The other day the Snook asked me if I’d seen any of the commercials advertising the upcoming Sydney vs. Collingwood Aussie Rules match. I said I hadn’t and asked why. “Because,” he said, “they stole your victory march!” Tonight I saw the ad myself and was able to confirm that the Sydney Swans’ anthem is indeed the Notre Dame Victory March. They’ve only changed three and a half lines!
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that’s pretty weak. it’s funny how often the fight song pops up in popular culture.
of course i can’t cite any examples right now, you’ll just have to take my word for it. 😉
I know a lot of Catholic high schools and such use it, but I just thought it was weird that a completely unaffiliated team in a different sport on the other side of the world would adopt it as their own. 🙂
Well, Aussie Rules club songs (or the tunes they’re based on) in the AFL have always been kind of an odd (and dated) grab-bag – Boer War-era marching songs, songs borrowed from operas (“The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s “Carmen”), other people’s anthems or jingoistic ditties (“La Marseillaise”, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy”, “The Marines’ Hymn”), etc. So the Swans aren’t alone in retooling a tune better known for other, older associations – even though, as you say, their lyricist didn’t exactly overexert himself coming up with alternate lyrics.
Thanks for the great and informative comment, Mr. Wong! I’m definitely going to have to pay more attention to AFL music…