Cold Chisel - Choir Girl Reaction

In this video we're listening to another one from Cold Chisel. We've really been enjoying this band's music. They have such a fantastic sound, and they're really charismatic, and we're eager to hear more from them. Enjoy!
cynthiamartin....
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/ hanierfamily

[@stevefoulston]

Songwriter Don Walker said of the song: "I made a conscious attempt to write a hit single. It was a matter of pride and craft. And then I thought, 'What'll I write it about...' I wrote it about pregnancy termination and it was a massive hit." At the time of release, many people seemed unaware of the subject matter Singer Jimmy Barnes said, "Even though nobody knew what "Choirgirl" was about, everybody felt an emotional connection." Peace out.

[@I_was_a_Countdown_Kid-75-83]

The song's about an abortion. The band are not being biased. Just describing an experience the best way they could. The song was written by the keyboard player Don Walker.

[@marcdaniels3350]

This is a song about teenage pregnancy & abortion. "Looking like a choir girl" in her white hospital gown and crying like a refugee - the way they cry with despair. One nurse to hold her...one nurse to wheel her down the corridor of healing...visual words!!!

[@jacquimott386]

I really love all that “crying like a refugee” can mean: it’s not just the tears, but also the absolute sense of loneliness and isolation

[@Blissbomb2]

This is from the mighy "East" album. It catapulted them to stardom in Australia. Every song on the album is a hit.

[@LONEEAGLE_space_rock]

Great review, I saw them live in Dunedin Town hall. here in new zealand way back... he (J Barnes)clamoured up to the balcony and persuaded a guy to join in with Twist and Shout. The guitarist Ian Moss is Great.

[@cmloz4054]

It was a song written about one of the band member's girlfriend getting an abortion. The lyrics had to be kept deliberately vague, as back in those days a frank description would have seen the song banned from radio play. It's a pretty touching song when you know the meaning. 'Looking like a choir girl, crying like a refugee' is a vivid and sad description of a teenage girl in that predicament.

[@Leah91au]

Quite a haunting number. Certainly surprised me that Chisel were capable of this. I know 'Khe Sanh' is also a ballad, but this one's different.

[@iankearns774]

Not many would have thought about the lyrics to the song back in the day. Only years later did I find out about the whys and wherefores and it hit me hard as an ex girlfriend went that path with me after we broke up over something really stupid. I didn't even know she was pregnant and found out from her cousin about 6 months after the fact. If I had have known I would have been proud to be the father of that child, I ended up becoming a Dad two years later with someone else in 1995 and she also a Mum in 1996. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I still think about it a lot.

[@tgward313]

i'm 65 yrs and never knew what it was about until now after reading the comments - so many thanks

[@AndyFNQ84]

Easy to struggle with the subject of the song, as it is a subject that not many bands sing about, particularly back then. But knowing makes the song even more poignant. I have always loved that a real rocking band that basically defined masculinity for a generation of Australians could approach issues like this with such tenderness and understanding, particularly considering the time period. They showed that real men could be supportive and caring without being weak.

[@danielflack7902]

Dam, Jimmy looks like his son (David Campbell) in this clip. David can sing well also.

[@peterdubois65]

For jimmy at his youngest check out khe sanh live 1978

[@bossdog1480]

An extremely young Jimmy there. lol The lyrics certainly are obscure. I see the answer in the comments.

[@liveitup67]

I know this will rub some people the wrong way, but as somebody that had been seeing Cold Chisel perform in the Countdown studios since their first appearance and knowing their (hit) songs, I felt ''Chour Girl'' was step forward for the band. It was nice that they took a tender approach to a sensitive issue.

[@colrhodes377]

I like controversy.

[@hanierfamily]

By Prince. Great song.

[@liveitup67]

@@hanierfamily Ha, ha - I remember first seeing Prince on a music show called Sounds (a Saturday morning show) with the ''I Wanna Be Your Lover'' video. This would have been 1980. My first thought was that Disco was almost over and this guy isn't going to be around in the 80's. Countdown was trying to get us interested in Prince with ''Dirty Mind'', ''Controversy'' and ''Sexuality'', but we were kinda thinking that he was nice, but not new enough. Then ''1999'' came out.. and the rest is history.

[@liveitup67]

@@colrhodes377 Looks like I'm safe!!! 😺

[@colrhodes377]

@@liveitup67 On the other hand, I'm not really a fan at all. He's a skilled musician , but I always considered him to be a one trick pony. I might be completely wrong, but I've only ever heard his singles.

[@michaellincoln3739]

His teenage sister is pregnant and agonizes on whether to terminate the pregnancy. She's as young as a choir girl. Her brother is in support. Very moving song.

[@ComfortablyDumb_Opinions]

ivé always found this song depressing. to lighten things up the next chisel song should be cheap wine.

[@mandyrhee]

Request for the next reaction: Starlight - Oktaf Kanis, thank you 🙏🏻

[@Robbo766]

To relieve you of the wait, I will give you my reaction. Great song... love it! Such a good song! Starlight are a wonderful band and Oktaf Kanis Thank You is a great song. A little arty, but very good good! Thank you for bringing Starlight to my attentiion. I will listen more to this band.

[@mandyrhee]

@@Robbo766 Anyway, Starlight is not a band, Starlight is the title of Oktaf Kanis song

[@liveitup67]

@@Robbo766 Gor Rob, the nerve of you! 🙄 Pretending to praise something that you didn't even listen to.

[@Robbo766]

@@liveitup67 I thought I could get away with it Gillybean! Mandy's been asking for this song for months, and I just thought I'd say something nice about her request. That's what I get for being nice.

[@brettfrench6121]

Another day and another reaction to an old Aussie song on this channel. What's most fascinating is not the reaction (sorry Hanier Family), but the conversations people are having in the comments. What does somebody's son learning how to drive or some bloke going to a gig have to do with Choir Girl?

[@DavidPola1961]

Wow this is late 70's that's why he looks a bit different 40 plus years later

[@sean---the-other-one]

I know you’ll already have lots of comments on what the song is about so no need to embellish on that. For other Chisels (I forget which ones you’ve done), I’d suggest: Flame Trees Standing On The Outside Khe Sanh Forever Now Ghost Town into Saturday Night (two separate songs but Saturday Night follows the brief but punchy Ghost Town and they almost run them into each other on the album - quite a good contrast Four Walls Janelle Bow River (studio version is a must) and do many more.

[@hanierfamily]

Out of these, we have done Khe Sanh and Bow River. We added the others to our list.

[@sean---the-other-one]

@@hanierfamily Cool. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. Yeah, I watched the Bow River reaction, although it was a live version which I think is great but works better once people are familiar with the studio version. I just watched and liked the Khe Sanh reaction as it was posted before I’d subbed, I think, otherwise I would’ve liked it previously.

[@teresas104]

Cold Chisel being subtle! I like this song a lot more than Stevie Wright's ''Evie''. At least the choir girl doesn't die!

[@notanotherenigma7759]

I've been listening to this song for about 40 years. I like it, and I know it's about abortion, but I still don't get the lyrics.... Still like it though.

[@shaundgb7367]

That is why Cynthia does not need to feel silly. Most people that heard it always enjoyed the singing and music of this song without really knowing what it was written about.

[@malcolmrayner3480]

This is the first song that broke Cold Chisel in Australia and is based around Abortion and the girls that go through it

[@Sspringgrainn]

I remember thinking this song was about a very sad girl and everybody is trying to brighten her up.

[@liveitup67]

Well, that's what the song's about. She's very sad and they're taking her down the corridors of healing. The ''termination'' might have gone over your head, but you weren't wrong about the subject character. You were a clever kid, Sasha. 🤓

[@Sspringgrainn]

@@liveitup67 😆Thanx Gillian. Very kind of you to say. Got any plans for the weekend?

[@liveitup67]

@@Sspringgrainn Hmm... I'm seeing the parents over the weekend. My sister and I will be doing some shopping for a friend's wedding. My son's learning to drive, so I have to take him out to the RTA, then I'll be helping my daughter with her very first speech at school, and other stuff too boring to mention. What about you, Sunshine?

[@Sspringgrainn]

@@liveitup67 Sunshine? That's your petname for me? That's sweet! Nothing too special. Will be cleaning up the Airbnb on Saturday. Might go out for a dinner with the hubby. That's about it. Good luck to your daughter on her speech, and your son with his driving. Two things in life I used to hate: driving and public speaking. And good luck with your friend's wedding!

[@liveitup67]

@@Sspringgrainn Thank you, thank you and thank you. Yeah, my pet name for you is Sunshine. You're from Brisbane, you look a bit sunshiny, so why not? You can call me Pups! 😉

[@liveitup67]

Chris and Cynthia I know you have spoiled me before with my little two song request thing, but would you be so kind as to spoil me again? 🤭 I got a request and a recommendation. Request: Australian Crawl - Boys Light Up (video + audio merge 2023) + Way I've Been (Remastered) Highly recommended: Flowers - Can't Help Myself nzoz1980

[@mightyV444]

Maybe they'll do it if you have another birthday first?! 😂😉

[@colrhodes377]

​@@mightyV444😂

[@liveitup67]

@@mightyV444 But I just turned 56! 😭

[@liveitup67]

@@colrhodes377 Col, if you missed my response, I said I had retired at 52...

[@mightyV444]

@@liveitup67 - Just turn 56 *again* then! 🤷‍♂ 😄

[@elizabeth_catches_waves2460]

boy, you would have heard it differently if you knew what it was about

[@delorangeade]

I always like the song, but the lyrics always made me feel uneasy, and that hasn't changed, even knowing the story behind them.

[@jughead4845]

Don't you guys understand that there are hundreds of songs whose lyrics are somewhat cryptic. Just because you don't understand what the song is about does not make the lyrics odd. The writer knows what's its about and that's all that matters. Why do you need the meaning of a song's lyrics spelled out for you? It really annoys me when music reactors do this. Why is it so important to understand what a song is about? Isn't it enough to just listen and enjoy?

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

Fairly pleasant song .. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

A bit o a change. Just back fi a Spastics gig.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@SPKdesign1 ffs fair play ,any original members left ? 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering Scales is still wi them.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@SPKdesign1 sounds like a great night out . Sweaty n yer ears ringing ? 😀 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SPKdesign1]

@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering Aye. The main band was The Guillotines and it was a pregig for an awards thing in The Biscuit Factory on Saturday. A band called Salt was supposed to be playing but had to pull oot at the last minute which is why the Spastics played.

[@kaitlynbatt_]

I just get images of Kings Cross, Sydney circa 1979/1980 when I hear this song. The old Coke sign and Sweethearts and the fountain. I know this is an abortion, but it might as well be about me walking home from school and hanging out looking at all the freaks on a friday and saturday night. A real bummer of a number if you ask me..

[@colrhodes377]

There's a song by Kate Bush called, Breathing. That was controversial too. However if you listen to the lyrics properly, you'll see the real meaning

[@hanierfamily]

It's a great song.

[@elizabethmajor7081]

He's wife is China!???????

[@hanierfamily]

Huh?

[@colinmcintosh4284]

It’s about Abortion.

[@isebmazo2140]

Be nice to see you do some Smokie (ORIGINAL LINEUP). Meet You At Midnight, In the Heat of the Night, Stranger, Needles and Pin,

[@jemxs]

Great song, is about abortion... though I don't get it from the lyrics either..but apparently thats the case. Either way is a fantastic song!

[@EveJenkins58]

Another song that was popular when i was working and studying at night, and sleeping for most of the day. Not the happiest of a song subject.

[@bossdog1480]

If you too were any more laid back you'd be horizontal. 😁😁