Passion and Australia are two words that fall hand in hand when sports is on the agenda. But it must be said, the Star Spangled Banner really does Waltz over Matilda, even before the games begin.
Though a Lionel Richie pre-match serenade does take some beating.
I’m surely not the only one who struggles to draw inspiration from lyrics such as “We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil” or “our home is girt by sea.”
Our anthem sounds less witty then my sarcasm in the first paragraph.
Whilst a contestant from Australian Idol or the X-factor enlightens us with such words, Billy Joel’s (performed twice at the Superbowl) got the ‘Yanks’ clutching at chests as fighter planes and fireworks light up the sky.
Let’s be honest, the performance of our anthem doesn’t even give passion a look in.
The lyrics, as boring as they may be, can be excused if sung in a manner that brings life to them. We sing Advance Australia Fair in a way that can only be described as tedious.
Before we even worry about changing the flag, let’s remix Advance Australia Fair once and for good. David Guetta added some spice to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes classic hit “I’ve had the time of my life”, why not bring out the “hip” in our anthem.
Advance Australia Fair will peak in the music charts before you know it. Even Americans will be singing it.
Where that might be fantasy, an extra effort when singing our national anthem should be a realistic goal – at the sporting meet or anywhere performed in front of a crowd.
If nothing changes, I might one day not rise for the national anthem. I might be put to sleep by the sound of the soft lullaby
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
But all generic, there is nothing in this verse or any other dealing with the uniqueness of Australia, the land. Just curious any of you who have seen Australia (the film) what's the theme tune? ;)
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I don't mind the Australian anthem, the English anthem or God Defend New Zealand. But I don't know why we have to have them sung at us all the time at sporting events. It's a fairly recent innovation and smacks of razzamattazz that doesn't sit well with the laconic and undemonstrative Aussie nature. We usually get someone who has listened to far too much Mariah Carey, singing a dud version with notes all over the place like ants at a sugar industry picnic. I repeat, it's inappropriate to have the anthem sung at club or state games. And that goes double if we have to put up with John Williamson singing Waltzing Matilda at union matches.
Jeff
Guest
How on earth do you reflect the "diverse" culture Australia is today then?
Jeff
Guest
the majority? Half the population live in Qld and NSW!
Tageskarte
Guest
What happened in Novermber 2005?
juro
Guest
Verse 5 of the lyrics I found: I'm the hot wind from the desert I'm the black soil of the plains I'm the mountains and the valleys I'm the drought and flooding rains I am the Rock, I am the Sky The Rivers when they run The Spirit of This Great Land I am Australian
juro
Guest
How could anyone vote for Waltzing Matilda? A story about a bloke who steals a sheep then kills himself instead of being arrested. How inspiring! pfft!! And then anyone who criticises Advance Australia Fair because of the word 'girt', have a look at the words in Waltzing Matilda. It's full of words that nobody uses in regular day-to-day life.
Football Fan
Guest
The Irish have an anthem that is brilliant. As for Australia - I was meh about ours till I went to Homebush in November 2005 and heard 85.000 folks belting it out, most of them getting teary while they did it... The poor little poppet who was supposed to sing it just didn't stand a chance...
Ken
Guest
I think Advance Australia Fair had been kicking around as a secondary anthem for quite some time before '84, they had been officially looking to change the anthem for 15 years or so before it happened. The song itself has been around since the 19th century. I'm pretty sure though that GSTQ is still the national anthem of Australia in some contexts - i.e. when royals are present Truthfully though, what is the purpose of the anthem really? Maybe in olden times it was a oral banner to instill pride in a nation, convince people it's worth killing and dying for... these days, it's just a song to sing before sporting contests and when our Olympians are standing on a podium right? Maybe we should adjust it appropriately, how about a bit of Rose Tattoo 'We can't be beaten'!
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
So is England a country on its own then Hutchoman? Not technically, tho perhaps they have been acting de facto on their wishes not the wishes the true union...
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
Lol you wonder why they keep up their fervent monarchism then eh? Actually the other two songs they're not very revolutionary either, they're just much more associated with England (however after Little Britain I started thinking otherwise ;) )
Tageskarte
Guest
I think we should wait until after the Chinese take over before we change it.
Tageskarte
Guest
I was there last time out and it was the most inspiring/atmospheric event I have ever been to.
Tageskarte
Guest
Perhaps a reworked version of Star Spangled Banner is appropriate for modern Australia.
Numban
Guest
Why not just adopt Star Spangled Banner? It says as much about the Australian people as the other options do.
Tortion
Guest
Spot on Ken.
Flying dutchman
Guest
The German anthem is also moving " Deutchland uber allez"....anyway so your half jappie stoffy? thats cool, doesnt matter since about 90% of aussies will have some jappie blood in them come 2030. Mag die engel van geluk op jou skouer kak. (may the angel of luck leave a dump on your shoulder)
james
Guest
Ive always said the best anthem for us should be "We are Australian" It was used in the Rugby 03 world cup and it got my blood pumping. It also epitomises what it is to be Australaian
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKEDgbDuuBk The Internationale, the anthem of the soviet union is rather inspirational in the movie Airforce One, the scene where General Radek is released from prison.
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
The anthem of the Soviet Union, The Internationale sounds very inspirational in the Airforce One scene when General Radek is released. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKEDgbDuuBk