He had promised a set that was “classic Snoop Dogg”, and the American hip-hop star and merchandising magnet (or is that magnate?) delivered in spades at the AFL grand final pre-game show.
In a 15-minute set, the 53-year-old played snippets of 10 songs from a back catalogue that stretches back to 1992, commanding a stage that looked from certain angles like a giant boombox, while several dozen dancers turned the centre square into a riot of colour and movement a little reminiscent of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Mr Dogg has become such a master of commercial tie-ups – Menulog, 19 Crimes wines, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, mobile phone plans, you name it – that he often seems more brand than musician these days. But on the biggest platform in this country – with an audience of 100,000 in the stadium and something north of 4 million watching at home (a number that doesn’t include those watching in pubs or clubs) – he proved that he remains a pop superstar with serious staying power.
He started up on the video screens, saying “it’s grand final time, baby. Greatness is on the line”, then urged the fans of both teams to give it up, and then give it up a little more.
