What would DJ Albo do? Our ‘handsome boy’ gets his groove on overseas

Anthony Albanese busts a move in the Cook Islands.

Move over Madonna, we’ve got our own chameleon in Anthony Albanese.

Like Madge, the prime minister has been busier than a touring pop star of late. In terms of international diplomacy, the optics are great and he has conducted himself, and represented the nation on the world stage, with aplomb.

However the growing economic woes back home following another rate rise on Tuesday by the Reserve Bank, a tanking Aussie dollar and inflation biting hard for most Australians, does he want to be the leader of Australia or its Ambassador?

We’ve seen many versions of Albo on display in recent weeks.

He’s been the personification of a Google Doc tracking changes in real time. Morphing, adapting and blending in to whichever situation and locale he has found himself in.

Maybe it was the dancing that broke the camel’s back – or more accurately – what shattered the mirage of Albanese: International Man of Modern Leadership.

His official tours have really been like an instalment of Austin Powers, with the same goofy dancing seen in the film and some odd jokes about pandas, like he made at a press conference following his meeting with President Xi Jinping in China earlier this week.

He’s our PM but he’s also an international man of mystery now because after close to 30-years in public life we thought we knew him – the music loving, inner city socialist lite whose views had matured over the years.

Now he’s a political box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. Especially when the doors of the Albo Airbus are disarmed on foreign soil.

On Wednesday at a gift ceremony on the Cook Islands during his visit for the meeting of Members of the Pacific Islands Forum, it was all about his daggy Dad dancing.

.@AlboMP has a bit of a dance as he’s presented with a gift on Aitutaki at the #PIFLM52 retreat. Video courtesy of The Guardian’s @danielhurstbnepic.twitter.com/tW45cG1bAV

— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) November 9, 2023

Mr Albanese has travelled to the island of Aitutaki for an overnight retreat following his time on the island of Rarotonga, where he has defended Australia’s climate policies in light of the growing pressure to curb fossil fuels.

It’s his third stop on his recent official jaunts in as many weeks.

When his referendum for an Indigenous voice to parliament failed, he jumped on a plane to work on reconciliation … with our allies in the US.

A successful State Visit to Washington cemented AUKUS and his friendship with President Joe Biden and amid all the pomp and ceremony in Washington the pair exchanged gifts.

US President Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese toast during a State Dinner at the South Lawn of White House in Washington in October. Photo – AFP.

It was here we saw glimpses of the OG.

The artist formerly known as “DJ Albo” who earned his street cred about a decade ago appearing on Rage, spinning decks and sipping his own craft pale ale in Sydney’s trendy Marrickville.

As far as gifts go, let’s hope it goes straight to the pool room in The Lodge. Biden may not be able to master stairs or public speaking these days, but he’s good at picking presents.

Mr Albanese was presented with a vintage turntable. “[That is] sporting a POTUS record mat, is a VPI Classic Signature, proudly designed and manufactured by the family-owned New Jersey-based company,” the Associated Press reported.

The vintage turntable from US President Joe Biden gifted to Anthony Albanese. Photo – StereoNet.

Then it was a quick costume change into his Matildas jersey and beloved Rabbitohs cap for a morning power walk around Shanghai ahead of important meetings with President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

A monumental trip as the first Australian leader to touch down in the People’s Republic in seven years and amid ongoing trade tariff tensions.

Except it wasn’t that exclusive. He one of four world leaders Xi had an audience with on Monday. Instead Mr Albanese wooed the Chinese people, becoming a local social media sensation after a video shot by The Australian’s Will Glasgow went viral during his three night stay.

“There are many sharing short videos about your trip to China … including a video of you running along the river with a yellow jersey. People were saying that we have a handsome boy coming from Australia,” Mr Li said wrapping up the official proceedings. Mr Albanese was played off by a brass band medley of I still call Australia home and Click go the shears.

Unlike his show in the Pacific on Thursday, and despite the great soundtrack, there was no dancing.

While he has proved he can read the room overseas, Mr Albanese – after more than 12-months in the top job – remains lost in translation at home.