Oztix | News | Anthony Albanese Says Client Liaison 'Jumped The Shark' By Bringing Tina Arena To Splendour

Politician/DJ/generally memetic individual Anthony Albanese may have lost himself some of that sweet, sweet street cred he's spent so long cultivating with his latest take on cultural affairs.

The current shadow transport and tourism minister and former deputy PM offered what he seems to think was an entirely innocent assessment of Tina Arena's cameo during Client Liaison's set at Splendour In The Grass this weekend but, we've gotta say, we're not sure that he's on the money with his lingo here.

Describing Arena's surprise appearance to perform her tune Sorrento Moon with the wonderfully kitsch group during their festival slot as "the moment when [Client Liaison] jumped the shark", Albo had to quickly defend his stance after a fellow tweeter questioned him on it, saying that, on the contrary, they thought it was "awesome".

"Don't disagree — #justsaying it was out there," he replied.

But that's not what "jumping the shark" is, Albo. If you thought it was out there, then just say that it's out there. Do not use a well-worn phrase almost exclusively used to describe the moment that something starts irredeemably sucking to say that it is out there.

Jumping the shark is not "awesome". Jumping the shark fucking sucks. You understand the confusion here.

Either way, does it need to be pointed out that Client Liaison are a bit, shall we say, left-field? Like, what is there about Client Liaison that isn't gloriously fucking weird?

Besides, Arena's guest spot has garnered a lot of goodwill for the revered Aussie songstress these past few days — too much for the negative connotation of the moment being anything akin to 'jumping the shark' to stand; fellow muso Kate Miller-Heidke even popped in on the thread to offer her support ("Tina is AMAZING," she wrote), while veteran music journo Mikey Cahill told the pollie to "check yoself".

Not that Arena needs anyone else to fight her battles for her — she got the last laugh, in devastating emoji-laden style, by quietly linking Albo to a piece where her guest spot was named pretty much the best thing about the entire weekend.

The moment when @clientliaison jumped the shark by having @tinaarena join them for @SITG on the main stage pic.twitter.com/he0UEb9TAt
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 24, 2017

Don't disagree - #justsaying it was out there
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 24, 2017

https://t.co/wDED6M5f9a @cameron_adams @EMIMusicAU
— Tina Arena (@tinaarena) July 24, 2017

In case you haven't seen the magic yet, see some footage from Client Liaison's Instagram page below.

Client Liaison are on tour through August and September, while Arena has a tour of her own to undertake through September and October — see theGuide for details.