MEN AT WORK - DOWN UNDER

Estrena: 2 de novembre de 1981

Llistes: EUA: #1 (4 setmanes)  Regne Unit: #1 (3 setmanes)

"Down Under" és una cançó de la banda australiana Men at Work, llançada inicialment el 1980 com a cara B del seu primer senzill, "Keypunch Operator". Escrita pels cofundadors de la banda Colin Hay i Ron Strykert, la versió original tenia un tempo més lent i una disposició diferent. La versió més coneguda es va publicar per Columbia Records el 1981 com el segon senzill del seu àlbum debut, “Business as Usual”.

"Down Under" és una cançó significativa per al cantant principal Colin Hay, qui va explicar que el seu cor reflecteix les preocupacions sobre el sobredesenvolupament i l'explotació d'Austràlia, que han portat a una pèrdua de l'essència del país. Més que un simple himne patriòtic, la cançó critica el saqueig de la nació per interessos avars mentre encara celebra la seva essència. Hay va compartir que la cançó va originar-se a partir d'un riff de baix enregistrat pel guitarrista Ron Strykert, utilitzant ampolles plenes d'aigua per crear notes diferents.

"Down Under" sovint es malinterpreta com un himne patriòtic, però Colin Hay va aclarir que aquesta no era la intenció de la cançó. Hay va explicar que, com "Born in the U.S.A." de Bruce Springsteen, la cançó conté matisos que sovint es passen per alt. Encara que la gent pugui acceptar-la amb un sentiment de orgull nacional, "Down Under" és en realitat una reflexió sobre quins aspectes d'un país val la pena celebrar. Hay va subratllar que tracta de més que només orgull nacional; critica com el veritable patrimoni d'un lloc, com Austràlia, pot ser eclipsat pel progrés i el desenvolupament. La cançó celebra Austràlia, però també insta els oients a reconèixer i apreciar el patrimoni cultural profund que existia molt abans del desenvolupament modern.

El 2009, l'empresa editorial musical Larrikin Music, que posseeix els drets de la cançó infantil australiana "Kookaburra", va demandar els compositors de "Down Under", al·legant que el famós riff de flauta copiava "Kookaburra". La demanda va culminar amb una sentència el 2010 en què un jutge va determinar que Men at Work havia infringit els drets d'autor de Larrikin reproduint una part substancial de "Kookaburra". A Larrikin se li van concedir el 5% dels drets d'autor de la cançó de manera retroactiva a 2002, que va ascendir a uns 100.000 dòlars, tot i que les despeses legals del cas van ser d'aproximadament 4,5 milions de dòlars.

Colin Hay va defensar fermament l'originalitat de "Down Under", expressant amb seguretat que la cançó era una obra original. Va remarcar que ningú, incloent Marion Sinclair, l'autora original de "Kookaburra", havia notat cap similitud entre les cançons durant el moment de més popularitat de "Down Under". Greg Ham, qui va tocar la part de flauta, va expressar una profunda decepció pel fet que aquesta controvèrsia eclipsés el seu llegat. L'estrès de la batalla legal es creu que va contribuir a la mort de Ham el 2012 als 58 anys, un sentiment compartit per Hay, qui va sentir que el cas judicial va tenir un impacte profundament negatiu en el seu company de banda.

El vídeo promocional de "Down Under" reflexa humorísticament la lletra de la cançó. Mostra els membres de la banda participant en diverses activitats esmentades a la lletra. Els veiem viatjant en una furgoneta Volkswagen Kombi, menjant musli amb una "dama estranya", sopant i bevent en un cafè, i relaxant-se en una casa d'opi. En un moment donat, un home amb camisa i corbata apareix, col·locant un cartell de "Venut" a terra, movent la banda. Les imatges exteriors es van filmar a les dunes de sorra de Cronulla a Sydney, i el vídeo conclou amb la banda portant un taüt a través de les dunes.

MEN AT WORK - DOWN UNDER

Released: November 2, 1981

Charts:  US: #1 (4 weeks)  UK: #1 (3 weeks)

"Down Under" is a song by Australian rock band Men at Work, initially self-released in 1980 as the B-side to their first single, "Keypunch Operator." Written by band co-founders Colin Hay and Ron Strykert, the early version featured a slower tempo and different arrangement. The best-known version was released by Columbia Records in 1981 as the second single from their debut album, “Business as Usual”.

"Down Under" is a significant song for lead singer Colin Hay, who explained that its chorus reflects concerns about the overdevelopment and exploitation of Australia, leading to a loss of the country's spirit. Rather than a simple patriotic anthem, the song critiques the plundering of the nation by greedy interests while still celebrating its essence. Hay shared that the song originated from a bass riff recorded by guitarist Ron Strykert, which featured a trance-like groove using bottles filled with water to create different notes. 

"Down Under" is frequently misunderstood as a patriotic anthem, but Colin Hay clarified that this wasn't the song's intention. Hay explained that, much like Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," the song contains nuances that are often overlooked. While people might embrace it with a sense of national pride, "Down Under" is actually a reflection on what aspects of a country are worth celebrating. Hay emphasized that the song is about more than just national pride; it critiques how the true heritage of a place, like Australia, can be overshadowed by progress and development. The song celebrates Australia, but it also urges listeners to recognize and appreciate the deeper cultural heritage that existed long before modern development.

In 2009, the music publishing company Larrikin Music, which owned the rights to the Australian children's song "Kookaburra," sued the songwriters of "Down Under," claiming that the famous flute riff in the song copied "Kookaburra." The lawsuit culminated in a 2010 ruling where a judge determined that Men at Work had indeed infringed on Larrikin's copyright by reproducing a substantial part of "Kookaburra." Larrikin was awarded 5% of the song's royalties retroactive to 2002, which amounted to around $100,000, though the legal fees for the case totaled approximately $4.5 million.

Colin Hay, the band's lead singer, strongly defended the originality of "Down Under," expressing his belief that the song was an original piece of work. He noted that no one, including Marion Sinclair, the original writer of "Kookaburra," had noticed any similarity between the songs during "Down Under's" initial rise to fame. Greg Ham, who played the flute part, expressed deep disappointment that this controversy would overshadow his legacy. The stress of the legal battle is believed to have contributed to Ham's death in 2012 at the age of 58, a sentiment shared by Hay, who felt the court case had a profound and negative impact on his bandmate.

The promotional video for "Down Under" humorously visualizes the song's lyrics. It features the band members engaging in various activities mentioned in the song. They are seen riding in a Volkswagen Kombi van, eating muesli with a 'strange lady,' dining and drinking in a café, and relaxing in an opium den. At one point, a man in a shirt and tie appears, placing a 'Sold' sign in the ground, moving the band along. The exterior shots were filmed at the Cronulla sand dunes in Sydney, and the video concludes with the band carrying a coffin across the dunes.

PAT BENATAR - YOU BETTER RUN

Released: July 8, 1980

Charts:  US: #42   

"You Better Run" was originally a 1966 hit for the Young Rascals, written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere. The song reached the top 20 in the U.S. and featured a defiant tone about getting revenge on someone who wronged the narrator. Pat Benatar covered the song for her 1980 album “Crimes of Passion”. Released as the lead single, Benatar's version flips the perspective, turning the kiss-off message towards a male antagonist. The song peaked at number 42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 44 on the Cash Box Top 100. 

In 1981, as MTV prepared to launch, there was a shortage of American-made music videos since artists hadn’t yet started producing them regularly. While European bands and acts like Devo had some content available, Pat Benatar stood out as one of the few American musicians with a real video, specifically for her song "You Better Run" from her 1980 album “Crimes of Passion”. As a result, Benatar's video became a landmark as she was the first woman, American, and rock artist featured on MTV. Her video became part of a small rotation of clips that were played repeatedly, leading to rapid fame. Neil Giraldo, Benatar's husband and guitarist, later reflected on the unexpected impact MTV had on their careers, describing how its constant airing quickly made them recognizable everywhere.

The music video for "You Better Run" was straightforward, featuring her and her band performing in a warehouse. Over time, Benatar's videos became more conceptual, which didn’t sit well with her husband and guitarist, Neil Giraldo, who felt that intricate storylines detracted from the song's meaning. Giraldo imposed a ban on historical costumes after the "Shadows Of The Night" video, where Benatar dressed as a WWII pilot. He preferred simpler videos, like "You Better Run," which became the second video ever aired on MTV.

MTV used the video strategically to send a message to record labels, showing the kind of rock-focused, performance-driven content they intended to promote. Benatar’s genuine frustration with taking direction from video directors added an edge to her performance, aligning with the song’s sassy and aggressive tone. Directed by Nick Saxton, who had experience with acts like Earth, Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson, the video was produced on a tight budget and helped popularize the "band performing in warehouse" rock video style.

PAT BENATAR - INVINCIBLE

Released: June 24, 1985

Charts:  US: #10    UK: #53 

"Invincible" is the lead single from Pat Benatar's sixth studio album, “Seven the Hard Way”. Released on June 1985, the song was written by Holly Knight and Simon Climie and served as the theme song for the film “The Legend of Billie Jean”. It achieved significant success, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 14, 1985. The song earned a Grammy nomination and is notable for its empowering lyrics and energetic performance.

Holly Knight, who co-wrote the song was inspired by the script of “The Legend of Billie Jean” when creating the song. She found the script provided a clear direction for the song's theme. Knight has expressed her admiration for the track, calling it one of her favorites and expressing a desire to hear it covered by an alternative band like Foo Fighters. Benatar, on the other hand, was not a fan of the film, often criticizing it in concert saying, "This is from one of the worst movies ever made", and supposedly delaying the DVD release by refusing to sign over the rights.

The film features Helen and Christian Slater as siblings on the run after an accidental shooting. Yeardley Smith, who later voiced Lisa Simpson on “The Simpsons”, plays a teenage friend of the Slater siblings in the film. Helen Slater recalls that hearing "Invincible" reminds her of a scene where Smith's character unexpectedly gets her period.

“Seven the Hard Way” aimed to reinvent her image from a pop-rock icon to a more serious artist. Despite this shift, she included "Invincible" acknowledging its quality despite it not fitting with the album's overall theme. Benatar was highly critical of this album calling it a nightmare to record and expressing disappointment with its commercial performance. She felt only a couple of songs were worth including and criticized the album as a costly failure that sold poorly compared to her earlier works.

PAT BENATAR - HELL IS FOR CHILDREN

Estrena: 5 d'agost de 1980

Àlbum: Crimes of Passion

Inspirada per diversos articles del New York Times sobre l'abús infantil, Pat Benatar va coescriure la potent cançó “Hell Is For Children” amb Neil Giraldo i el baixista Roger Capps per al seu àlbum “Crimes of Passion”. Tot i que no es va llançar com a single oficial, la cançó va agradar als oients i es va fer popular a les emissores de rock, arribant al número 7 a la llista de Tunecaster Rock Tracks. Una versió en directe es va llançar posteriorment com a cara B del seu senzill "Love Is a Battlefield" el 1983. Amb els anys, ha estat versionada per diverses bandes de hard rock.

En una entrevista, Pat Benatar va parlar sobre la inspiració darrere de “Hell Is For Children”, explicant que una sèrie d'articles del New York Times sobre l'abús infantil la van afectar profundament. Criada en un petit poble de Long Island, es va sorprendre en descobrir la gravetat del problema de l'abús a Amèrica. Emocionada per aquestes revelacions, Benatar va voler canalitzar el dolor i el patiment de les víctimes a través de la música de la cançó, demanant al seu marit, Neil Giraldo, que composés alguna cosa que transmetés el dolor intens que patien els nens. El resultat va ser un himne que va triomfar tant entre el públic com entre els afectats.

Neil Giraldo va explicar que Benatar va començar a escriure la lletra, a la qual també va contribuir el baixista Roger Capps. Giraldo es va encarregar de desenvolupar la melodia, treballar la tornada i compondre el final. L'objectiu de Giraldo era fer que la cançó fos intensament emocional, començant amb un to trist i augmentant gradualment la intensitat. Al final, Giraldo volia que els oients se sentissin emocionalment exhausts, capturant el missatge poderós i dolorós sobre l'abús infantil.

Benatar va compartir que fins i tot van iniciar una fundació per a nens maltractats després de rebre cartes d'adults que lloaven la cançó per tractar el tema de manera tan poderosa i poc habitual dins del món del rock. Per a Benatar, la cançó segueix evocant records d’aquella tarda emocional quan ella i Giraldo van discutir per primera vegada la seva creació.

Molts oients creien erròniament que la cançó es basava en la seva experiència personal amb l'abús infantil, però no era així. Neil Giraldo va aclarir que Benatar va tenir una infantesa feliç i idíl·lica, similar a la sèrie Happy Days. Tot i que hi havia algun abús verbal a la família de Giraldo, l'abús físic descrit a la cançó no era personal per an ells. Malgrat aquesta confusió, Giraldo va expressar satisfacció amb el resultat de la cançó, qualificant-la com una de les seves preferides a causa del seu impacte emocional.

PAT BENATAR - HELL IS FOR CHILDREN

Released: August 5, 1980

Album: Crimes of Passion

Inspired by several New York Times articles on child abuse, Pat Benatar co-wrote the powerful song “Hell Is For Children” with Neil Giraldo and bassist Roger Capps for her “Crimes of Passion” album. Although it wasn't released as an official single, the song resonated with listeners and became popular on album-rock radio, reaching #7 on the Tunecaster Rock Tracks Chart. A live version was later released as the B-side to her hit single "Love Is a Battlefield" in 1983. Over the years, it has been covered by various hard rock bands.

In an interview Pat Benatar discussed the inspiration behind “Hell Is For Children” explaining that a series of New York Times articles about child abuse deeply affected her. Raised in a small Long Island town, she was shocked to learn about the widespread issue of abuse in America. Moved by these revelations, Benatar wanted to channel the pain and suffering of the victims into the song's music, asking her husband, Neil Giraldo, to compose something that conveyed the intense pain the children were enduring. The result became an anthem, resonating with both audiences and survivors. 

Neil Giraldo explained that Benatar started the lyrics, which were then contributed to by bassist Roger Capps. Giraldo took over by developing the melody, working on the chorus, and composing the outro. He aimed to make the song intensely emotional, starting with a sad tone and gradually building the intensity. By the end, Giraldo wanted listeners to feel emotionally exhausted, capturing the powerful and painful message about child abuse.

Benatar shared that they even started a foundation for abused children after receiving letters from adults who praised the song for addressing the issue in such a powerful and unheard-of way within the rock world. For Benatar, the song continues to evoke memories of that emotional afternoon when she and Giraldo first discussed its creation.

Many listeners mistakenly believed that the song was based on her personal experience with child abuse, but that was not the case. Neil Giraldo clarified that Benatar had a happy, idyllic upbringing, similar to the show “Happy Days”. While there was some verbal abuse in Giraldo's family, the physical abuse depicted in the song wasn't personal to them. Despite the misconception, Giraldo expressed satisfaction with how the song turned out, calling it one of his favorites due to its powerful emotional impact.