They pumped up Taylor Swift as a potential NFL entertainment at the MCG, so when we heard the name of the US singer who is instead rumoured to perform, to say it was a let-down is an understatement.
Macy Gray hasn’t had a serious hit since 1999 with her I Try chart topper, and her Australian performances across the journey have certainly been eye opening for the wrong reasons.
But the veteran US soul singer has been name checked as the performing act for the much hyped NFL season opener at the MCG on September 11.
Brendan Fevola revealed on his Fox FM brekkie show on Monday that Gray will perform at the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.
“Macy Gray will perform at the MCG for the opening of the NFL season,” he said on Fifi, Fev and Nick.
“Macy Gray is coming to Melbourne…her tour starts here. She’s going to be singing at Hamer Hall on Friday, September the 11th.”
While the rumour is just that, it is not quite the touchdown we were hoping for after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited Melbourne in April pumping up the hot ticket sellout game.
Goodell also assured fans that the NFL would provide blockbuster halftime entertainment for the MCG clash.
“I think it’s part of our event to have entertainment,” he said.
“We come with a show. It’s not just a football game.”
MCC chief executive officer Stuart Fox joked at the time that he wanted Taylor Swift for the halftime entertainment.
“I would have Taylor back,” he said.
“And maybe she could stay on for another five or six shows. It’d be good for our state. I’m not asking for much.”
While Swift might be busy with her wedding commitments, no confirmation has yet been made.
Who knows Gray, who has notoriously had a series of trainwreck performances in Australia in the past, might just be one of the line up, if at all, given there is also a national anthem to perform.
But given the hype the NFL has slated to steal words from the singer “I Try” might be more needed.