Australian Open men’s final kicks off with the ‘worst national anthem ever’ by singer Gordi who FORGOT the new lyrics – just moments after a bizarre Canadian musical performance
- Singer songwriter Gordi performed national anthem at Australian Open final
- But she sang the outdated lyrics of ‘young and free’ and copped a backlash
- Twitter users slammed her Sunday night performance as having lacked passion
- The tournament was the first time Gordi has performed at a major event
The Australian Open men’s singles final has started with what critics have slammed as the ‘worst national anthem ever’.
Australian singer-songwriter Gordi took to Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park before the blockbuster clash between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev on Sunday night to perform Advance Australia Fair.
But the backlash quickly followed on Twitter over Gordi’s performance, which included her singing the outdated lyrics of ‘young and free’.
‘The worst Australian anthem ever. Where’s the passion?,’ one person said.
Singer Gordi performs the national anthem prior to the Men’s Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Daniil Medvedev of Russia
The performance was ridiculed on social media, with one calling it ‘disappointing’ and others ‘the worst Australian anthem ever’
Another quipped: ‘Are there no singers in Australia? Why such ridiculous and disappointing delivery of the Australian anthem at a big event such as the #AustralianOpen’.
The Australian Open was the first time Gordi has performed Advance Australia Fair at a major event. She also performed the national anthem ahead of the women’s singles final on Saturday.
‘Last time I sang the national anthem in front of a crowd it was to perhaps 30 people in Canowindra’s Morris Park when I was 11. In a small step up I will be performing the anthem at the women’s and men’s Australian Open final this weekend. Hazaar,’ Gordi earlier posted on social media.
The lyrics of Advance Australia Fair were recently amended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, changing from ‘for we are young and free’ to ‘for we are one and free’.
The Australian Open revealed on Twitter how Gordi had taken a break from her musical career to work on the Covid-19 frontline.
‘Last year Aria nominated Gordi gave up performing to return to her career as a medical doctor, working on the frontline fighting the pandemic. Tonight she performs the Australian National Anthem at Rod Laver Arena,’ a tweet from the Australian Open said.
The pre-match entertainment at the Australian Open men’s singles final on Sunday night included a performance from the cast of the musical Come From Away (pictured)
Twitter users reacted to the Australian Open entertainment, with some saying it was ‘the weirdest closing ceremony/show ever’
The national anthem followed on from a performance of ‘Welcome to the Rock’ from the cast of the musical Come From Away.
‘Welcome to the weirdest closing ceremony/show ever,’ one person posted on Twitter.
Another said: ‘I’m all for supporting the arts, but the Come From Away performance was bloody jarring ahead of the Australian Open’.
The men’s singles final caps off a tumultuous few weeks for the Australian Open, which was beset by players being forced into strict quarantine after confirmed cases of coronavirus from players and officials linked to the tournament.
The first grand slam of the year was also forced to carry on at one stage without crowds after Victoria was plunged into a snap five-day lockdown.
Before the Australian Open, Gordi (pictured) took to social media to reveal Last time I sang the national anthem in front of a crowd it was to perhaps 30 people in Canowindra’s Morris Park when I was 11′