'Olivia Deserved Better': The 2022 ARIAs Completely Dragged By Viewers

The first in-person ARIAs night since 2019 has been absolutely dragged on social media as ‘a shit show’.

“I haven’t heard a good word about it,” Lisa said on Friday morning. “It was pretty sloppy, a lot of mistakes and technical difficulties like missed cues, no microphones and presenters walking off stage at the wrong times.”

While there were tributes to the late Archie Roach and Judith Durham, unfortunately it was the homage to Olivia Newton-John that really copped it. It was not the flawless performance of ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ that Pink gave at the American Music Awards earlier this week.

Hit PLAY to listen in…

have those other presenters ever got a name of the album right, this is such a shit show i love it #ARIAs

— lauren (@laurensm1ith) November 24, 2022

This production is embarrassing #ARIAs

— michael. (@OzMichaelSays) November 24, 2022

Unfair comparison, some of those Rock Eisteddfod shows had actual production value

— Kirri (@matineeidyll) November 24, 2022

Watching the #arias on TV and did they just throw the show together today or was there maybe an afternoon on zoom worth of planning involved

— Steven Lee (@Stevenwill88) November 24, 2022

Beautiful tribute to Archie Roach and Judith Durham. Then they decided to butcher ONJ’s memory. WHY. #ARIAs

— Peter Sereno (@petersereno) November 24, 2022

Olivia deserved better. #ARIAs

— Scott Bates (@batescott) November 24, 2022

Meanwhile, rapper Baker Boy won five ARIAs, including album of the year, for the critically acclaimed Gela.

Baker Boy, otherwise known as Danzal James Baker, gave his album of the year acceptance speech in his indigenous language Yolgnu Matha, which is native to northeast Arnhem Land.

If the newspaper headline tomorrow isn’t Baker’s Delight they all oughta lose their jobs #arias

— mark (@voodoorock) November 24, 2022

He rapped Meditjin for the crowd at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and then was back on stage moments later to receive the gong for best hip hop/rap release.

“This is crazy!” he exclaimed, dedicating the gong to family and young people back home.

“We can make that success … I did it, I’ve been there and I know you can,” he said.

Baker Boy also took home best solo artist, while his album Gela won best cover art and mix engineer-best mixed album.

The #ARIAs have been totally dominated by First Nations artists this year. Undeniable excellence across the whole field 🙌🏻

— Urthboy (@urthboy) November 24, 2022

Tones And I won song of the year for her tune Cloudy Day, her fifth ARIA Award win, and said the awards had an awesome line-up in 2022.

“It’s pretty cool to see the future of Australian music representing tonight,” she said.

Rock band Amyl and the Sniffers took home two ARIAs: best group and best rock album, and had the crowd on their feet with a performance of Guided By Angels.

The Wiggles won best children’s album and best Australian live act, while best pop release went to The Kid LAROI.

The late Archie Roach was awarded best independent release for One Song, which Budjerah, Thelma Plum and Jess Mauboy performed in his memory.

ARIA AWARDS 2022

* Album of the Year: Baker Boy – Gela

* Best Solo Artist: Baker Boy – Gela

* Song of the Year: Tones And I – Cloudy Day

* Best Group: Amyl and The Sniffers – Comfort To Me

* Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist: King Stingray – King Stingray

* Best Pop Release: The Kid LAROI – Thousand Miles

* Best Dance/Electronic Release: Luude – Down Under

* Best Hip Hop/Rap Release: Baker Boy – Gela

* Best Soul/R&B Release: Budjerah – Conversations