Australia's "Men At Work": "living in a land down under where women glow and men plunder"
89Quirky scene from music video for "Down Under" by Australia's unique and extraordinary band, Men At Work
“Men At Work” are a unique, extraordinary reggae-rock band from the alluring land down under, Australia.
Born in Kilwinning, Scotland, on June 29, 1953, Colin James Hay grew up in his father’s music shop in Glasgow. In 1967 when he was 14, Colin’s family immigrated to faraway Australia.
Colin met guitarist Ronald Graham Strykert (born August 17, 1957) in Sydney in 1978, and they subsequently formed an acoustic duo. By 1979 the duo was regularly jamming with drummer Jerry Harold Speiser (born 1953) and keyboardist Greg Sneddon.
Prior to joining the group, Jerry had completed a science degree at LaTrobe University and had studied music at Melbourne State College.
Later that year Greg Sneddon left and was replaced by flautist-keyboardist-saxophonist Greg Ham (born September 27, 1953). Several months later bassist John Rees joined the group.
In 1980 the group, known as Men At Work, self-financed and self-released under their independent M.A.W. label a single with “Keypunch Operator” on the A side and a version of their future hit, “Down Under” on the B side.
Men At Work: "Down Under," 1982
"Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover!"
As part of the recording contract that they signed with CBS Australia in early 1981, Men at Work released the single “Who Can It Be Now?,” which, with its captivating reggae rock music and paranoiac lyrics, easily slid into Australia’s Number 1 slot in August 1981. By the end of the year the masterfully re-recorded “Down Under” was basking in the Number One hit song slot, and the group’s debut album, “Business as Usual,” hugged the Number One spot in both Australia and New Zealand.
Despite being initially rejected twice for release in the United States, early in 1982 “Business as Usual” was finally released in the United States as well as in the United Kingdom. “Who Can It Be Now?” secured the Number One spot in America by October 1982. The album monopolized the top American album chart for fifteen weeks, beginning in November 1982.
Men at Work: First non-U.S.-U.K. band with simultaneous U.K.-U.S. number one single and number one album
January 1983 saw “Down Under” firmly ensconced as Number One in both the United States and U.K. song charts. Also in January 1983 “Business as Usual” reached Number One album status in the U.K, so the song “Down Under” and the album were now Number One on both sides of the rocking Atlantic.
As of 2010 only seven artists have achieved simultaneous UK-U.S. number one singles and number one albums
As of 2010, simultaneous U.K.-U.S. Number One singles and albums have been achieved by only six artists in addition to Men at Work: The Beatles, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, and Rod Stewart.
Men At Work with 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist
1983 Grammy and Juno Awards
On February 23, 1983 Men At Work won the Best New Artist Award at the 25th Grammy Awards. Then on April 5, 1983, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presented them with the Juno Award for International LP of the Year 1983.
In May 1983 Men at Work released their second album, “Cargo,” which hit Number One in Australia and reached the top ten in the United States and the U.K.
Australia II, 1983 America's Cup winner
The 1983 America’s Cup began on September 14th with the Royal Perth Yacht Club as the challenger and ended on September 26th with victory for Perth’s yacht, Australia II. The yacht team’s theme song was “Down Under.”
By the end of 1983, the group returned to Australia to break for a year.
Changes: From Men At Work to men no longer working together
In 1984 the group’s original manager, Russell Deppeller, released John Rees and Jerry Speiser from the group.
In June 1985, Colin, Greg, and Ron began recording and self-producing a third album, “Two Hearts.” Ron left while the album was being produced. Other members were added to the group. Then Greg Ham left the group and was replaced by the brilliant Australian jazz saxophonist Paul Williamson (born May 18, 1959).
COLIN HAY
Colin disbanded the group, deciding to concentrate on a solo career with its base in Los Angeles. His first solo album, “Looking for Jack,” was released in 1987. In 1996 Greg joined Colin as the new Men At Work for a highly successful South American tour. Colin has continued to perform and tour as well as release additional albums. In 2000 Colin and Greg joined together once again as Men At Work for an exuberant rendition of “Down Under” at the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. In introducing this greatly loved song, the announcer noted that “Down Under” has become “practically the unofficial anthem of the swimming venue after any Aussie victory.”
Colin Hay & Greg Ham, "Down Under," Closing Ceremonies, 2000 Olympics, Sydney, Australia
GREG HAM
Greg now teaches at Carlton North Primary School in Victoria.
RON STRYKERT
In 2003 Ron released an album entitled “Paradise.”
JOHN REES
John Rees lives in the tiny township of Fish Creek in the large rural region of Gippsland in the southeastern state of Victoria. He teaches five musical instruments and plays in four or five bands.
JERRY SPEISER
Jerry became involved with other Australian and American bands and also entrepreneured in musical equipment sales, and business consulting and training. In 1990 he co-founded the group “Where’s Claire?” with guitarist-vocalist Ben Fitzgerald, with whom Jerry had played in a band and studied music at Melbourne State College in 1978. “Where’s Claire?” expanded to include guitarist-vocalist Brenden Mason (formerly of the Aussie progressive rock band “Madder Lake”) and bassist-vocalist Andrew Midson. In 2002 “Where’s Claire?” released an album, “Long Time Coming.”
Ron Strykert
Ron Strykert's music for Down Under: “a little bass riff with some percussion he played on bottles filled with water to varying degress to get different notes"
Lyricist Colin Hay reminisced that the idea for the song came from a bass riff that Ron Strykert had created and had recorded on a cassette:
“It was just a little bass riff with some percussion that he played on bottles which were filled with water to varying degrees to get different notes. It was a very intriguing little groove. I really loved it, it had a real trance-like quality to it. I used to listen to it in the car all the time. When I was driving along one day in Melbourne, the chords popped out and a couple of days later I wrote the verses.”
Colin Hay with "Crocodile Dundee" (Paul Hogan), Closing Ceremonies, 2000 Olympics, Sydney, Australia
Colin Hay's lyrics for “Down Under”: “When I was driving along one day in Melbourne, the chords popped out and a couple of days later I wrote the verses”
Although the tune is upbeat, the lyrics, specifically the chorus, are not completely positive. “The chorus is really about the selling of Australia in many ways, the over-development of the country. It was a song about the loss of spirit in that country. It’s really about the plundering of the country by greedy people. It is ultimately celebrating the country, but not in a nationalistic way and not in a flag-waving sense.”
Colin equated the underlying nuances and sentiments of his lyrics to those of
Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.”:
“It’s a similar song in that there’s a lot of nuance missed because people like drinking beer and throwing their arms up in the air and feeling nationalistic. It’s ultimately a song about celebration, but it’s a matter of what you choose to celebrate about a country or a place. White people haven’t been in Australia all that long, and it’s truly an awesome place, but one of the most interesting and exciting things about the country is what was there before. The true heritage of a country often gets lost in the name of progress and development.”
Still of Greg Ham, with koala bear, performing flute riff for "Down Under"
Spicks and Specks: "What children's song is contained in the song 'Down Under'?"
Spicks and Specks is a music quiz show that now in 2011 is heading into its seventh season. It is named after one of the Bee Gees’ Number One hits in Australia back in 1966. The copyright controversy regarding “Down Under” all started in September 2007 with a question on Spicks and Specks: “What children’s song is contained in the song ‘Down Under’?” The correct answer, according to the show, was “Kookaburra,” which, like “Down Under,” is an oft-played, well-known, unofficial Australian anthem.
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) perched on a silver wattle (Acacia dealbata)
"Kookaburra" by Marion Sinclair
“Kookaburra” was composed by Melbourne music teacher Marion Sinclair (1895-1988) and won a competition held by Girl Guides Victoria in 1934. After her death on February 15, 1988 --- over six years after “Down Under” first secured its enduring hold on Australia --- the copyright to the song was purchased by Larrikin Music Publishing in 1990 after an invitation for tenders by the Public Trustee of Marion’s estate (March 21 Deed of Assignment).
Colin Hay: “Down Under lives in my heart, and may perhaps live in yours. I claim it, and will continue to play it, for as long as you want to hear it”
In 2008 Larrikin initiated suit against Colin Hay, Ron Strykert, EMI Music Publishing Australia, and EMI Songs Australia. The suit proceeded through the Australian court system until a decision was made in the New South Wales Registry of the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney on February 4, 2010 in favor of the plaintiff, Larrikin Music Publishing.
The next day, February 5th, Colin Hay issued an eloquent statement about the group’s quirky, beloved song:
“The song Down Under is my friend. It has always been my friend, ever since it was born. . . .
“The Federal Court ruling of Justice Jacobson. . .came down today. I am as we speak, wading through the 60 page document of his ruling. Clearly, I’ve had better days. . . .
“When Men At Work released the song. . .in 1982, it became extremely successful. It was and continues to be, played literally millions of times all over the world, and it is no surprise that in over twenty years, no one noticed the reference to Kookaburra. There are reasons for this. It was inadvertent, naïve, unconscious, and by the time Men At Work recorded the song, it had become unrecognizable. . .for many reasons. Kookaburra is written as a round in a major key, and the Men At Work version of Down Under is played with a reggae influenced “feel” in a minor key. This difference alone creates a completely different listening experience. The two bars in question had become part of a four bar flute part, thereby unconsciously creating a new musical ‘sentence’ harmonically, and in so doing, completely changed the musical context of the line in question, and became part of the instrumentation of Men At Work’s arrangement of Down Under.
“. . . .It may well be noted, that Marion Sinclair herself never made any claim that we had appropriated any part of her song Kookaburra, and she wrote it, and was most definitely alive, when Men At Work’s version of Down Under was a big hit. Apparently she didn’t notice either.
"I believe what has won today is opportunistic greed, and what has suffered, is creative musical endeavor. This outcome will have no real impact upon the relationship that I have with our song Down Under, for we are connected forever. When I co-wrote Down Under back in 1978, I appropriated nothing from anyone else’s song. There was no Men At Work, there was no flute, yet the song existed. . . .Down Under lives in my heart, and may perhaps live in yours. I claim it, and will continue to play it, for as long as you want to hear it.
“Sincerely, Colin Hay”
Compare "Kookaburra" with "Down Under" flute riff
- Video: Men At Work\'s hit \'Down Under\' plagiarism claim compared - Telegraph
Judge for yourself whether the flute solo on Men At Work's hit 'Down Under' is copied from Girl Guides song ' Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree'.
The Hon. Justice Jacobson: “I accept that Down Under is an affectionate celebration and a witty commentary on some of the icons of Australian popular culture”
In his third and final order on July 6, 2010, Federal Judge Peter Jacobson, referring to “Kookaburra” as “an iconic Australian round” and “Down Under” as “another iconic Australian work” summarized the findings from his February order that
***three recordings of “Down Under” were considered: the first unpolished recording in 1979, the record-breaking hit version on the group’s 1981 debut album “Business as Usual,” and a version later used in Qantas advertisements
***the flute riff “reproduces a substantial part of Kookaburra” in the 1979 and 1981 recordings but not in the Qantas advertisements (pp. 1, 7, Reasons for Judgment)
***in the 1981 recording producer Peter McIan substituted Greg Ham’s flute riff “for the original bass riff introduction with a view to making the flute the lead solo instrument as he had done with the saxophone introduction in an earlier successful arrangement of Men at Work’s song ‘Who Can It Be Now’” (p. 8)
***Greg Ham added the flute riff in order “to inject some ‘Australian flavour’ into the 1981 recording and that he deliberately reproduced the relevant part of Kookaburra for that purpose” (p. 8)
***Greg Ham, with this deliberate reproduction, essentially added “Australian flavor to an otherwise heavily Australian-flavoured song” (p. 30)
***the fact that “the 1979 recording and the 1981 recording reproduce a substantial part of Kookaburra does not amount to a finding that the flute riff is a substantial part of Down Under or that it is the hook of that song” (p. 8)
***because “the similarity went unnoticed for 20 years, a balanced approach to the contribution of Kookaburra suggests that its musical significance to the whole of the 1981 recording is small” (p. 26)
The Judge determined that the two bars from “Kookaburra” that are interspersed within the flute riff “account for about 5.8% of the total number of bars in Down Under” (p. 11).
Describing “Down Under” as “an affection celebration and a witty commentary on some of the icons of Australian popular culture” (p. 27), the Judge determined that the respondents were liable for damages --- not for copyright infringement --- but, under the Trade Practices Act 1974, for “misrepresentations made. . .to collecting societies. . .” (p. 2).
Although Larrikin argued for 25 to 50 percent of the total income from “Down Under” as being fair remuneration, the Judge rejected those figures as "excessive, overreaching and unrealistic" and fixed the figure at 5 percent.
Vegemite on toast
Translations of Aussieisms in "Down Under"
“fried out Kombi’" is a broken-down Volkswagen van. “Kombi” comes from Kombinationskraftwagen (“combined-use vehicle”), the official German name for the camper model of van that could be used both as a passenger and as a cargo vehicle.
“head full of Zombie” refers to a potent batch of marijuana that was available in Australia and was called “Zombie grass.”
“Vegemite sandwich” refers to a dark paste that is made from brewers’ yeast extract. Vegemite has a smooth, sticky texture. Its salty, somewhat bitter taste has been compared to beef bouillon. The product is considered to be one of the richest sources of such important B vitamins as folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine as well as of glutamic acid, which is important for learning and memory. Vegemite is commonly spread on buttered toast.
“chunder” means vomit. So where beer flows, so does vomit from overindulgence!
Lyrics for "Down Under"
Traveling in a fried-out Kombi
On a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
She took me in and gave me breakfast
And she said,
"Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover."
Buying bread from a man in Brussels
He was six-foot-four and full of muscles
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
And he said,
"I come from a land down under
Where beer does flow and men chunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover."
Lyin' in a den in Bombay
With a slack jaw, and not much to say
I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me
Because I come from the land of plenty?"
And he said,
"Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover."
Yeah!
Living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover!
Living in a land down under
Where women glow and men plunder
Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover!
Reasons for Judgment of The Hon. Justice Jacobson, July 6, 2010, Federal Court of Australia
- Larrikin Music Publishing Pty Ltd v EMI Songs Australia Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] FCA 698 (6 July 20
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE JACOBSON, July 6, 2010, Larrikin Music Publishing v. EMI Songs, EMI Music, Colin Hay, Ron Strykert
Colin Hay's February 5, 2010 Statement about "Down Under" and "Kookaburra"
- Men at Work's Colin Hay's statement on court battle over Down Under and Kookaburra in full | Herald
Colin Hay, of Men at Work, issued a statement responding to Thursday's finding in battle over the band's biggest hit Down Under. Here is the statement in full:
Colin Hay website
- Welcome to the Colin Hay Official Web Site! the Man at Work from Men at Work
Official Web Site for Colin Hay
Men At Work: Business as Usual
 | Amazon Price: $38.06 List Price: $11.98 |
Men At Work: Superhits
 | Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.98 |
Men At Work: Cargo
 | Amazon Price: $2.93 List Price: $6.98 |
Men At Work: Two Hearts
 | Amazon Price: $10.57 List Price: $21.98 |
Colin Hay: Gathering Mercury; Going Somewhere
 | Amazon Price: $9.91 List Price: $17.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.99 |
- Australias Flaming Red Spires: Gymea Lily (Doryanthes excelsa)
Gymea lily is native only in the area of Sydney, Australia. In the wild these striking plants reach a height of 16 feet (5 meters). Standing tall with fiery flowers, these colorful icons strikingly, uniquely, and unforgettably resemble flaming spires
- Dreamtime Perenties: Australias Enormous Varanus Giganteus on the Prowl
Varanus giganteus is native to Australia, where it is the largest lizard. Commonly known as perentie, this monitor lizard has iconic associations which encompass the historic and prehistoric landscapes. The intrinsic connection between Varanus gigant
Acknowledgments
As always I wish to express my gratitude for the plethora of images in the public domain that are available through Wikimedia Commons.
I am also grateful to Luiscmck8Os2 for making available the YouTube video, Down Under - Men At Work (HQ Audio).
I am also grateful to paradiseresort for making available the YouTube video, Sydney 2000 Olympics (4/6) - Man At Work - Down Under
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Above all, my special thanks also to Men at Work for their amazing, enduring creativity and especially for "Down Under," a song which "lives in my heart" and always brings enchantment to my life.
Sources Consulted
“Down Under by Men at Work,” Songfacts. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2962
Jones, Alan, “Coldplay shaded out of elite chart club,” Music Week, June 27, 2008
http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1034693&c=1
Madden, James, “Men at Work avoid big royalties payout over origins of Land Down Under,” The Australian, July 6, 2010
“Men at Work,” Howlspace: Music from Australia & NZ
http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/en2/menatwork/menatwork.htm
“Men at Work’s Colin Hay’s statement on court battle over Down Under and Kookaburra in full,” Herald Sun, February 5, 2010
Schneider, Joe, “Men at Work Ordered to Pay 5 Percent for Lifting Riff,” Bloomberg Businesswork, July 6, 2010
Copyright March 21, 2011 by Stessily
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Except for researching the unfortunate lawsuit (which I felt needed to be included), I loved writing this hub. Thank you for being the first reader of this hub (I'm not sure that the ink is dry yet!) and I appreciate your positive comments.
Thanks for this great hub. It was very informative, I can appreciate the work you did in putting this together. Rated up and useful.
toknowinfo: Men At Work's quirky "Down Under" is a favorite song for me. Yes, I did put a lot of work into this hub, including reading every available legal document! Thank you for the up rating and for your comments. Your visit to my corner is always appreciated.
A thoroughly interesting, comprehensive and engaging read; and rather nostalgic as well. It rekindled many memories of younger years.
parrster: Your compliments are greatly appreciated! I can't help but feel that "Down Under" rekindles memories for many of us, and that is why this wonderfully quirky, charmingly unique song continues to be popular worldwide.
Kind regards, Stessily
Hi there. I'm from Paris, France. Just a little word to tell you that it's a very interesting article and a great work. Thanks for that. I loved "Down Under" since the day I have listened in january 1983. I was 12, and this great song is still in my heart.
droopy: Merci beaucoup! I greatly appreciate your kind comments about this hub and the great song which inspired me and which has touched so many people around the world for decades!
I also loved "Down Under" when I first heard it, somewhere around 1985 to 1986, and the song also has remained in my heart ever since.
Nice to finally see Vegemite and read more about what it is.
lefseriver: It is my personal recommendation that Vegemite is one of the perfect toppings for lefse. Two mysterious, possibly misunderstood food items that might be better appreciated as a team rather than struggling on their own for their spot on the menu.
Kind regards, Stessily
Your Hub about "Men at Work" is very interesting. I enjoyed reading about these boys. Thank you for the good read.
James: I am glad that you enjoyed this hub, which, apart from researching the lawsuit, was a joy for me to write. As always your visits to my writing desk here are appreciated, for I realize that you have many demands on your time. Thank you!
Kind regards, Stessily
Wow , generally i dont read anything this long but i must say you kept me interested the whole time and i completed it in its entirity , Thanks for the read , i voted up all the way across the board. up ,useful , awesome, beautiful,interesting! thanks for the read:)
Jami: Thank you! I'm happy that you found this interesting. I felt like leaving out the lawsuit, which would have made it shorter, but then it seemed that I really should include it. Thanks for your votes and compliments!
Kind regards, Stessily
HI Stessily
once again there is a doffing of caps to your work. I really liked this song, but never knew that it had caused such a storm. I've voted your site up on all counts because of the quality and quantity of info.
cheers
Tony
Tony: Thank you so much for your visit, your votes, and wonderful compliments! And I am so honored by the doffing of your cap --- that brings a big, warm smile to my face! I love those gentlemanly gestures!
"Down Under" has been in my heart for quite a while now; it will stay there as long as my heart beats and even beyond! So I am honored by every compliment, which I attribute most of all to the unique enchantment of this treasured song. Thank you again, Tony!
Wow stessily,you really do put so much hard work into your hubs and it does really pay off.
I really enjoyed this one and have to vote up up and away.
Will be back for more shortly.
Take care and have a wonderful day.
Eiddwen.
Eiddwen: Your visit, votes, and compliments are always welcome. I am pleased that you enjoyed this page on "Down Under," a song which is carried in the hearts of many as they journey through life. Its unique charm is irresistible. Thank you for your visit to this page, which is one of my favorites.
Kind regards and wishes for a wonderful day every day,
Stessily
Eiddwen: Your visit, votes, and compliments are always welcome. I am glad that you enjoyed my tribute to "Down Under," a song which is carried in the hearts of many throughout life. The unique charm of "Down Under" is irresistible! Thank you for reminding me of this cherished song with your visit here today!
Kind regards and wishes for a wonderful day every day,
Stessily
I love this song. I think Colin Hay is a very underrated vocalist. Thanks for sharing Vegamite is gross.
PDX: I love this song, too! And we are not alone, for many, many, many people all over the world love "Down Under."
I also agree that Colin Hay is underrated as a vocalist. In fact, in his decision in the unfortunate lawsuit, Judge Jacobson noted that Colin's Hay's "distinctive voice" (paragraph 143) is one of the "musical elements which give Down Under its significant musical quality overall" (paragraph 141, July 6, 2010).
My thought is that Vegemite might find appreciation when paired with lefse! I'm planning to check it out one of these days.
Your visit and comments are much appreciated!
my favorite line in the song is "head full of zombie". heh heh. marijuana. Have you checked out my music hubs?
PDX, oh, yeah, I gather that's a favorite with quite a few fans! As for me, I could not favor any line over any other, for I love the song in its entirety.
If I had to choose one line, it most likely would be, "Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?" I love the sound of distant thunder.
Or "living in the land down under" because, as with all the lines in this song, it gives such a sense of place, that this song is about the only place known as "down under", Oz!
Thank you for alerting me to your music hubs.
Sure. I look forward to your thoughts on them. I haven't featured men at work yet. But I will. Great Hub, once again
PDX: I look forward to journeying through your music hubs as well as your creative writing. You seem quite inspired and driven, which would seem to be good traits for a writer.:-)
I am pleased to know that you will be featuring Men at Work; when that happens, I would like to link it to my hub, if that is all right with you. Thanks again for your visit and comments.
Stessily: What an eloquent, intelligent, thorough tribute to the talented musicians and "Down Under," the incomparable, signature song of "Men At Work"! It is impressive the way in which you research, organize, illustrate and articulate your ever authoritative, fascinating and informative hubs. You are a super excellent writer be the subject matter analysis, fact, fiction or imagination.
Thank you for sharing, voted up, etc.,
Derdriu
Stess, I will let u know for sure, and I am always okay with a cross link :-)
Derdriu, your visit, votes, comments, and compliments are always greatly appreciated.
Your compliments on this tribute to Men At Work's signature song, "Down Under," reflect the enduring value of these unique Aussies and their unique song.
Thank you!
Stessie
PDX, it will be very welcome news, indeed, to be notified that you have completed your hub on Men At Work. I look forward to reading it; you have a unique creativity just as Colin Hay et al. are uniquely creative.
That's a great compliment! Perhaps it's time to work on that HUb :-)
PDX, a hub is done when a hub is done, or such is the way with my hubs. So I'll be looking forward to your MAW hub whenever you hit the publish button!
ha, as well you should :-) I also eagerly anticipate yours!
PDX, thank you for bringing me back to this hub which is so special and dear to me. Love the song, love the group! It will indeed be interesting, very interesting, to read what you have to say about MAW!
well, don't hold your breath, i have a lot of hubs int he works! Merry christmas/happy holidays to you!
Well, PDX, you're a little late in telling me not to hold my breath. Gasp, gasp! I'm blue in the face! What do I do now? (said in a whine)
All the best for the holidays and for the end of this year and every day thereafter, Stessily
happy holidays to you, and I've been busy and haven't written on this yet.... but I've written plenty of others :-)
PDX, As your follower, I know that you've been busy! Reading the words which follow those tantalizing titles is on my Do-Now list. The demise of my faithful computer has hampered my hubpages access lately so I'm relying on library computers while I ponder its successor.
Wow, this is such an excellent hub! I'm a huge Colin Hay fan. I can't say that I paid much attention to Men At Work during the "Down Under" days, but over the past several years Colin Hay's solo albums have become some of my absolute favorites. I've seen him in concert a few times and he discussed the law suit quite extensively. I had the pleasure of meeting him after one his performances and it was so great to talk to him. Well done!
TheMusicGeek, Oh my goodness, meeting and speaking with Colin Hay! I admire his talent and his music, old and new.
Your visit and compliments are greatly appreciated, especially in light of your musical background and familiarity with Colin Hay's artistry. Thank you for describing this as "excellent", for it came straight from my heart.
Well stessily, now I finally know the lyrics to that awesome song. The acoustic version is quite good too as you probably know. So chunder means vomit, oh my. Those were a couple of massive hits when they came out here and I remember it well. This is some great info and explanations and was thoroughly enjoyed, thanks stessily.
Alastar, Your visit, comments, and compliments are greatly appreciated. "Down Under" is indeed an awesome song, and I agree that the acoustic version is quite good, too. I am pleased that you enjoyed this tribute and can enjoy the song even more, especially now that you know the Aussieisms such as chunder.
A Denney 14 months ago
Interesting, informative and very well-written.