The Whitlams and Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform "Blow Up the Pokies" (by Greta Gertler & Tim Freedman) at the Sydney Opera House. December 2010
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@alonsocushing23985 жыл бұрын
Probably one of the most melancholy and beautiful songs ever written.
@s25829811 жыл бұрын
And they still can't make the trains run on time. Beautiful Music.
@Boltyboyno113 жыл бұрын
I adore his voice, its sooooo soothing to listen to. I imagine this song would be very emotionally taxing to sing live for freedman.
@florencepierce18642 жыл бұрын
I remember listening to The Whitlams when Blow Up The Pokies came out. A simple, short, but powerful, sweeping, majestic song; melancholy yet uplifting. I hadn't seen this version with the SSO (Sydney Symphony Orchestra) & it's even more amazing. They're using this song now, in a really amazing Gambling Awareness Ad Campaign on public TV. Really brings the message home. Blow Up The Pokies is incredible. Also, "No Aphrodisiac" also perfectly captures the smothering, swamping, desperate feeling of loneliness. The Whitlams are pure Aussie indie gold.
@flipsysparkles2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Florence. Do you have a link to the Gambling Awareness Ad on public tv? I am very interested in seeing it. I am one of the songwriters. Thank you, Greta
@florencepierce18642 жыл бұрын
@@flipsysparkles Wow! I'll check into it & get back to you.
@florencepierce18642 жыл бұрын
@@flipsysparkles I've checked & I can't find the details online, but from the public/free to air tv I've been watching, I think it's been playing on Australian Channel 9 Stations. It starts with a Dad talking about how his son was always shy, except when it came to the (Aussie) football. There's obvious pride in his voice The son is seen at various ages, dressed as a "Super Fan", in the living room, cheering his team on with his family as they watch the (presumably) live game. The proud father's comment was obviously about how the football brought him out of his shell. "Until the gambling", the father then says, quietly & sadly. The son is then seen at his current age (either late 20s or early 30s), cheering briefly but then automatically looking down at his phone, obviously placing yet another bet, while a concerned young woman (possibly a Girlfriend, maybe a Relative), but clearly worried, looks on. They talk (from what I can recall), about what it (gambling) steals, with footage of the young man walking through an office with a box of personal possessions, obviously having been fired, either due to the fact that his gambling is affecting his ability to work, or having stolen company funds. * It isn't explained, being left to the audience to decide, as the point is clear: gambling negatively affects ALL aspects of the Gambler's life, including work & personal life, as well as the people around them. It then concludes with the young man speaking to someone about his issues. I know they periodically show his phone screen, but I can't recall if they showed a logo, image or app for this gambling addiction group. At certain points, from what I can recall, they have snippets of the "... shine you the right words, to blow up the pokies and drag them away". I can't recall if they referenced/used the "... They've taken the food off the table" part of the line I do hope this will help you & I hope this is of interest. I do hope that it isn't a case of you not being paid residual royalties for your work - which is Amazing, btw! Regards, Florence Pierce
@flipsysparkles2 жыл бұрын
@@florencepierce1864 Thank you so much! This is all extremely helpful. I will keep you posted if I find out more.
@flipsysparkles2 жыл бұрын
@@florencepierce1864 Would I be able to email you? My email address is gretagertler @ gmail.com if you are able to correspond further. I just have one more quick question about the ad that you saw. Thanks again!
@jezaraknid31412 жыл бұрын
Please, help fight problem gambling, and all the scourges of all the addictions that plague us and hold us back from the brightness we are capable of.
@squirtjosie713 жыл бұрын
Could this be the central / signature aria for a modern Australian opera ? If it's this good as a one off arangement, imagine what it could be like with a truly thunderous orchestral backing at the crisis of our hero's redemption!!!
@wheresyourheadat200911 жыл бұрын
Over 6 or so years my mother gambled 847,000 that we know of while she was super glueing our school shoes
@SuzyQ3346 жыл бұрын
So sorry your mum was such a loser. But wtf does that have to do with the Whitlams?
@cowaylon16816 жыл бұрын
This song is about gambling addiction
@markwilken24925 жыл бұрын
That’s sad. I hope you’re doing better
@VoyageOne15 жыл бұрын
What a lovely person you are Susannah
@alonsocushing22633 жыл бұрын
@@VoyageOne1 And hasn't got a clue what the song is actually about either.
@Mark-19655 ай бұрын
Was there ... great great night
@jodebeaton8954 Жыл бұрын
I so want to go back and see them live,
@anastasiasim51132 жыл бұрын
I was at college at the same time as Andrew Lewis, before he joined the Gadflys. Sad to lose such a talent 😪 😢 😔 Beautiful instrumentation for a great song 🎵
@HumanDichotomy12 жыл бұрын
Love this song. It's so sad.
@tarsey197712 жыл бұрын
This is Beautiful!! WOW!!!
@wheresyourheadat200911 жыл бұрын
This song hits home
@SitDownDisco13 жыл бұрын
Ha! I reckon the last time I saw tim was a decade ago. He never ages! Me on the other hand...
@TheBrightpower12 жыл бұрын
Tim you have a great voice :)
@wasabuful11 жыл бұрын
Amazing
@chrisabrahams712 жыл бұрын
Fantastic with the Syd sym behind ya Timmy!
@SuzyQ3347 жыл бұрын
And fantastic without the "Syd sym" behind him too.
@kenmakin90507 жыл бұрын
xox classical.........Tim
@symannovak1655 жыл бұрын
What a great idea who's coming?!
@theredhackle2210 жыл бұрын
Since I listen to this song I no longer need to take my bowel medicine !
@carpau012 жыл бұрын
Just a heads up that this concert was in December, 2009 not 2010 (it was aired pretty much one year later)! I know this cause I was at this exact concert!! In December 2010, the Whitlams were playing Notes in Newtown...a big difference from the opera house!!
@wasabuful12 жыл бұрын
@squirtjosie7 Australia is an interesting experiment in socialism :) The "tall poppy syndrome" is actually by design, I think. Hence, the hero is collective... ?
@fornife50042 жыл бұрын
The song that keeps giving. The start puzzles me. I guess it implies the character is now going backwards in life. Ultimately he dies. Another man that was... rather than does. The song is fueled of course by the tragic loss of his band mate.
@peteringhampi510 жыл бұрын
Gamble Responsibly! ? !....
@mclark17088 жыл бұрын
like addicts have a choice... and hey prey on them makes me fucking sick.
@TheCluckmar11 жыл бұрын
Seeing as though this was filmed he could have been wearing like a kilo of makeup... haha.
@SuzyQ3346 жыл бұрын
What really pi**es me off when my favourite rock bands get onto a stage with a bunch of "classical" musicians is that the rockers show due respect to the classical musicians while the classical musicians are such a bunch of arrogant, self-entitled little pricks, they act like they are doing our rockers a favour just by turning up. I suppose it would be pointless to explain to them that without the rock band they would be at home watching TV, instead of at the Sydney Opera House getting paid.
@brendanhurd815 жыл бұрын
Admit it Susannah, you were a little drunk when you wrote this comment.