Postcards from Saigon

"Postcards from Saigon"
Single by James Blundell
from the album Deluge
ReleasedApril 2005
RecordedThe Warehouse and Monkeydoo Studios, Sydney
LabelRevenge Records
Songwriter(s)Terry McArthur, James Blundell
Producer(s)Phil Rigger

"Postcards from Saigon" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter James Blundell. The song was written in 2003[1] as a tribute to the 48,000 Australian surviving Vietnam War veterans.[2] The song also speaks out against the 2003 Iraq War.[3]

In the song, the character's best friend dies in his arms in battle, later suffers a divorce and shares tragedy with a new wife who miscarries twice. In February 2005 Blundell told Nu Country "That wasn't my brother, it's more metaphoric. I have been intrigued by the Australian role in war service. My grandfather and father were in World War I and World War II".[4]

In 2005, the song won Australian Independent Country Music Single of the Year and Independent Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year and was commended by Kris Kristofferson.[5][6]

The single was released in April 2005 as the lead single from Blundell's eighth studio album Deluge (2005), with royalties donated to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia and the James Blundell Scholarship for the children of Vietnam Veterans.[7] The song peaked at number 82 on the ARIA Charts in June 2005. The song remained in the Country Top 30 for four months and peaked at number 2 on the Australian Independent Singles Chart.[8]

Track listing

CD Single [9]

  1. "Postcards from Saigon"
  2. "Nature's Gentleman" (with Feral Swing Katz - recorded live at Frankston Arts Centre on 24 February 2015)
  3. "Postcards from Saigon" (with Feral Swing Katz - recorded live at Frankston Arts Centre on 24 February 2015)

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 82

References

  1. ^ "Bankrupt James Blundell back with his folks". Perth Now. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  2. ^ "ARIA Report week commencing 20 May 2005 Issue 794" (PDF). ARIA. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. ^ Jarvis, Susan (February 2005). "WEATHERING THE STORM". Capital News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  4. ^ "DAVE'S DIARY 1 FEBRUARY 2005 JAMES BLUNDELL INTERVIEW". Nu Country. 1 February 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Hands of Fame James Blundell". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  6. ^ "About". James Blundell. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  7. ^ "James Blundell – Postcards from Saigon, with Leons Photos". How to Get Your Music Royalties. 2 January 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  8. ^ "James Blundell Artist". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  9. ^ Postcards from Saigon (CD Single). James Blundell. Revenge Records. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "ARIA Report Week Commencing 20 July 2005 Issue 800" (PDF). ARIA. 20 July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2018.