"Goodbye My Lover"
Single by James Blunt
from the album Back to Bedlam
ReleasedNovember 2005 (2005-11)
Length4:18
Label
Songwriter(s)James Blunt, Sacha Skarbek
Producer(s)Tom Rothrock
James Blunt singles chronology
"High"
(2005) 		"Goodbye My Lover"
(2005) 		"Wisemen"
(2006)
"Goodbye My Lover"
James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" from Back to Bedlam
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Goodbye My Lover" is a song by the English singer-songwriter James Blunt, written by Blunt and British songwriter Sacha Skarbek, for Blunt's debut album, Back to Bedlam (2004). The song was produced by Tom Rothrock and Jimmy Hogarth and recorded in the home of actress Carrie Fisher. The single received a positive reception from music critics.

"Goodbye My Lover" was released as the fourth single in November 2005 and reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, where it became Blunt's second top ten single. It also reached the top ten in Sweden, Belgium, Australia and France. In the United States, "Goodbye My Lover" reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 due to digital downloads, even though the single was not yet released in the US. The song was formally released in the United States on 7 November 2006.

Recording

While in Los Angeles, Blunt lodged with Carrie Fisher, whom he had met through the family of a former girlfriend. Fisher was very supportive of Blunt's aspirations, and provided the use of a bathroom in her home that featured a piano for him to record "Goodbye My Lover".[1] Blunt later said, "Everyone sings in the shower and everyone in Los Angeles seems to have a piano in the bathroom."[1]

Release

The single was released on three physical formats. CD1 includes an exclusive non-album recording, "Close Your Eyes", which was first written during Blunt's army days. CD2 includes a further non-album recording, "Where Is My Mind" performed live in Manchester, plus the video for "Goodbye My Lover" and behind-the-scenes "Making-Of" footage. The 7-inch vinyl includes the live version of "Where Is My Mind".[2]

Music video

"Goodbye My Lover" featured a music video that was directed by Sam Brown and was filmed on 28 October 2005 in Los Angeles. In the video Blunt is featured sitting in a darkened room by himself, reflecting on a past relationship. In what appears to be the same room, but in daylight, a young man and woman, the former lovers, share an intimate moment. The video was shot in the former home of Randolph Scott.[3] The young woman in the video was played by Mischa Barton. The young man in the video was played by Matt Dallas.

Chart performance

In December 2005, "Goodbye My Lover" was released in the United Kingdom. The song became Blunt's second top ten single when it peaked at number nine on the singles chart, and spent a total of 14 weeks in the top 75. Outside of the UK, the song was also successful. It reached number one in Sweden and became Blunt's second number one on the singles chart.

"Goodbye My Lover" was released in Australia in December 2005 and debuted at number eight before ascending the chart to number three, remaining inside the top ten for 16 weeks, a feat rarely reached in recent years.

Due to the favourable reception of Blunt's previous single "You're Beautiful", "Goodbye My Lover" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at number 100, even though it had not been released as a single in the U.S. The single appeared on the chart backed solely on the strength of digital sales after a re-run of an episode of Saturday Night Live that featured Blunt performing the song. It later re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, again due to digital downloads, as a result of Blunt's performance of the song on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Track listings

CD1

  1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
  2. "Close Your Eyes" – 3:06

CD2

  1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
  2. "Where Is My Mind" (live in Manchester) – 4:55
  3. "Goodbye My Lover" (the making of the video) – 3:00
  4. "Goodbye My Lover" (video) – 4:19

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Goodbye My Lover" – 4:18
  2. "Where Is My Mind" (live in Manchester) – 4:55

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39] Platinum 8,000^
Italy (FIMI)[40] Gold 15,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[41] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Worldwide November 2005 —
[citation needed]
Australia 12 December 2005 CD [44]
United Kingdom 19 December 2005
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [45]
United States 21 August 2006 Hot adult contemporary radio [46]
20 November 2006 Contemporary hit radio [47]

References

  1. ^ a b Greenwood, Carl (21 October 2013). "James Blunt stayed with Princess Leia to record album in bathroom". The Mirror. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. ^ Images for James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
  3. ^ Making of James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" Music Video, Goodbye My Lover [Single] Enhanced CD, 2005.
  4. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  5. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  6. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  7. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  8. ^ "James Blunt Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  9. ^ "James Blunt Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200640 into search. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". Tracklisten. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Music & Media. Vol. 118, no. 3. 21 January 2006. p. 71.
  13. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  14. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  15. ^ "IFPI archive". Archived from the original on 4 April 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2006.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Goodbye My Lover". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 2006" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  18. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  19. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  20. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  22. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  23. ^ "James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  25. ^ "James Blunt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  26. ^ "James Blunt Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Pop 100". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 12. 25 March 2006. p. 72.
  28. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2006". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2006" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2006" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  31. ^ "European Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2006" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2006". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  34. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2006" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Årslista Singlar, År 2006" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  37. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  39. ^ "Guld Og Platin November/December/Januar". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  40. ^ "Italian single certifications – James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 January 2015. Select "2015" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Goodbye My Lover" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  41. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Goodbye My Lover')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  42. ^ "British single certifications – James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  43. ^ "American single certifications – James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  44. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 12th December 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 12 December 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  45. ^ "The Schedule: Singles". Music Week. 17 December 2005. p. 17.
  46. ^ "ACQB: Available for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  47. ^ "FMQB: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
Categories