Are you a brain-dead Aussie Aussie Aussie?

Aussie Aussie Aussie. Oi Oi Oi. says:

03:23pm | 01/07/09

You seem to miss the point that people enjoy it. It’s fun. It’s not designed to say anything to the world about our country. It’s for us. And we love singing it, you killjoy.

ANDIKA says:

03:23pm | 01/07/09

Aussie Aussie Aussie. Oi Oi Oi - AKA - the bogan song

jg_rat says:

03:23pm | 01/07/09

Fun memory from the tennis at the 2000 Olympics, in a Canada V Aust match:

A small, maple-leaf-bedecked group of Canadians laconically chanting:

Canada Canada Canada
Eh Eh Eh
Canada Canada Canada
Eh Eh Eh
Canada
Eh
Canada
Eh
Canada Canada Canada
Eh Eh Eh

Y says:

03:35pm | 01/07/09

Hated this chant from the moment I heard it. An embarrassing reminder of how for all our healthy egalitarianism how culturally far behind the rest of the world we are.

Albert Hammond says:

03:46pm | 01/07/09

Typical elitist stuff Penbo. A simple inspiring song that most Aussie sports fans enjoy and you give it the usual ‘I’ve got three university degree so I know better than you’ analysis.

Dana says:

04:03pm | 01/07/09

When I was growing up in Canada (70’s) we used to have the same chant but with different words:

“Ziggy Ziggy Ziggy
Oi Oi Oi”
etc, etc, etc.

(I have no idea who or what Ziggy was!)

Rob says:

04:04pm | 01/07/09

I feel sorry for you that you are ashamed of Australia’s sporting spectators. Enthusiasm is the name of the game.  Do you feel embarrassed when people violently bang the palm of their hands together in applause?  This cheer is the equivalent of an applause in language.  Saying nothing but the simple ‘Australia supports you as an Australian’.  Whenever there is specific national support for an athlete, or any kind of competitor, it is only born out of national pride. This chant calls it how it is, not hiding blatant nationalism under a cloak of stories of love or heroism, because it is not love or heroism that causes them to support.  It is unabashed nationalism.

Many people support competitors for outside their nation, Phelps in swimming for example, but we wouldn’t sing Aussie Aussie Aussie for him, because we are supporting him only for his amazing talent and personal achievements, Australians are right not to support him as a symbol for Australia, as this wouldn’t make sense.  Lleyton Hewitt, however, is a symbol for Australia, and we acknowledge it in cheering our chant to support him.  Of course it would be wonderful to have beautiful traditional songs to sing as well, but the memory of this current Australian culture is short, and this culture’s beauty is underappreciated. However, even in the presence of other things to sing, Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi should never be abandoned, it is what it is, a shining example of the amazing enthusiasm of Australian competitors and supporters alike, and a total acknowledgement of the basis of the support.

Brendan says:

04:04pm | 01/07/09

i distinctly remember being at the scg, in the bob stand in the summer of 1980 perhaps? Rodney Hogg was bowling and the chant behind me was “hoggy hoggy hoggy, oink, oink, oink”.
I’ve always believed that this was where it started. At least there was some humour involved, i cringe every time if hear oi oi oi.

Alex says:

04:27pm | 01/07/09

As i remember it this is an old english chant that goes
“Zigga Zagga Zigga Zagga Oi Oi Oi” etc…
I don’t know who started it but it was adopted by the skinhead movement in the early 70s.

Al says:

04:28pm | 01/07/09

The interesting thing about the Oiing is that before it came along this sport-obsessed nation had nothing in the way of widely known crowd banter. This commenter can’t remember much beyond “Pa-rra, clap, clap, clap” and “(insert name) is a wanker”.
Bay 13’s mimickry of Merv Hughes warming up ranks among the great moments of crowd banter. And it came from nowhere in a nation that thought barracking was about questioning the sexual leanings of the ump. When the Oiing arrive a few years later it seemed the next—small—step for Aussie sports fans. I began to think we were maturing as bantering fans.  But like the Melbourne Storm after the advent of the second ref, we failed to move on and develop our game.
The rise of soccer and the influx of Brits who could banter—and sing—for the 2003 rugby World Cup and the 2006 Ashes should have improved standards in the bays.
But 20 years after Merv’s mimes, we can’t rework C’mon Aussie, let alone try a spin on a standard such as Throw Your Arms Me.
The A-League has improved matters. An Aussie Rules game in Sydney has much funnier banter than you see at league venues, though I’m told that crowds at AFL games in the native states flatline in much the same way as NRL fans.  The Mexican Wave has the uncanny knack of appearing at tense moments in a one-dayer when the bowlers are on top and most of the crowd don’t get it.
All that leaves us is the Fanatics. At least they’re trying—writing material and daring to sing. If they can ease up on the determination to annoy and focus on the funny, they’d be the way forward. Give ‘em time, I say.

dug says:

04:34pm | 01/07/09

Couldnt agree with you more, great article about time someone wrote on how utterly embarassing it is to hear that. To all the people defending it, just goes to show the small minded moronic following it does have. To compare it to a chant throughout Europe is like comparing a ferrari to a datsun. Just doesnt.

Sam says:

04:52pm | 01/07/09

We are one, but we are many,
and from all the lands on Earth we come,
we share a dream and sing with one voice –
I want, you want, we all want more beer.

Rosscoe says:

04:53pm | 01/07/09

At the beach volley ball in Bondi the 2000 games. The French were playing and a chant began… ” FROGGY FROGGY FROGGY….. OUI OUI OUI..

Steve says:

04:56pm | 01/07/09

Worst part is it’s a rip-off of a 70s British chant - Oggy, Oggy, Oggy, Oi, Oi, Oi - that pays homage to pastry sellers in Cornwall (Oggy being the announcement they are selling pastries, and Oi being added to attract further attention) ... so the Australian connections are obviously boundless. You know, because we like pastries, too. Preferably wrapped around some minced meat and drowned in tomato sauce.

I agree with the people who say it’s great to display our national pride and all, but is this chant, even given the brilliant modification of Oggy to Aussie, really the best way to do that? Not when you consider it’s just a poor cover version of a song even the Poms think is too lame to sing - and they’re not overly choosy. This is a mob that sings US slave songs at the rugby.

I’ve always thought that ‘I am Australian’ is a perfect anthem to sing at sporting events - particularly if it’s slowed down half a beat. It conveys a brilliant message and, thanks to years of Govt advertising, we all know the words - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBI3xiDzxMM

Of course, I fear that, at least for a while yet, we’ll still be singing Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Yawn, Yawn, Yawn ...

Steven says:

04:56pm | 01/07/09

Moronic chant, by the equally as moronic Fanatics.
The A-League has improved Australian support trends, however, nowhere near up to the standard seen overseas.
Could not agree more.

Al says:

04:59pm | 01/07/09

And another thing ...
A pet theory: the Fanatics are blossoming partly because their sport, tennis, is struggling in Australia.
When given the chance, Aussies are great at losing. To wit: the superbly even-tempered response to the loss of the 2003 rugby World Cup. We unnerved the Brits with our magnanimity.
But we are shocking winners—boring and ungracious—which flows into the quality of our banter.
When we go along to the tennis these days, we don’t expect to win. It hurts at first, but then we enjoy the highs and lows of willing Li’l LLeyton along. We start to become sports fans rather than would-be warmongers for the player ... and the music enters our souls.

realto says:

05:04pm | 01/07/09

As long as they don’t do the dreaded Mexican wave it’s OK.

@mrbipana says:

05:32pm | 01/07/09

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

At last it’s said and out there.  I hated this during the Olympics and any other time I’ve heard it since.  It’s not the enthusiasm, that’s great.  It’s the ridiculous sound and boganish overtones.  It only works if you drink a slab, wear the flag as a cape and publicly display your ignorance.

Let’s lose the smoke and keep the fire on this one. As a sporting nation, we can and should do better.

Oh… loved the beer snake reference.. made me laugh

Razor says:

05:39pm | 01/07/09

What do you expect them to call out?

“More wrist Leyton - hurrah!!”

Billy Pilgrim says:

06:21pm | 01/07/09

The only time the phrase Oi Oi Oi is acceptable is when you’re referring to the Boys Noize album of that name, otherwise it just seems incredibly boorish. But then, I have that opinion about most sportball .

Maxine says:

07:38pm | 01/07/09

I cringe with humiliation every time I hear this slow-witted chant sung by people who seem to think they are displaying a proud patriotism ... how sad. Worst of all it seems to get wheeled out at every opportunity, often by shirtless, inebriated yobbos draped in the Australian flag, eg Australia Day at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Radagast says:

09:09pm | 01/07/09

As long as someone remembers “Aussie” all the others have to remember is “oi”. Not too hard.

regina says:

09:51pm | 01/07/09

i don’t like tennis at all so i don’t think we should be wasting any time discussing anthems to be sung at matches especially those that involve lleyton hewitt.

i was however interested in tennis when john mcenroe played. i loved his raw talent, his crazy hair, short shorts and the fact that he appeared to have no internal censor on and off the court. he was the mark latham of the tennis scene (and i mean that as a compliment).

my favourite quote of his is ‘do you have any problems, other than that you’re unemployed, a moron, and a dork?’ that question has unlimited application in many everyday situations i think.

sorry dave, i appear to have forgotten the question.

Irish says:

11:31pm | 01/07/09

Ask “Pig Menzies, You F, Britt Git”

Dave Sag says:

07:52am | 02/07/09

Here here.  Dave you are, as usual, sadly correct.  The last time I took any interest in tennis was when I was being held hostage at gunpoint and my aggressors, on finding out that I was Australian, decided to talk to me for hours about the tennis.  Torture?  Well no.  But it was tiresome, annoying and ultimately I ended up hog-tied and thrown into a cupboard.  So I really don’t care for tennis much any more.

wolf says:

08:25am | 02/07/09

Dave not all singing at sporting events is good. Take the Rangers fans in Glasgow, who have a number of ‘inventive’ songs.

Theres this one to Celtic fans (who are traditionally Irish Catholic):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VRtei497MY
(“go home, go home, famines over, why dont you go home?”)

And this little ditty aimed at Celtics japanese international:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umOEp7lCgoI
(“nakamura ate my dog, he sliced it, he diced it, he threw it in a wok”)

At least “Aussie Aussie Aussie” which can be offensive to the ears is lacking any malice towards the other side.

mattt says:

09:12am | 02/07/09

As a football (the round ball game) fan, I’ve heard some brilliant chants, most of them simple as they are witty. For example, in relation to the Fulham player Bobby Zamora who has a penchant for blasting the ball miles over the crossbar; to the tune of ‘‘Thats Amore’‘:

‘‘If you’re sitting in row Z and the ball hits you in the head, thats Zamora’‘

So compared to the chants of English football, which are mostly created by beer swilling, fat, balding Englishman from the most drab cities in England, ‘‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’’ might seem a tad uninspired.

But you can’t doubt the passion with which it is ‘sung’ - which counts for much more than the creativity of the verse I think.

Jack says:

09:31am | 02/07/09

We have a singing tradition. Waltzing Matilda at a Wallabies match. Something so beautiful that was cynically exploited by Rugby Australia by havng some dipshit stand up front with a guitar at the start of each match as if everyone in Australia had no idea of the words.

Stuart says:

09:33am | 02/07/09

Sorry Rob, I agree that the enthusiasim of the Aussie supporters should be commended however the Aussie etc…chant is rather moronic and not reflective of our diverse and rich culture. We can do better and should.

tommy says:

10:07am | 02/07/09

spot on penbo…. it’s cringeworthy…. in a couple of weeks i’ll be running the city to surf as usual and i dread it as we get to the top of william street and enter the kings cross tunnel as hundreds of jingoistic wags chant that mindless dirge as one…. great inspiration to pick up the pace and make an early dash for the front of the pack….

stephen says:

12:14pm | 02/07/09

I remember, in about 1980 at the ‘gabba, Jeff Thompson, the very fast fast bowler, had been batting, made about 2 runs and was walking across the grass toward the pavilion, when someone behind me made a derogatory comment in his direction. Thommo quickly looked up (he’d been staring at the ground, frowning) then brought 2 V fingers up as if to say ‘get .......’ when the wag behind me said ‘is that your batting average or your i.q. ?’ I burst out laughing when ‘thor’ beside me said…oi !!!  (then they all started saying it!!)

Dave says:

04:39pm | 02/07/09

I think the problem is that tennis is boring. Also, there’s nothing worse than the moronic songs the English sing at different sports.

Lindsay says:

09:49pm | 27/04/10

Its not a song but a sporting chant.. Our national song is Waltzing Matilda!