GIRT USED TO IT!

Allons enfants, Comrade.

Let's denounce the old world!
Let's shake its dust from our feet!
We're enemies to the golden idols,
We detest the Czar's palaces!
We will go among the suffering brethren,
We will go to the hungry people;
Together with them we send our curses to the evil-doers,
We will call them to struggle with us

That's La Marseillaise, don't you know. It was once the Russian National Anthem. Different words, of course. "Curses to the evil doers," surely that's a joke. But The Marseillaise, never the less.

The French national anthem is THE BEST national anthem; bar none. The full-length version is simply amazing; marching-music meets Cowgirl In The Sand. A real slow burner. Both the long and short versions make Advance Australia Fare pale by comparison. In fact, the only anthem to rival it would be The Star Spangled Banner.

Unfortunately though, anthem-wise, we're at a disadvantage down here in Straya. We've never sacked a Czarist palace or, for that matter, stormed a Bastille or shelled a Fort McHenry. So when it comes to picking a rousing anthem, we're somewhat stuck for stirring subject matter.

"Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!"

"To cut the throats of your sons and squeezes." Now that's the kind of material we need. Huzzar!

In the meantime, though, can we just stop the nonsense about our song. It's not bad, it's not good, it's just a song. It's much better as an anthem than mediocre pop ditties like Sounds of Then (that canefield song) and Great Southern Land. Or a frightful, whiny, hideous dirge like Reckless.

If we haven't found a better anthem by now, it's unlikely there's one out there. Unless some hitherto unrevealed rebel outfit sacks Canberra and executes the government, should AAF still be there in 50 years, no one will give it a second thought.

Or just maaaybe ...

Hey, true blue ... is it me or you ... well we've ....

Comments

[Tony.T]

Just by the by.

The Marseillaise forms the basis for the Brisbane Lions song.

Although the new version is not a patch on the old Fitzroy one -- Why buggerize the lyrics? All they need do was change "Fitzroy" to "Brisbane" -- it still JUST ranks as the best team song.

The next would be A Grand Old Flag, and definitely NOT that anthem for drunken bogans, We're From Tigerland.

[boynton]

As fond as I am of Cheer, Cheer The Red and The White, I'd have to vote for Tigerland as the best team song.
Followed by Collingwood.
That hybrid song of the Melbourne Hawks was ok.

[vague]

My favorite part was always "qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons." I kind of liked the idea of the earth being soaked with the impure blood.

But come to think of it, wouldn't that poison the fields or something, bringing the corrupt nature of the "traîtres" and "rois conjurés" into the very nature of their produce? Maybe not such a wise plan, agriculturally speaking.

It is very inspiring when everyone at Sam's starts singing it in Casablanca, though. That's really the film's song, moreso than "As Time Goes By," some might say, n'est-ce pas?

[Tony.T]

You're dreaming, B: "Shake down the Boynton from the sky".

A very gory song all round, Vague. What with the cutting down our warrior sons and the ripping out mothers' wombs and the bloody despots. Very much my cup of blood ... err ... tea.

You could use the impure blood to fertilise broad beans. I don't like them. Actually, you mightn't call them broad beans over there; think fat lentils instead.

There's no doubt the Casablanca one goes rather well. Do you know what song the Germans are singing?

[Clem Snide]

Yes, no doubt about it, our anthem is lame. I mean Jesus H. Christ "golden soil and wealth for toil our land is girt by sea"!!! Even William McGonagall would cringe at that. It's not quite as lame & banal as "God Save the Queen", but still mediocre both musically and lyrically. My preference would be a more emotionally stirring song which accurately reflects the modern Australian character. I think something "I Like It Both Ways" or "Shaddap You Face" would fit the bill, perhaps modified to include a coda of "Hadlee's a wanker" [clap clap, clap clap, clap].

[Tony.T]

Australiana maybe. Shake yer wangar-att-er, Clem.

http://www.austentayshus.com/

Coincidentally, like McGonagall, the guy what penned AAF was a 19th century Scottish bloke, too.

Personally? I vote for The Sunnyboys' Happy Man. Afterall, we're a very happy nation of convicts. Hmmm, that reminds me of Dave Warner.

So many choices.

[TimT]

Do you know I was looking at The Horst Wessel Lied just then - that's the official anthem of the Nazi party - and this bit is exactly like the opening bars to Advance Australia Fair!

(And don't look at me like that. I was curious!)

[Tony.T]

Indeed, Tim. Very curious.

COINCIDENTALLY ... ahem ... I was just reading up on Deutschland Über Alles which has a real name, Das Lied Der Deutschen. Loosely translated that means "The Song For Germans". Grandiose name, no? It's actually a string quartet by Haydn.

When I was at school, it was a hymn. Can't remember which one though. But I'm pretty sure it was 444 in the OEHB. Then again, to me EVERY hymn was 444.

By the way, the Casablanca song wasn't The Horst Wessel. Or even The Keppler Wessel.

[boynton]

this hymn?

[Tony.T]

That's hym-n! Thanks her-mn.

It's Boynton I have to thank for reminding me about Sunday chapel. I've blocked out the goose-stepping, though.

[hungbunny]

La Marseillaise rocks, you're right.

I'm about to start work on an eight CD set of Complete National Anthems of the World, so there may well be some contenders for the crown in that little lot. I'll let you know.

[hungbunny]

La Marseillaise rocks, you're right.

I'm about to start work on an eight CD set of Complete National Anthems of the World, so there may well be some contenders for the crown in that little lot. I'll let you know.

[Harry Hutton]

What about "Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution." That's in the Star-Spangled Banner, though they often skip that verse.

It is amazing how many anthems have a go at the English.

[Gert B-C]

Dunno where you got the idea that "Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!" has anything to do with cutting froats.

Au cointreau, it translates as (according to the pen of my Aunt what knows a thing or deux about which way it is to the railway station) "stuff yer son with mushrooms".

(And just because it's off season in the vegie patch, there's no reason to slag off at the noble broad bean! Enough of the "let them eat brussel sprouts" if you don't mind umpire!)

[TimT]

Let them eat brussel sprouts sounds like a motto my mother would use.

I remember singing that hymn as well Tony. It was one of the favourites in the Sunday chapel. After that we'd usually get together and annex Czechoslovakia.

[SB]

The Australian Anthem should be "Shaggin' Matilda".

I do like that song from 'Cabaret', "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" though. Maybe we could get some better lyrics and use that.

[Tony.T]

I notice everyone has given True Blue the attention it deserves.

Very good. Carry on, then.

[vague]

Yeah, apparently the Nazis only focused on the first verse ("Deutschland Deutschland Ueber alles") whereas the official anthem today includes only the third verse (the one that's all "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit.") I guess the second verse never really had its day.

[os]

After 20 years of going to Rotary meetings in a previous life, I can say "AAF" absolutely sucks as a song to sing. Too hard, and that makes it turn into an embarassing mess, not a matter for pride.
As far as other anthems go, have you ever been in a footy stadium in Wales and heard the crowd sing "Land of My Fathers"? Spine tingling. When you sit down again, you're shaking.
Ditto "The Slaves Chorus" by Verdi, the Italian anthem.
For us, I kinda like the Seekers song, "I am Australian".
And finally, I hesitate to get into another potentially embarassing discussion on German grammar with you Teach, but I'd have thought "Das Lied Der Deutschen" would be more accurately translated as "The Song of the Germans" ... "der" being genitive plural.
Now I'll be in the shit for sure.

[Tony.T]

"Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit"

Boring. Unity and right, well, they always feature in these songs. But "Freiheit" should read "Freizeit". The right to have time off should be ensconsed in the national song.

Now, Os. Os. Os.

I DID write "loosely translated".

It's very true Das Lied Der Deutschen would translate more exactly as "The Song of the Germans". Here in vernacular-swept Straya, though, "The Song For Germans" would also be satisfactory. "For" being the operative word. Connecting "Song" with "Germans" in a possessive, and thus genitive, sense. Even though it does lack the more direct "The" Germans.

[Tony.T]

Something just occurred to me, Hung ...

I'm about to start work on an eight CD set of Complete National Anthems of the World ...

You were being sarcastic. Before I'd just thought "what the fuck?!?"

Stay tuned: More startling insights as they creep to mind.

[os]

Well, I spose I asked for it.
I always had to sit up the back at Denmark. Dumb but smart too ... that's where the fireplace was.

[flute]

Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur I think you'll find is the best and most stirring sporting anthem. Along with "Everywhere we go" from the Barmy Army.

La Marseillaise - makes you want to destroy any nation, its that good
The Brisbane Lions version - makes you want to destroy Aker, it's that atrocious.

Don't forget "Flower of Scotland" in your list of barnstormers.

[Tony.T]

Actually you were right. But picky. It's a crime here, you know. I've got my operatives out looking for you. Expect a knock at 4:23 in the AM.

You got a fireplace?!? Luxury. How's Beazer's return going down in Denmark?

[Tony.T]

The Wales and Scottish anthems at rugby internationals are both huge, Flutasaurus. I'd love to get along to experience them. And I've always liked the Barmy Army. They're waaaaay better than our stupid yobbo chanters. That Jerusalem song goes alright, too.

On the downside, Spurs are evil! Nothing associated with them is good.

[flute]

Yes Tonalia Rex, the taffs have got a good one too. How come its the English that got left with the duff one?

[Tony.T]

It's true, you know, Flutadactyl. It's almost impossible to fire up to God Save The Queen. It's really very dire. See if you can swap it for Bhutan's; The Thunder Dragon Kingdom.

These ones come with a bonus monkey to turn the handle.

Did you know the European Union has Ode To Joy as it's official anthem?

[flute]

dear oh dear. The Red Flag, now there's a tune.

[Tony.T]

Is this The Red Flag you mean?

[TimT]

In Magical Mystery Tour, one person performs a rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy to a tiger while being held upside down in a cellar. Is that how they perform it in the European Union?

BTW, can anyone find a copy of the Horst Wessel Lied sheet music on the net? All I could find was excerpts.

[Tony.T]

There is no music, Tim. Horst Wessel lied.

Boom. Tish.

[Tony.T]

Senegal's has the best name; Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons.

[flute]

This is the red flag I mean.

[Tony.T]

Yes, that one. That's the one I linked to.

Not sure it's essence still excites our Labor Party, though.

[DJ]

Don't forget the Wolves legendary Teddy Bears Picnic.

When you go out on the field today
you better go in disguise
When you go out on the field today
You're in for a big surprise

For every wolf that ever there was
Will gather round for certain because
Today's the day the Wickham Wolves have a victory

Victory time for Wickham Wolves
The mighty Wickham Wolves are having a fucking good win today
See us watch us sink our piss
We love to sing and dance into the night

Christ it loses it there. Forunately I forget the rest.

Legendary yet completely pathetic. I love it.

[TimT]

You mean Herr Wessel was just lied-ing us on? The bastard!

[hungbunny]

I kid you not, Tony. It's sure to be a bestseller.

[Harry Hutton]

OS, that Verdi piece is the anthem of "Padania", the Northern League's imaginary country in the North of Italy.

I read somewhere that Waltzing Matilda was originally a recruiting song from the War of the Spanish Succession:

"And they sang as they marched,
Through the crowded streets of Rochester,
Who'll be a soldier for Marlbrough and me?"

[Brett Pee]

Let Kevin 'bloody' Wilson pen a new Aussie anthem.

[SB]

The only worthwhile version of the Red Flag is the pisstake version we sang in the 70s which concluded: "You can shove the red flag up your arse".

There is nothing so ridiculous as an impassioned commie. I think they call themselves progressives now, but they smell the same, reeking of their own moral superiority.

[Harry Hutton]

"The working class can kiss my arse,
I've got the foreman's job at last..."

(To tune of Red Flag.)

[os]

Denmark is infested with Greens and Lefties, so for all I know, the "Bomber's Back" story is big in the valleys.
I thought I was right, but I copped the admonition, because being picky is pissweak - it's easy to be a picky poster, not so easy to blog. 4.23AM is too late, I'm already out of bed, milked the cows and cycling to Greens Pool for my 10 km swim.
Thanks Harry, I post first, think second usually. It often makes me look like a goose, but at least I'm a fast goose. I think it's called the March of the Hebrew Slaves anyway. Must Google Padania, never heard of that place.
TT, I'm not sure Labor will win the marginals they need to stay in Government. One Nation preferences handed them Swan Hills, Geraldton, Bunbury and Albany at the last General Election and the Libs should get Alfred Cove back (which Doug Shave should never have lost), also Riverton (Graham Kierath targetted by the unions, Margaret Thomas much better chance). I'm upbeat anyway.

[Scott Wickstein]

What about "Who's that lying on the runway?" for the best sporting anthem?

[The Hack]

Unless I've missed it (and that's entirely possible given the hour I startsred this morning) I see no-one has suggested we replace AAF with Waltzing Matilda.

I've heard that swap suggested several times this week, with commentators including Derryn Hinch suggesting it's a much more stirring anthem that AAF.

Are these people deaf?

WM is a song about a homeless man who stole a sheep, got caught red-handed and killed himself rather than get sent to the pen.

Hardly the stuff of glorious national pride, eh?

I still back Caz's campaign to replace AAF with Khe Sanh.

This is despite the fact that Australians didn't fight anywhere near Khe Sanh during the Vietnam War, and despite the very unlikely line about there being "no V-Day heroes in 1973" when Jimmy and the boys "sailed into Sydney Harbour". At best they touched down on a Qantas flight at Mascot.

Inaccuracies aside, if you can't feel a swell of national pride when you hear Khe Sanh, you're:

a) not Australian;
b) deaf; or,
c) the type that regards either Kylie Minogue, Keith Urban or Savage Garden as our greatest musical exports.

[Tony.T]

Harry & Hack, Waltzing Matilda has Scottish origins tune-wise. I've not heard the Spanish succession story, but I've definitely heard it played in documentaries about America in the 19th century. Maybe The Civil War, but I wouldn't swear to that. That would pre-date the words as we know them today.

I agree with Hack, though. It's a stupid song to have as an anthem. What with the thief and his suicide. But no doubt Hungbunny could fit it on the obligatory bonus CD of his Anthems Of The World opus. On the other hand, I don't agree it should be Khe Sanh. It should be Bad Habits.

Os, it's a disgrace Alfred Cove went to Labor in the first place. Will you Libs get your act together over there please. What's more, you're far to active! "Lazy come lazy go." That's my motto. Anyhoo, as I hear it, although Gallop is considered a bit of a wood-duck, the other mob aren't particularly attractive either. Then because Gallop's only been there a short time, neither party's insiders are detecting a great swell to oust him.

Wicky, just for you ...

Who's that lying on the runway
Who's that lying in the snow
Its Matt Busby and his boys
making all the fucking noise
coz they couldn't get the airplane to go

That's not nice.

[Tony.T]

Die Wacht am Rhine, people! That is the song the square-heads sing in Casablanca.

Not good enough all round.

[Tony.T]

"Wacht am Rhine" is also the code name for the German's Battle of the Bulge offensive.

Such a nice name, don't you think. Infinitely better that Operation Market Garden (A Bridge Too Far). With a wussy name like that the Allies deserved getting their arses thumped.

[Nabakov]

I alway liked the line in La Marseillaise about "mercenary phallus" - until I was gently corrected by a local while singing it on a rooftop overlooking the Champs Du Mars one Bastille night.

And my understanding of La Marseillaise is that it evolved not from a Russian song but from "Chant de Guerre de l'Armee du Rhin", composed by Rouget de Lisle, an 18th century Frog sapper.

But what do I know? I'm just a drunk who sings "dicks for hire" on Parisian rooftops.

[Tony.T]

But, Nab, in the link it says La Mars came before the Revolutionary Ruski Rondelay. Not the other way around.

The reason they dumped it, no doubt, was because it was one of the more comic anthems going around. A shocker, in fact. It would have worked better as a Footlights piss-take.

PS: I left an question for you at Troppo. I demand answers, dammit!

[Nabakov]

OK, from now on I resolve to read comments before I comment on them.

But for classic national anthems you can't go beyond the hope, triumph, pride and grand dreams for the future of "“Ukraine is still not dead yet.”

[aventuregirl]

Now you're just making me homesick. *sigh*

[Tony.T]

What about the anthem of Burkina Faso, Nab? One Single Night. That could be the anthem of a dozen West African countries. It's about how long a government usually lasts over there.

Locals call it the Ouagadougou Shuffle.

I didn't know you were from The Ukraine, Addy.

[Adam 1.0]

The two Germany's had the best. West just shading East.

[Tony.T]

The East German -- The DDR, sports fans -- anthem was Risen From The Ruins. Ironic considering it's already back in ruins. It conjures up pictures of enormous female(?) swimmers, anyway.

They tried a new one in West Germany (FRD), but soon dumped it in favour of the oldy-but-goody, Lied der Deutschen. That's the one they stuck with after unification.

I wonder if they considered sticking them together after the merge. You know, like the Melbourne Dorks Grand Ole Flag / Yankee Doodle Dandy affair.

[os]

Doug Shave was Richard Court's numbers man and had him by the nuts, so RFC couldn't/wouldn't demote him from Cabinet. The good folk of Alfred Cove said, well if you won't sack him, we will - and we'll sack you while we're at it.

The seat of Albany was ditto. Kevin Prince had sustained a lot of flak over his involvement in the Mortgage Brokers scandal and he'd also had a bout of Pancreatitis (a la Mono Scrote), but still Court refused to ease him out. KP and RFC were Hale School boys. Albany had been held by the Libs since 1974 with a margin as wide as the ocean and it went down the gurgler in 2001.

[Dirk Thruster]

Hack,
I thought it was "No V-E Day heroes in 1973"?

[Tony.T]

RFC = Richmond Football Club = Comedy.

Did the Libs win ANY seats in 2001? Labor over there are either wood-ducks or mining industry union boosters. They're duds. They shouldn't be allowed to govern. The Libs must have really, and I mean REALLY, stuffed things up!

Shows how much I know, Dirk, I thought "D-Day heroes". Well, I thought I thought. Now I don't know what I thought. Think.

[Alessandra]

The Star Spangled Banner is strong but only if you get to the end (land of the free part). The Marseillaise starts strong and just takes off.

Di Quella Pira by Verdi is too operatic but it has that major "allons enfants" exhortation thrust - Charge!!
specially the chorus joins in. more of charge than a national anthem.

[Dirk Thruster]

I watched a doco on Discovery Science the other day and as an aside, they had a little story about only the words of 'Star Spangled Banner' being written by an American. Apparently the music comes from the anthem of a sixteenth century English club named after a sixth century b.c. Greek poet. The aims of the club were to drink too much, sing badly and pinch the serving wenches.
Sounds like my local pub.

[Tony.T]

Alessandra, you know the main reason I got to like TSSB? I just got used to it at the Olympics and various other events. And TV. And movies. And popular music. In fact, is there anywhere you Yanks DON'T play it?!?

Here we go, Dirk. Once more, with feeling ... To Anacreon in Heaven.

"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my lute,
And inspire you to boot,

Catchy, no?

[Alessandra]

Alessandra, you know the main reason I got to like TSSB? I just got used to it at the Olympics and various other events. And TV. And movies. And popular music. In fact, is there anywhere you Yanks DON'T play it?!?
================================
:-D of course, not. How else can you be an obnoxiously egocentric, overbloated empire?

not to inflict one more TSSB on you, but if you haven´t heard the Whitney Houstoun Super Bowl recording of the TSSB, it´s the one to hear. It´s very pretty. Her voice just goes from soft to very powerful in ways that are amazing.

you know that "the land of the free, home of the brave," always makes me think it should be sung by Native Americans, not white people.

[Tony.T]

Didn't Whitney become Bobby Brown's crack-whore? When she was here a few years back, she got stuck into the all-night party scene and couldn't perform.

Unlike one of here backing singers. But that's another story.

[Alan E Brain]

Scary but True.

"Gilligan's Isle" sounds better when sung to the tune of "Advance Australia Fair", and vice-versa.

(Imagine Oz's national anthem as the tune)
Just Sit Right Back
And hear a tale,
A Tale of a Fateful Trip
That start-ed from a Tropic Port
Aboard this ti-ny ship
The Mate was a Mighty
Sailin' Man
The Skipper
Brave and Sure
Five Pass-engers
Set Sail that day
For a
Three-Hour
Tour

Five Passengers set sail that day
For a Three-Hour Tour!

[Alessandra]

Didn't Whitney become Bobby Brown's crack-whore?

That´s a little strong, isn´t it? What is it with all this swearing these days?

[Tony.T]

Jesus.H.Christ, AE. I hope you copied that and didn't type it out from memory.

A sad story, it is, Alessandra. You're probably not aware of the balls-up that was Whitney's last tour of Australia. I'll spare you the lurid details.

[Alessandra]

I was not talking about the tour or Whitney, but about your language... I´ll spare you the details on that as well...

[Brett Pee]

Mike Witney was the doyen of early 80's pace men no ?? With a ridiculous curly- wurly mop- they showed him trying to catch Botham in 1981 and the crowd jeering. I bet he probably ended up in neighbours or something.

ps Are people adding to this thread deliberately to reach the magic 100 ?

[Tony.T]

Must admit I was somewhat shocked to be chastised on my own blog when I woke up this morning, Alessandra. I think the curse of Whitney has come back to haunt me.

In 1992 the hairdresser living next door to me played the Bodyguard song over and over and over and over ... and over again. I had to go next door to tell her to give it a rest. My brain was being eaten away. I did it politely, you understand, but she was upset nevertheless. Told me I had no taste in music, to which I replied "Well, not any more. That's for sure."

No good ever comes of those kinds of exchanges.

Brett, that's a good idea. This post can be the post to come where commenters can come and give me sh ... a hard time. Well, harder than normal.

[April23rd]

Va, pensiero, eh?

But not, apparently, so far as Oz.

love