Howard condemns techno anthem
Howard condemns techno anthem
Prime Minister John Howard said today a dance version of the Australian national anthem, due to be played at New Year's Eve celebrations at Sydney Harbour, sounds "terrible".
The three-minute techno version of the song, which has been approved by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, will reach about one million viewers around Sydney Harbour and potentially 600 million watching around the world at midnight on New Year's Eve.
But community leaders have attacked the move as being disrespectful, while a flood of talkback callers in Sydney have also expressed their outrage.
After being played an extract of the dance version of the anthem during an interview on Perth radio 6PR this morning the PM said: "I think it sounds terrible."
"I have a very strong view that the national anthem should be sung and played in a way that facilitates maximum audience participation in its singing," Mr Howard said.
"Most importantly it should encourage and allow people to sing along - and nobody can sing along to that, can you?"
Listen to it here:
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/images/mp3/anthem.mp3
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
