Opinions on Advance Australia Fair

[Dingo]

Greetings, as most who read my fanfic on this forum know, one of my main characters is of Australian descent. I figure that 24th Century Earth has its various 'states' of which one of them is Australia.

I'm planning on the State Song for my 24th Century Australia to be Advance Australia fair but am curious about what's the Australian opinion of the song compared to let's say Waltzing Matilda, which my research says nearly became the Australian national anthem.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

Greetings, as most who read my fanfic on this forum know, one of my main characters is of Australian descent. I figure that 24th Century Earth has its various 'states' of which one of them is Australia.

I'm planning on the State Song for my 24th Century Australia to be Advance Australia fair but am curious about what's the Australian opinion of the song compared to let's say Waltzing Matilda, which my research says nearly became the Australian national anthem.

It's my understanding that Australians hate Waltzing Matilda.

 

[Dingo]

It's my understanding that Australians hate Waltzing Matilda.

If that's the case, why did a very enthusiastic crowd at the 2003 Rugby World Cup sing it in response to the New Zealand All Blacks Haka?

 

[Rii]

Advance Australia Fair is marginally more tolerable than Waltzing Matilda. Still think you'd be better off with Midnight Oil's "Power and the Passion".

 

[All Seeing Eye]

It's my understanding that Australians hate Waltzing Matilda.

If that's the case, why did a very enthusiastic crowd at the 2003 Rugby World Cup sing it in response to the New Zealand All Blacks Haka?

Because it's an annoying song and they wanted to inflict pain and terrible suffering.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

It's my understanding that Australians hate Waltzing Matilda.

If that's the case, why did a very enthusiastic crowd at the 2003 Rugby World Cup sing it in response to the New Zealand All Blacks Haka?

Because it's an annoying song and they wanted to inflict pain and terrible suffering.

I thought New Zealanders by definition were immune to pain and suffering?


Besides, I think "Back In Black" would make a kick-arse Aussie anthem.

 

[Rii]

I thought New Zealanders by definition were immune to pain and suffering?

Research is ongoing.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I thought New Zealanders by definition were immune to pain and suffering?

Research is ongoing.

We'll help you with that - we'll send you back Dannii Minogue and Peter Andre.

 

[Orac Zen]

You're welcome to them. After all, you seem to actually find them appealing.

"Advance Australia Fair" can sound horrendous, but when performed by (a) decent singer(s) and at a reasonably upbeat tempo (funereal pace really, really doesn't work for it at all) it's a pretty decent anthem. A lot of people seem to loathe it but I'm not one of them. "Waltzing Matilda", in contrast, is pure, unadulterated shit - whatever way it's performed. To each their own, I suppose.

If we get another anthem it ought to be "I Am Australian". Of course, it'd end up being one of the longest anthems in existence but I'm sure its writers could do something about that.

 

[Marc]

Advance Australia Fair has been described as a "dirge" which ties with with what Orac Zen said about the tempo.

And who the fuck uses "girt" in a song?

 

[Jono]

Advance Australia Fair isn't a terrible national anthem, it does have odd lyrics and is hard to sing well but it is far superior as an official national anthem then Waltzing Matilda would be. WM is about stealing and then an incompetent get away...

It's my understanding that Australians hate Waltzing Matilda.

If that's the case, why did a very enthusiastic crowd at the 2003 Rugby World Cup sing it in response to the New Zealand All Blacks Haka?

Because it's an annoying song and they wanted to inflict pain and terrible suffering.

It's psychological warfare, the song is about stealing a sheep, which is the most heinous of crimes in NZ and punishable by death.

 

[Darth Picardous]

Well if the song is for Oz in the 24th century, then some of the words would need to be changed.

1) We would no longer be young and free...maybe old and grumpy.
2) Our land abounds in natures gifts...well by then we would have killed all the animals and mined the shit out of the countryside.

maybe the words will be "land abounds in dilithium crystals" and "Advance Australia in the Federation fair"

 

[Rii]

And who the fuck uses "girt" in a song?

I enjoyed Billy Connolly's rant on the anthem. "Girt? Fuck off!"

 

[unimatrix7]

Advance Australia Fair is terrible. So is Waltzing Matilda. I suppose I Still Call Australia Home is tolerable, thanks QANTAS.

But I kind of think that national anthems are stupid in both idea and substance. So they all suck.

Unless someone wanted to make Eagle Rock the national anthem. Or Working Class Man. They'd be sweet.

 

[Australis]

Working Class Man might have been done by Barnesy, but iirc, it was written by an American.

Yes we need to get rid of names - Gert Bysea needs to go. And 'Waltzing Matilda' is a crap song for an anthem.

Most national anthems are dirges - God Save the Queen (not the Sex Pistols one), Flower of Scotland come to mind.

Let's spin this slightly.

Here's Bill Bailey's suggestion for a UK national anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WktxIqbGAj0

Now, having watched that (and it really is worth watching), what about:

'Advance Australia Fair' remixed by The Dissociatives
OR same song as performed by Wolfmother
'Great Southern Land' by Icehouse
'My Country' by da Oils
'Howzat' by Sherbet, set to a marching beat
'Friday On My Mind' by the massed pipes and drums bands

Ummmm, more when I think of them. Join in!

There has to be more. Something angry, but laid back. Energetic but lazy. You get the idea.

 

[Goliath]

Advance Australia Fair is terrible.

Hey, it could be worse.

You could be stuck with "O Canada" instead.

 

[Marc]

Advance Australia Fair is terrible.

Hey, it could be worse.

You could be stuck with "O Canada" instead.

Or even worse

As an Australian now living in an Canada

I have both as a national anthem.

Also don't know if it's still the case but up till the 1990s the Returned Services League (Australian War Veterans association) still sang God Save The Queen.