The documentary opens with one of Gurrumuls earliest and only media interviews, a filmed sit-down with the ABCs flagship current affairs show. His second album Rrakala (2011), hit Platinum and continued the stream of adoration for Gurrumul, with Rolling Stone magazine declaring him Australias Most Important Voice (Rolling Stone, April 2011). Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic Gurrumul review - stirring and soulful ode to Australia's most "[That] was a real challenge, but also a great pleasure to come up with these arrangements," he recalls. His second album, Rrakala (2011), made some small inroads into the American market, a notoriously difficult proposition. He also forged a successful solo career. ", Djarimirri is primarily about legacy. "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. "Yep, spot on," Gurrumul told the three in Melbourne. I made sure to read the lyrics and understand the meaning of each song. 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. Legendary American music producer Quincy Jones praised the singer for "one of the most unusual and emotional and musical voices that I've ever heard". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 2012, Gurrumul was refused service by a taxi driver after a concert performance in Melbourne, and in 2015, his musician brother and uncle were refused three pre-booked taxis in Darwin. Gurrumul was born and raised in Galiwinku, a small community of about 2,200 people on remote Elcho Island, which is about 560 kilometres, or a two-hour flight, northeast of Darwin, the Northern Territory capital. ", Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, "2009 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners", "Gurrumul Is The 2022 NIMA Hall Of Fame Inductee", Video of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu performing, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Gurrumul_Yunupingu&oldid=1141636930, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from August 2012, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. working together Skinnyfish lost a lot of money on that tour, but their relationship with the artist held and four years later, they were recording again. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. ", Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. And when hes invited to sing a duet with Sting on a French TV show, it nearly ends in disaster. "Gurrumul" redirects here. On the day the team is to embark on the US tour, Gurrumul doesnt show up to Darwin airport. 'Gurrumul' Review | Berlin 2018 - The Hollywood Reporter In what has already made history by being the first album sung entirely in language to top the charts on it's release, we see the final musical masterpiece, the posthumously released. It is like a celebration.'. Where Djarimirri is different, though, is in its minimalism; Hohnen cites the likes of Michael Nyman, Steve Reich, Arvo Prt and Philip Glass as influences. The wall above a shelf of Skinnyfish CDs is lined with art from the Tiwi Islands and a portrait of Gurrumul. In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. He was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician at the time of his death. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. His fragile but uniquely emotive high tenor voice and aura-like persona elicit feelings of peace and longing in listeners. ", A note released with the advance stream of Djarimirri addresses these questions. The money he made was largely shared with his family, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth. I worked on it for over a month, mostly while listening to his music. He said it would be wrong to call the singer an overnight success since he had played for many years with the well-known Yothu Yindi band before forming his own Saltwater Band and then striking out on his own. 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. 1 on the independent chart. He sang stories of his land both in Yolu languages such as Gaalpu, Gumatj or Djambarrpuynu, a dialect related to Gumatj, and in English. These glands have tiny openings to release oils onto the surface of the cornea. And you don't really have any options it's dialysis or nothing.". "People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. 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. Simply so, what causes gurrumul blindness? Born blind, the reluctant star never gave any interviews and was painfully shy, but his music drew worldwide acclaim, despite the fact that he performed in his Gumatj dialect which is understood by only around 3,000 people. A mixture of traditional songs and new compositions, they reflect his background growing up in one of the most remote but beautiful parts of the continent. 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! Gurrumuls not an activist or a social commentator, said Hohnen. He just wants to play music.. Its beyond homesickness, Hohnen tells a promoter in explanation. "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. Asked to comment, Northern Territory Health Minister John Elferink arrogantly dismissed the accusation, rejected calls for an investigation and then provocatively accused Skinnyfish Music of staging a publicity stunt to promote a new album by the singer. he says. Central to Gurrumul's career was Michael Hohnen, a musician and producer who established SkinnyFish Records and was the first to encourage the shy singer to step out from the Saltwater Band to develop his own unique style of playing and performing. Gurrumul Yunupingu album is first in Indigenous language to top As his spokesman and double-bass accompanist Michael Hohnen explained to journalists in 2013, Gurrumul hates the media. He had no use for picks, instead he simply kept his fingernails long. Although a few of his songs are written and sung in English, he does not speak the language. Gurrumul: a man with a strong sense of humour, deep ties to his homelands and little taste for the limelight. On the other side his neck is cradled by layered fabric, and cut by the line of the cropped image. The Most Beautiful Song Ever Written (Australian Aboriginal), This song is called Wiyathul and its by a blind aboriginal man called Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Meibomianitis is inflammation of the meibomian glands, a group of oil-releasing (sebaceous) glands in the eyelids. A new documentary and posthumous album dispel the myths surrounding a beloved Australian Indigenous artist. In October 2015, the album won Gurrumul's third ARIA Award for Best World Music Album. The singers friend Michael Hohnen, who produced his album, acts as Yunupingus translator. Maestri worked on the painting for a month, listening to Gurrumul's music as he built up the image layer upon layer. And hes making it new. Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind) Lyrics: I was born blind and I don't know why / God knows why because he love me so / As I grew up, my spirit knew / Then I learnt to read the world of . To see without seeing? For his part, Gurrumul didnt want to miss learning dhawu the traditional stories that hes expected to care for. 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 cover of Gurrumul's posthumous album, Djarimirri (2018).Credit:Courtesy of ABC. 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. Formerly a member of Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who was blind from birth and passed away last year at age 46, released his first solo album in 2008. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's legacy: why his music didn't stop. It was nominated for Australian Independent Record Labels Association and ARIA awards. AUSTRALIAN musical great Dr G Yunupingu has died, aged 46, after a long battle with illness, his music label has confirmed. Most of the young people I know, they want to continue his legacy, they want to show the world that they can do it. They commenced in 2005. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified. "Michael then said to me, 'Was that a bit strange? With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. 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. "But I now feel like we did everything possible to live up to the standards that he and his family expected of us. The Gurrumul Story - Wikipedia He had also, with Hohnen and composer Erkki Veltheim, created or reworked about 50 pieces of music specifically for the documentary. 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. I still think that., Gurrumul, the documentary, is released 25 April through Madman. Famed US jazz composer and arranger Quincy Jones said that the Aboriginal singer-songwriter had one of the most unusual and emotional and musical voices that Ive heard.. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. Yunupingus songs are attracting people who do not normally listen to Aboriginal music and he received standing ovations after two recent performances at the Sydney Opera House. Its a clash of cultures, its a clash of world views, says Skinnyfish Music director and cofounder, Mark Grose. He learned foot stomping calling and whooping, vocalisations of traditional songs and their different sounds, and so much more. 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. 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. Please check your spam folder for the email, if it does not arrive, click this link Emails will be sent by or on behalf of Universal Music Group 2220 Colorado, Sign up to receive email updates and offers from Gurrumul. But I can play and sing and tell people things through my songs. 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. "There's anger, abuse, there's hurt, there are quite sinister ways, destructive ways. Gurrumul first came to the worlds attention when his self-titled debut album Gurrumul was released to international acclaim in 2008. And, for me, his legacy was opening people's hearts to one of the greatest assets of this country.". He was born blind. Instead of his usual "see you later", Gurrumul ended the call by saying goodbye, which he'd not done before. The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. This portrait of Gumatj man and musician Gurrumul is a large monotone painting. A press release from Skinnyfish Music, Gurrumuls record label, described the 46-year-old as one of the most important figures in Australian music history. Numerous tributes have been made by musicians and others across the country and internationally. 0. Gurrumul rarely said anything during his concerts and gave no interviews. 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. Required fields are marked *. "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. He found purpose and meaning through songs inspired by his community and country in North East Arnhem Land. Although, spending a lot of time with his family, they said to us, even at his funeral, that no one's stopped listening to his music. While Gurrumul never made a public comment or any overt references in his songs to the decades of social neglect and repression of Australias indigenous population, his songs and compelling voice gave forceful and poignant expression not just to the decades of suffering but a powerful longing for a better life. It then unexpectedly reached No. He was blind from birth and contracted Hepatitis B at the age of three. 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. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Gurrumul_Yunupingu. [31] In December 2013, Yunupingu released a live album, titled His Life and Music, which was recorded in the Sydney Opera House and released through ABC Music. He gave his approval for the final version just three days before he died. He first came to prominence as a member of Yolngu band Yothu Yindi in the late 1980s but his 2008 eponymous debut album brought global fame that grew through a series of award-winning recordings and a hectic touring schedule that continued until his 2015 tour of the United States and final studio recording that year. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common eye condition, yet many people dont realize they have it. Cut off at the forehead, his peaked hairline just appears that the top. Many examples of Gurrumuls remarkable work are available on YouTube. "[37] The album won four ARIA Music Awards at the 2018 ceremony; his daughter Jasmin accepted the award for Best Male Artist on his behalf. If interested in music and guitars, then you are in the right place and will learn a lot. In 2009, he was named Best New Independent Artist and the album won both Best Independent Release and Best Independent Blues/Roots Release at the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (22 January 1971 - 25 July 2017), commonly known as Gurrumul and also referred to since his death as Dr G. Yunupingu, was an Aboriginal Australian musician of the Yolu peoples. It's not lost on anyone involved with the making of the record how sad it is that its main player won't be here to enjoy its launch. Born blind, the Indigenous Australian singer/songwriter Gurrumul grew up as a member of the Gumatj clan on Elcho Island, off the coast of tropical North East Arnhem land in Australias Northern Territory. He doesnt want to be photographed or talk to anyone.