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ABC News
ABC News
Politics
Caitlyn Gribbin

Lost his voice? PM struggles to join in with John Farnham's unofficial Australian anthem

The PM spent part of the evening spectating surrounded by tracksuit-clad swimmers.

When you're the Prime Minister there are quite a few roles to juggle.

Meeting world leaders, wrangling vocal backbenchers and, crucially, spontaneously belting out classic Aussie tunes in public.

But today, Malcolm Turnbull stands accused of the unthinkable: not knowing the lyrics to John Farnham's signature song.

At last night's Commonwealth Games swimming finals, athletes, supporters and the PM himself hugged and danced as You're The Voice boomed through the speakers.

Because of broadcast restrictions, we can't show you the vision.

But Mr Turnbull appeared to awkwardly mumble as the crowd crooned: "How long can we look at each other, down the barrel of a gun?"

The PM's efforts were easy fodder for commercial radio stations in south-east Queensland this morning.

"I'm sure you're aware of the speculation surrounding your performance at the swimming last night … do you know the words to You're The Voice?" Nova presenters probed.

"Well I do, but I can tell you there are very good reasons for me not to be singing and it's got nothing to do with not knowing the words," Mr Turnbull responded.

He said he was surrounded by "such beautiful and talented young people … inflicting my singing on them was probably the worst thing I could do".

But that excuse wasn't enough. Proof, in the form of a live-to-air singalong, was required.

After some initial hesitation, the PM obliged — sort of.

In a steady speaking voice, the airwaves were filled: "You're the voice try and understand it, make a noise and make it clear.

"You can see why I'm not a singer!"

It's not the PM's first pop culture faux pas. Last year he struggled to name an AC/DC song during live radio interview, just weeks after an impromptu rap battle with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

The Labor leader also weighed in on the PM's latest number, showing off his familiarity with Farnsy's back catalogue in a morning radio interview of his own.

"To be fair to Malcolm, I'm sure he knows some songs. I'm sure he's learnt the chorus since," Mr Shorten told 96FM in Perth.

The PM probably won't sit in silence when the next chart-topper comes on.

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