe a little, more formal and less emotional than we Americans are used to...he doesn't mean it disrespectfully in any sense. His father was dying from a prolonged disease, this was how he could say goodbye. The fact that he was able to write this song and sing it for his dad is incredible, the emotional toll had to be a huge cost, but it also gave him the chance to say goodbye. Thankfully his father was able to receive a Kidney transplant in time and did not die. The song is so powerful, and the emotion that James sings with, generally takes down most reactors, yours was a real and visceral reaction. Striving to be a good dad is an awesome thing. ❤
Just stumbeled in on your reaction video looking for Blunt. Respect to your reaction. As powerful as it is universal, its the language we all share no matter were we are from. Keep up the good work.
I loved your reaction. I’ve seen reactions to this song many times by now, and my tears come every time. And especially when you know the backstory to this song, and that is literally James saying goodbye to his dad, then it touches me every time. And what a blessing this song turned out to be in the end. Take care 😊
There is no need to apologize for being human, Sir. This song tears at your heart strings, and if it doesn't, I personally don't want to know you. This was my first listen to your channel, and you, Sir, got my sub. Peace.
I totally agree with you. This song is powerful. James has a gift to reach into the soul of people. He did it so well including accompanying himself in the second chorus and a choir of angels at the in the third. He pulled my guts out. Brilliant!
I definitely agree with you that this is an incredible song. I don't know how he made it through the song without totally breaking down. Thanks for your reaction!! Never be afraid to show your emotions, we are all human.
Lots of respect to you bro, keep doing you ! 😊 James was my Captain when we served together in Kosovo in the late 90’s with the British Army. I lost my father to cancer and this song hits me every single time. God bless you bro 🫡
Thank you for your honest reaction! We are many who needs this kind of reaction nowadays, just to show that we aren't alone witholding this kind of pain and the feeling of missing a person, albeit a father, a mother or an another kind of a rolemodel in our lives!
Music is great because it has the ability to touch our hearts and our emotions and to help heal us in the process. Can't watch without crying, just feeling James's raw emotions makes me admire him for allowing us to see his vulnerability. Thank you for your honest reaction - much love!
I hear ya, man. One word can bring intense emotion. I saw you on the part about clothes on the chair. Sometimes it’s the simple, human things that are in a song that resonate so deeply. Strong men are genuine & you indeed are! Thanks for your honesty & for posting.
I'm glad you did post this video. Blunt's song and video gave a voice to something most men don't really get a chance to openly express, they just bury it down.
Never be embarrassed to show emotions....that is what makes us human. If this did not get to you there would be something wrong. Hearing your story I can see why it made you get emotional....but you ARE a good father and strive to be the father you wanted yours to be. Be proud of the man you are and the influence you have on your children's lives. I loved your reaction !
The words are powerful because it speaks to the deepest emotions between a beloved father and son that is real deep... the loss of that is the deeps heart ache of all time. It is intense.... it is real stuff.
Agreed, brother. If you're a father and you know you're not perfect but still trying so hard to be the best dad you can be, this hits hard. And all the dads out there, they for sure wanna be worthy enough to be the one in this song.
Thank u for your raw reaction to this truly beautiful song and this great artist. James Blunt sings from his heart and is his song will hit your emotions with his very powerful voice. Check out his song, "Carry you home." He was in the British Military and wrote that song about it.
It was my birthday today and seeing this video a few times I told myself I I will say to my dad I love you and finally worked up the courage to tell him this and as probably most people we know but it's never said in reality as it's hard to do but I'm glad I did and Dad was happy I did but it's not enough I think,so hard to explain but silence is my way on feelings but there's always a understand I guess but love this song hard
Oh WOW! YOU DID AWESOME!!! I honestly thought you were going to do what I've seen MANY (mostly males) do which is constantly pausing the video just to collect themselves because they do not want to show these types of raw emotions in a video. But you had an AUTHENTIC REACTION with one small pause and then you finished watching it all while also allowing yourself to be effected by the words. I've probably watched close to 80 reaction videos to this particular song and only 5 of those didn't shed a tear. So TY for a GREAT video!!! ❤
You would have to be inhuman not to feel something by this video. I Believe that his father had stage 4 kidney cancer and was going to die so he wrote this song for him and he sang it to him to say good-bye in the only way he knew, luckily at the last possible moment a distant cousin donated a kidney and he still lives! Great reaction!
I don't know how James kept it together singing this song... this song gets everyone you are not alone , I cry everytime I watch this , even though I watch all the reaction videos to this James Blunt video, Bonfire heart James Blunt .. its far from funny ... I lost my biological dad 6 years ago and he w hadn't been in my life since I was 8 , my stepdad passed end August last year and mum a year last nov ....
Yeah James has a great voice and to pour out his pain this way is Amazing an to find out the outcome because of the song it's even more Amazing. Keep your head Susan and May your parents rest in paradise
This is why you should have posted this....look at all the comments and views in 16 hours....THANK YOU !...Please react to EVA CASSIDY...SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW LIVE
Great reaction, thanks for your heart-felt honesty. Sharing will not only help you but I'm sure countless others that watch your reaction 🙏 As was said by 'justlinsu', his father did in fact get a kidney transplant, but the interesting twist in this story is reported that the donor was a distant cousin who saw the song/story and reached out to James and his father to help. So far I believe all is well with his recovery. An example of how powerful music can be doesn't get any better than this.
Thanks and finding out his story and his dad just add even more emotions to this. Their background in the Military to when this video did for his day Amazing.
