Blow Up the Pokies: The Whitlams and Sydney Symphony Orchestra

The Whitlams and Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform "Blow Up the Pokies" (by Greta Gertler & Tim Freedman) at the Sydney Opera House. December 2010

[@alonsocushing2398]

Probably one of the most melancholy and beautiful songs ever written.

[@s258298]

And they still can't make the trains run on time. Beautiful Music.

[@Boltyboyno1]

I adore his voice, its sooooo soothing to listen to. I imagine this song would be very emotionally taxing to sing live for freedman.

[@Mark-1965]

Was there ... great great night

[@HumanDichotomy]

Love this song. It's so sad.

[@tarsey1977]

This is Beautiful!! WOW!!!

[@jodebeaton8954]

I so want to go back and see them live,

[@jezaraknid314]

Please, help fight problem gambling, and all the scourges of all the addictions that plague us and hold us back from the brightness we are capable of.

[@squirtjosie7]

Could this be the central / signature aria for a modern Australian opera ? If it's this good as a one off arangement, imagine what it could be like with a truly thunderous orchestral backing at the crisis of our hero's redemption!!!

[@wheresyourheadat2009]

This song hits home

[@anastasiasim5113]

I was at college at the same time as Andrew Lewis, before he joined the Gadflys. Sad to lose such a talent 😪 😢 😔 Beautiful instrumentation for a great song 🎵

[@florencepierce1864]

I remember listening to The Whitlams when Blow Up The Pokies came out. A simple, short, but powerful, sweeping, majestic song; melancholy yet uplifting. I hadn't seen this version with the SSO (Sydney Symphony Orchestra) & it's even more amazing. They're using this song now, in a really amazing Gambling Awareness Ad Campaign on public TV. Really brings the message home. Blow Up The Pokies is incredible. Also, "No Aphrodisiac" also perfectly captures the smothering, swamping, desperate feeling of loneliness. The Whitlams are pure Aussie indie gold.

[@flipsysparkles]

Thank you, Florence. Do you have a link to the Gambling Awareness Ad on public tv? I am very interested in seeing it. I am one of the songwriters. Thank you, Greta

[@florencepierce1864]

@@flipsysparkles Wow! I'll check into it & get back to you.

[@florencepierce1864]

@@flipsysparkles I've checked & I can't find the details online, but from the public/free to air tv I've been watching, I think it's been playing on Australian Channel 9 Stations. It starts with a Dad talking about how his son was always shy, except when it came to the (Aussie) football. There's obvious pride in his voice The son is seen at various ages, dressed as a "Super Fan", in the living room, cheering his team on with his family as they watch the (presumably) live game. The proud father's comment was obviously about how the football brought him out of his shell. "Until the gambling", the father then says, quietly & sadly. The son is then seen at his current age (either late 20s or early 30s), cheering briefly but then automatically looking down at his phone, obviously placing yet another bet, while a concerned young woman (possibly a Girlfriend, maybe a Relative), but clearly worried, looks on. They talk (from what I can recall), about what it (gambling) steals, with footage of the young man walking through an office with a box of personal possessions, obviously having been fired, either due to the fact that his gambling is affecting his ability to work, or having stolen company funds. * It isn't explained, being left to the audience to decide, as the point is clear: gambling negatively affects ALL aspects of the Gambler's life, including work & personal life, as well as the people around them. It then concludes with the young man speaking to someone about his issues. I know they periodically show his phone screen, but I can't recall if they showed a logo, image or app for this gambling addiction group. At certain points, from what I can recall, they have snippets of the "... shine you the right words, to blow up the pokies and drag them away". I can't recall if they referenced/used the "... They've taken the food off the table" part of the line I do hope this will help you & I hope this is of interest. I do hope that it isn't a case of you not being paid residual royalties for your work - which is Amazing, btw! Regards, Florence Pierce

[@flipsysparkles]

@@florencepierce1864 Thank you so much! This is all extremely helpful. I will keep you posted if I find out more.

[@flipsysparkles]

@@florencepierce1864 Would I be able to email you? My email address is gretagertler @ gmail.com if you are able to correspond further. I just have one more quick question about the ad that you saw. Thanks again!

[@TheBrightpower]

Tim you have a great voice :)

[@wasabuful]

Amazing

[@SitDownDisco]

Ha! I reckon the last time I saw tim was a decade ago. He never ages! Me on the other hand...

[@wheresyourheadat2009]

Over 6 or so years my mother gambled 847,000 that we know of while she was super glueing our school shoes

[@SuzyQ334]

So sorry your mum was such a loser. But wtf does that have to do with the Whitlams?

[@cowaylon1681]

This song is about gambling addiction

[@markwilken2492]

That’s sad. I hope you’re doing better

[@VoyageOne1]

What a lovely person you are Susannah

[@alonsocushing2263]

@@VoyageOne1 And hasn't got a clue what the song is actually about either.

[@chrisabrahams7]

Fantastic with the Syd sym behind ya Timmy!

[@SuzyQ334]

And fantastic without the "Syd sym" behind him too.

[@kenmakin9050]

xox classical.........Tim

[@symannovak165]

What a great idea who's coming?!

[@carpau0]

Just a heads up that this concert was in December, 2009 not 2010 (it was aired pretty much one year later)! I know this cause I was at this exact concert!! In December 2010, the Whitlams were playing Notes in Newtown...a big difference from the opera house!!

[@wasabuful]

@squirtjosie7 Australia is an interesting experiment in socialism :) The "tall poppy syndrome" is actually by design, I think. Hence, the hero is collective... ?

[@fornife5004]

The song that keeps giving. The start puzzles me. I guess it implies the character is now going backwards in life. Ultimately he dies. Another man that was... rather than does. The song is fueled of course by the tragic loss of his band mate.

[@theredhackle22]

Since I listen to this song I no longer need to take my bowel medicine !

[@TheCluckmar]

Seeing as though this was filmed he could have been wearing like a kilo of makeup... haha.

[@peteringhampi5]

Gamble Responsibly! ? !....

[@mclark1708]

like addicts have a choice... and hey prey on them makes me fucking sick.

[@SuzyQ334]

What really pi**es me off when my favourite rock bands get onto a stage with a bunch of "classical" musicians is that the rockers show due respect to the classical musicians while the classical musicians are such a bunch of arrogant, self-entitled little pricks, they act like they are doing our rockers a favour just by turning up. I suppose it would be pointless to explain to them that without the rock band they would be at home watching TV, instead of at the Sydney Opera House getting paid.

[@brendanhurd81]

Admit it Susannah, you were a little drunk when you wrote this comment.