Australia Day is Here again

[GoktimusPrime]

One of the neat things about living in Australia is that our nation was born in peace, not war - and it's something that we should take pride in (*cough*republic*cough*). While the war references in the Star Spangled Banner is dubious (although appreciable given the US's violent birth) as you said, it is very emotionally stirring. Advance Australia Fair doesn't achieve that same level of emotional pulling of the heart strings even when it's sung very well.

Waltzing Matilda actually draws more national pride from Australians than Advance Australia Fair, and - let's be honest - it's just a silly song that's about some dude getting chased by the law because he stole a sheep!! But it is a very iconic Australian folk song which elicits the level of national pride from Australians that Advance Australia Fair should - but usually doesn't. You play Advanced Australia Fair and Waltzing Matilda at a public assembly - Waltzing Matilda will get people singing along with greater participation and greater spirit!

Also, the third verse of Advance Australia Fair is quite objectionable as it sings about Australia's subservience to the British Crown and flies against the spirit of Australia as an independent sovereign state (in effect, it says that Australia is Britain's bee-otch).

IMO a far more ideal national anthem would be "I Am Australian". Some people resent it because it was adopted by Telstra in a very widely publicised marketing campaign, but the song itself wasn't made by Telstra and long predates Telstra's 2003 campaign that used the song (it was originally made in 1987 by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton). It's a contemporary Australian folk song and it stirs more national pride in me than Advance Australia Fair ever could.

"I Am Australian"
Traditional version
Modern version (Telstra)