Need a good laugh? First Time hearing Men At Work - thank you Patrons!

[@MouseGuardian]

As a Norwegian, I can NOT believe this is the first time anyone over the age of 25 in an English speaking country is hearing this song now for the first time!

[@madmen2288]

This one is stretching the living under a rock excuse for sure.

[@AnthonyGarcia-zm2cz]

i mean im 25 and never heard it until Volk did his amazing ufc walkout with it

[@MouseGuardian]

@@AnthonyGarcia-zm2cz Maybe I should have said 30🤷‍♂️

[@raidonbay]

Me, Rob, from the farthest swamps of South Mississippi, USA. I agree with you ❤

[@notimportant8120]

@@raidonbaythis made me chuckle😂glad you know how to use a radio Rob 😂 blessings from Oz

[@SyntheticParanoia]

Im Bulgarian, litteraly on the other opposite side of the globe from Australia, I am convinced this is their national anthem and I refuse to accept anything less.

[@OptimalToast]

It may as well be for many of us, we treat it us such. Our actual national anthem is okay, but it doesn't truly get to the heart of us like this song and some others.

[@ginaspeciale9086]

Our unofficial anthem is - WE are Australian by the seekers.

[@Elriuhilu]

​@@ginaspeciale9086Or I Still Call Australia Home, by Peter Allen.

[@jaysel911]

Nah...its actually Waltzing Matilda

[@RavagerZero]

It’s like us Kiwi’s and Slice of Heaven. Sure, sure, we have an “official” anthem. Then we have the real one.

[@iselldreams]

As a Scottish lassy I can confirm this is the Australian equivalent off the proclaimers 500 miles. I once lost 2 of my Australian friends in a club in london. I asked the DJ to play this and 100s of them showed up out of nowhere. It's a war cry, it's a end of the night song, it's universal song to dance. It's just good.

[@heatherharvey1779]

The Americans cup sailing in 1986 was our national anthem love our music

[@sophiacromwell8017]

I LOVE 500 Miles!!! When I hear it - I can’t stop singing it for days! I’m an American)

[@Beelzebub666you]

No way !! Nothing like the Proclaimers, 500 miles is truly the worst song to ever be recorded. It's Extremely annoying.

[@craigmacdonald4987]

Colin Hay - the writer and singer of this song, is from Ayrshire in Scotland 🙂

[@CÆSSIUS32]

Collin Hays is Scottish (British) greetings to you in the motherland from here in Melbourne 🇦🇺🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Wisconsinclssic]

Men at work reminded us that music can be FUN. In a time when everyone was trying to be the biggest and baddest, we all secretly loved Men At Work.

[@onya5614]

Australian Crawl had some fun about them too.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

They particularly appealed to kids the 80's. They were almost a kids band like the Monkees.

[@andrewmurray1550]

more like men at the pub after work.....

[@johnyoung8144]

Mental As Anything was the same. Give them a listen if you like Men At Work.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@johnyoung8144 "Berserk Warriors" ... Anna's a girl Viking. She is very handy with a spear ...

[@beabarber4300]

Just before this song was released onto an unsuspecting world, Men At Work hired Centennial Hall in the Melbourne Royal Agricultural Showgrounds to practice in before touring the album. Next door to that was the Dairy Pavilion, where there was a horse riding school during the months when the Melbourne Royal Agricultural Show wasn't using all the facilities. The band practiced A LOT, even during lesson times for the horse riding school and they played LOUD. I was a pupil of the school at the time. It was truly amazing how the horses (all fairly jaded school horses) would vibe with the beat of the music (which was VERY clearly audible in the riding hall). Helped amazingly with developing cadence and rhythm in us pupils, as the horses very quickly matched the beat of whatever song was playing with their footfalls and striding. For many years after, when I was training a new or young horse, I would put their music on a cassette deck to play loud to make the process of education easier for the horse. Worked like a charm. Another related issue - the bass frequencies would travel underground from Centennial Hall and reverberate through the sand flooring of the Dairy Pavilion, so after a few hours, all the dried up horse manure that was lurking within the sand would be shaken to the top. This made cleaning the sand very very easy at the end of the day's lessons. Some days the sand would even form almost fingerprint like patterns from the sound vibrations being transmitted through the brick pillars that held up the roof. Weirdly like the raked gravel of a zen garden, with lumps of horse manure instead of rocks.

[@larryparks1520]

WOW. Awesome!

[@Trouble10]

This might be the coolest story ever told in a KZbin comment.

[@nbsmith100]

that is extremely fascinating... i may have to send this on to a relative of mine who works with horses

[@davidperrott4502]

And they spent many a night performing at the Clifton Hill Hotel well before they became a well known band. My fav pub. Not to mention a few others

[@becp488]

That is a little piece of Aussie music history I would never have learnt if not for this comment. Fascinating.

[@iamafieldonfire]

If this song is played in any pub outside of Australia, it will summon every Australian within a 10km radius, and they will SIIIIING. I love this song. And yeah, I'm Australian.

[@beetleb1801]

Ain't that the truth!

[@Annonymous0283745]

I just went outside and blasted it on the car radio. Confirmed that 4 Australians live in my neighborhood in New Mexico.

[@DravenMercer]

Nah, yeah that sounds about right actually

[@2Quietus]

Yep. Spent 24 yrs in the military and went around the world....several times. Doesnt matter where yer at: play this song and it'll draw out Aussies like a bag of cookies to a fat kid.

[@sammacculloch446]

And the odd lost kiwi 😅

[@roberthart5863]

Back in the 80s when this song was made, young Australians had a reputation of traveling around the world on very small budgets. They would take advantage of their ability to work in British Commonwealth countries and as a result, the UK had young Australians working bars, cooking food, carrying bricks and other unskilled labor to raise money to keep traveling. They were also well known for their can-do attitudes, willingness to work hard, and to party. When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I worked with such people. They were a pleasure to work with and I learned a lot from them.

[@petersmall1574]

I studied and worked in France for a couple of long stretches in the early to mid-1980's. And in my travels I often ran into small groups of Australians at youth hostels. I developed a favorable impression of them as friendly, congenial types.

[@11jasey]

This guy gets it.

[@mattnewcomb_official]

So, like the Dwarves of Erebor, then?

[@AltCutTV]

Seem the perfect place for one of those "fun fact things: The band name comes from a picture of just one man working while the rest of his crew are on a break. :)

[@DavidYesUCan]

Come to Banff they still come to work in Canada to this day

[@al2air]

I once played this song on piano [at some bar in Thailand], after few notes some dude came to me, put his big-like-bread-palm on my shoulder and ask me if Im Australian, I told nah, Im from Poland. He noded few times [most probalby he was drunk, I was also] and told me that this is their second anthem. Maybe he fought I was making fun of this song, oh no-no-no my dear, I friking love this song and I rock it! Few minutes later he was the most happy man on planet and didn't want to let me go without few shots, so I said ok, but after few shots we will drink few more, laugh and talk about our countries. Dude if you're reading this that was a fun night and you're great guy! Take care, I hope you're ok!! There is nothing, NOTHING in this sad world that brings people closer more, than music.

[@Deetroiter]

Big like bread palm 😂

[@DmitryGorbushin]

Wait! Hold on! Their SECOND anthem? So, it is not their FIRST anthem?

[@dust4magnet]

Men at Work were huge in the day. "Who Can It Be Now" should be next. I saw them in concert during their peak popularity, and they were immensely entertaining. Another Australian band you should explore is Midnight Oil. Start with their biggest hit "Beds are Burning." You won't regret it.

[@hd9700]

Yes, this!

[@ThePayneFactor]

Midnight Oil! Yes! Or some Silverchair.

[@haventthoughtofanameyet6364]

The way he sings that song is really cool

[@rcrawford42]

Men at Work's "Maria" should be next, if only to see their range.

[@DasWandbild]

Overkill would be great for her to do, too. Especially one of the acoustic versions...like in Scrubs.

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

The flautist sitting in the tree is a nod to the Australian children's song, 'Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree', from which the underlying rhythm is drawn.

[@bailzzzzzz]

That led to a vacuous lawsuit from bloodsucking opportunist lawyers

[@peterg9729]

A nod? They had to pay the Australian Brownies all of their royalties.

[@smkh2890]

@@peterg9729 "in the end, Larrikin won around $100,000, although legal fees on both sides have been estimated by Hay to be upwards $4.5 million, with royalties for the song frozen during the case. “After five years of litigation, it’s four and a half-million dollars chasing $100 grand,” Hay said. “So they didn’t really win, they just lost less than us.”

[@johndurrett3573]

Its rather sad that such a wonderful band came to an end because of a rather public, national song was the underlying tune that they felt owed them so much. This was one of my absolute favorite bands in the 80s..bought the tape and played it so much..have sung it front to back without turning on the tapedeck. "Down by the Sea" was my going to sleep song.

[@sd3457]

@@peterg9729 They had to pay the music publishing company, that had bought the rights, 5% of the royalties...and it pretty much cost the life of the composer. All for a little riff over the top of the main song, to add a smidge more Australian flavour.

[@CaptainTedStryker]

Overkill has those legato lines you're looking for. It's more of a pared down ballad, way different vibe, the vocals are just **chef kiss**

[@johnruddick686]

A great indie masterpiece.

[@PhoenixRisen63]

That was my suggestion, too. 'Overkill' is such an awesome song. 👌 I love everything about it, from the lyrics to his voice as he is singing them.

[@JohnGraves1985]

He did a version with a choir, and it was absolutely wonderful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXS9fHSuedSIrac

[@JimGillett]

His acoustic version of Overkill is sublime

[@vodkaa1]

Love that song in Scrubs with Colin following JD around singing it

[@lilykelly5991]

This is so much more than just a song for us Aussies. Its a beacon. Growing up in the 90's, this song always made the rounds at pubs or basically any gathering that included beer and a snag (still does to this day) It wasn't until I was in Europe, alone for the first time when I really felt this songs roots. A tiny bar in Venice during the middle of December. I was cold, lonely and had sunk at least 7 cocktails by 11pm. Homesick and freezing my ass off, hating a white christmas. Just as I was about to leave, this sing came on. The absolute thrill of seeing a dozen people stand and belt out the lyrics at the same time as me gave me such a sense of home and camaraderie. I think a lot of people forget how far us Aussies have to travel to get to the US or Europe, so when we do hear a song like this it's a balm to the soul

[@fixer1140]

That's Australia's national anthem, isn't ?

[@MarksElectricLife]

In 1983 Australia challenged USA and wrested The Americas Cup from the clutches of the New York Yacht Club, who had fought off every challenge for 120 years. The Aussie crew played this song as a battle hymn at the end of each match race. Dennis Connor (USA skipper) hated it and the more it got under his skin the louder they played it. For those of us old enough to remember it was a magical time.

[@stevencrabtree1409]

Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum! - Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke after Australia II won the cup. I didn't get to school that day until ten or eleven and my teacher still hadn't slept.

[@yachtboy6756]

Years later, I began sailing on San Diego and Mission Bays in San Diego. It was cool to see several crews heading out to practice.

[@karlsenula9495]

Well that is fair .. after all the U.S. did blare Heavy Metal at Manuel Noriega in the Vatican Embassy to get him to surrender when we invaded Panama.

[@Plasmastorm73_n5evv]

Also called poor sportsmanship.

[@Plasmastorm73_n5evv]

@@karlsenula9495 WTF are you on about? The two have nothing to do with each other. One was a dangerous dictator who took americans hostage before he ran to the vatican embassy like a coward. The other is a sporting event.

[@Cadinho93]

This song holds the world record for consecutive words without swearing by an Australian. Also, this song is so singable you can totally forget that none of it makes sense, though I do love it when you dip into the '80s.

[@theaikidoka]

Yes, but three isn't too high a target lol. I loved this song for ages, but only recently saw the accompanying video and it was every bit as weird as you could wish for.

[@blakerbnsn]

@@theaikidoka Used to watch the video religiously on MTV back in the 80s.

[@mktrill]

The only thing terrible is veggemite😅 she's not wrong

[@antivanti]

What part doesn't make sense? It's about an Australian that's into "substances" traveling the world and either meeting fellow Australians or people who know Australia

[@mktrill]

As far as I understand it the music video is filled with digs at the Australian government but I don't understand any of them accept the koala thing

[@brettc190]

I met Colin Hay in 2009 after a show. I asked him if my wife and I could get a picture with him, and he said sure. I stood on his right, and my wife stood on his left, and he had his arms around us. It was so cool. Overkill is my favorite Men at Work song.

[@warrenford]

That's so cool Overkill is my favorite too

[@jmfloyd23]

Mine too

[@edwardhummingbird8677]

Yes, Overkill is a truly great song.

[@kellypatterson2537]

Great song - acoustic version is sublime

[@benjaminrettig8094]

It's a mistake

[@blarfroer8066]

If I make it to Australia one day and it doesn't look exactly like this, I'll be severely disappointed.

[@waggafletcher]

It was filmed at Cronulla sand dunes in Sydney's southern suburbs. Cronulla Beach is nearby.

[@jasongood3680]

“The thunder” was the sound of young Australians at that time running away from their home land and into a whole load of other places, especially the UK and Europe. “You’d better run, better take cover” was a warning not to get hit as they stampede towards you. And the whole song is finding people from Australia everywhere. A real favourite from the time, I’m glad you did this as it really made me smile.

[@michellerenner6880]

Oh this makes so much sense.

[@feralfeline]

ah ty for the explination!!

[@prodigaIProdigy]

Yep - the music video is a mix between vignettes of the band running into other aussie expats the world over, and positive stereotypes of Australia which form their camaraderie far from home.

[@STho205]

And the speculators developers selling the land that was once natural...."men plunder"

[@kaeldallaway9489]

And what fun we had on these travels. Hearing this song at the Walkabout in London with a bunch of other Aussies made for a lot of fun.

[@RizzyRamone67]

This song is one of those cases of a song being adopted as a “patriotic” song, when it’s actually a reaction to overdevelopment and commodification of the land. It’s still a love letter to Australia, just not in the way a lot of people assume.

[@kovie9162]

Like Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA, which many people still don't get is anti some aspects of the USA. I'm guessing that you were thinking of it too.

[@RizzyRamone67]

@@kovie9162 actually it didn’t cross my mind, but yes you’re absolutely right!

[@portcullis5622]

The same with Natalie Merchant's 'Motherland'. The title song, and most of the songs on the album, were a critical analysis of the USA, at that time under the Presidency of George W Bush. The album was recorded just before 9/11 and was released just after. Of course, the USA was not in the mood for Americans criticising their own country, even though the album was really a patriotic lament about the damage being done to the US environment, economy and way of life, by an oil obsessed group of industrialists who held sway (and still do). The opening song proved to be prophetic, sadly. 'This House is on Fire' used Eastern scales and the lyrics were about the smouldering tensions between East and West.

[@jburt779]

Sorta like American Woman, then?

[@RobWinant]

@@jburt779American Woman was written by Canadians.

[@PhoenixRisen63]

I love his voice on their song 'Overkill'. It showcases his range and his natural vibrato beautifully. Men At Work are a gem.

[@richardgreen3160]

I agree totally

[@michaelmoore7975]

It would be the better choice for The Charismatic Voice to examine.

[@jeffreyhender5272]

Agree with all of these “Overkill” comments.

[@CameronL-l5k]

check out a recent live version of it with "Choir Choir Choir!" its freaking amazing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXS9fHSuedSIrac

[@pietzsche]

His solo/choir versions are phenomenal

[@markd774]

As an Aussie that grew up with this song, I'm not sure which I love more, this song or your enjoyment of it and the humour that has been inserted :)

[@kovie9162]

Colin Hay's appearance in an episode of Scrubs singing Overkill has got the be the best instance of inserting a musician playing themselves into a work of movie or TV fiction. Men At Work was one of those bands you might have initially written off as one hit wonders, like Wild Cherry or 38 Special, but they kept on putting out one great song after another, led by the very talented Hay.

[@leonardwashington6456]

I was almost mad at Perry for bashing Colin's guitar but it was funny as shit. Great show, great music.

[@MaverickAus]

One of the best episodes of a very funny TV show.

[@craigroberts5965]

Love overkill

[@sodastreetproductions4305]

I bust out that version from Scrubs at least once a year, it's so good.

[@michaelmoore7975]

@@kovie9162 38 Special 1 hit oneder?!? Nahhh...

[@danieljackson22]

The song "Down Under" by Men at Work is about the selling of Australia and the overdevelopment of the country. The lyrics were written by lead singer Colin Hay, who explained that the song is mainly about celebrating Australia in a way that isn’t nationalistic and the loss of the true heritage of Australia due to over development of the country. The song captures the essence of Australian identity, painting a picture of a land that’s as enigmatic as it is endearing.

[@Fragenzeichenplatte]

Yeah it's not merely a funny song, although it looks like it from the outside.

[@shannondavis5536]

and the entrapment degradation and land theft of the indiginous peoples if you watch the video it portrays it at the map scene and the end with black dressed carrying a casket following white dressed

[@TimothyBatesonAuthor]

The video often reminds me of some of those from Madness

[@RatelHBadger]

​@@TimothyBatesonAuthordefinitely has that classic Aussie Larrakin/Cockney Geezer (Madness) vibe to it.

[@snakesnoteyes]

There’s some deep irony in colonizers being mad at being colonized

[@Shyfren]

Gen X raised on hose water, neglect and Men At Work! 🔥

[@shaun8256]

Just remember to let the hot water run out of the hose first!

[@justwinks1553]

Also Inxs

[@roboparks]

Millennials raised on Toilet water.

[@marcm.]

Amen)

[@KyleMiddleton7]

That made me smile. It must have been thirty years since I drunk out of a hose.

[@lachlannichol2315]

Greg Ham is a tragic story. Years (2007) a go, a tv music game show had a questions about the similarities between the flute rift in Down Under and an old Australian nursery rhyme called Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree. A company (Larrikin Music) owned the rights to Kookaburra then sued Men at Work wanting back dated royalities for Down Under. They won and that sent Greg (who wrote and played the piece on the song) in to a drug fuelled depression that he never recovered from and eventually took his life in 2012. My uncle was a childhood friend of Greg Hams and worked as a roady for them in the 80s. Apparently the band would come over to my uncles when they were in Melbourne and I used to get baby sat by them.

[@TheCappaQueen]

That's amazing, and his passing was a tragedy.

[@TheCappaQueen]

That's amazing, and his passing was a tragedy.

[@pdxgrl1]

He was so cute and funny in the videos, sad to hear this. 🥺

[@andrewcox9207]

I remember that episode of... Spicks and Specks? No-one had apparently ever made that connection before, and the lawsuit came within weeks.

[@ukman9797]

I remember the lawsuit, but I didn't know he took his own life. Sorry to hear that. RIP mate. Thanks for the song.

[@BradGryphonn]

If memory serves me correctly, Colin Hay, then lead singer of Men At Work, said years later that the song was never meant to be an anthem. It was making fun of how we are alway stereotypified across the world, and we'll never break free of that. I think there was also some underlying thing about being swamped by foreign investors who considered us fools. And they were right. We sold a lot of our country to foreign interests. Oh, I've subbed.

[@davidperrott4502]

yep thats the thunder of being over-run by foreign interests

[@goalski134]

we didn’t sell it, the government did.

[@paulsherro1374]

It was the Americas Cup campaign that made it so, along with the boxing kangaroo flag.

[@lifelongbachelor3651]

you can thank all our corrupt scumbag politicians since ww2 for that...

[@uredbulldawg]

I just love that they had Men At Work play this at the closing ceremony of the Olympics when it was in Sydney in 2000

[@MrNeatoMiniStock13]

Greg Ham was a wonderful floutist in this video. He also played saxophone on other songs as well. He passed away in 2012 at age 58, possibly of a heart attack, as he was anxious after the copyright lawsuit against Me At Work, as they felt Greg Ham was playing a rift from a song called "Kookaburra". He was very depressed over the lawsuit. Despite all that, the song is excellent and the band played some excellent music. May Greg Ham continue to Rest Peacefully.

[@BigTroyT]

Yes, a copyright troll came after the band decades later, suing them for millions of dollars over the flute line, and Ham felt very personally responsible for all the hassles that resulted, even though he really did nothing wrong. After Men At Work stopped being active, Ham had become a "leisure-suit lounge singer" and enjoyed entertaining people by playing the piano and singing in that style. But even that didn't alleviate the stress caused by the lawsuit, and he passed away. He was a fantastic musician, playing flute, sax, piano, and synths for the band.

[@whyistheway4567]

Greg Ham is sorely missed and as an Aussie kid growing up with this song always playing in the background of my formative years, I still mourn Greg. We lost a national treasure over the estate’s greed and lust for blood. Which they ultimately got. RIP Greg. We miss you mate!

[@XaviRonaldo0]

​@@BigTroyT it is absolutely ripped of from that song. Almost identical

[@Edam-Channel]

The flute part is indeed very similar. The stupid thing is the company that owned the copyright (the original songwriter died decades ago) got virtually every cent of the profits from the song even though the flute part is fairly minimal.

[@lillywildflower]

He killed himself because he was accused on stealing the tune from kookaburra sits in the old gum tree. The band was sued and had to pay $$. He created that tune but was so upset that he was believed to steal the tune that he handed himself

[@justanotherlikeyou]

Can't believe you've never heard this. One of the best 80's pop songs.

[@jettisoncargo]

I am Australian. I know what vegimite is like. It's a poison you grow immune too through constant exposure, like iocaine powder. I met an American in a backpacker hostel, fresh in the country and ready to experience everything we had to offer. He was like, "Oh, I've heard about vegimite. They say it tastes awful." Now, there were plenty of other Aussies there, so when I said, "That's just a myth. Everyone exaggerates. Watch me scoop a fingerful up and pop it in my mouth like it was peanut butter;" it was just pog faces all round. Oh shit. This yank is gonna fall for it. Sure enough, he did the same thing. Scooped up a finger, popped it in his mouth. Nodded as if in appreciation for a nanosecond... ...And then experienced the horror, ran to the sink, and guzzled water for a full minute, while we all laughed. Great times. Never trust an Australian. Drop bears ARE real tho.

[@indiasky]

I love eating it like that 😂

[@OptimalToast]

haha, that's a cool experience. 😂 And yeah, drop bears are very real, sneaky buggers can get you anywhere, trust us. 😏

[@DG-mk7kd]

I'm from England and prefer marmite, vegimite is just too mild.

[@jettisoncargo]

@@DG-mk7kd Marmite is trash

[@leonbarnes1402]

@@DG-mk7kd 🤣🤣🤣

[@monkeyhammar]

It's the Vegimite that gives us such a sunny, laid-back disposition

[@mikevale3620]

That would be 'Vegemite'.

[@monkeyhammar]

@@mikevale3620 It was the middle of the night and I was high as a kite, why would I care about spelling?

[@stuartspencer2161]

@@monkeyhammar "It was the middle of the night and I was high as a kite, why would I care about spelling Vegemite?" - Fixed the rhyme for you

[@paulmartin2348]

And it makes you chunder.

[@JCGver]

A tea spoon of that in the morning and NOTHING you will encounter that day will be worse 🤣

[@andrewward8692]

As an 8 year old boy I thought this was what pop music was. This, Adam & the Ants, Madness, Bananarama, Captain Sensible, Human League, Culture Club, etc. It felt like the dressing up box had been thrown open. I loved it.

[@CuriousCritter17]

And you were correct!

[@Dude-pk7fk]

Born in 02. The music i was brought up with was a lot of ac/dc, angels, oils, men at work, h&cs, hoodoo gurus… just a lot of the pub rock type scene, and it is a true part of our culture! 💙💙

[@Michael-uy1jn]

I rarely admit this, but I still feel the need to crank out a bit of Ant Music now and then...

[@Dude-pk7fk]

@@Michael-uy1jn are you adamant thats how you feel? 🤣🤣

[@Michael-uy1jn]

@@Dude-pk7fk 🤣

[@louielouie9768]

Men at work are awesome! This was 80’s music at its best!

[@Benderosa]

Thunder reference explained on Wikipedia: The band are seen carrying a coffin across the dunes at the end. This, Hay has explained, was a warning to his fellow Australians that their country's identity was dying as a result of overdevelopment and Americanisation. Hay has also stated that the same ominous sentiment lies behind the choral line, "Can't you hear that thunder? You'd better run; you'd better take cover".

[@loneRang3r]

I was going to make a similar comment hut you nailed it. In addition to this, storms hit hard here. People often assume I'm exaggerating when I describe the intensity of electrical storms here but having lived in several countries, I can state with confidence, the average storm here is a shock to most visitors. On top of that, the vast openness of the outback means you can often hear a storm coming in the form of low rolling thunder before it's visible on the horizon. So the reference to culture is being delivered by a quintessential Australian weather phenomenon; something that is as familier to us as all the other references.

[@waltp9509]

Interesting. I took it as "Get ready, the Aussies are coming to rock your world" vibe as they thunder to prominence. And lest we forget "Thunder from Down Under" -- sorta similar idea.

[@jasongolo5125]

A more superfluous association with 'thunder' is the 'Thunder' drinking game where during ACDC's Thunderstruck track, you start drinking an alcoholic beverage every time "thunder" is heard and stop on drinking it on every second "thunder", then repeat. I've not heard of this played outside of Australia.

[@jaqjaq101]

agreed

[@muddygti]

I think they might have used a bit of double meaning here, because every year you know it’s summer when you get an epic sudden thunder storm - part of the experience living in “down under” 😆

[@metoo7557]

That swimsuit off the shoulder one piece was a trade mark of Andre The Giant when he was wrestling.

[@thegfactor2001]

It was also a bathing suit worn by Aussie Super Model "The Body" Elle McPherson. Unforgettable

[@trespire]

I was thinking an Edwardian woolen bathing suit.

[@schulme123]

Commented the same...missed this.

[@0okamino]

The classic strongman outfit.

[@johnchestnut5340]

It was also common for circus and strong men performances. It could show a little form while maintaining modesty.

[@rayj1011]

The flute tune is ""Kookaburra" (also known by its first line: "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree") is an Australian nursery rhyme and round about the laughing kookaburra (bird). In some Aboriginal cultures, the kookaburra's laughter-like call is believed to signal the coming of rain, which is vital for the land's fertility and sustenance.

[@edwardmunoz7853]

Didn't they try to sue them for using this?

[@toddavis8151]

@@edwardmunoz7853they were successfully sued

[@fredglazer2913]

@@edwardmunoz7853 They did sue him and they won. Hay lost just about everything he ever earned.

[@johnwalters1806]

@@edwardmunoz7853 They lost the case in 2011.

[@rayj1011]

That, I never heard. But it is a very old song and may not yet be copyrighted. I don't know the laws there though.

[@malteplath]

Thanks for featuring one of my all time favourites! When it came out, everyone was into synths and very mechanical sounding voices. It was the New Wave 80s, after all. Men at Work dropped this bomb of pure joy of living, and I salute whoever was daring enough to publish this song in Europe at the time. Colin does have an incredible voice, but it was this hippie, happy-go-lucky, reggae style music that hooked everyone. ... Leaving his vocal talents to be discovered at later listenings. Thanks again for your jaw-dropping reaction to this song.

[@chrismartain3306]

70's and 80's Australian rock is a rabbit hole I really hope you go down. There is so much amazing music and a few singers that probably haven't received the recognition they deserve

[@BartFalcone]

I accidentally got turned onto jimmy Barnes, and now hes one of my faves

[@John_Locke_108]

Just another reason why growing up in the 80's was awesome. This song makes me feel like a kid again. Also, everything we know about Australia comes from this song and the movie Crocodile Dundee.

[@giljensen1132]

Facts

[@blueodum]

"That's not a knife... THIS is a knife!"

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Our rock had FLUTES! And Trombones!

[@ToddPro]

Exactly, as a tween was beautiful!

[@bluefish4999]

That would be The Road Warrior for me, then Wake in Fright(1971), the latter being as Australian as it gets, Dundee lifts a lot from that movie.

[@Mark.Brindle]

As a young Australian moving to the USA to study for 4 years between 83-86, every time I heard a Men At Work song, it transported me home, memories of them playing on the radio on a hot summer day at the beach (especially since I was stuck in Pennsylvania). They are an iconic Australian band. Vegemite, you only need a little. Spread it on toast with butter, especially when the butter has melted. Non-Australians use it like a jam. You don’t need much, it’s true, most Australians love it.

[@projames7]

Amen! You need to use it right - have spent 25 years in the US now and have found several that like Vegemite when used correctly =)

[@BISSEYSZ]

Four years and you can't spell Pennsylvania?

[@michaelrowell7798]

It is a yeast extract with plenty of Vitamin B, so if applied on bread or toast in the appropriate amount, it is great. Don't spread too much on it though it's pretty full on

[@r.fairlie7186]

@@michaelrowell7798My dad used to describe that perfect small amount of Vegemite as “a mere smear”. I’d also recommend to other readers that it tastes better with hot buttered toast. I gather that non- Australians don’t realise that if you taste it when the toast is cold this may be why they don’t like it. I also recommend watching Colin Hay playing “Down Under” as a solo performance. There are several different versions on KZbin. It’s stripped right back and shows just how good Colin is by himself. My favourite is the live one on Channel Ten. It’s a stand-out! Another good one is Colin together with Rick Springfield and John Waite(both also on acoustic guitar). The three of them were touring together at the time.

[@paulsherro1374]

The song really gained fame in 1983 when Dennis Connor kept blasting our boat with the Rocky theme during the Americas Cup before the races. One day we got some speakers and played it back and then went on to end the longest winning streak in sporting history 4-3. lol, as we say, suffer in ya jocks.

[@dust4magnet]

Modern listeners have no idea what the Australian wave of music had on the world in the 80's. One side-effect is that bands in that region also gained attention. One band from New Zealand was Split Enz. Their dedication to the glory of pop songs won my heart. I saw them twice, and they were wonderful. The younger Finn went on to establish Crowded House, a world-wide success. I still treasure the back catalog of Split Enz.

[@DH-rj2kv]

Crowded House, Midnight Oil, INXS, Nick Cave, Dead Can Dance... good times

[@fliugica]

The Aussie 80's pub rock scene was the best!

[@monzadh]

Hoodoo Gurus...😊

[@raymondregis6219]

Saw Split Enz in 82 inAnn Arbor. They were great.

[@Jerry-tb8cb]

@@DH-rj2kv Icehouse

[@TraciWCanada]

Colin Hay, the singer, is Scottish, and now lives in Scotland. I had the pleasure of seeing him as a solo artist years ago... What a wonderful show, and he tells the most interesting stories in between songs. He told one story about how he found out Paul McCartney had listed one of his solo albums as the ten albums he would take to a desert island. Over time, McCartney and Hay became friends, and at one point, McCartney was back in Scotland and told Hay he was hoping to have dinner together, so Colin invited him and his entourage over, did research to be able to make a vegetarian meal, since McCartney is vegetarian... after dinner, McCartney had disappeared, and Colin went to look for him, and found Paul McCartney in his kitchen washing his dishes, and had a moment of awe.

[@KeithWWatson]

I love Colin Hay mostly thanks to Scrubs

[@Colaholiker]

@@KeithWWatson Favorite scene, J. D. hiding in that storage closet where Colin is standing, and singing JD signals him to be quiet 🤫 and Colin belts out "I CAN'T GET TO SLEEP" 😂 I will never get tired of watching it.

[@msoileau83]

Didn't he move to Australia as a kid? Like the Bee Gees?

[@astronomenov99]

​@@msoileau83and most of ACDC!

[@Why-d5h]

This has single-handedly brought all of Australia to your channel (im Australian)

[@jasontaylor1583]

Yep ill second that one

[@007Yasir]

I have always thought lead singer Colin Hay, had a very soulful voice, I am so glad you picked up on it, another good song to hear his range is Who Can it be Now. Carlos Santana always picks his lead singer to have that soulful voice, one of his early lead vocal Alex Ligertwood from Scotland and still. has that powerful voice in his 70s now. I love you channel, I just subscribed. A fan of Heart the Wilson Sisters.

[@Hudson316]

As an Australian, I can’t stand Vegemite (taste or smell) but from what I understand, when Americans try it they do it completely wrong, they slather the bread with Vegemite, or worse eat it off the spoon, when the proper serving method is taking bread, lathering it with a lot of butter or margarine, then putting the thinnest smear of Vegemite on it, so you’re basically adding a salty/umami seasoning to buttered bread.

[@xenephon7620]

Check out Hugh Jackman on Jimmy Fallon's show showing how to try Vegemite properly - you can find it here on KZbin

[@FarmTV-gj1or]

Also as an Australian... Vegemite is not my favorite either but understand it's origin was from the dregs of brewing a long time ago. Also to the non-Auzzie's ... the vegemite sandwiched as passed off to Colin like a pass in Aussie Rules! Fosters is an export beer ... try and find it outside the local tourist shops in the capital cities, not going to happen... BOAG's is Betta Never gets old listening to MAW

[@unofficiallymike]

​@@FarmTV-gj1or it's origins is Aussies not getting British Marmite during one of the wars. So you made your own knock off just like Tim Tams are UKs Penguin bars as well. Mr Arnott went to the McVities factory and said I am going to make these better. He made them bigger lol. Australia is the knock off of Britain. Well what do you expect in a land full of UK convicts relatives on a prison island I suppose. Remember Ireland was part of the UK then like Northern Ireland today so we gave you Ned Kelly of course. Kelly being an anglicised form of an Irish surname. The Americans problary turned it into a girls name like they do with a lot of our surnames. Woolworths is another Aussie Knockoff. Nothing to do with American Woolworths. For some reason Aussies stole that surname and made it into a supermarket lol. Marmite is also beer production waste product full of B Vitamins. Although Marmite used the marketing love it or hate it as most folk go yuck tasting it.

[@utahjohnnymontana3373]

I hear its a great bit of fun to give the uninitiated way too much vegemite just to get their reaction. Personally, I like a bit of sharp cheese with Marmite on an onion bagel.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Its a song about drinking hence Women Glow Men Chunder (throw up) Can’t you hear the Thunder, better run for cover.

[@johnianknox1629]

Written by Scotsman Colin Hay who hails from Troon in Ayrshire, he moved down under as a kid with his family. He still gives Scotland great reviews for making the man he is today, take care everyone from another proud Scot.

[@zsaleeba]

Another famous Australian band AC/DC also had a Scot lead singer. What is it with Scots and wanting to front Australian bands?

[@jojogrrl2756]

Thanks for Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel too 😀

[@alexo5861]

@@zsaleebaThe entire Young Family was Scottish and emigrated to Australia. My understanding is in the 50s and 60 Commonwealth citizen were being encouraged to move to Australia, the UK was still under an economic depression due to WWII, Scotland especially depressed thus lots of Scotts and their family’s moved to Australia.

[@johnianknox1629]

Check out another fantastic Scottish singer FRANKIE MILLER, his music is in the same genre as Jimmy Barnes and he has written all his big albums by himself as well as songs for others including Bob Seger and The Eagles. Take care from Glasgow.

[@benhughes2538]

@@zsaleeba the first singer Dave Evans was Born here where i live in Wales. It's like they never want an Australian singer lol

[@BuckMcAntlerson]

"Overkill (acoustic version)" is an outstanding display of Colin Hay's vocals.

[@johnrowland1883]

Especially in that episode of Scrubs

[@nero1375]

Since 2009 listening to this masterpiece! You have a lot to listen coming from Men at Work!

[@Firedrake-f4g]

By the way, the man in Brussels used an Aussie Rules pass to give the lad his sandwich.

[@davidmc105]

Indeed a quite good hand pass, obviously from the southern states.

[@BC-ui9yt]

I don't think I ever noticed that before seeing it today.

[@stinkybisquit]

“Overkill,” either by the band or Colin solo. Beautiful.

[@rodwhitney8236]

As an Aussie, I was singing this the WHOLE time! And now it's stuck in my head....... Loved your reaction!!! This was brilliant!!!

[@hawkmaster381]

Those were the Golden years of music videos.

[@KarinainOZ]

1983 and Australia won the America’s Cup. My flatmate and I went to the end of our street where we could see a GINORMOUS Australian flag 🇦🇺 flying on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This song brings back that memory of every Aussie being insanely happy about a yachting competition that we’d never cared about before 😂 Happy days!!!

[@bluejhaygrl]

My mum was pacing the lounge room early that morning; she never took an interest in much sport at all, and definitely not water sport. I had to get up to see what was going on, and I sat with her as Australia II crossed the line. It is a very memorable event.

[@Justice1911A1]

I was at a year 11, week long excursion in the middle of the bush, one of the teachers bought a tv and we all sat up in the wee hours of the morning cheering on a yacht in a race we never heard of.. it was amazing. 4 years later I watched my home town transform to defend the cup. Even more amazing.

[@lynndonharnell422]

It was the theme song for the Australia 2 team. It was played at high volume from big speakers on the boat tender before and after every race, just to get the yanks attention.

[@friendlyface4044]

American here, and in those days we a lot of others thought of you guys as the coolest people in the world.

[@friendlyface4044]

Think I was about 13 for that America's cup, and the AMERICANS were happy to see Australia win, because we thought you were just that cool.

[@bluebehir]

Not sure if anyone else commented this, but the way he passed the sandwich was how you do a handoff in the Australian Rules Football game, and seeing it made me laugh out loud!

[@sylph4721]

Punt!

[@washitokusei6801]

@@sylph4721 Handball.

[@kieronsloan1704]

I played Australian Rules Football as a kid (in Adelaide). I laughed when I saw the sandwich (or butty here in Liverpool, UK) being "hand passed." Brought back memories ...

[@AndyViant]

Handball. Not handoff. But well picked up.

[@goalski134]

i’ve always had a soft spot for this song. that soft spot turned into a love affair in nov 2005, when 80000 people sang it at the top of their lungs, as we beat uruguay to end 3 decades without a world cup appearance. still gives me goosebumps. this song will always make me think of that night.

[@Erisen.]

For me Men at work is really like Madness. Similar vibes, similar jokes and fun, but very serious musicians. Maybe one day you should check Madness too.

[@luisalonsoecheverria]

Funnily enough, Colin Hay is actually Scottish. When he was in Ringo Starr’s band, Ringo would introduce Colin and say “Alright Colin, time to sing about that place that you’re not from!”

[@drsloanski]

Well, he did emigrate to Melbourne in 1967 at the age of 14, but in recent years he has definitely reclaimed his Scottish heritage.

[@johnathanmichaud867]

​@@drsloanskiSame with Bon Scot. He picked up the Aussie accent because he was tired of having his arse kicked.

[@GoffeTorg]

He was great in Ringo's band

[@drsloanski]

@@GoffeTorg Yeah, he's a fun guy. When I saw him with Ringo he said "I wrote this song while I was high. I quit soon after that and I haven't had a hit since." ba-dum!

[@injusticesystem5685]

I've heard the song so many times in my life and I've only just realized that the "bRRReakfast" at the beginning of the song sounds more Scottish than anything else in the song!

[@McShaganpronouncedShaegen]

Back in the day I was an idiot! If it wasn't metal it wasn't music worth my time. Now I love listening to all the great music I ignored in my youth. Men at Work is a band that has many songs on my current playlist. Overkill, Be Good Johnny, Who could it be Now, just to name a few.

[@enigmalex3649]

There is so much good music from every genre. I could listen from classic rock,metal,house to trance lol

[@n5iln]

Colin Hay does a solo performance of Overkill which is impressive, in that it shows off his vocal talent a great deal better than what one hears when he sang with Men At Work.

[@geneween64]

funny thing is this was one of the few (non-metal) songs my Metalhead friends liked back in the early 90's!, I remember blasting it in the car over and over :D

[@viksox13]

we're probably same age, but MTV opened my eyes to plenty of non-metal songs that were awesome. Really broadened my musical tastes and appreciation.

[@Moveplaylift]

Haha i was exactly the same. Its fun to go back and get into this stuff now

[@courtney-rw8ch]

Out of all the bands, all the singers I listened to in the '80s, his voice really did stand out.

[@skarlottt]

Be good be good be good be good be good be good be good jhonnnyyyy

[@skarlottt]

It was the '80s and nobody could afford a video made so they make up themselves and have fun that is about all

[@wojopf88a]

@@courtney-rw8ch yeah, for a foreigner! But I like journey and foreigner much better! American all the way! Can't say the rest!

[@courtney-rw8ch]

@@wojopf88a maybe I miss-stated a bit. He has a very unique voice. There were plenty of better singers at his time. And I am from the US.

[@nicoledevona5863]

His voice still stands out! He is amazing live! Go see him.

[@martynrudd6070]

An all together amazing timeless classic never to be repeated by them or anyone. I can listen to this over and over never gets tired.

[@3D_foos]

back when this song was still new and in heavy rotation on the radio my mom bought a used car and we found this cassette tape under the seat. we played it every time we were in the car until it wore out and broke. i was about 8 or 9 years old and hearing it now gave me overwhelmed nostalgia.

[@krisher1979]

When I was a child I overdid Vegemite and couldn't eat it for a very long time. Then last year, I took a bottle of Vegemite to Morocco for my fiance to try, and he loved it, and his whole family loved it, and we ate it together and now I like it again. Also in Morocco, we were outside a mosque up on a hill overlooking Chefchauen, and out of nowhere, someone starts playing Men at Work's Down Under which was completely unexpected.

[@xbill3k]

It has a very strong taste, anyone that didn't like it has likely used too much for a beginner amount. Probably no more than a teaspoon on some buttered bread/toast is a good place to start.

[@noinfo9130]

not really a vegemite guy, but living in the UK by god did i have the weirdest urges for vegemite and cheese toasties

[@toby9999]

Vegemite is nice if you use it correctly.

[@MichaelLabriola-f8s]

Having been a veteran of the hotel industry in NewYork city my favorite humans are Australians by far! My favorite conversations are with Aussies! ❤🐨🐪🐫

[@becp488]

Haha. The camels.

[@baronrodrigo5049]

Never heard of anyone being so knowledgeable about music but never listened to any music - other than that, love this Chanel

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

LOL, I just basically commented the same thing. I still watch her videos, but I know better than to believe she's never heard almost any of these songs being 38 and a music pro.

[@felicitysmith759]

My dad is a huge music nerd but has not heard alot of the music she does a deep dive on. My mom had to introduce him to Men At Work along with other 70s and 80s bands. So it doesn't actually surprise me if this is the case. I used to only listen to classical music until my early 20s and have been slowly expanding my musical tastes. There are some pieces that she's analyzed on here that I should know but have never heard before

[@seumasmackinlay]

"Speaking to Songfacts about the overall meaning of the lyric, Hay remarked: 'The chorus is really about the selling of Australia in many ways, the overdevelopment of the country. It was a song about the loss of spirit in that country. It's really about the plundering of the country by greedy people'." "Thunder" is metaphorical. .

[@MichaelAD1967]

Yes! And I always assumed the "thunder" was the sound of heavy equipment coming to (over) develop the land.

[@ryancappo]

But it also became the best song to boost tourism to Australia.

[@tonysansom]

Thanks for that. I always believed the lyrics had a deeper meaning.

[@FarmTV-gj1or]

@@MichaelAD1967 Very close to what I thought it was a stab at overseas land purchasers/developers. In 80's it was Japanese now Chinese

[@michaelkeogh7722]

I sad to the man, are you trying to tempt me? Because I come from the land of plenty That and the line about men that plunder says a lot that I didn’t pick up on for decades. The great irony of this is being the anthem of the America’s Cup win, considering that Alan Bond is exactly the kind of person this song is protesting.

[@coegj]

Many many years ago a childhood friend of mine who came from a wealthy family traveled the globe in her late teen and early twenties, she met and fell in love with an Aussie. She found most of them were fun loving people who lived their lives with a gusto and irreverence that Americans just don't have, she mentioned that those who did not have that gusto were born to be and ended up as politicians, that was her husbands and all of his friends opinion, enough of politicians though. She comes back to the states to see her sisters and relatives now and then but always returns to land of plenty, she says of that line in the song, is meant to be a major embellishment at best, and her Aussie friends and husband just live and love life and what ever they have with gusto. She is happy.

[@KevinMurphy0403]

This song still sounds amazing 43 years later.

[@RosinaEmilyW]

And I hear this song every day on the radio when I’m at work. I live in the UK, and it’s always Down Under and/or Africa.

[@christopherdavies7213]

43 years ago? FFS!!! I feel old.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@christopherdavies7213 Not so much old as the fact that the whole shebang is on the downslope.

[@karizma8175]

I'm an Aussie, and have loved this iconic film clip from when I first saw it on CountDown. It's a breath of fresh air seeing your review and critique. Makes me love this even more. Cheers.

[@KathleenHanover]

Hard to believe, but in the context of the '80s, when MTV was born, this video made perfect sense.

[@heitzd1]

Cocaine is a helluva drug...

[@Davez621]

Nope, no MTV in Australia in the 80s. Didn't come here til late 90s.

[@nottheplan4513]

After this, you should check out their song “Overkill.” Either the original by the whole group or Colin Hay’s solo version - it’s a gorgeous song.

[@jonathanross149]

Underrated and underviewed song

[@MA-ti2km]

Exactly. I went to the comments just to say this.

[@thelatentobserver121]

100% agree.

[@WooliteMammoth]

Yes!! Overkill is so good.

[@JohnGraves1985]

Better yet, the version he did with Choir, Choir, Choir: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXS9fHSuedSIrac

[@DangItAll]

The key with Vegemite is to spread it very thin, because it’s very strong. I think it’s best on warm toast with melted butter, or on a plain salted biscuit with butter and cheese. Sometimes when I’m craving salt I’ll cut a slice or two of cheese and spread a thin layer of Vegemite directly on the cheese. Yes, I am Australian 😂

[@dionnedevillierssmith9582]

😂 I’m South African, and I love Marmite in exactly the same way!

[@vitaemecha]

Exactly how we eat Marmite in the UK

[@tykeinbrum]

@@vitaemecha Spread the love. Love the spread.✌👌

[@KarlRamsay]

Vegemite on toast with heaps of butter

[@dionnedevillierssmith9582]

@@KarlRamsay I prefer my marmite with cheese, although I do leave out cheese if my tum is a bit unsettled - I will eat marmite on scones, French toast, and toasted English muffins. During the pandemic, marmite caught a stray from the lockdown, because Alcohol and Tobacco were banned, and as a result, the breweries stopped producing spent brewers yeast which is the main ingredient. A shortage gripped the nation - It was horrifying , so anyone who had marmite were as gods. It’s thankfully back now!

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

The lead singer & writer of this song Colin Hay is actually a Scot, born & raised in Saltcoats Ayrshire his family moved to Australia when Colin was 14. He still holds on to his Scottish accent. Marvellous! 💙

[@Dogroll-OW2]

Colin is one of my idols. His body of work is amazing. The song ‘Waiting for my real life to begin” will be my funeral song. Such a voice. Thanks for doing this one E.❤

[@Mourn100]

This song always takes me back to Australia's win against the USA in the America's Cup. What a wonderful time that was.

[@wmsheep]

Aah, "Down Under", the second greatest unofficial national anthem in the world (the greatest being "99 Luftballons" by Nena").

[@douglassnyder214]

99 Luftballons is great, but have you heard "99 Dead Baboons" by Tim Cavanagh? 99 dead baboons Sitting in my living room Not too functional it seems But quite a conversation piece This one's Jake, that one's Dinah There's Big Ned in my recliner No it's not a lazy boy Can't you see it's a dead baboon?

[@AndyViant]

No, Du Hast has the top spot for unofficial national anthems. No question.

[@manfreddanvers3213]

​@@AndyViantas much as it pains me to do so, I must agree with you. Both as an Aussie and huge Rammstein fan lmao As an Aussie tho we also have Waltzing Matilda which was actually a runner up in the competition to submit the anthem

[@wmsheep]

@@AndyViant OK, I'll allow Du Hast.

[@curiosityisamystery]

Lol.... you can come to Australia, bush, beach, snow. We are a perfect destination!! 😂

[@Nick_Sandman]

Absolutely - and 99% English speaking (more than USA I guess). Many cars are still manual shift, and its drive on the left here - but having said that, US spelling rather than UK spelling prevails . But of course you don't come here for that - you come for the "no worries sheila" laid -back lifestyle

[@SnailMailShell]

Overkill is also a lovely display of Colin’s voice.

[@frankbreuer8849]

Yesss and he can play the guitar too ❤

[@stpnwlf9]

I love Overkill, but I think his masterpiece may be 'Waiting for my New Life to Begin."

[@Icedxylophone]

It's a lot of fun that every country has a song that if we hear it in the bar or wherever we are, we start singing full of joy.

[@robertboyer1086]

I saw Colin solo a couple of times in a very intimate venue. Between songs he would talk about music, what it meant, how it was inspired and his experiences within the music industry. A very charismatic man and performer. His solo work is definitely worth a listen.

[@grahamokeefe9406]

Saw him open for BNL a few years back. He did a great set

[@curtismitchell4885]

I caught him with BareNaked Ladies at red rocks about a year ago. It was awesome.

[@williambill5172]

Agreed from what I hear (and wish I knew firsthand). I have heard him called Australia's Jimmy Buffett.

[@MIW2447]

Overkill - Acoustic Version is my favourite

[@farfromperfek]

I tell people seeing Colin Haye is like going to a top-notch comedy show with phenomenonal music in between.

[@CameronM47]

I'm British 1970 and grew up on army bases in Germany in the 80's, I remember this song with great affection from back then.

[@seanpaula8924]

The wild west days of Mtv. No rules, no guide lines. Flock of Seagulls were a good example.

[@AussieRose76]

And Rage every weekend lol

[@michaeljeacock]

one word. Devo

[@wyldhowl2821]

Also, the era of white guy bands borrowing from reggae.

[@njones420]

Primus :)

[@david2869]

@@njones420 Err, what Primus was on MTV in the 1980`s?

[@lesgrice4419]

Massive hit thats virtually the Australian National Anthem, connected Aussies everywhere, was everywhere the year it came out, its about connecting with fellow Aussies anywhere in the world...

[@CineSoar]

According to Colin, "It's ironic to me that so many people thought it was about a specific thing and that really wasn't the intention behind the song. If you listen to 'Born In The U.S.A.,' it's a similar song in that there's a lot of nuance missed because people like drinking beer and throwing their arms up in the air and feeling nationalistic. It's ultimately a song about celebration, but it's a matter of what you choose to celebrate about a country or a place. White people haven't been in Australia all that long, and it's truly an awesome place, but one of the most interesting and exciting things about the country is what was there before. The true heritage of a country often gets lost in the name of progress and development. [as alluded to by the "Sold" sign stuck in the map, in the dunes]"

[@stealthvegan]

Wow, this brings back such great memories! I was travelling in Turkey in 1995, and on Christmas Day, my partner and I were surprised when the staff at our guesthouse played 'Down Under' for us. They even sang along with us, making it such a special and fun moment! This song will always remind me of that incredible experience. 🇦🇺 🇹🇷

[@klcheshire]

Colin Hay has an incredible voice. The "bleating vibrato" is a "tell" to his voice. As a singer, I really admire the range of his voice. After Men at Work disbanded be released an amazing run of solo albums. I recommend researching the flute part of this song. It's a tragic story.

[@kellypickle]

Colin Hay is an incredible vocalist and never lost his voice

[@ericdardinger3346]

Loved his appearances on Scrubs

[@gregwatson3300]

Absolutely. I think it's partly because he doesn't smoke and quit drinking long ago.

[@thelatentobserver121]

Saw him in Cinci last year, and he blew us away. He can hit those notes.

[@markvanderstelt8999]

i lost my voice one time when i got a Cold.

[@MichaelBlackman-l1e]

This song was adopted by ‘Australia II’ when they successfully won the America’s Cup yacht race in 1983. Played at Volume 11 everything time the boat came back in to the dock.

[@theiaofseed]

Colin Hay doesn't get the love he deserves an amazing artist.

[@taylor_drift]

Colin Hay looked like Christopher Eccleston, the 9th doctor in Doctor Who...and i cant unsee it now.

[@jedislap8726]

Yeah, it's the smile he does when the guy in 'Bombay' shouts" Ooooh, so you come from a land down under"

[@BRIDINC1972]

Damm!!! Will never under that now😂😂

[@HowToTrainYourDuncan]

Ohhhhhhhh THAT’S who he looks like! Thank you, that was driving me nuts.

[@scottrackley4457]

He changes the lyrics to the second line of the chorus as it comes around the second time. "Where women glow and men plunder" to "Where beer does flow and men chunder". Which is entirely true, I've been there.

[@michaelrobinson1275]

I live in Australia, and I haven't seen a good chundering in a while. Australians have changed a lot in 40 years

[@sophiashelton8886]

I did wonder if someone had explained what chunder is.

[@scottrackley4457]

@@michaelrobinson1275 Fair. It was 30 years ago in Perth.

[@astonwards7236]

Cool, looking forward to this, 'Overkill' and 'Who can it be now?' are personal favourites.

[@jeffafa3096]

Australia might have a different national anthem, but I see this as Australia's soundtrack. It's such a fun video clip, has nice lyrics, good instrumentals, is very well sung, and it makes you feel proud for Australians. I love everything about this song! ❤

[@dadoftwinsau]

As an Aussie, all I can say is Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi oi oi!! 😂 Thank you for this! It was a blast from my past 💫❤️💫✌🏻🇦🇺

[@markmarkplace]

Thanks to Aussies for MAW and Miranda Kerr!

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Quick Translations: fried-out Kombi - Worn out VW van Vegemite Sandwich - Vegemite is a salty yeast extract, used to 'lift' Gravy, or with cheese in a sandwich... A Vegemite Sandwich may also be slang for a punch Chunder - a slurred version of "Watch out Under", slang for vomiting.

[@angelbear_og]

Don't forget "head full of zombie"!

[@edwardmunoz7853]

" with a slack jaw and not much to say"

[@RoninUK-e3u]

apparently "watch out under" was the polite warning before you threw up over the rail on a ship - in case anyone had their head out of a lower deck or porthole.

[@garylagstrom3864]

Next question: on the song Down by the Sea: What are Yonnies in the wind? What is Jump down to Shelters to get away?

[@haventthoughtofanameyet6364]

I watched the wild thornberries in the 90s i already knew this xD

[@kevin6667]

Colin Hay live is an opportunity that should never be missed!

[@happyolddude]

As an Australian of 77 years, I sent my American friend a jar of Vegemite, He told me and I quote: If you ever send that oil grease over to me again our friendship is over! LOL He and his family absolutely hated it.True story and so I immediately sent him over 6 more jars. Loved it since I was a child and it is good for you.

[@wotgrissom1671]

Only correct response

[@erikkennedy8725]

Ah, the 80's. This song was so ubiquitous when it came out, it's hard to imagine someone never having heard it before... which means, wow, I'm old.

[@nikkijohnston3266]

Ah…music from when “Thirty-Something” was about old people.

[@KarlRoyale]

Sing it out loud brother, sing it out loud

[@billmorris8358]

After all these years l still adore this song this voice this band

[@whatacrazzydude]

I got this record when it came out. I still have it. I'm 56, and seeing younger people liking Men at Work makes me smile.

[@kingcosworth2643]

Another great unofficial anthem is Icehouse - Great Southern Land

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Colin Hay is a Scot who emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was about 14. He still has a bit of a Scottish accent in his voice that adds to his distinctive sound. In the beer scene they change the words 'men plunder' to 'men chunder' which is Aussie/Kiwi slang meaning to vomit. Great group, unique sound.

[@kyoungphoto]

His Scot's accent is even more pronounced... now that he lives in America. Scots leader of an Australian Band that now lives in America. It's a big world.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

@@kyoungphoto It's a known fact, the longer a Scot is away from their birthplace, the stronger their accent gets.

[@mikefowler6623]

Colin has told stories (telt tales) of how he adopted an Aussie accent to avoid getting picked on (bullied/beaten up) after he moved to Oz with his family. Either goes to show that not all Aussies are warm and fuzzy, or that kids are arseholes everywhere. Or both. Also, I'm pretty sure the flautist iss attached to the koala by an umbilical chord. Geddit? (Sorry. Taxi?)

[@mikefowler6623]

Oh yeah, and we chunder in Scotland too. Aye. Pure hunners ae chunder, likes.

[@AaronNolan-p1o]

@@mirandahotspring4019 ac/dc didn’t get that memo?

[@retrospect4549]

From Australia, we love you back ❤

[@mightymouse2249]

Maam, I'm a soldier currently in the sickhouse. This video made me smile for the first time in days. Thank you. I love your channel, even though I can't sing. Your reactions are priceless.

[@peterward2845]

Be happy, recover and may you find many more opportunities to smile

[@grantvandongen]

Speedy recovery mate ... and stay away from the vegemite!