More bloody 'girt'.
Yes Happy Australia Day, it's great to be an Aussie, blah blah blah. Once again we're reminded how bloody awful is our national anthem. A suggestion to republicans - first get the national anthem changed before agitating for a full republic. Baby steps. Now, who should be invited to pen a decent anthem... 
UPDATE : This post was originally a moblog from Darling Harbour. But the image was lousy. Sorry, but the light and position was all wrong due to the demands of a fast moving cab rank. So I've replaced it with a slightly less lousy image. To see how lousy, click on image.
You know, looking at that photo reminds of why I live in the bush. Imagine putting up with those crowds every single day.
As for the anthem, it doesn't get much worse than that. Get an advertising man to write one. All you really need is a catchy jingle that you can remember in moments of insobriety.
Posted by: Dirk Thruster | January 27, 2005 at 06:44 AM
i was working in the morning and missed out on the a-little-too-merry-for-sparrowfart-merriment.
darling harbour looks packed. this is why i don't go into town on public holidays and weekends.
Posted by: bourbonbird | January 27, 2005 at 09:34 AM
Surely Paul Kelly should be shortlisted for the task.
I don't really mind, as long as Paul McDermott stays away from it.
Posted by: snaketide | January 27, 2005 at 10:33 AM
I'm a republican. My solution (and I totally agree with you about the Oz anthem) is, keep the tune (which is half decent) but change the words. I always thought (for Blighty) "God Tax Our Rich Old Queen, She'll Pay For Everything" had a nice ring to it...
Posted by: Deek Deekster | January 27, 2005 at 10:34 AM
It's the dreary old tune that's so awful. The whole thing needs scrapping.
Posted by: Doyle Brantron | January 27, 2005 at 10:48 AM
As long as it's not Waltzing bloody Matilda. I f***en hate that song! How could anyone consider using it as our anthem. A song about a sheep theif who commits suicide whilst trying to run from the cops!
Posted by: Gibbo | January 27, 2005 at 12:46 PM
Oh, sure, you didn't like it when they gave it a beat and now it turns out you never liked it anyway. (Maybe it should be "God Save the [insert monarch gender designation here]" until there's a republic.
Posted by: Greg | January 27, 2005 at 03:57 PM
Dirk - count yourself lucky. I could hear every single bloody word that was put out over the PA from darling harbour at my place. It's pretty much a straight line across the water - there must have been other suburbs around sydney that were deafened. At least the anthem playing in the evening was a good warning that the fireworks were about to start (can't we do anything without fireworks anymore?) Gave me time to put the dogs inside.
Posted by: stilt | January 27, 2005 at 04:10 PM
I think whatever song you have as a national anthem, it has to be a tune that stands the test of time. It has to sound good now - and still sound good 50 years from now. The only way to do that is to pick a song that has already proven that it has that kind of longevity. You can't have someone write a song like that. That means it has to be an old song -
unless you don't mind changing the anthem every 20 years or so.
Posted by: Noswonky | January 27, 2005 at 04:52 PM
The fact Waltzing Matilda has become the unofficial anthem confirms how shithouse Advance Australia Fair truly is.
And I say forget Waltzing bloody Matilda. It's akin to celebrating a disaster like Gallipoli.
Give Paul Kelly the job of writing an inspirational anthem. He's surely the Banjo Paterson of our time.
Posted by: adrian | January 27, 2005 at 06:37 PM