Australia (Whore of the world)
Encyclopedia
Australia is a climate change
protest song
written by singer-songwriter
John Gordon
and released in late 2010. The song laments Australia's mining culture - especially coal mining in Australia
and coal exports - likening the country to a 'mining whore'.
It has featured in a wide variety of Australian press and online media, including mining forums, and continues to garner attention due to its controversial and provocative message. Music Press have hailed the song as one of the great contemporary Australian protest songs. The Melbourne Age went as far as to say that Midnight Oil
's 'Blue Sky Mine
' has nothing on 'Australia (Whore of the World)'.
The Song has been banned by ABC Local Radio Southern Queensland (Australian Broadcasting Corporation
) as being too provocative for a conservative audience. ABC Southern Queensland encompasses the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region which is the region where Gordon hails from originally and where he has performed the song at a number of anti-mining rallies. The song has however received airplay in other parts of Australia from the ABC, and has been showcased on the national flagship ABC Environment Website. As of May 2011, Gordon is contesting the Toowoomba ruling with the case currently before the Independent ABC Consumer and Audience review board.
Australia (Whore of the world) was recorded using only pump organ (harmonium
) and guitar as vocal accompaniment. The song was written in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia where Gordon works in Music Production and Development.
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
written by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Gordon
John Gordon
-Noblemen:*John Gordon, 11th Earl of Sutherland , Earl of Sutherland*John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland , Earl of Sutherland*John Gordon, 1st Viscount of Melgum , father of Scottish courtier Henrietta Gordon...
and released in late 2010. The song laments Australia's mining culture - especially coal mining in Australia
Mining in Australia
Mining in Australia is a significant primary industry and contributor to the Australian economy. Historically, mining booms have also encouraged immigration to Australia. Many different ores and minerals are mined throughout the country.-History:...
and coal exports - likening the country to a 'mining whore'.
It has featured in a wide variety of Australian press and online media, including mining forums, and continues to garner attention due to its controversial and provocative message. Music Press have hailed the song as one of the great contemporary Australian protest songs. The Melbourne Age went as far as to say that Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil , were an Australian rock band from Sydney originally performing as Farm from 1972 with drummer Rob Hirst, bass guitarist Andrew James and keyboard player/lead guitarist Jim Moginie...
's 'Blue Sky Mine
Blue Sky Mine
"Blue Sky Mine" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil released as the first single from their album Blue Sky Mining. It peaked at #8 in the ARIA Singles Chart, #7 on Canada's Top 100 Singles Chart, #66 in the UK Singles Chart, #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on both the Billboard...
' has nothing on 'Australia (Whore of the World)'.
The Song has been banned by ABC Local Radio Southern Queensland (Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
) as being too provocative for a conservative audience. ABC Southern Queensland encompasses the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region which is the region where Gordon hails from originally and where he has performed the song at a number of anti-mining rallies. The song has however received airplay in other parts of Australia from the ABC, and has been showcased on the national flagship ABC Environment Website. As of May 2011, Gordon is contesting the Toowoomba ruling with the case currently before the Independent ABC Consumer and Audience review board.
Australia (Whore of the world) was recorded using only pump organ (harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
) and guitar as vocal accompaniment. The song was written in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia where Gordon works in Music Production and Development.