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"At first I was trying to figure out how these different traditions could work together, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Most of the young people I know, they want to continue his legacy, they want to show the world that they can do it. Gurrumul is front facing, his head tilts down until his right. Gurrumul first came to the worlds attention when his self-titled debut album Gurrumul was released to international acclaim in 2008. 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. There's this ownership of him. Below the thick overhang of eyebrows, Gurrumul's eyes are concealed in shadow. This was deliberate, Hohnen says. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. 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. Which is the best brand for acoustic guitar? For further information please contact NPG Copyright. "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. That was the key. Closing their eyes, and opening their hearts, they will see him," Gurruwiwi says. Critics raved about his unearthly voice, fusion of music styles and authentic Aboriginal sound and stories. Anyone will be able to read this, and translate it, and play it. "This last record is testament to him transcending genre and transcending what's expected of an Indigenous artist," he says. They talk of their surprise and sorrow when they realised Gurrumul was blind, and their fears he would always have to stay close to home. Gurrumul Yunupingu in a still from the documentary about his life by Paul Williams. source: http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/winners/archibald, Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts Aborigines in Australia remain a disadvantaged minority with high levels of ill-health, unemployment and poverty. Gurrumul's songs, like his own life, encompass a span of human experience as great as any on. This was the final okay from Gurrumul, who as a co-producer had been involved in most aspects of the film. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. The group was founded in 1985 and headed by his uncle and lead singer, Mandawuy Yunupingu. While this rise might have seemed meteoric, Gurrumul paid his dues in a slow build that began with culture-bridging group Yothu Yindi in the late 1980s. Gurrumul: a man with a strong sense of humour, deep ties to his homelands and little taste for the limelight. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is a blind Aboriginal singer/songwriter and guitarist from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people of Australia's North East Arnhem Land. He left the group in 1995 to live full-time on Elcho Island and later co-founded and co-led the Saltwater Band, which was active from 1999 to 2009. "Gurrumul had hundreds of songs in his head," says Hohnen. I made sure to read the lyrics and understand the meaning of each song. [38], In November 2020, Decca Records announced they had signed to the rights to Yunupingu's catalogue and future recordings, announcing forthcoming releases, including limited-edition vinyls, a box set and collaborations among a slate of projects. sfn error: no target: CITEREFHillman2014 (, Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards, Australasian Performing Right Association, Honorary awards: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, "Dr G Yunupingu: Australia's most prominent Indigenous musician dies aged 46", "Dr G. Yunupingu, Australian Aboriginal Singer, Dies at 46", "Dr G. Yunupingu: An exquisite singer who 'spoke to the soul', "Decca Australia signs Gurrumul, new releases in pipeline", "Australian indigenous singer Dr G. Yunupingu dies", "Case Study: Inspiring Stories Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu", "Aboriginal musician astonishes Australian audiences", "Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's legacy: why his music didn't stop", "Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts", "Gurrumul interview: the mystical heart of Australia", Australian Independent Record Labels Association Ltd (AIR), 2012, "7 Great Performances from the History of the ARIA Awards Music Reads", "Delta to sing Gurrumul's indigenous anthem Bayini on The Voice tonight", "Courtney Barnett, Hermitude, Tame Impala Lead 2015 ARIA Award Nominations", "Gurrumul review stirring and soulful ode to Australia's most important voice", "50 Greatest Australian Artists of All Time number 33: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu", "Uperoleia gurrumuli Catullo and Keogh, 2021 | Amphibian Species of the World", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2011 Albums", "ARIA Charts Accreditations 2012 Albums", Australian Recording Industry Association, Australian Independent Record Labels Association, "AIR Awards:2019 AIR Awards Winners Announced! "This album is an orchestral piece, so it's sheet music. Gurrumul (born Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu) was a Gumatj man from Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island in the Northern Territory. The cover of Gurrumul's posthumous album, Djarimirri (2018).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. But I can play and sing and tell people things through my songs. Most of his songs are sung in Galpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuyngu, which are all languages of the Yolngu people of northeastern Arnhem Land. 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. He sings stories of his land in both languages (Glpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, all Yolu Matha) and English. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Born Blind Aboriginal Singer, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Gurrumul_Yunupingu, http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/winners/archibald, http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/17/australia.culture. The depth of his music, his stage presence, combined with his captivating high tenor voice incited emotion, compassion and a feeling of peacefulness within Australian and international audiences alike. Hohnen, who was the singers guide and spokesman, talks to the Guardian in the Skinnyfish Music offices in suburban Darwin. When he was four years old, he taught himself how to play a toy piano and an accordion. [39], In September 2021, Yunupingu's first anthology was released, entitled The Gurrumul Story. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. 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. By subscribing, you agree to SBSs terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS. Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album 'Gurrumul . 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. 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. His third release, The Gospel Album (2015), cemented what those close to him had known for years that this unassuming Indigenous Australian, who was born blind and taught himself to play a guitar held upside down, wasn't an angelic-voiced flash in the pan. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. Michael Hohnen with Gurrumul, in a still from the documentary. ", His niece, Miriam Yirrininba Dhurrkay, says Gurrumul's life and music are still inspiring Yolngu people. Michael Hohnen If he can do it, why can't we do it, you know?". Its a clash of cultures, its a clash of world views, says Skinnyfish Music director and cofounder, Mark Grose. Even in his death, he's transcended genres and cultural barriers. GURRUMUL, a documentary. Guido Maestri. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land. Iconic Aboriginal singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, whose haunting tenor voice and striking synthesis of indigenous song-cycles, Christian hymns and folk music won him wide international acclaim, died late last month at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Australias Northern Territory. It also jumped to No. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. 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. You get it when theres a problem with a few dozen tiny glands in your eyelids that help make the oil layer of your tears. This song has been hailed by critics and millions over th. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. Blind from birth, the proud Yolngu man spoke through his music. 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. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 25 July 2017), often known simply as Gurrumul, was an indigenous Australian musician. In 2008, Gurrumul first gained international attention when his self-titled first solo album debuted at #1 on the independent music charts and peaked at #3 on the ARIA charts. "Ive assumed our audience knows next to nothing about Australian Indigenous culture generally, less about the Yolngu culture of North East ArnhemLand, and nothing about Gurrumuls Gumatj Clan Nation. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the, Let me know when this portraits on display. LipiScan is a non-invasive procedure that helps our doctors see and analyze the health of your Meibomian glands. He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. These Yolngu songs, some thought to be more than 4000 years old, were traditionally backed by the yidaki wind instrument in repetitive rhythms, giving the lyrics a foundation on which to build. The exact details of Gurrumuls death are not clear, but according to press reports he had indicated that he did not want to continue with his difficult and debilitating dialysis treatment. He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. Beautifully narrated by his Aunty,Susan Dhangal Gurruwiwi, we learn that Yunupingu was considered to be a messenger between the Balanda (white) world and Yolngu worlds, that the singer was Djarimirri Child of the Rainbow, and his destiny was to illuminate the divide between his own culture and the modern world. On his left upper forehead, a circular shape of white untouched canvas indicates the light source. Gurrumul would go on to perform for Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, among others. He was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician at the time of his death. He was born on Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. A rare and moving visual of how life and death is honoured in Yolngucommunity. [55], The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. [8] As of 2020, it is estimated that Yunupingu has sold half a million records globally. "A lot of youngsters in the north-east Arnhem Land region, where G comes from, and other youngsters from all around NT, from every Aboriginal community, a lot of youngsters are doing music today. Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) has been more than six years in the making and involves the singer, in Hohnen's words, delving "deeper into the cultural elements of his music". People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. He followed this with two other successful studio albumsRrakala (2011) and The Gospel Album (2015)and two concert recordingsLive in Darwin, Australia (2010) and Gurrumul: His Life and Music with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (2013). The album and the documentary are both a bittersweet final offering from a truly gifted and special artist, whose legacy will live on and continue to touch the lives and imagination of generations to come. The whole process became quite an emotional experience.. Born blind, his powerfully emotive yet fragile voice has affected the public unlike any other Australian artist. The important thing was that, in every step of the process, we've made sure that we haven't done anything that doesn't communicate those songs.". 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. And you don't really have any options it's dialysis or nothing.". He was instrumental in persuading the singer to embark on a solo career and with the appropriate musical setting. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. Both men feigned concern about the social plight of the majority of Aborigines and voiced platitudes about Gurrumuls music and indigenous disadvantage. These ritualistic proclamations are thoroughly disingenuous. Following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth, he said any money he makes goes to his mother and aunts still living on Elcho Island, some 350 miles from Darwin. And when hes invited to sing a duet with Sting on a French TV show, it nearly ends in disaster. [8] Yunupingu's friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and was his translator, collaborator and confidant. Formerly with Yothu Yindi, he is now with Saltwater Band. There are public aspects of Gurrumuls short life that arent explored by the documentary his long-running health issues, and the high levels of poverty in remote Indigenous communities such as Galiwinku. He pauses and sighs. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. As his aunt Susan Dhangal Gurruwiwi narrates: When you talk about Gurrumul, its a big story.. Gurrumul became the highest selling Aboriginal musician in Australian history and sang in Britain, Europe and the US, including a sold-out concert at New Yorks Carnegie Hall. The film features two funerals one for each of Gurrumuls parents and perhaps as a final mark of respect, it doesnt go for a third. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. Gurrumul's collaborator and companion Michael Hohnen says Kylie Minogue introduced the blind singer to the Queen. "Our hope for this film is that the people depicted within it, upon watching it, are filled with pride. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. Tired of touring and its associated pressures, Gurrumul left Yothu Yindi, formed the Saltwater Band in 1996 but eventually decided to go solo, releasing his first album in 2008. The 12 songs that make up Djarimirri all relate to specific totems and aspects of Yolngu culture, including Waak (Crow), Ngarrpiya (Octopus), Gapu (Freshwater), Baru (Saltwater Crocodile), Marrayarr (Flag). [35], Yunupingu died at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, at about 5:00pm on 25 July 2017, aged 46. In 2009 a portrait of Gurrumul by Guy Maestri won Australias major art prize, The Archibald Prize. Gurrumul is the first indigenous Australian solo artist to breakthrough to the mainstream with audiences and critics responding passionately to the album.