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We used to think Gurrumul wouldnt go far, would never show his independence, says Yunupingu. To Briggs's mind, Gurrumul's popularity was testament to his hard work, his musicality and his talent. Gurrumul documentary to debut at Berlin film festival watch the trailer. Nea definition National Education Association. Watch David Norths remarks commemorating 25 years of the World Socialist Web Site and donate today. In a 2009 interview with him and Hohnen, Yunupingu said that he was generally shy but more comfortable playing music, and went on to say: "I don't have much to say to people when I talk. He hates the exposure and the attention. Source: Supplied. He was blind. [5][8][15][16] His first solo album, Gurrumul, was released in 2008, debuting at No. [8], In 2013, Yunupingu joined Delta Goodrem for a special performance of "Bayini" on The Voice Australia. In fact, the documentary is the closest any journalism has come to explaining the challenge of living in two cultures which both demanded so much from Gurrumul. For his part, Gurrumul didnt want to miss learning dhawu the traditional stories that hes expected to care for. Critics heaped praise on the singer, describing his voice as having "transcendental beauty". SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia. Yunupingu, who was born blind, has an ongoing liver condition due to contracting Hepatitis B from a young age, Skinny Fish Music managing director Mark Grose told the ABC. Completed early in 2017, the album was slated for release in the middle of last year. TheCompanion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. ", Djarimirri is primarily about legacy. Celebrated by audiences at home and abroad, Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was one of the most important and acclaimed voices to ever come out of Australia. The intervention tore up the democratic rights of Aborigines in the territory, quarantined social welfare and pensions, seized indigenous land and imposed repressive controls on indigenous communities. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common eye condition, yet many people dont realize they have it. But the basic incompatibility of this shy, private man with the hype and spotlight of the music industry were . Iain Shedden, music critic of The Australian newspaper, said there was an incredible aura around Yunupingu, while another music critic, Lou Novachek, described his voice as sublime. Please try again later. The most unforgettable aspect of his musicits essencewas the sensuality and emotional power of his voice, which had an otherworldly character that seemed to speak across the ages. "He'd finished his contribution, that side of things was over, and that was the last time I spoke to him. Herein, how did gurrumul go blind? Gurrumul rarely said anything during his concerts and gave no interviews. 1. The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bengali: ), or BELA (), is a nonprofit legal organization established in 1992 to assist efforts to protect the environment. In todays world where the media and the music industries are centred around hype and fashion, Gurrumul is a unique celebrity who has stood the test of time, one who could change the way you breathe (Brisbane Courier Mail, 2008) and forever altered the way people from around the world interact with Yolngu culture. Gurrumul was raised on Elcho Island, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land, as a member of the Gumatj clan. In July last year, filmmaker Paul Williams, sound engineer Pip Atherstone-Reid and Michael Hohnen, creative director of Darwin record label Skinnyfish Music, were in an editing room at Windmill studios in Collingwood, Melbourne. [8][9] Although his solo career brought him wider acclaim, he was also formerly a member of Yothu Yindi and later of Saltwater Band. [34], In July 2016, Yunupingu featured on the A.B. He was born blind, He performed "Sing" live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert on 4 June 2012 together with many of the song's contributing artists. He became the highest-selling Aboriginal artist in history, selling more than half a million copies of his albums, singing in Yolngu and some English. The purity of the singer's voice tops it off. "I believe he chose to not go on dialysis, to not stay on it. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. Thank you for registering! he says. It wasn't just Jones Sting, Elton John and Australian musicians Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly all count themselves among the singer's admirers. The post-pod life looks great on her! Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguHis Life and Music 2013 Australian. As Gurrumul lives an exciting life as a successful musician, performing for people like Barack Obama and even Queen Elizabeth II, he also experiencesintense homesickness and the need to continue to learn and immerse himself in his family and traditional life. "He wasn't writing a lot of new, contemporary style songs but he probably knew 400 or 500 songs, traditionally.". Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having transcendental beauty. Cut off at the forehead, his peaked hairline just appears that the top. This was deliberate, Hohnen says. Djarimirri is essentially, an album that sets ancient Yolngu chants against an orchestral background to make them more palatable to the Western ear. Half a million copies of Gurrumul have been sold worldwide. My immediate response was that here, as far as I was concerned, for the first time was an Aboriginal voice of absolutely transcendental beauty, he said. In November 2008, he was named Best New Independent Artist, and his album, Gurrumul, Best Independent Album and Best Australian Independent Blues/Roots Album at the Jagermeister AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association ) Awards held at Melbournes Corner Hotel. abbreviation. I think thats the only way you move forward. beyond the stage The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. Which is the best brand for acoustic guitar? [25], In November 2009, Yunupingu was named Best New Independent Artist and his album, Gurrumul, Best Independent Release and Best Independent Blues/Roots Release at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards held at Melbourne's Corner Hotel. Did Geoffrey Gurrumul have children? Most of the young people I know, they want to continue his legacy, they want to show the world that they can do it. He had also, with Hohnen and composer Erkki Veltheim, created or reworked about 50 pieces of music specifically for the documentary. When Gurrumul died, the record label pressed pause, in part because in Yolngu culture, when a person dies, their name, image and any music or art is retired for some time. As of 2020, it is estimated that Yunupingu has sold half a million records globally. [41][42], The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. So I think that two worlds thing, that crunch that happens there, is an amazing bit in the film.. "And the most nerve-racking thing for me was whether Gurrumul himself and his family and the other people on Elcho would actually relate to these arrangements. The studio is a converted garage, littered with the signs of the musical and cultural worlds it works in. While Gurrumul's premature death came as a shock to many of his fans around the world, the 46-year-old had waged a protracted struggle with kidney and liver disease for many years. "This album is an orchestral piece, so it's sheet music. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, won multiple ARIA awards and the Australian Music Prize. There is no cultural or social context for Gurrumul to understand or translate Every Breath You Take into Yolngu Matha to say nothing of the glaring irony of asking him to sing the line Ill be watching you. [10] In December 2020, Yunupingu was listed at number 33 in Rolling Stone Australia's "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time" issue. More importantly, I got a sense of his presence and this determined the nature of the portrait: quiet and strong. Deeply embedded in the documentary project, he brought the camera crew along to his fathers funeral. Add a Comment. For those unfamiliar, or vaguely familiar with his work, it's an even greater treat: they will be entertained, enthralled, perhaps in some small way changed. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation. Rejecting the life-style and accoutrements usually associated with successful recording artists, he continued living on Elcho Island. The group was founded in 1985 and headed by his uncle and lead singer, Mandawuy Yunupingu. "People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, 38, from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, has been hailed as one of the brightest talents ever to emerge from the countrys indigenous population, with his debut solo album reaching number one in the countrys independent music charts and his recent concerts selling out. The best of these include Bapa, which is dedicated to his father, Wukun, about storm clouds rising over Elcho Island, and History (I Was Born Blind), one of his few English-language songs. Directed by Paul Williams, Gurrumul's uncle, Djunga Djunga Yunupingu, and aunt, Gurruwiwi are the only narrators of the film, but it also features his parents and friends. It could be read by a conductor or composer in Germany and they'd understand it. Five years in the making, it traces the life of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the Yolngu singer from Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, who had taken Australian music by storm. The extraordinary song was inspired by the cries of native bush fowls. He was born on Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. Many examples of Gurrumuls remarkable work are available on YouTube. His first album as an acoustic artist, Gurrumul, was released in Australia in 2008 and went double platinum. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts. Gurrumul has performed for Her Majesty the Queen of England, US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. Gurrumul's songs speak of identity, spirit, connection with the land, the elements and the ancestral beings to whom he is related. An oversized NT flag is draped over a shelf and a couple of swags are thrown on top of a storage cupboard, ready for the next trip to the outback. Gurrumul performs during a media call for the Sydney festival First Night. The final product is polished and seems effortless but the film reveals otherwise. [63] Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This song has been hailed by critics and millions over th. [8] On his death he was described as an important figure in fostering racial harmony and as a voice of Indigenous Australians. Away from cameras and the stage, we are alsogiven a glimpse of the sense of humour and cheekiness that Gurrumul maintained throughout his life and career. He also won three Deadlys, winning for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Gurrumul and Single of the Year for Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind). His eponymous 2008 solo debut album was certified three times platinum in Australia, and made the top 20 in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland upon its European release. It debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Charts. His second album, Rrakala (2011), made some small inroads into the American market, a notoriously difficult proposition. 'I like singing about the story properly, singing all the right names of land, and ancestors, because I have to give out the right story. Throughout his childhood, he was built, given or bought tin cans, sticks, toy keyboards, piano accordions, nylon string guitars, and, later, clap sticks (bilma) and didgeridoos (yidaki). His angelic voice connected with fans the world over, including such notable names as Elton John, will.I.am, Sting, Gary Barlow, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder. The cover of Gurrumul's posthumous album, Djarimirri (2018).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), commonly known as Gurrumul and also referred to since his death as Dr G. Yunupingu,[note 1][5][6][7] was an Aboriginal Australian musician[8] of the Yolu peoples. Hohnen, who was the singers guide and spokesman, talks to the Guardian in the Skinnyfish Music offices in suburban Darwin. He sits in the centre of the studio in front of a computer screen and two large speakers and flicks through the songs, which were recorded in Sydney and bring western classical elements to traditional Yolngu music. He just says its his role to tell these stories about his culture.. This song has been hailed by critics and millions over th. Born blind, the gifted musician leads a traditional lifestyle on Elcho Island in Arnhem Land and sings in his native Yolngu language, but his fame is spreading the world. Hohnen and Gurrumul laugh as announcers and TV hosts mispronounce his name, and cackle as Guy Maestri wins the Archibald prize for his portrait of Gurrumul and reads aloud a message from the singer: I didnt win this money, so please dont call me asking for some of it.. The album reached Triple Platinum in Australia and Gurrumuls voice connected with listeners such as Elton John, will.I.am and Sting. Gurrumul Yunupingu 1971 2017 Born blind, his powerfully emotive yet fragile voice has affected the public unlike any other Australian artist. A true testament to his legacy, the Gurrumul documentary released in 2018 has been screened internationally and won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Award (AACTA) for best documentary, showing a deep worldwide appreciation for his story and songs. AUSTRALIAN musical great Dr G Yunupingu has died, aged 46, after a long battle with illness, his music label has confirmed. Gurrumul's collaborator and companion Michael Hohnen says Kylie Minogue introduced the blind singer to the Queen. Theres a dozen yidaki elsewhere known as didgeridoos in a plastic bin sitting in the corner, some painted in traditional designs, some wrapped in silver gaffa tape. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. Most of his songs are sung in Galpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuyngu, which are all languages of the Yolngu people of northeastern Arnhem Land. I usually work in a very liberal, gestural way but this time I built up the image quietly and slowly with many glazes in an attempt to capture the beautiful quality of his skin. Preceding the release of Williams' documentary by two weeks (the film opens on April 25), Djarimirri stands as the singer's final gift to the world, one last reminder that his rise to fame was more than deserved. father The contrast of light and darkened eyes imbues the portrait with mystery.His nostrils are round against the broad space between his nose and slender upper lip. The trick with Djarimirri was in replicating this on Western instruments while leaving them recognisable to Yolngu people. [8] He received tributes from the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, fellow musician Peter Garrett, and Anna Reid, the dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He learned foot stomping calling and whooping, vocalisations of traditional songs and their different sounds, and so much more. This technology is used to diagnose gland dysfunction (MGD), which indicates an abnormality or blockage of the glands. Earnings from his music sales went to his parentsDaisy Gurruwiwi and Terry Yunupinguand their extended family, his daughter Jasmine and her mother, and were also used to establish a charitable foundation for indigenous youth. .mw-parser-output .awards-table td:last-child{text-align:center}, The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". [8] His friend, spokesperson, and collaborator Michael Hohnen described his early musical experiences as follows: "Gurrumul was educated by immersion, cultural immersionfrom his aunties, parents and grandmothers, with love and lullabies; from his uncles, fathers and grandfathers through ceremony songs and storytelling, much of it through music. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. He was born blind, has never learned Braille and does not have a guide dog or use a white cane. "We held it for a year," Hohnen confirms. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingus friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and acts as his translator. In April 2018, Gurrumuls posthumously released fourth studio album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). "" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. [7] He had lived with liver and kidney damage for many years due to hepatitis B which he had contracted in childhood. The music kind of suits that being on the edge of two worlds and the feeling of how its not completely comfortable, says Hohnen. "Gurrumul toured the world before he was Gurrumul," notes hip-hop artist Adam Briggs, with whom Gurrumul collaborated in 2014 on the song The Hunt. Gurrumul would go on to perform for Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, among others. Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. On Easter Sunday in 2016, he suffered internal bleeding and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by Skinnyfish Music managing director Mark Grose and Yunupingus private nurse. Aged only 46, hed succumbed to organ failure relating to the hepatitis B hed contracted in childhood. He would just love hearing all of the voices in there and all the memories from his days in different bands, and what people were saying about him, says Michael Hohnen, cofounder of the Skinnyfish music label and Gurrumuls longtime friend and musical partner. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (1970-2017), a Gumatj man from north-east Arnhem Land, was born blind but learned to play guitar, keyboard, drums and didgeridoo as a child. Gurrumul shot to prominence in 2008 with the release of his debut album Gurrumul, which was nominated for four ARIAs and won two. Meibomianitis is inflammation of the meibomian glands, a group of oil-releasing (sebaceous) glands in the eyelids. For further information please contact NPG Copyright. Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album 'Gurrumul . On one level TheCompanion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), often known simply as Gurrumul, was an indigenous Australian musician. Gurrumul (born Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu) was a Gumatj man from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in the Northern Territory. Yunupingus doctor Paul Lawton told a press conference that the singer was a victim of incompetence or racial profiling. Largely self-taught, he plays drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it is his clarity of voice that has attracted rave reviews. 46years (19712017)Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu / Age at death. A multi-instrumentalist, he played drums, keyboards, guitar (a right-hand-strung guitar played left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it was the clarity of his singing voice that attracted rave . Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Bruce Elder recalled the first time he heard the young singer. Briggs, who became friends with Gurrumul after their 2014 collaboration, agrees. He was born blind. Guy Maestris portrait of the musician was conceived after the artist saw Gurrumul perform in Sydney on New Years Eve 2008. I think there was a big education for him as well with that film, of hearing the respect, and what his uncle would say about him, Hohnen says, his voice catching. The award commenced in 2005. Yunupingu was born on Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, in the massive Arnhem Land, one of the five regions that make up Australia's Northern Territory. What made this situation unusual, though, was how it finished up. [26] In 2009 a portrait of Yunupingu by Guy Maestri won Australia's major art prize, the Archibald Prize. We have sent a confirmation email to {USEREMAIL}. It relies heavily on repetition, and Yolngu songs are traditionally quite short, so Gurrumul's vocal contributions are fleeting. '," Williams remembers. With such a big, bright personality, heis a very much loved and honoured member of his community. The documentary opens with one of Gurrumuls earliest and only media interviews, a filmed sit-down with the ABCs flagship current affairs show. He plays drums, keyboards, guitar (a right hand-strung guitar left-handed) and didgeridoo, but it is the clarity of his singing voice that has attracted rave reviews. By subscribing, you agree to SBSs terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS. [32] "Bayini" became the first track by an indigenous musician to reach the top five of the Australian charts. World-renowned indigenous singer Gurrumul has died after a "long battle with illness" aged 46, his management said Wednesday, as Australians hailed his contributions to music. When telling of the life of Gurrumul, his culture and community was a hugely important aspect of the film. "But it's hard when someone's as famous as this. They commenced in 2005. His gentle lament-like songs were mainly performed in Gumatj, Galpu or Djambarrpuynulanguages of the Yolngu people of north-eastern Arnhem Landwith references to sacred bush animals, the sea and the seasons, tribal ancestors, funeral songs, love for his parents and reverence for the land. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. At the same time it dispels the myth that surrounded him, something his friend and musical collaborator Briggs once frustratedly described as this idea that hes some kind of mystical person that lives in the outer Dreamtime somewhere and appears every six months to do a show in Sydney. Short curly black hair frames his head. By his mid-teens he had joined Indigenous rock group Yothu Yindi and a little while later Hohnen convinced him to pursue a solo career. He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. Ted Gondarra, Elcho Island resident stated that the final wish for the film, which was given approval by Gurrumul only a few days before he passed away, was that it would be a source of continued pride for the community. [8] Yunupingu's friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and was his translator, collaborator and confidant. Eight hours later he was admitted into intensive care. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band. JustMyTwoCopper. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. What Williams has been able to achieve here is quite remarkable, to be able to capture these very intimate moments within the community speaks to the level of trust and respect between the community and the film-makers, and also an acknowledgement of the status of Gurrumul.