To some, the Victoria Bitter (VB) beer commercial (advertisement) is almost a second national anthem. It’s iconic and truly Australian, invoking for many a vivid recollection of that hard-earned thirst that needs a big, cold beer, since 1968. As a TV commercial, this catchy tune was recorded by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying John Meillon’s spoken voice. It has been in our ears for over 50 years, and it’s always reassuring to know it’s there.
Last month I hiked the Kokoda Track through the rugged jungle of Papua New Guinea, and for those 8 exhausting days, I longed for an icy cold beer. And so, once the VB commercial tune was stuck in my head, on repeat, it stayed there for the entire trek. There was simply no stopping it.
During those hours of mentally processing the theme, I transcribed the whole thing in my head. So when I returned home it was a relatively simple matter of getting it out of my head and onto paper.
I’m in the process of recording this arrangement with great musicians on strings, horns, and rhythm section. But that’s likely to take a while, so in the meantime, I thought I’d unleash my transcription here.
Resources:
Transcribed by me and free for you to use.
What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.
