Colin Hay ‘strenuously disapproves’ use of Down Under at March for Australia rallies | Australian music
Former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay has rejected the use of the band’s 80s anthem by Australian anti-immigrant protesters Down Under, saying the song “does not belong to those trying to sow xenophobia”.
In a letter sent to him Facebook And Instagram The singer-songwriter dedicated his accounts to Australia, the anti-immigration group March, which organized marches across the country on January 26 with the slogan “Our national identity will not be erased.”
The singer, who was born in Scotland and immigrated to Australia with his family when he was a teenager, signed his message “Colin Hay (immigrant)”.
“I strongly disapprove of any unauthorized, unlicensed use of the Down Under for any ‘Walk Australia’ event,” Hay said.
“The song Down Under, which I co-wrote, does not belong to those who try to sow xenophobia into the fabric of our great land, our great people. Down Under is ultimately a song of celebration. It is for pluralism and inclusion; unity, not division.”
“Go write your own song, leave mine alone.”
Down Under, which Hay co-wrote with bandmate Ron Strykert, became a national and then global hit in the ’80s, reaching No. 1 in Australia in 1981 and topping the charts in New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy before triumphing at No. 1 for four weeks in the US, where it sold 2 million copies.
The lyrics revolve around an Australian traveling the world and chatting about home, described as a land where “women shine and men plunder” and “where the beer flows and men fall apart”. A Vegemite sandwich features prominently.
In the decades since, it has become an unofficial national anthem in Australia and is frequently played at sporting events. He also found new audiences with the Perth producer’s covers. Luude and the northeastern Arnhem Land band King StingrayHe sings Yolngu Matha and English. The original song surpassed 1 billion streams in 2022.
Hay isn’t the only Australian musician calling out Australia for using their music in March. In October last year, country music legend John Williamson shared a post: expression on social media after the song True Blue was played during an Australian protest. “True Blue is a song for all Australians and should not be hijacked by any group seeking to use this song to sow division,” Williamson wrote.
And a month ago, after Cold Chisel’s Flame Trees and Icehouse’s Great Southern Land were played at a March rally for Australia, representatives for both acts issued a statement denying their use by the bands, saying “no approval was received and no permission was given.”
The Living End also condemned the use of two of their songs at Australian rallies in March.
“The goals and philosophies of these marches are repugnant to us and we do not support them in any way,” the group wrote. “We aim for our songs to have a positive impact. We believe in a fair path for everyone. Our songs are written to bring people together, not to divide them.”
