WHY I WAS PROUD TO SING ANTHEM
JESSICA Mauboy has revealed she felt disowned by Anthony Mundine, a man she considers a leader, when he embroiled her in the national anthem controversy before his blockbuster boxing match with Danny Green.
The Territory songstress and star of the Secret Daughter star celebrates her indigenous identit, but she admits she was angry and hurt when Mundine claimed “she might not have researched or know the actual facts around the anthem,” as he protested the singing of Advance Australia Fair ahead of the bout.
“Like I was dumb and that I didn’t care … of course I care! I’ve sung that so many times, I’ve sung it in (indigenous) language, so how come only now a leader comes up and says I’m wrong?” she said.
“Because I haven’t walked in his shoes that now for some reason I’m the bad person. That’s his story. I’m still growing, I’m still making my pathway and trying to be a physical presence of my identity.
“I think that says enough. Being there and getting up and having the courage to share with people and even just being asked to sing, first of all, that’s all part of how I express my identity. “Of course I was angry and upset but it was more of a feeling of being disowned, because he is such a big leader and people look (up) to him.”
Mauboy has “so much love ... so much respect” for the boxer she couldn’t help herself yelling out “Go Mundine!” as she left the ring after nailing the national anthem at the February 3 event.
She agreed to go ahead with the gig as the anthem debate raged because singing is how she has become connected to all Australians since winning hearts on Idol more than a decade ago.
Mauboy’s only concern before the anthem moment at Adelaide Oval was disapproval from “my mob”.
“Oh my gosh, I was s ... scared. I was more worried to the point of seeing my mob or people in the community (disapprove) because it means a lot to be a representation of something. Just to try lead with goodness as much as I can,” she said.
“In the end, it was more of a unifying moment for me. Maybe singing it isn’t right according to some people’s beliefs but I’m here, I’m here with everyone.
“And I hoped everyone watching would connect with me and there would be something in their hearts that would feel this was the right thing for me to do. To sing.”