‘Embarrassing’: Fans slam Ronan Keating act at Melbourne Cup

Ronan Keating has warmed the crowd up for the Melbourne Cup but the choice of the early-2000s crooner has left a few noses out of joint.

Ronan Keating was the pre-race entertainment. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

The Melbourne Cup has been run and won but the pre-race entertainment of Ronan Keating has raised more than a few eyebrows across Australia.

A stunning victory for $81 outsider Knight’s Choice blew the world away in the great race as just the sixth Aussie-bred horse since 1993 win the race that stops the nation.

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But in the lead up to the great race, Irish singer Keating graced the stage to warm up the crowd.

The former X-Factor judge and The Voice Australia coach and member of Boyzone sang two of his most famous songs, his cover of Keith Whitley’s When You Say Nothing At All – it had also been recorded by Alison Krauss & the Union Station and Frances Black before Keating – and Lovin’ Each Day in his short set.

Joined by 2004 Australian Idol contestant and Aussie songstress Ricki Lee-Coulter, some people had a few questions about the performance.

While there was nothing too wrong with the songs, questions were asked about how the pre-race entertainment was going to attract younger fans to the race when When You Say Nothing at All was released in 1999, and Lovin’ Each Day came out in 2001.

And Keating’s last song that charted in the top 10 of the ARIA charts was in 2002 with If Tomorrow Never Comes.

One viewer said: “Ronan Keating. always wondered who makes these decisions, racing industry trying to lure the younger crowd but here we have a man who’s last hit was in 1991. Embarrassing.”

Another said: “Having lived in the UK in 1998 when Boyzone were everywhere, Ronan Keating‘s present-day revival as an Australian B-lister continues to feel very surreal.”

A third questioned: “I’m sorry, but who organised the entertainment for the Cup? Like really? Ronan Keating???”

Another suggested: “How desperate is the #MelbourneCup2024 getting in Ronan Keating, was no one else available?”

A fifth commented: “As an Irishman apologies to Melbourne for Ronan Keating making random noises. Ye’re welcome to keep him. We really don’t want him back.”

Ronan Keating and Ricki Lee took to the stage. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

While there were plenty more who were supportive of Keating’s set, it is a sign of how far the Melbourne Cup has fallen in the Australian sporting landscape.

Speaking earlier this week, legendary commentator Bruce McAvaney said be believed the Cup was no longer the race that stops the nation.

“The Melbourne Cup will always be the greatest prize (in horse racing), but it no longer stops the nation,” McAvaney told racing website The Straight.

“It was a huge thing … it was about suburbs and neighbourhoods and it was for one race.

“It was by far the biggest sporting event in the nation. It had a big margin on the (then) VFL (now AFL) grand final.

“My gut feeling is that within the racing community, the Melbourne Cup has diminished a little.

“But for those who are not racegoers, or are once-a-year-racegoers, it has diminished greatly.”

Storm and Ronan Keating. Photo by Sam Tabone/Getty Images

What year is it? Picture: Channel 9

With a throwback to an entertainer who was last relevant in Australia 20 years ago, it’s hard to argue that the event has lost its place in the zeitgeist.

Just five years ago in 2019, Taylor Swift was set to play the Melbourne Cup until she pulled out amid a wave of criticism from animal rights activists who called for a boycott after a series of horse deaths in the great race.

Keating revealed he had settled down in Australia with his Aussie wife Storm and their two children Cooper and Coco.

With Newswire

Originally published as ‘Embarrassing’: Fans slam Ronan Keating act at Melbourne Cup