James Blunt Offers To Play Music For New Zealand Protestors

The musician responded to a BBC News article about the country playing Barry Manilow to deter people from rioting in perhaps the most 'James Blunt' way possible.

The BBC's headline read: "New Zealand plays Barry Manilow to repel parliament protesters," to which Blunt simply responded: "Give me a shout if this doesn't work. @NZPolice."

Classic.

Up to now, the comment has got over 7,000 retweets and more than 71,000 likes.

Replying to the tweet, some people claimed that the police did actually take him up on the offer and played 'You're Beautiful' to the crowds... but it seemed they enjoyed it, rather than being repulsed enough to leave the area.

Taking to social media, one person wrote: "Meanwhile, in NZ... the government is playing James Blunt from Parliament balcony speakers to deter the protestors. 

They're just singing along. NZ government a bunch of donkeys."

Another added: "Turns out the protesters are fans," alongside a video showing people wearing raincoats and swaying along to the tune.

When someone else asked if it was '100 percent real', they confirmed: "100 percent real! The playlist also consists of baby shark and the macarena song."

Reports suggest that the songs are being played to try and flush out several hundred protesters who have been camped on the parliament’s grounds in Wellington since Tuesday (8 February).

The protesters, who have been voicing their opposition to coronavirus vaccine requirements, were hit with the music as well as being soaked after water sprinklers were turned on.

They responded by digging trenches and installing makeshift drainpipes to divert the water. 

When a downpour struck on Saturday, their numbers only grew. Protesters brought in bales of straw, which they scattered on the increasingly sodden grounds at parliament.

Some shouted, others danced and one group performed an indigenous Maori haka. 

The protest began when a convoy of trucks and cars drove to parliament from around the nation, inspired by similar demonstrations in Canada. 

At first there were more than 1,000 protesters but that number dwindled as the week wore on before growing again on Saturday. 

Police have been taking a more hands-off approach since Thursday, when they arrested 122 people and charged many of them with trespassing or obstruction.

Officers who have been wearing protective vests but have not been using riot gear or carrying guns, had tried to slowly advance on the protesters.