JB's latest entry on his excellent blog Blunt Instrument, featured on Brisbane Times, discussed a song that makes people think of Brisbane.  Immediately, 'The Streets of Your Town' came to mind as even though I was pretty young when it came out, it somehow feels apt to discribe this place.  Perhaps it meshes with Brisbane better because it comes from a different time...the time of Joh...which would somehow made 'Pig City' a good choice too.

Anyway, a comment left on the blog really stuck out and although somewhat pessimistic, it seemed so true...especially on those more boring days around this place when the allure of faraway places has cranked up...

The entry by Peter Hackney put forth 'Being Boring' by 'The Pet Shop Boys' and goes on to say...

I know it's anathema to Brisbane folk, who feel they live in some kind of paradise that the rest of Australia envies (which is completely untrue by the way - despite the hysterical claims perpetuated by Queensland's media, Melbourne is actually the fastest growing city in this country), but in my opinion Brisbane is one of the most mediocre, generic, small-minded cities on this planet. Yes, it's "growing", but the growth is largely cosmetic, by-numbers growth. A new tower here, a Westfield expansion there, and yet another bloody Coffee Club (it's telling that this McDonalds of the coffee world does so well in Brisbane - as do all chain stores and franchises) does not represent 'growth'. At least not growth in social or cultural or spiritual terms.

The more Brisbane changes, the more it stays the same. As someone who used to live there, and has recently been back, I can confirm that it's as dull, mediocre and downright boring as ever.

I'm glad I didn't read that on a Monday morning...!