Icehouse - Great Southern Land (BOTC Australia Grand Final)

[manonthehummingbird]

Yes, I agree with the person above who suggested GSL become our national anthem. DEFINTELY! If people want to argue that the words aren't 'fitting', well, I never thought AAFair was anything more than the Hallmark greeting card  of lyrics. Ths one outclasses it by miles

[Lteuling]

Listening to this makes me want to visit Australia! (I'm American)

[TheNostromo70]

@Lteuling Please do, you won't be disappointed.

[sitithesecond]

Iva has carried the Welsh tradition of Eisteddfod into the heart of Australia!

[rileypupboo]

Amazing version

[Trishanelle]

This arrangement is awesome-have looked for whole/extended version for some time. Humbly? the classically trained musician and versatility across genres is what makes Icehouse 'stand the test of time'. Thanks for posting this vid!

[Delanahw]

This is such a wonderful rendition of this song. Iva's voice is so pure and sweet it makes my heart ache and the dimension that the choir adds to the sound is fantastic.

[22ndWave]

SUCH A MUSICAL LEGEND. Not only is Icehouse music absolutely fantastic but unlike 99% of musicians, Iva really seems like a down to earth, decent individual!

[73Calirobo]

OMG!!! IVA DAVIES IS A FUCKING GENIUS!!!! I LOVE HIS WORK!!! I JUST ABOUT WEPT WHEN I HEARD THE CHOIR GO OFF IN THE BACKGROUND!!!! WHY DOESN"T HE COME BACK>?!!! WHY ISNT THIS THE AUSTRALIAN ANTHEM!!! ITS BEAUTIFUL!!! I'M A CALIFORNIAN AND I AM A PROUD IVA DAVIES/ICEHOUSE FAN!!! 

[jalarida]

I still cry like a baby listenin to this version...this is an important song...and needs to be our anthem...we are not slaves to britain ...we are a growin nation, full of many nationalities...we need to cut our ties and set an example to the rest of the world...that we LOVE our country as she is.

[kuyajester]

Wow...

[sitithesecond]

@chromaticsuspension thanks so much mate. I'm sitting here crying like a baby! Good on you, love Australia!! This MUST become the national anthem!

[Balaggio007]

Young Einstein soundtrack ! I love this song ! Awesome !

Greetings from Hungary

[MrGziss]

nice!!

[JonasQuinn64]

Iva... cool :-)

Lets get Icehouse back

Best regard from Denmark (EU)

Flemming

[SolidIncMedia]

I've usually found that when choirs, orchestras or other "bigger than the original group" musicians get in on a song, it becomes epic. Cases in point: Leaps and bounds by Paul Kelly, Glenn Richards & Patience Hodgson, Wind of Change by Scorpions with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and of course, this song.

[garavaliaj]

Awesome! Iva Davies Rocks!!!!!!

[Colinl3052]

This is a fantastic version which adds much more intensity and power to an already great song. I agree Peter. You should make this song the Aussie national anthem!

[cutehugo]

I wish I could buy this version somewhere. It's fantastic!

[SammyJGibbo]

@cutehugo ...there is a similar version available on cd, minus the choir, it was released in 2000, and was called the ghost of time, not sure if it's still available though...

[cutehugo]

@SammyJGibbo - Thanks so much for that SammyJG! I will look for it. I really wish this version were available too, the choir adds a great depth to it.

[sitithesecond]

Superb! I get goosebumps too. Australia is wonderful. Love it X 99999

[fioflury]

Great!!! Love this song..thank you Iva

[mausathemag]

When are we going to have another BOTC?

[jotenor]

yes, and telecast it in the US too!

[egemogens2]

great!!!!

[OldRottenDingo]

Me too !

[WifflePoffle]

Timeless track - will always love it - Jax

[X7393]

Same here the 80's Miss it..

[jotenor]

me too.

[GenConOZ]

Does anyone else get goosebumps just listening to this? Love Great Southern Land. Love Icehouse. Love Australia.

Bring back Battle of the Choirs Channel 7 - without Kochie of course ;)

[VAALees1988]

I love this song! I'm a yank who gew up in Australia and this song reminds of it and brings tears to my eyes...thankz.

[jotenor]

One of my favorite versions of this great song. Iva, you never cease to amaze me. Looking good after all of these years. Seeing you brings back great memories. Thanks, dear. Icehouse needs to tour........

[loveismyair]

Hey Hey Ira..looking goood! Loved this song growing up.... love it still! Take care of your beautiful country! 5* for sure! thanks for sharing! :-)

[wooster86]

A truly majestic epic song!

[shattercones]

Anyone will tell you it's a prisoner island hidden in the summer for a miilion years.

Brilliant stuff!

[jetboatjoe773]

Brilliant

[PeterH2006]

Lets drop this frigging Advance Australia Fair crap for this. Australians unite to change the national anthem to GSL.

[drewyt86]

@PeterH2006 agree been saying it for years..

[PHXVic]

Man this is bloody awesome, Iva is pure genius..Icehouse forever!!!

[ske1fr]

Utterly wonderful. Iva rules.

[cbecker2]

This version of one of my all time favourites gives me goosebumps. What a great arrangement. Rehearsals must have been a challenge for the choirs without leading vocal.

[TwistedBloodFiend]

Ice house-- one of Australia's best rock groups ever..... the best song ever is Great Southern Land..it's not just a song about Australia, it's a song [FOR] Australia.

[the13th]

I loved this personally

[Raverbaby77]

Fucking awesome track, send tingles up and down my spine every time I watch the footage.

Go Iva!

[Damiensweep7]

I too was there standing behind the band and SOME of the band weren't playing. Iva prepared the backing track of this new version a few years ago for the Sydney Olympics. By law the singer must perform live, so yes Iva was singing (and did a damned good job too), however there was a heavily effected vocal track on the backing track. The guitars were plugged in and turned on so they were performed live, however the keyboard wasn't even turned on and the drums did have silencing pads.

[Tyriall]

Yes I was in one of the Choirs.

None taken. Its understandable that as a Ice House Fan you dont want to believe it. The orchestra was live which was good but the main band wasnt

I can tell you that during the taping, The drums were totaly different to what you hear , if you listen to what you hear on BOTC and compare it to the recording im pretty sure you will find it exactly the same.

I still maintain that Iva was singing because you could here the reverb in the foldback.

Peace out!

[Tyriall]

Becasue i was standing behind the Drummer.

And if you look closley he isnt playing the same beat that is playing on the Track.

The drums had scilencing Pads on them and teh guitar amps were there for show.

You could tell Iva was singing, he has a great voice, but the band was a total dissapointment

[BB76USA]

So you were in one of the choirs, then?

No disrespect, but I find it hard to believe your claim.

[iadobeyou]

I have no personal doubt that Tyriall is telling the truth here. I think that most people understand that a 'television performance' isn't always necessarily a 100% 'live performance', and this probably (possibly?) has more to do with technical practicalities than any perceived reluctance on the part of a musician/s to perform live. However you care to look at it it was an enjoyable collaborative effort. We love your work Iva!

[Tyriall]

Pity the Band wasnt really playing...LOL

Though Iva was really singing

[BB76USA]

The band wasn't playing?

And you know this for a fact because...?

[368mjb]

Outstanding rendition of classic hit. The choirs make all the difference.

[BB76USA]

This breathtaking performance makes us miss Icehouse even more than we already do.

[janefhot]

love it

[her124]

Amazing version of a brilliant iconic Aussie song!