It seems the Jonas Brothers may have been a little too American for Australians, who were largely underwhelmed by the trio despite how excited the brothers appeared to be about performing at an NFL game.
The Aussies were not so sure the NFL made the right call by choosing them for the halftime show instead of bringing in a local artist such as Kylie Minogue. Perhaps the NFL felt the Jonas Brothers made sense because Joe Jonas previously lived in Australia while working as a coach on The Voice, but that connection did not quite click in Melbourne.
Aussies wanted a local star
The pop trio took the stage at Melbourne Cricket Ground during halftime of the Rams’ historic game against the 49ers. Their five-song set included “Burnin’ Up,” “Sucker,” “Listen When Sad,” “Year 3000” and a cover of Australian singer John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice.”
Before the local tribute arrived, much of the reaction on social media focused on why an Australian artist had not been booked instead. The Farnham cover, however, earned the brothers some of their warmest reviews.
The choice also highlighted the NFL’s bigger plan to expand its reach beyond the United States and build a global fan base, including in Australia. But for many locals, bringing the Jonas Brothers to Melbourne was not the kind of gesture that would win them over.
The NFL faced another round of criticism
Some fans were even harsh enough to compare the performance to the kind of concert you would see at Epcot with your parents, while others suggested the NFL could have gone for a much bigger Australian act such as AC/DC.
The performance also gave Australians another reason to criticize the NFL’s approach to the game. While some viewers enjoyed the nostalgic hits and the tribute to John Farnham, the main criticism remained the same: if the NFL wanted to connect with Australian fans, why did it choose an American group instead of giving a local artist the spotlight?
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