The Borg & Owilli content agency's advert for a new account manager explains that “along with a cover letter and CV, the test for the job is to sell us James Blunt”.
“Can you convince us that half the planet is way off the mark and James Blunt's new pop album is absolutely world class? We're looking for people with a creative streak, but also someone who is such a good seller they can convince the entire office that James Blunt's new album should be played through the speakers on repeat,” the ad expands.
The person behind the idea is one of the company's partners, David Borg.
“It was my idea. We previously had difficult job tests linked to current events. Last year we had a test where people had to convince our colleague who is an American to vote for Donald Trump instead of Hillary Clinton in the election,” he told The Local.
“Now that the world's worst and most pointless artist has released a new album, we thought it fit well.”
Blunt's music has a reputation for being divisive (the artist has frequently made jokes at his own expense in that regard), so the test is intentionally designed to be a challenge.
“The key to success is to sell his pointless emptiness as really being deep poetry. That won’t be easy,” Borg explained.
If you thought 2016 was bad – I'm releasing an album in 2017.
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) December 13, 2016
Nope, you're on your own. RT @chickenoriental: I must be 1 of only 2 who genuinely likes every @jamesblunt song. The other person being him.
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) December 12, 2013
The successful candidate will have to convince a “Got Talent” style jury of Blunt's merits. And crucially, the judges all have one thing in common:
“We're going to have a three person jury. Everyone hates James Blunt equally.”
Blunt's albums have sold millions of copies worldwide, so even if these Swedes aren't fond of him, some people clearly are.
Anyone want a signed set list of mine from 2006? pic.twitter.com/Z0tmKIpBtN
— James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) March 20, 2017