Australians were left divided after hearing an unusual rendition of the national anthem before the first State of Origin match.
After winning the Australian Idol competition in 2024, Dylan Wright took to the stage at the Advance Australia Fair.
While most people were used to the traditional musical rhythm and pomp of the national anthem, Wright opted to play an acoustic version.
The crowd at the Accor Stadium seemed to enjoy the change in the music, and the noise began to build up as Wright got a huge cheer.
On social media, the reaction to the new version of the national anthem was mixed.
Some people praised Wright’s performance, while others criticized his interpretation.
Peter FitzSimons, a sports columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald, started a discussion about the new version of the anthem. Many of the people who responded to his article stated that they didn’t like Wright’s rendition.
One person called the new rendition of the national anthem “disgusting” and said that it should be sung with passion instead of a “smiling ballad.”
Another person questioned why the public was being asked to watch a remix of the song by Ed Sheeran.
There were also many positive reactions to the song, which is typically a low-energy hit.
One person praised Wright’s performance, saying that it was the best version of the national anthem that he had ever heard.
Others complimented him on his acoustic version. Fynn also received positive feedback for her performance.