Grand Final entertainers Tom Jones and Ed Sheeran awkwardly attempt to handball a footy with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.
Tom Jones performs during the 2014 AFL Grand Final. Pic Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Source: Getty Images EDDIE McGuire has slammed Tom Jones for singing a ballad about a man stabbing his cheating girlfriend to death at the AFL Grand Final.
McGuire took issue with Jones’ decision to include 1968 hit Delilah in his pre-game set given the sensitivity around domestic violence at the moment.
“I just thought it was the wrong selection,” McGuire said on Triple M radio this morning.
“Obviously at the moment domestic violence is a massive issue in world sport. In the National Football League in America they are getting absolutely smashed because of their tin-eared approach to domestic violence.
“Tom has got a songbook bigger than the yellow pages ...
“Don’t walk into the fire. Sing It’s Not Unusual, sing the Green Green Grass of Home ...
“It was an inappropriate song in 2014.”
Tom Jones in action at the AFL Grand Final Picture: Alex Coppel. Source:News Corp Australia
The lyrics to the song include this verse, which describes the man approaching his girlfriend’s house after her lover has left:
“At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting
I cross the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more.”
Jones, who made a blunder before his performance by referring to the game as “rugby”, also copped heat on Twitter.
I can't believe that no-one has told Tom Jones that Delilah is not an appropriate song to be singing - domestic violence is not ok :(
— Helen Donnard (@MsBack64) September 27, 2014
Given that Tom Jones song Delilah is about domestic violence, it is NOT appropriate for the GF. Poor form AFL. #AFLGF #AFLGrandFinal
— AP (@asp0908) September 27, 2014
Oh, HURRAY, Tom Jones is singing about killing a cheating girlfriend because celebration and sports. #AFLFinals #AFLGrandFinal #AFLGF
— Lady Sings it Better (@lady_sings_it) September 27, 2014
All the song Tom Jones could've sung & we get the domestic violence and murder one. #AFLGrandFinal
— Tacos (@thiscassgirl) September 27, 2014
OK so I'm not happy about Tom Jones singing at #AFLgf but singing Deliah, a song that condones violence against women is so wrong.
— Kathy Bedford (@bedfordkathy) September 27, 2014
However, McGuire’s co-host Luke Darcy defended the Welsh crooner, saying his performance was fantastic.“Mate, you’re kidding aren’t you? (There were) 99,543 people there and I reckon 99,542 didn’t care and I think you’re the only one who does,” Darcy said.
“He was fantastic, the grand final was brilliant and if he chooses to play Delilah, come on ... it was written in 1968, no one has even an inkling that would be an issue.”
The AFL has copped plenty of heat for its pre-game entertainment on Grand Final day, particularly Meat Loaf’s performance in 2011.
This time the general reaction to the quality of the music provided by Jones and British singer Ed Sheeran was positive.
But several people also raised issue with Sheeran singing his hit The A Team, a folk ballad about a crack-addicted prostitute.
Ed Sheeran working it in #AFLGrandFinal pre-game entertainment. ASADA/AFL execs enjoying his song about drug problems, you reckon?
— Jason Bennett (@Aussies_Abroad) September 27, 2014
Cheers Ed Sheeran...Nothing gets you going on grand final day like a ballad about a homeless drug addict. #ATeam #TheNewUpThereCazaly
— Sam Mac (McMillan) (@MrSamMac) September 27, 2014
Ed Sheeran. Pic Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Source: Getty Images View the original article here
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