Down Under (song)

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"Down Under" is the title of a New Wave song of the reggae flavour, recorded in 1982 by the Australian rock group Men at Work. This song went all the way to #1 on Australian as well as international charts, including the UK and America.

It has become a popular and patriotic song in Australia.

The lyrics are about an Australian traveller circling the globe, proud of his nationality and attracting the interest of others because of that^{[citation needed]}. One of the verses refers to Vegemite sandwiches, among other things, and this particular lyric has become a well-known phrase. The flute part in the song is based around the tune of Kookaburra, a well-known Australian children's rhyme.

The song is a perennial favourite on Australian radio and television, and became well-known outside Australia after it was used as a theme song by the crew of Australia II in their successful bid to win the America's Cup in 1983. It wasn't the first Australian single to gain popularity in the USA, as Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport was #3 in the USA in 1963.

Another version of the song was released in 1999 by the punk rock band Pennywise, as a bonus track on the album Straight Ahead. While Pennywise is an American band, it frequently tours Australia, and often plays the song at live shows as a tribute to its many Australian fans.

A version of this song is on the Kangaroo Jack soundtrack. The song was also used in advertisements for the Disney/Pixar movie Finding Nemo, though it never appears in the film itself.

The punk rock band Funeral Dress also had a version of the song on its album A Way of Life.

Colin Hay had his version as well as an acoustic version on his album Man at Work.

[edit] Trivia

In October 2006, Triple M had the Essential 2006 Countdown of the most popular 2006 songs, voted by the listeners. Down Under was the number 3 voted/ranked song.^[1]

[edit] References

^ http://www.mrock.com.au/essentialcountdown/countdown.php Triple M - Essential 2006 Countdown

[edit] External links

Preceded by "Maneater" by Hall & Oates	Billboard Hot 100 number one single January 15, 1983- January 29, 1983	Succeeded by "Africa" by Toto
Preceded by "Africa" by Toto	Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 12, 1983	Succeeded by "Baby, Come to Me" by Patti Austin and James Ingram
Preceded by "You Can't Hurry Love" by Phil Collins	UK number one single January 23, 1983	Succeeded by "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo