MUSICIAN Warren H Williams – a country singer from Central Australia – has recorded the Melbourne Football Club theme song ‘It’s Grand Old Flag’ into his native Arrernte language.
The song will be played before Melbourne’s match against Adelaide Crows at TIO Traeger Park on Sunday.
The idea was the brainchild of former Melbourne star Matthew Whelan, now the club’s Indigenous project officer.
“I was driving around Alice Springs in the car, listening to the radio and then a couple of advertisements came on and it was in the local language here. I thought how cool is that?” he told Melbourne Media.
“Basically, I went back to the footy club and said ‘what I’d love to do is get our theme song done in the local Arrernte language’.
“So, it’s something that I thought about and thought it would be cool and the local mob would love, so that’s how it all came about.”
Whelan said the challenge was to find someone who was good enough to translate the song into Arrernte language – and sing it.
“We had to fly to Tennant Creek to meet with Warren H Williams and we went back to his recording studio and listened to him translate the song – ‘It’s a Grand Old Flag’ into Arrernte language, which was fantastic,” he said.
“The interesting thing … is some of the words don’t translate into English. We have to use the red sand in Arrernte language and they don’t have a word for blue, so we have to use the blue sky.
“So, they are little differences in the song, but I think everyone will enjoy it.”
Whelan said it was a great opportunity to open the Sir Doug Nicholls Round with this version of Melbourne’s theme song.
“Speaking to some of the Elders here [in Alice Springs] and the local people – they thought it’d be a great touch and it’s something that they’re really excited about,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see the locals and see their faces when they hear their own language – the Melbourne theme song.”
Reflecting on his contribution, Williams said he was honoured to sing the song.
“Music is part of my life. If someone asks you to sing a footy club song, it’s awesome,” he said.
“It’s from Western Arrernte – it’s central language – as the Melbourne team is playing their [Central Australia] games in Alice [Springs].
“There are a lot of words in Arrernte that are similar to the words that are in the Melbourne [Football] Club song, but you can still understand it – if you sing it in Arrernte.
“I hope they (the Melbourne faithful) like it. It’s nerve-wracking really – it’s like doing a gig. People are either going to like it – or aren’t they going to like it. So, fingers crossed, I hope they like it.”
