Political songs on Aboriginal rights

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: NH Dave
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 05:10 PM

The problem of determining a PC name for the Aboriginals or even the American Indians is that each tribe or local grouping had their own name for their group of people, often, "The People" in their own language or dialect. Names like Sioux or Comanche were frequently names given these tribes by other enemies, native american or white, and hence pejorative from the start. In the case of the indigenous Australians, it is my understanding that there were hundreds of small groups or tribes of people, frequently speaking different tongues or dialects, and only communicating with other groups by signs or other similar lingua franca.

Dave

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Callie
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 11:44 PM

Well, dunno if this info will get to Karen, but there are literally hundreds of 'political' Aboriginal singers, and material isn't hard to find, as cds are readily available. At least they are in Sydney - and I imagine theyare on the internet too. Try searching for the names mentioned above and also Ruby Hunter, Joe Geia, the Mills Sisters.

I have a four part arrangement of a Paul Kelly (non-indigenous Australian) called "Maralinga". It's about the British Government's atomic tests in South Australia and the devestation they caused. Our choir also sings "Mantaku" - a song about land rights which was taught to us by an Aboriginal Women's choir.

If you're still around Karen, send me a PM and I could send you the music.

Callie

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Lena
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 02:22 AM

Callie recorded me hips of very beautiful songs about it time ago.Hope she pops in soon...

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 02:17 AM

Courtesy of MMario we'll have yrics and MIDI for 'Drover's Boy' in the next coupla days. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: karen jonason
Date: 25 Mar 99 - 04:33 AM

Any more details of songs out there! Thanks for those received so far

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: alison
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 11:53 PM

Hi,

If you want a more modern (last 15 years)one, try "beds are burning" by Midnight Oil.

the time has come to say fairs fair
to pay the rent to pay our share
the time has come, a facts a fact
it belongs to them, lets give it back

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Arkie
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 01:04 PM

Stan Coster, an Australian singer/songwriter who has been associated with Slim Dusty has a song on a CD called, I think, "Who Is Civilized". It is not political, but it has a point all the same.

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Elizabeth
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 07:39 PM

Karen, don't know if i'm clever enough to get words and music to you through cyber space...posting these messages is about as good as it gets. E-mail me at [e-mail] and we can work something out. May have to resort to snail mail? Cheers, Elizabeth

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Helen
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 05:17 PM

Hi Karen,

Two Aboriginal song writers are Archie Roach and Kev Carmody. I don't know if anyone knows how to find music and lyrics but they both have CD's out. Archie Roach wrote one called (I think) They Took the Children Away, but he writes about a lot of daily life issues in a really down-to-earth way. I don't know Kev Carmody's stuff as well as AR's but he writes about similar things.

Regards, Helen

P.S. a correction for Barbara - "Aboriginal" etc should have a capital "A". It is (unfortunately - because it came from the British colonisation term) the proper name for Aboriginal people, like Australian, American etc. Most Aboriginal people prefer to refer to their people as Kooris or similar words, but that is among themselves and I think you have to earn the right to call them that because it is often used in a derogatory way by racist people.

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: alison
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 07:50 AM

See if you can find lyrics for "The drover's boy."

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: karen jonason
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 03:54 AM

Dear Elizabeth, I would be interested in the song you refer to: lyrics and music. I have not been able to play tunes on the computer I use for internet. A previous request for music resulted in the sendd putting it on a website so I could print it out. Thanks, From Karen

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Elizabeth
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 01:24 AM

I have words and music for a song by Bob Randall (an Australian Aboriginal folk musician) called Brown Skin Baby. it tells the story of the Stolen Generation....aboriginal children who were removed from their parents by the government policy of the time and raised as foster children or institutionalized. Interested?

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Bert
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 10:32 AM

Barbara,

"Australian indigenous person" must be a song lurking in that expression.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: Barbara
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 10:24 AM

Try Eric Bogle; He has a song where the chorus begins "Black man dream time over and done... white man dream time marchin on Something like that...
Blessings,
Barbara
In your idiom, is an "aborigine" just an Australian indigenous person, or does it refer to any culture?

Subject: Political songs on Aboriginal rights
From: karen jonason
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 08:55 AM

As a solo performer and member of a Socialist choir, I am always on the look out for something new in the political field, a contrast to the British, American and South African material we generally do. I would be interested in Songs of Aboriginal political struggles.