Aussie band PNAU cops brutal criticism after Melbourne Cup performance

Racing fans have delivered brutal reviews of Aussie band PNAU after a somewhat underwhelming performance at this year’s Melbourne Cup.

The pre-race performance was announced with great fanfare by the Victoria Racing Club, but they were quickly shot down by fickle fans on social media.

PNAU, who broke into the music scene at the start of this century, are really not a household for the mainstream masses.

And their genre of electronic, “wonky” pop clearly missed the mark for fans of popular music, who are used to acts such as veteran singer Daryl Braithwaite performing The Horses at racing events.

“Get up and dance” the VRC,” said on social media as the PNAU performance began.

But that was about the most positive thing said as the music started to blast across Flemington, with many fans thinking that the vocalists were lip-synching (it can often appear that way when people watch live music on TV).

“It just sounds and looks like they pressed play on the song and jumped around,” one fan said.

While another said: “Clearly can’t sing - That’s the problem with modern music - requires zero talent just a MacBook and some digital reused stings and auto-tuned voices ... Next cup let’s have fake singers run around the track instead of horses.”

““That was a national embrassment. On our biggest racing day???” another said.

And another: “God awaful.”

While it is not thought the artists were lip-synching, fans were certainly bothered by the performance.

“This PNAU performance is not good. Is it lip sync too?!”” a fan asked.

And another: “PNAU should hand it over to the twink.”

And another: “That was some of the worst miming I’ve ever seen…”

And another: “Surely there are better Aussie bands than this, this was terrible.”

When VRC announced that PNAU was performing at the Cup at the end of September, they said the band was an “exceptional fit” for the event and promised an “unforgettable” show.

“Racegoers can revel in the electrifying beats of PNAU with the Australian dance duo promising an unforgettable live performance including global smash hits Cold Heart and Chameleon after the race that stops a nation,” the statement said.

And VRC boss Kylie Rogers said: “Securing PNAU to perform and celebrate with thousands of racegoers post the race that stops the nation is truly exciting.”

But the local band did pale in comparison to the recent acts hired by the AFL, with the league choosing high-profile international artists to rock the MCG on grand final in the past few years.

Bands like Robbie Williams, KISS, Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg have all performed at the MCG on grand final day to rave reviews.

Rogers, who used to work at the AFL, may need to copy her former employer and whip out the cheque book next spring when she hires a new act.