Love him or loathe him, James Blunt has the numbers

Consider some numbers: one hugely popular song, three world tours, four albums, five Grammy nominations, 256,000 Twitter followers, 5.7 million Facebook likes and 20 million albums sold. James Blunt may not have a career free of controversy, but he certainly has a fan base.

The 39-year-old former British Army captain skyrocketed to fame in 2005, when a song from his third album caught the ears and hearts of listeners worldwide, and climbed the charts to number one, first in Britain, then in continental Europe, then in North America, all within weeks of its release. Blunt had arrived.

The song was You're Beautiful, a ballad about unrequited love, distinguishable by Blunt's signature croon: a little nasal and high-pitched, sometimes wavering but always sincere. His voice has been his biggest asset and biggest liability, dividing fans from detractors more than his songs. Those who like him call it soulful; those who don't, cloying. Blunt's fame, as with most pop stars, has come with a hearty side of criticism. Unlike many pop stars, however, he has met it with humour, grace and backbone. He responds to Twitter detractors with witty quips worthy of his surname. In the past week, he responded to the tweet "Oh god … who let James Blunt release another album?" with, "Your god can't hear you. He's listening to track 3." And to "Is there one single James Blunt fan out there?" he replied, "Most of them are single." Asked what most people don't know about him, he jokes: "I have more than one song."

Indeed. In October, he released his first album in three years, Moon Landing. First single, Bonfire Heart, debuted at No 6 before peaking at No 4 on the UK singles chart. It reached No 1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Unlike You're Beautiful, Bonfire Heart is driven by a joyous energy - it's a celebration. "It's about how every human, no matter where we're from, wants to connect with someone special," Blunt says. He quotes from the lyrics: " People like us/ We don't need that much/ Just someone to light the spark in our bonfire hearts."

Blunt describes the album as deeply personal and without any agenda. "I'm not a preacher. It's more like a diary. Personal thoughts, ideas, memories, aspirations. I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the reception - but I knew I had to make it for myself, and not for the audience."

Fans of Blunt's first hit album, Back to Bedlam, will find much to like on Moon Landing, which hits a similarly sincere, even childlike, note. Blunt has grown as an artist, but doesn't mean to lose his earnestness. "I'm a stronger songwriter and lyricist, a more confident recording artist, and a more experienced performer," he says. "But it's music, and the more you think you know, the less you genuinely convey. Innocence is a special thing."