Australia (Gyroscope song)

Infobox Single
Name = Australia


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Gyroscope
from Album = Breed Obsession
Released = flagicon|Australia 14 June, 2008
Format = CD Single
Digital download
Recorded = 2007
Elevator Studios, UK
Genre = Acoustic
Alternative rock
Length = 10:32
Label = Festival Mushroom
Writer = Daniel Sanderscite web |url=http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/music/id/1149834|title=Australia - Gyroscope|publisher=JB Hi-FI online]
Producer = Dave Eringa
Last single = "1981"
(2008)
This single = "Australia"
(2008)
Next single =
Misc ="Australia" is a song by Australian post-grunge rock band Gyroscope, from the album "Breed Obsession". It was released as the third single from their highly successful album, which peaked at #1 in the ARIA album charts.cite web |url=http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Gyroscope&cat=a |title=ARIA Albums Chart search for: Gyroscope |publisher=Australian-charts.com |accessdate=2008-05-25] The song was released to radio in May 2008, and was released as a CD single and Digital Download on June 14, 2008, along with two acoustic pieces. One of those being a live acoustic version of "Australia", the other a live acoustic cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game".

Meaning

The song lyrically covers a range of issues surrounding the bands home country, Australia. It notably "pays tribute to indigenous people, first settlers, Diggers and recent reconciliation efforts." "Australia" is said to have risen Gyroscope's "songwriting to new heights", it's a track that confirms the Australian rock band “are equally capable of creating softer numbers as well as the harder hitting ones”.cite web|url=http://www.accessallareas.net.au/music_news/EkEppEupEVCSkIYOYz.php|title=Gyroscope Breed Obsession Tour sells out!|publisher=Access All Areas.com.au|accessdate=2008-05-31]

Lead vocalist and songwriter Daniel Sanders speaking about the story behind the song, said "“It was essentially written about myself leaving England as a tot and coming to Australia, and then growing up here, appreciating and embracing our culture and heritage and falling in love with it all. I wanted to express it for my own sake... So I could rejoice in what I love about this country"."”

An "intimate delivery" adds to the song's "inspiring" message, which “is set to spark feelings of national pride” amongst Australians.

tyle

"Australia" uses a combination of "subtle drumbeats", acoustic guitar and stringed instruments to create its sound. The use of the violin and cello are said to give the "song some extra depth". The "strong marching-band beat" of Rob Nassif's drum kit, along with the contribution of Sanders' "intimate delivery" on vocals are a main feature of the song, which is credited for it's "lush melodic arrangement with perfectly placed orchestral flourishes".cite web|url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/music/12696/Gyroscope-Breed-Obsession.htm|title=Breed Obsession on FasterLouder|publisher=Faster Louder.com.au|accessdate=2008-05-31]

Reception

"Australia" was still a month of its release as a single when it received its first national coverage from Australian television and radio programs. The brand new music video opened for the Australian music program "Rage", on May 23, 2008.cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s2253726.htm|title=Rage playlists - Friday, 23 May 2008|publisher=Abc.net.au|accessdate=2008-05-29] It also played a second time the next morning, and then again the next night, closing the show.cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s2253730.htm|title=Rage playlists - Saturday, 24 May 2008|publisher=Abc.net.au|accessdate=2008-05-29]

Upon release of "Breed Obsession", "Australia" was already heralded as an "unofficial anthem" of Australia.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23340800-7642,00.html|title=Rockers salute lucky country|publisher=Courier Mail|accessdate=2008-05-30] It had been earmarked by "Commercial stations" who were "already calling it a hit". The song even took an impressive compliment from Mushroom Records chief executive officer Michael Parisi, who said "this is a new anthem. Massive, massive, massive."

Gyroscope's third single off their third - and most successful to date - album, has been compared to Australian classics as "Solid Rock" by Goanna, "Sounds of Then" by GANGgajang and the anthemic "I Am Australian" from The Seekers. This comparison was made by rock historian Glenn A. Baker, who said "these are songs that invoke in us feeling of who we are and where we are," and notably that "the Gyroscope track would have the same effect."

The song has been used for the advertisement of the final season of Australian TV show, "McLeod's Daughters". It was also used as an inspiration to the Australian athletes who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the quote "So close, But so far". This was in reference to the song's lyrics, "So close, yet we've come so far/So close, still we've got so far".fact|date=August 2008

Music video

The music video for "Australia" was released nationally to "Myspace TV" and television programs on May 19, 2008. It was filmed on May 2, 2008,cite web|url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/13158/Gyroscope.htm|title=Gyroscope on FasterLouder.com.au|publisher=Faster Louder.com.au|accessdate=2008-05-30] in Sydney, Australia. The video was directed by Tom Sparks.cite web |url=http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=34456058|title=Gyrocope - Australia|accessdate=2008-05-25|published=MyspaceTV.com] The video features the band walking along a beach, with cut shots of an indigineous girl, eventually the band comes to a cliff edge, where aerial shots are used to create an impressive scenic shot of the band.

Track listing

# "Australia" - 3:49
# "Wicked Game" (Live & Acoustic) (Chris Isaak cover) - 3:20
# "Australia" (Live & Acoustic) - 3:29

Personnel

Gyroscope

* Daniel Sanders – guitar, vocals
* Zoran Trivic – guitar, vocals
* Brad Campbell – bass, vocals
* Rob Nassif – drums

Production

*Dave Eringa – producer

References