Singing the National Anthem

[Squawk]

I don’t know about other people, but I always look forward to a good rendition of a National Anthem. Especially ours!

Why is it though that there is such a variation in the way the anthem is sung and the way in which the crowd responds?

IMHO I like pre-game anthems to be loud, bold and stirring with the accompanying backing music. It’s even better when the crowd gets involved and joins in as one. I really hate it when some singers try and stamp their own brand on the anthem with their own ‘version’ of the way in which it is sung.

To get you in the mood for thinking about this topic, watch this first – it is a rendition of the anthem as sung by Human Nature and Julie Anthony at the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony with a nice show to accompany it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iGNhgMd6uM&feature=related

and this

Olivia Newton John
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=qVezMI5S4Hg&feature=related


So what makes a good singing of our National Anthem? For crying out loud, we usually only have the first verse sung and it only takes just over a minute to run through.

[Squawk]

These are some versions I think are pretty good

Julia Messenger
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=AeVW3UdRYtk

Guy Sebastian
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=VmNOmWS4luM&feature=related

Anthony Callea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L38tqnRfShk

Jessica Mauboy (poor quality sound and picture but a good rendition)
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=HMoxcgUl-DU&feature=related

Natalie Colavito (poor quality sound and picture but a good rendition)
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=taa2eZ7JQwQ&feature=related

[Squawk]

Great voice but no backing music provided

Donna Burke at Aust vs Japan 2008
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi2YAdhAl28&feature=related

[Squawk]

Crowd-inspired singing is rarely evident at footy and cricket (other than Australia Day – Anzac Day is more reflective). However, it seems to be embraced by soccer and rugby crowds. Do we save our best crowd renditions for national teams and simply act as passive observers at standard sporting events (like AFL games)?

Aust vs Uruguay
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Asn67NgFrL8

Jimmy Barnes Aust vs Denmark
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=FfE4n2xVPvQ&feature=related

Aust vs NZ Rugby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZdrJA8saY0&feature=related

Adelaide Oval Aust Day – Aussies vs Poms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQucqAXpjpg

[Squawk]

Duets, Quartets etc just don’t seem to be the same as a solo performance of our anthem

Young Divas
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tw82OfFGbU&feature=related

Choir of Hard Knocks (disadvantaged people form this choir – but no disrespect is intended)
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=NgSVE5mO_rQ&feature=related

The Seekers
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ze7dkaki7iA&feature=related

[Squawk]

Ballad versions of our anthem – sung by trained and capable singers who have great voices but struggle to inspire a crowd

Deborah Wai Kapohe - Advance Australia Fair - Bledisloe Cup
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=FtGK-bc-cmc&feature=related

Natalie Bassingtwaite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRQguB50Zk&feature=related or
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=evrOj3lExzA&feature=related

Delta Goodrem
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cYvZWINN908&feature=related

[Squawk]

The “Do Not Book” list:

Rikki Lee
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMyVq3yHiA&feature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uLicue1cJxw&feature=related

Glen Shorrock - a shocker but you gotta love the “all in” coin toss at 1.20 in.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=xSry4MobvkA&feature=related

Daryl Somers
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hoosio_GwYY&feature=related

[Squawk]

At the end of the day, this is my favourite anthem singer. I just can’t find a clip of her doing the anthem to a big crowd.

Julie Anthony
sings verse 2 then the chorus/verse 1 (Human Nature sung verse 1 before Julie Anthony chimed in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmDTLKnOiYU

And although I hate the desecration of an anthem, I can appreciate this version:

Adam Hills (sung to the tune of Working Class Man)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuD3z0YmYI&feature=related

[Squawk]

FINALLY

When it all goes wrong….

Bardot BUTCHER our anthem
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi2YAdhAl ... re=related

Australian Anthem mistakenly played at Greece vs Turkey game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWmD0qgUD4A

Forgot the words to the Star Spangled Banner and then it gets worse…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1JEz8IIvUU

Borat sings the Kazakhstan National Anthem at US Baseball Game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U0cfiBPBtw

Worst 10 US Idol Auditioners sing Simply the Best to a Stadium full of people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIKkUTn1Wuc&feature=related

Only if you dare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrFW2aYHVR8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhkOK10wYG0&feature=related

[Pseudo]

So what makes a good singing of our National Anthem?

Craig Balme and Tim Evans

[Columbo]

The version done to the Gilligans Island tune isnt bad, might have been done by Jon Blake on 5AA, think Adam Hills may have done it also.
The one they play at the AFL games is ok, personally prefer it done by current artists.

[Psyber]

I haven't time today to listen to all those versions - I'll try to later.
Most renditions I've heard at public performances have been set too high.
Even guys seem to think it is only singing if they squeak...
Are any of them set for a bass voice?

PS: Listened quickly to a few - and liked the "working class man" version.

[A Mum]

I love the 'Working class man' version !!

[JK]

As a young lad I went to the 81' VFL Grand Final ... Carlton v Collingwood, 116,000+ crowd and Jon English to sing the Anthems.

To this day, I've never seen anyone get the crowd more involved at the footy, not even close to it ... He must have had at least half the crowd join him in belting* out "Waltzing Matilda", it was an amazing experience for an awestruck 9yr old.

[Psyber]

As a young lad I went to the 81' VFL Grand Final ... Carlton v Collingwood, 116,000+ crowd and Jon English to sing the Anthems.
To this day, I've never seen anyone get the crowd more involved at the footy, not even close to it ... He must have had at least half the crowd join him in belting* out "Waltzing Matilda", it was an amazing experience for an awestruck 9yr old.

That was probaby partly because the crowd knew Waltzing Matilda - hardly anyone knows the national anthem even now..
That includes me - but I know Walzing Matilda and "Song of Australia."
I always felt WM would have been a more honest choice!

[Dogwatcher]

[That was probaby partly because the crowd knew Waltzing Matilda - hardly anyone knows the national anthem even now..

I think the 'joke' or 'belief' that most Australians don't know the national anthem is a trifle overplayed.
I think most schools sing it once a week and it's played at major events, so how can people not know it? Surely it is (at least the first verse) imprinted in our heads.
My belief is that Australians aren't naturally effusive about demonstrating their pride for their country in this fashion. We're not people who like to sing in public. Hence most of us don't sing it at events or pretend we don't know it.

[Dirko]

[That was probaby partly because the crowd knew Waltzing Matilda - hardly anyone knows the national anthem even now..

I think the 'joke' or 'belief' that most Australians don't know the national anthem is a trifle overplayed.
I think most schools sing it once a week and it's played at major events, so how can people not know it? Surely it is (at least the first verse) imprinted in our heads.
My belief is that Australians aren't naturally effusive about demonstrating their pride for their country in this fashion. We're not people who like to sing in public. Hence most of us don't sing it at events or pretend we don't know it.

Good call DW. I like ouranthem, and belt it out ! I can't sing, but fugget I try ! My daughter loves it and sings it loud too !!!

Hell I even know the second verse !

[Dogwatcher]

I'm right there with you Jabber.

[Psyber]

[That was probaby partly because the crowd knew Waltzing Matilda - hardly anyone knows the national anthem even now..

I think the 'joke' or 'belief' that most Australians don't know the national anthem is a trifle overplayed.
I think most schools sing it once a week and it's played at major events, so how can people not know it? Surely it is (at least the first verse) imprinted in our heads.
My belief is that Australians aren't naturally effusive about demonstrating their pride for their country in this fashion. We're not people who like to sing in public. Hence most of us don't sing it at events or pretend we don't know it.

Ahh.. it's people like me who went to primary school in SA before it became the national anthem - probably everyone over 40 who isn't a teacher - we never heard the obscure eastern state song that won the plebiscite in 1977... I really do only know the first two lines, and it is not played before any "major events" I go to - like classical concerts or the Opera, or even Hindu music festivals.
When it is sung on TV I leave the room because of the appalling "singing" - usually strangled voices, wandering vaguely around the key..
When it isn't being tortured though I don't mind the music and the lyrics since I've read them today -even "girt" - but I've not heard it sung well.
I'll check some of the Youtube versions later.

[silicone skyline]

The Simply the Best sung by the 10 worst american Idols is hilarious.