My People (The Presets song)

"My People"
Single by The Presets
from the album Apocalypso
Released	December 4, 2007
Format	CD single, music download, 12"
Genre	Electropunk, Electro, Synthpop
Length	4:31 (album version) / 3:49 (radio edit)
Label	FMR/WEA/Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Julian Hamilton, Kim Moyes
Producer	The Presets
The Presets singles chronology
"Truth & Lies" (2007) "My People" (2007) "This Boy's in Love" (2008)

"My People" is the first single from The Presets' second album Apocalypso. The song was nominated for two ARIA Awards, "Single of the Year" and "Best Video" (Kris Moyes).^[1] It won the latter.^[2]

On 26 October 2008, "My People" jumped up 38 spots from #52 to #14 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, surpassing its previous peak of #19.

Channel V Australia named the song as the second biggest hit of 2008, behind only "Low" by Flo Rida.

Song information

The song was written by Julian Hamilton about boat people in Australian detention centres. "I wanted to write a song about [...] this horrible phenomenon where people come out here in search of a better life and we lock them up. I felt so horrible about the way we treat these destitute people that I wanted to write a desperate-sounding song – the line 'let me hear you scream if you're with me' could be understood to come from the perspective of someone who is locked up, needing to hear that there are people outside who are behind him and supporting him."^[3] Kim Moyes said "In a lot of ways [the song is] a 'mega-mix' of three or four Presets ideas and it's a really glued-together, solid Presets [song]. It's very informed by the touring process and crowd reactions."^[4]

Despite its eventual success, the group initially had doubts if radio would play it due to the track's heaviness. Kim Moyes told Rolling Stone Australia "I remember when we played it to our record company and they were like 'we love it but how the heck are we going to get this on the radio?' There were even doubts about how much Triple J would get behind it, let alone any commercial stations."^[5]

Will.i.am from American hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas, in an interview with Billboard magazine about their new album The E.N.D., remarked that "the album had been inspired by a trip to Australia, specifically the sound of The Presets' My People. "The energy on the Presets' small little stage was crazy energy. That song My People (he sings the chorus) - that . . . is wild," will.i.am said, ""That's the reason why this record sounds the way it does - my three months in Australia."

On the 26th/27 October, "My People" made its return to the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, peaking higher at number 14. This chart rebound was partly due to The Presets' appearance at the 2008 ARIA Awards a week earlier.

"My People" holds the record for the most weeks spent by an Australian-released single within the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart - 76 weeks or a year and a half.

In 2009, "My People" was sampled by australian hip-hop artist "Phrase" in his song "Phrase meets The Presets". A music video was also created by DJ Flagrant to accompany it.

Usage in the media

• This song was frequently used during Channel Seven's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• was used to promote the 2008/09 Hyundai A-League season.
• was used to promote the 2008 ARIA Awards, which was broadcast on Network Ten.
• This song can also be heard during Brisbane Broncos home matches, as well as at some NRL and AFL games.
• This song can be heard and at the end of the Formula One broadcasts on Network Ten along with Daryl Beattie Shannons commercials.
• used at halftime of the Hawthorn vs St Kilda preliminary final broadcast on Network Ten.
• used frequently during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
• used in the pre-game promo of the Hawthorn vs Geelong match in round 1, 2009. Effects from the video clip were also used in this promo.
• used on the Superheroes advertisement for Channel V.
• used every year from its release during Brisbane RiverFire as the F-111 fighter jets approached and flew overhead, commencing their dump-and-burn.
• used on an episode of Top Gear when Richard Hammon reviewed the Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst & the Holden HSV Maloo Ute

Chart performance

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[6]	14
Australian ARIA Physical Singles Chart[7]	22
Australian ARIA Digital Track Chart[8]	15
Australian ARIA Club Chart[9]	1
Australian ARIA Australian Chart[10]	2
Australian Independent Records Singles Chart	2[11]

End of Year Charts

Country	Chart	Ranking
Australia	ARIA End of Year Singles 2008	#41[12]

Certification

Country	Certification	Sales
Australia	Double Platinum[13]	150,000+

Track listing

1. "My People"
2. "My People" (Kris Menace Remix)
3. "My People" (D.I.M. Remix)

Australian CD single

1. "My People"
2. "My People" (Kris Menace Remix)
3. "My People" (D.I.M. Remix)
4. "My People" (Mouse on Mars Acid Pretzels Remix)
5. "My People" (Music video)

Note: Australia radio stations were issued with a 'Radio Edit' (3:49) promo CD single.

References

1. ^ "Cilmi, Presets dominate ARIAs". Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-10-19. http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/cilmi-presets-dominate-arias-with-nine-awards/2008/10/19/1224351048297.html. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
2. ^ "The Academy Has Spoken: Emerging Artists Dominate 2008 ARIA Award Nominations". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2008-09-10. http://www.aria.com.au/documents/2008ARIAAwardFinalistsAnnounced.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
3. ^ Duncan, Alasdair (2008-04-01). "The Presets". Rave Magazine. http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/8328/30/. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
4. ^ Weaver, Andrew (2008-04-28). "The Presets Interview". centralstation.com.au. http://www.centralstation.com.au/articles/2008/The%5FPresets%5FInterview/. Retrieved 2008-05-01. 
5. ^ Treuen, Jason. "The Presets: Apocalypso Kings". Rolling Stone Australia. http://jasontreuen.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/rolling-stone-on-tour-with-the-presets/. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 
6. ^ Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association.
7. ^ Top 50 Physical Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association.
8. ^ Top 40 Digital Track Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association.
9. ^ Top 50 Club Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association.
10. ^ Top 20 Australian Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association.
11. ^ http://www.air.org.au/charts_main/index.php
12. ^ http://www.vanessaamorosi.net/2009/01/02/official-aria-charts-top-100-2008/
13. ^ http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_singles.asp?chart=1U50