The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

It wasn’t about their experience or service which – back then – were pretty good, certainly much better than they are today. No, it was about the lyrics to their ‘iconic’ song, ‘Still Call Australia Home‘.

Now I appreciate I’m a Brit.

I appreciate that, at the time, I had an agency called Cynic, so was full of piss and vinegar.

I even appreciate – as my Aussie wife reinforced to me in no uncertain terms – that the song and Qantas’ advertising was pretty special for Aussies so maybe I should shut the fuck up.

And that is good advice. Except 15 years later, I’ve decided to come back with a comeback.

You see recently I saw an ad for another Australian icon …

The difference being this one is worthy of that label annnnnnd – even more significantly – they’ve made a piece of advertising that ignites all the emotion, pride and Australian spirit that Qantas would possibly sacrifice their ‘never had a crash’ reputation, to achieve.

[Please note, this is simply to emphasise the point. I get it’s not a great turn of phrase. And I obviously don’t mean it. So if you prefer, simply replace it with: “… that Qantas would allow themselves to be embroiled in even more financial scandal, to achieve”. Better? Oh god … there’s no pleasing some people is there!]

Anyway, if you’re wondering what I’m talking about, it’s this from the Sydney Opera House for their 50th anniversary.

I love it so much it made a cynical Brit emotional.

Sure, I have an Aussie wife … a ½ Aussie son … Australian residency and was even a member of the audience in a couple of the historic scenes they show in the film … but I’ve never, ever felt that way about a Qantas ad.

Not once.

Hell, I don’t even like Tim Minchin – the guy who leads every thing in the ad – and yet I still felt connected to the spot.

Part of it could be because The Opera House was to me, a symbol of Australia, decades before I moved there.

I still remember how overawed and overwhelmed I was when I first saw it for real. This incredible place whose image had been burned into my mind from years of seeing it on TV shows, in magazine articles or just everyday imagery.

But it’s more than that, it’s what the place signifies.

The story that underpins the whole film.

A true story.

One where the quest to do something different triumphs over the demands to control and conform. An ode to the majesty of imagination and art rather than the adherence of tradition and regulation.

It all feels – ignoring the fact the Opera House was designed by the Dane, Jørn Utzon – much closer to the ‘Aussie spirit’ than anything Qantas has ever done.

A salute to those who wish to push and challenge rather than seek the comfort of being back ‘where they’re comfortable’.

Now I appreciate that maybe that spirit is more confined to the past than the present.

One look at how the vote for ‘The Voice’ turned out reveals comfort, convenience and control are the words of the day.

But that aside, it’s a very special film.

Helped by the fact the Opera House is a very special place.

Not just for Australia, but for anyone who hopes for something a bit more.

A bit more personal.

A bit more emotional.

A bit more wonderful.