KIERSTEN DUKE: NRL grand final Teddy Swims and Havana Brown gigs topped Snoop Dogg at AFL
Move over James Tedesco, there’s a new Teddy in town. American singer Teddy Swims rocked the roof off Accor Stadium before Sunday’s NRL grand final.
Just days before he was due to perform, Swims sent shockwaves through NRL headquarters when he was stumbled off stage during a performance in Hawaii due to illness.
Despite the scare, the 33-year-old Grammy nominee bowled into Accor Stadium in front of the 80,000 plus crowd and blew their socks off.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The opening song was one of his best, Bad Dreams. which was followed up with The Door, before reading the room and performing an Aussie rock classic.
The rendition of ACDC’s TNT was a huge crowd pleaser, rocking the jam-packed stands before the worldwide superstar closed out his performance with Lose Control, his smash hit.
Swim’s performance was met with some criticism. But interestingly not from those in the crowd, but rather those at home claiming the audio through the broadcast was patchy.
Strangely this makes sense to me. Mostly because those who have seen Swims in person have always commented on his vocal ability.
His acoustics sends waves through stadiums so strong that the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It makes sense to me that a feeling like that is hard to feel through a TV screen.
Just the weekend before, the AFL had rapper Snoop Dogg perform at their grand final. Punters were quick to compare the two performances online and weigh in on who won the sing off.
But for me it wasn’t about Snoop v Swims. It was about the overall vibe of each event as a package and the NRL took the biscuit.
Not only was the game itself a nailbiter that included some of the most incredible storylines, but a stroke of genius happened at half time. Havana Brown.
The Aussie DJ is known best for her hit dance single, We Run The Night featuring Pitbull. Making its debut in the 2011 charts, it was a trip down memory lane for all the millennials in the crowd.
Just hearing the first few bars of that song takes me back to summer in England, wearing heels we could barely walk in and make up thicker than plaster while singing at the top of our lungs. Priceless memories. Not only did ARLC chairperson Peter V’landys and co get it right with the selection of an incredible vocalist in the form of Swims, but the NRL pulled on millennials heartstrings with Aussie princess Brown.
From start to finish the vibes were immaculate.
NRL is Australia’s greatest sport.
