I Hate The Song Waltzing Matilda Because Of This Movie
Loved the movie, but you think they could have hired a music consultant for a few more bucks.
shareI know what you mean, but Ernest Gold was a solid film composer in his own right (Exodus, It's a Mad, Mad...World) and didn't need a music consultant. Yes, the theme was overused, which is too bad. But as a sweetly melancholic melody it does work for the Main Title and for the final scene of the sub heading out to sea for the last time as Moira looks on. And... it's not just a matter of, "Boy, they really played Waltzing Matilda a whole lot..." It's a matter of Gold's masterful, clever orchestrations of the old tune - he really puts it through paces like we'd never heard before and it makes for a very enjoyable soundtrack album.
shareYou're both right. Gold does vary it entertainingly in the soundtrack, and they do thrash it in the movie, especially singing it again and again (and nothing else) in the pub on the last weekend. Gold doesn't seem to know how iconic it is in (and to) Australia, in fact he said as the film was being made, "I've found this great tune...." implying he'd never heard of it before.
shareInteresting...it was known via the Aussies entering WW II and it kind of became their theme song, and I'm sure it must have been played on the radio...my Mom and Dad knew it well, and they were life-long Americans... so, yes, it's surprising that Gold apparently never heard it before...
shareThey are in Australia. What would you have them play, The Star Spangled Banner or Deutschland Uber Alles?
Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!
They are in Australia. What would you have them play, The Star Spangled Banner or Deutschland Uber Alles?
I think the OP was talking about overkill, not the song itself.
Here in the US (Illinois) we learned Waltzing Matilda in 6th grade music class. Our teacher even explained some of the 'funny words' to us.
"Loves turned to lust and bloods turned to dust in my heart"
Silly question from an American time:
Is Waltzing Matilda the Australian national anthem? And if it isn't what is it?
Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy?
"Is Waltzing Matilda the Australian national anthem? And if it isn't what is it?"
Up until 1974 the national anthem was "God Save the Queen". Since 1984 the anthem has been "Advance Australia Fair." (First performed in 1878.) As patriotic songs go, I think it's better than "Waltzing Matilda". You can read the words and listen to it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8tswkr25A0
Okay. Thank you very much.
Laugh while you can, Monkey Boy!