Australia national anthem
Definition
The official patriotic song of the Commonwealth of Australia, titled 'Advance Australia Fair', composed by Peter Dodds McCormick.
A musical composition that legally represents the Australian state, often subject to public debate regarding its lyrics, historical resonance, and suitability for representing a modern, multicultural society.
A piece frequently humorously contested by fans of 'Down Under' by Men at Work, who occasionally suggest the 80s pop classic is the country's true, unofficial spirit-song.
Examples
While 'Advance Australia Fair' is the official selection, one has to wonder if the songwriters realized it would eventually be locked in a permanent ideological tug-of-war with a flute-heavy song about Vegemite sandwiches.
The debate over our national anthem continues, proving that nothing unites a country quite like arguing for fifty years about whether the lyrics accurately reflect a land that is supposedly both 'young' and 'free'.
It is a bold national achievement to have an anthem that politely asks the world to advance a fair Australia, while deep down, most citizens are just waiting for the pub to play Men at Work so they can truly feel at home.