'Why is he relevant?': TJ's problem with Snoop Dogg's AFL gig as big money goes 'up in smoke'
OPINION
Let me premise this rant with a couple of key points:
- I'm a Baby Boomer
- I'm not a fan of Snoop Dog. Sorry, I'm told it's Dogg with a Double G.
It's quite fitting that when the AFL... or VFL as it was then... introduced pre-match entertainment for the 1977 grand final it was crooner Barry Crocker who belted out 'The impossible dream'.
READ MORE: Walker backs father, uncle in radical NRL coaching push
READ MORE: 'Wildly dangerous' Jake Paul bout tipped to go ahead
READ MORE: Ricciardo 'trying to figure out who I am' after F1 axing
Fitting, because its been a near impossible dream of the football bosses to get it right ever since.
There've certainly been instances where the AFL has nailed it.
Tony Jones has a strong opinion on Snoop Dogg's AFL grand final role. Getty
Think Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, Katy Perry and Kiss.
Even Meatloaf etched his way into grand final folklore when he destroyed the songs that made him such a superstar.
The Loaf was so bad, he was great!
In the case of Snoop Dog... sorry, Dog-g... why is he relevant?
"Drop it like it's hot" was, I'm told, his biggest hit. Nothing short of massive.
But I'm not entirely sure the majority of the 100,000 strong crowd at the MCG on grand final day will know it.
I would also venture to say that every artist who has strutted that stage before had at least one song that resonated with everyone.
OK, maybe Barry Crocker's 'Impossible dream' was lost on anyone under the age of 15. Not that it seemed to be an issue with the football chiefs of the day who used that same song the following year, albeit with a different artist, Keith Michell.
Katy Perry during the 2024 AFL grand final. via Getty Images
That song was knocked off the following year and replaced with Waltzing Matilda which has reverberated around the 'G more than 20 times since.
It became as much a part of grand final day as Mike Brady's 'Up there Cazaly'.
Nothing brings the ground alive like Cazaly. An Aussie anthem, performed by an Aussie.
Indeed there's a whole catalogue of Australian artists just waiting for the call up... and there's 100,000 people at the ground ready to embrace them and ram home that feeling of patriotism that sport so often provides.
Bottom line is this, if you're going to import an artist at least try for someone who covers more than just one demographic.
It's a risk.
I'd hate to think what the AFL is paying Snoop. And I'd hate to see good money go up in smoke.
