Qantas gears up to unveil latest I Still Call Australia Home campaign
The latest reworking of Qantas’ celebrated anthem I Still Call Australia Home is to be the subject of an hour-long special on Seven next weekend.
The Peter Allen tune has been used in several different forms by Qantas for more than a decade in what has been one of Australia’s most enduring ad campaigns.
The most celebrated story behind the ad saw then Qantas marketing boss Geoff Dixon call adman John Singleton over Christmas 1997 after seeing the National Boys Choir peform carols in Canberra.
The resulting extravaganza saw the airline invest $3m in having choirs singing in several major cities around the world culminating in a three minute version first broadcast during the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
The new version – which will be unveiled during Saturday’s broadcast – will be the first since Dixon left the airline.
It features Jennifer Hawkins, Tom Williams and Ernie Dingo travelling Australia for the making of the video.
The weight given to the ad is underlined by the fact that this is not the first time a TV network has aired a documentary around the unveiling of a new version. Last time round, it was on Ten.
The show – called Coming Home – goes out on Seven next Saturday at 6.30pm.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I’m just glad they no longer play this song on continuous loop when your plane is stuck on the tarmac 😉
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the spirit of australia….who when presented with my mother’s doctors certificate that she could not fly because she was scheduled to have cancerous organs removed and continued to [1] charge us a cancelation fee [2] charge us $4k on a business class ticket to change our plans around her operation.
yes another australian brand spending millions of redundant advertising and nothing on encouraging staff to give care about their customers. not even little ol platinum members.
kyle and jackie o, qantas….i’m seeing a link here.
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Clive didn’t you happily tweet about how Qantas upgraded you on a recent trip to Europe?
So you ended up in First Class for $4k extra. You poor bugger.
I’m sorry about your mum. Hope the operation was a success.
Did they sort your mum’s ticket out in the end?
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Sounds exciting – I might have to IQ it 🙂
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Please be good without too much politically correct crap.
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This song ought to be our national anthem, yet nobody seems to suggest it when the issue is raised. it can move people to tears, particularly when homesick and is far far better than the whiney “I am, you are” er… no thanks.
Wolfie!
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If John Williamson sings it, I know I have tears … but not of pride or nostalgia!
The Groanmeister!
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That will be an hour of television that I will be gladly missing! Seven has lost the P.L.O.T big time with their crap programming.
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A Fantastic Airline & Great Song!
I am from the USA & spend much of my year in Australia. I travel Qantas extensively & to hear that song reminds me of the wonderful service & friend people who look after me.
Australia is so lucky to have such a great Airline that does deliver service, not like here in the USA.
I just wish I was back home in Aus to see the documentary, but hopefully it will be shown on my return flight.
Good on you Qantas & thanks you to you & your great staff for years of excellent care.
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Just listen to those words – and magnificient scenery – and the magic voices of our young people and truthfully tell me you do not get goosebumps.
How many of you have family and friends overseas (or in Australia) and you wish them safe travels returning to your close circle??
Give the company a break – it is a whole lot better advertising – both visually and sound – than major amounts of other advertising that just grates.
Thank you ………… Annie
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lgghg
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