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Down Under (song)




  Cover Down Underjpg
  Caption ''Down Under'' by Men at Work
  Artist Men At Work
  From Album Business As Usual
  Length 3:42
  Upper Caption Audio sample
  Audio File Down Under by Men at Workogg




"Down Under" is the title of a New Wave song of the Reggae flavour, recorded in 1982 by the Australian rock group Men At Work , and featured on their album '' Business As Usual ''. This song went all the way to #1 on Australian as well as international charts, including the UK and America.

It has become a popular and Patriotic Song in Australia.

The lyrics are about an Australian traveller circling the globe, proud of his Nationality and about his interactions with people he meets on his travels.1 One of the verses refers to Vegemite sandwiches, among other things, and this particular lyric has become a well-known phrase. The Flute part in the song is based around the tune of '' Kookaburra '', a well-known Australian children's rhyme.

The song is a perennial favorite on Australian Radio and Television , and became well-known outside Australia after it was used as a theme song by the crew of Australia II in their successful bid to win the America's Cup in 1983 . It wasn't the first Australian single to gain popularity in the USA , as '' Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport '' was #3 in the USA in 1963 .

Another version of the song was released in 1999 by the Punk Rock band Pennywise , as a bonus track on the album '' Straight Ahead ''. While Pennywise is an American band, it frequently tours Australia, and often plays the song at live shows as a tribute to its many Australian fans.

A version of this song is on the '' Kangaroo Jack '' soundtrack. The song was also used in advertisements for the Disney/Pixar movie '' Finding Nemo '', though it never appears in the film itself.

The Punk Rock band Funeral Dress also had a version of the song on its album A Way Of Life .

Colin Hay had his version as well as an acoustic version on his album Man At Work .


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  Before " Maneater " by Hall & Oates
  Title Billboard Hot 100 Number One Single
  Years January 15 1983 - January 29 1983
  After " Africa " by Toto


  Before " Africa " by Toto
  Title Billboard Hot 100 Number One Single
  Years February 12 1983
  After " Baby, Come To Me " by Patti Austin and James Ingram


  Before " You Can't Hurry Love " by Phil Collins
  Title UK Number One Single
  Years January 23 1983
  After " Too Shy " by Kajagoogoo