Legendary band hits back after PM’s ukulele session
New Zealand band Dragon have hit back at Prime Minister Scott Morrison after his "cynical" cover of their cult classic song on a special interview with 60 Minutes.
In the sit-down interview with Karl Stefanovic, the PM is filmed with his family, strumming a ukulele while singing the band's smash hit April Sun in Cuba.
In a response to the serenade, Dragon has accused Scott Morrison of using their song to "humanise" himself in the face of the Australian public ahead of the upcoming federal election.
In a statement released by the band, they accused the PM of dragging the band into the headline for "all the wrong reasons" in what they believe was a "cynical" act of electioneering in order to strike a cord with Australians.
The band also used their statement to resurface damning criticism of the PM for taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, which saw 34 people lose their lives and nearly 3,000 homes destroyed.
Statement from the band Dragon after the Prime Minister of #Australia appeared on television singing one of their songs. They said it was “a cynical move by a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time”. pic.twitter.com/85RVXFtF2S
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) February 14, 2022
"It is a cynical move for a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time," the band's statement said.
"Maybe if his trip to Hawaii had not been cut short, he could have learnt the lyrics to the rest of the chorus."
In the now-viral video of Scott Morrison performing the tracks he repeats one line twice ("Take me to the April sun in Cuba, oh oh oh"), rather than progress the song along with the original lyrics.
The song was originally penned in 1977 by two New Zealanders who were living in Australia, and became a smash hit in Australia and New Zealand after placing in the top 10 in both country's music charts.
When the video of Scott Morrison playing the ukulele first surfaced in a preview for the 60 Minutes interview, it was instantly branded as "extremely cringe" by viewers.
Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, suggested the performance was a cynical ploy to improve Mr Morrison’s image ahead of the federal election.
“We need to brace ourselves for how far he will go the more desperate they get,” she wrote on Twitter.
Image credits: Nine - 60 Minutes / Twitter