Howard unmoved by new anthem

John Howard said people could not sing along

Australian Prime Minister John Howard certainly left no room for ambiguity when asked for his opinion of a new rendition of the national anthem.

"I think it sounds terrible," Mr Howard told Australian radio.

The three-minute dance track features a woman singing the traditional words of the anthem against a techno beat.

The song will be played in front of a crowd of about a million people at Sydney Harbour, to welcome the New Year.

The updated version had been endorsed by Sydney's lord mayor, Clover Moore, but even a mayoral approval had no effect on the prime minister.

It should encourage... people to sing along - and nobody can sing along to that Prime Minister John Howard

"I have a very strong view that the national anthem should be sung and played in a way that facilitates maximum audience participation in its singing," Mr Howard said.

"It should encourage and allow people to sing along - and nobody can sing along to that.

"Most of us are pretty inadequate singers at the best of times, and trying to keep pace with that, I couldn't."