Let's All Sing Together

When we were on the plane to Australia, I listened to my iPod. I put it on shuffle. I like to be surprised. Okay, actually I'm delusional and think my spirit guides will send me messages through a machine made by a powerful and wealthy corporation.  Yeah.  Really.Who needs Ouija Boards these days?

We flew from Japan to Sydney.  If you get bored of the movies provided on your own personal movie screen, you can watch a video that shows where exactly the plane is. Well, as soon as we reached Australia, my iPod started playing Australian music—songs from the Aussie Bush Band.  It played one song and then another and another.  It kept playing Australian songs. I don't know.  Maybe iPods sometimes get stuck on one album?

But I like to believe I was getting a message--a special welcome.

If there's a choice between reasonable scientific explanations and mystical metaphysical explanations.....I think we all know what I pick.

Anyway....I thought I'd make a list of my favorite Australian Songs.

1. Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.  It's sung by a famous guy named Rolf Harris.  Very catchy tune and it mentions Australian animals. Any song that mentions Aussie animals is a winner in my book.

2. The Three Drovers sung by some chorus.   Aussie Christmas song.   Okay, here's a sad story. My iTunes DJ shuffle played it the other day. I had this lovely image. We visit my friend in Victoria for Christmas.  It's beautiful.  The Christmas tree lights are sparkling. We look out the window and see a blanket of snow. Then I remembered that in Australia, Christmas is during summer. Fantasy shattered.

3. Six White Boomers.  The version I have is sung by a band called Santa's Little Helpers.   I love this because in the beginning a guy does this narration thing and he has the same raspy voice as the sexy Aussie cruise director we had on our Disney Cruise.  Hey, maybe it's him!  Maybe when he's not playing cruise director, he records Aussie Christmas music.

4. My Island Home by Christine Anu. When I was really homesick for Australia, I'd listen to this song over and over and cry my eyes out.  I would sit there sobbing hysterically and then start laughing because well....it was kind of funny. I cried for myself, but I also cried for my cousin who was homesick for America. It's one of the best songs about wanting to return to the place where you felt most comfortable.

5. I Still Call Australia Home.  I have two or three versions of the song.  This one would also make me cry too because I would think of Heath Ledger and how he died in America--so far from his home. Later, I saw the Qantas ad that used the song and also the parody. Then it became kind of funny instead of sad.

6. I Am Australian.  Beautiful.  We have it on the Aussie Bush Band CD.  The song has multiple verses.  It's basically the story of Australia--different people coming together. I think the lyrics do a good job of telling the Australia story.  

7.  The Australian Clock-  This is an American song about Australia.  Or maybe Canadian.  I can't tell the difference in accents.  It's by a group called Mr. I, Gary Q and The Rainbow Singers.  They have a whole CD about Australia--for kids.  Quite educational.  This song teaches Aussie geography.

8. Australia-  Another American song about Australia. I swear this song was written for me.
If you know me and listen to the song, you'll understand why. The funny thing is there's a line that says Buy a House in Woolloomooloo. Before we even went to Australia (and before I heard the song) I knew I wanted to live in Australia. I told Tim we should move specifically to Woolloomooloo.  I knew nothing about it. I simply liked the name. Although now I've learned that Australia is FULL of awesome names.

9. Advance Australian Fair.   I know this song isn't loved by many, but I like it. Waltzing Matilda is lovely too. Why not just have two National Anthems?  Is there a law against it?  And what is the deal with National Anthems? Who got together and decided each country must have an anthem and a flag.  I think it would be awesome if a new country appears and they say "We don't want a flag and we don't want an anthem!"   How cool would that be?  So rebellious.

10. Down Under.  Men at Work. I probably like this song because it's the one Australian song that's on the radio in America a lot.  I get all excited when I hear it.  And it makes Vegemite sound so scary and sexy.

11. All The Songs From Pete's Dragon.  Well, because Helen Reddy sings most of them and she's Australian.  So I think they count.  He has the head of a camel--the neck of a crocodile....  See??? Crocodile?   Totally about Australia!  And did you know Australia is the one place where you can find wild Camels?    There's room for everyone in this world If everyone makes some room.   Hell, there's not room for everyone in the world.  It's CROWDED.   But there IS a lot of room in Australia!

Okay and if that doesn't convince you....whenever I thought about one of my Aussie friends, Candle on The Water would come on.  Well, actually only  twice.  But it was within a few days.  

Which Aussie friend?   I'm not telling.   Just pretend it was you.  And then watch this video.  You will never be the same again.

What would our world be like if we

knew for sure there 

was life after death, and 

we could easily talk to our 

dearly-departed on the Internet?

The Dead are Online a novel by Dina Roberts