Midnight Oil (Official Thread)

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

Thanks Sal, not surprising really Pete was always interested in politics. I hope he does well, but usually the intentions of almost every politician, no matter how noble get derailed by the big money that really runs the world.

 

[Gabble Ratchet]

Re: Midnight Oil

Since KRudd's been in charge he's been promoted to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts which is about as far as he's gonna go imo

But politics are irrelevant, the important thing is that Midnight Oil are an awesome band!

 

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

You are right about that, but it is interesting trivia that an activist from a massive band like Oil followed through and tried to do something about a lot of the issues they wrote/sang about.

Next album coming later today, to get us back on track, thanks Sal.

 

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

Wow I forgot about this one thread too...I am jumping to 1982's "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1", which was tremendously successful in the Australian market spending 100 weeks on the bestsellers list. This was a great boost for Oil, and was the best album they had recorded up to that point in their career and set the stage for the great albums to come.

US Forces.

 

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

Been a long time since I posted in here, Feldy's political news post reminded me about my favorite Australian band. The next album was "Red Sails in the Sunset" and continued the political and social commentary that made up the bulk of Oils repertoire. Some have commented that Garrett's "Lecturing" tone on this record took away from it's enjoyment, I disagree I love bands that can do great songs that also have a meaning beyond the normal fare that is the dominant theme in most rock and roll music. Anyway forget the fact that the topics are serious and just listen to the band cook if that bothers you, anyway you slice it these guys are very very good.

Kosciosko.

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

Re: Midnight Oil

So I recently read about something involving Peter Garrett that I thought was really interesting (though it's not exactly "new", it's new to me). Turns out that since becoming Australia's Minister for the Environment Garrett has since allowed for Japanese companies to hunt whales in Australia's antarctic whale sanctuary. This is really interesting (and ironic) of course because of Midnight Oil's strong political views.

 

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

That does surprise me Cosmic, I had nothing but respect for Garrett and hoped that he would do well in politics. His story is almost identical to the movie with Robert Redford, "The Candidate" co-starring Peter Boyle as his campaign manager. I won't bore you with all the details but the entire motivation of Redford's character to run for office were noble, and worthwhile and represented his personal beliefs about right and wrong. By the time he gets deep into the election process, everything he stood for is undone for political expediency and to win no matter what the cost personally. I am beginning to think we will never overcome the "Reptilian" part of our brain that seems to control our personal survival instinct no matter what, in everything we do.

 

[TheFeldster]

Re: Midnight Oil

The Japanese have twisted the Australian governments arm on the whaling, unfortunately.

For some reason the UN loudly proclaimed that this "scientific research" claim that the Japanese whalers have used is legit, leaving Australia no choice but to allow them access.

As we speak, Garrett is off somewhere in the world (in Europe, I think) for an international conference on Whaling, where a conclusion is meant to be drawn (HA!). Garrett is leading the opposition to the whaling, while Japan are naturally leading the "For" side, which includes heavyweights in the debate including New Zealand and the United States. Not to say his ideals have lessened somewhat in office, but party politics does that

This is all according to the news bulletin I watched last week

But enough politics again, Midnight Oil are an awesome band, and that's all that matters

When Midnight Oil reformed for Sound Relief in 09, Garrett was the happiest I've seen him since he was elected to parliament. Think he should have stayed there personally

 

[LG]

Re: Midnight Oil

Maybe his experiences will convince him to return to music again...we can always hope.

Yep, the Oil was a great band, probably my all time favorite from down under, even ahead of ACDC...then again I am no expert on all the other bands they have given the world.(I like the Little River Band as well...)

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

Re: Midnight Oil

When Midnight Oil reformed for Sound Relief in 09, Garrett was the happiest I've seen him since he was elected to parliament. Think he should have stayed there personally

Yeah, he should have stuck with music and Arnold should have stuck with action movies.

Maybe his experiences will convince him to return to music again...we can always hope.

Yep, the Oil was a great band, probably my all time favorite from down under, even ahead of ACDC...then again I am no expert on all the other bands they have given the world.(I like the Little River Band as well...)

I've never really looked into Midnight Oil's catalog outside of "Beds Are Burning" but I've been meaning to get around to it.

There are a number Aussie bands that I'll take of the Oil but I'm not going to criticize them.

Also this is mostly on topic. Fellow Australian band The Red Paintings covered Midnight Oil's "Bed's are Burning" under the title "Whales Are Dying" as a sort of mockery of Peter Garrett's political situation.