Australian National Anthem

What's the go with the current trend of the flourish in the music at the beginning? IIRC it didn't use to be this way.
I think that is a wank.

Or ending on the high C.

At least we finally have decent performers, in my opinion nothing beats John Williamson with the scarf and acoustic around his neck but the ARU seems to prefer the big percussion.

Wow, Scarfie, I didn't know you had a "commercial-grade" singing voice!! And doing duets with Willo, it doesn't get any better, does it?

Free seats to boot. Probably in the ARU box with all the other benefits that entails. That's True Blue.

Seems to be the way things are trending.

The Saffers have 3 languages. The Darkness do theirs in Maori and English.

Why shouldn't ours include an indigenous element?

C'mon Aunty Joolia, how 'bout making it official?

From memory, 126 different tongues at the start of white settlement. Maybe we could work our way through the GPS war-cries? Would love to hear the old "Alligator, mince meat, crocodile pie" in front of 30-50k in the stands, and a huge TV audience!!

It was excellent and the girls made is sound quite majestic! The only problem I can see with it being brought into our Anthem is there are some real tongue twisters in it!

I've always hated how singers/the public try and belt out the anthem as quick as possible. When they slow it down it really brings some passion back into it it sounds great!

"What's the go with the current trend of the flourish in the music at the beginning? IIRC it didn't use to be this way.
I think that is a wank."

I'm watching Ireland v Australia (2009, in Ireland) on One (recorded) and there was no musical flourish before the vocals began.
Perhaps it occurs when the anthem is played before a rugby test in Australia, not elsewhere.

Aside: I thought that the YC in the 30th minute to Palu was BS. I thought that at the time.

Snap. Bring back the Army Brass Bands, or the local equivalent from the Salvos or Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. They have the ability to slow the tempo down to one that those so inclined in the crowd can karaoke along to.

Memo to JO'N, Bring back the Golden Scarf Choir. Gotta be cheaper than hiring the latest thing from whatever reality show the Networks are trying to promote. How about the Goulburn Fizzy Reds 3rd Grade team? Free tickets and a Keg of Amber Ale, and I'm sure that they would belt out an absolute ripper of an Anthem.

Not a fan of Canned music at the footy.

I'm watching Wales v Australia (2011, in Wales) on One (recorded) and there was no musical flourish before the vocals began.

I believe that there were about 250 living Aboriginal languages at settlement. Today there are around 140, many of which are not the primary language spoken and are in danger of dying out. Unfortunately, it is impossible to ascertain how many languages existed at settlement though. It is thought that there were as many languages as there were place names.

Doesn't detract from your point though Mr Doug.

Thanks TRB, I stand corrected. I thought 126 was an amazing stat., but 250 is even more impressive. To me it shows how ignorant some people are when they 'bundle' them all into one "aborigininal industry", which has now become the "Sovereign Industry", and claim to represent them all. I grew up with them in NW NSW, I've lived in a community with them in WA, and they are very different groups with different customs and needs, and different again to the Torres Straight Islanders!

Anyone watch the Darkness vs the Single Malts? Watched it on the IQ just now.

Something about a massed band, and bag pipes for the anthems. No castrati trying to lead the anthems. Just singing.

The bands stopped playing for the second verse and the crowd sang it unaccompanied. Impressed the McJarses.

Sadly, I somehow can't this happening in Australia.


I was impressed with the stage management of the minutes silence for Rememberance Day at Murrayfield. To celebrate the guns falling silent in WW1, what better than to have an artillery howitzer at the oval to fire off a round to start the minutes silence?

Beneath our radiant southern cross, we'll toil with hearts and hands.
To make this commonwealth of ours renowned across all lands.
...
...
...

Nope, that's it.