This was the final okay from Gurrumul, who as a co-producer had been involved in most aspects of the film. Its an observation wryly made midway through a new documentary on the life and career of the late singer, a blind Gumatj man from Arnhem Land in Australias remote north.One of the most famous Indigenous performers in modern Australian history, he left much behind when he died last year musically, personally and culturally. Gurrumul documentary to debut at Berlin film festival watch the trailer. Which famous people has gurrumul performed for. 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. Further listening casts new light on what's happening, though. That killed me, near the end of the film, when his uncle says that he exceeded all our expectations.. AUSTRALIAN musical great Dr G Yunupingu has died, aged 46, after a long battle with illness, his music label has confirmed. We know it happens right around Australia We need to have that discussion about how we can improve care for indigenous Australians so they receive the same level of care as non-indigenous Australians, Lawton said. 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. It was his heart, having battled on through the liver and kidney damage caused by his hepatitis B, that eventually gave out. 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. 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. 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). The album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), is released on 13 April through Skinnyfish, Gurrumul review stirring and soulful ode to Australia's most important voice, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Cut off at the forehead, his peaked hairline just appears that the top. "[That] was a real challenge, but also a great pleasure to come up with these arrangements," he recalls. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. Even though he couldn't see the nature, he was born to feel the nature." 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. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. We try and work in a mainstream music industry but within their [Indigenous] system of how we relate to everyone, Hohnen tells Guardian Australia. Its a clash of cultures, its a clash of world views, says Skinnyfish Music director and cofounder, Mark Grose. Sir Elton John, Sting and Bjrk are among his fans. Half a million copies of Gurrumul have been sold worldwide. "The audience requiresa lot of information to make sense of Gurrumuls musical rise because it emerged from a culture thatsso different to that of most people watching the film," Filmmaker Williams says. That's remarkable for a man who was born blind, is extremely shy and doesn't speak much English. 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. Last Friday Shorten and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attended the annual four-day Garma Festival in the Northern Territory and held hands with local residents in honour of Gurrumul. BAPA. 5 comments. Like every other federal Labor MP, both men supported the Liberal-National coalition governments Northern Territory intervention in mid-2007a reactionary social assault launched under the bogus pretext of protecting Aboriginal children from sexual abuse. 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. His songs covered themes of identity, spirit, connection with the land and its elements across multiple Yolngu languages as well as English. In April 2018, Gurrumuls posthumously released fourth studio album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). The breakup of indigenous communities continued and the regressive attacks on social welfare recipients used in the Northern Territory were expanded to selected non-indigenous communities across Australia (see: The Aboriginal intervention in Australia: Four years on). The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, won multiple ARIA awards and the Australian Music Prize. "He was writing these songs and the words just came into his mind and heart. Hohnen, who was the singers guide and spokesman, talks to the Guardian in the Skinnyfish Music offices in suburban Darwin. The purity of the singer's voice tops it off. Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album 'Gurrumul . It was a professional partnership which helped to bring Gurrumul's unique interpretation of the 'manikay' (the songlines of his people) to life. Largely self-taught, he plays drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, but it is his clarity of voice that has attracted rave reviews. As his aunt Susan Dhangal Gurruwiwi narrates: When you talk about Gurrumul, its a big story.. Gurrumul was raised on Elcho Island, off the coast of North East Arnhem Land, as a member of the Gumatj clan. "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. Gurrumul would go on to perform for Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II, among others. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age. 69 on the ARIA Charts and No. Blind from birth and raised in thecommunity of Galiwinku on Elcho Island, Gurrumul was brought up learning the stories and history of his people, through song and dance, the rhythms of life and nature shaping his musical ear and sensibilities. [34], In July 2016, Yunupingu featured on the A.B. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation. ", Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. "Michael then said to me, 'Was that a bit strange? A rare and moving visual of how life and death is honoured in Yolngucommunity. National Endowment for the Arts. To see without seeing? His first album as an acoustic artist, Gurrumul, was released in Australia in 2008 and went double platinum. 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. He performed with Yothu Yindi from 1985 to 1992, when he formed the Saltwater Band. I believe he was born that way if I remember correctly. 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. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. People forget he was in Yothu Yindi and Saltwater. It is like a celebration.'. From there, the task was to transcribe the yidaki patterns into Western notation. In touching and heartbreaking sequences Gurrumul learns of loved ones passing away, and we see the funeral ceremonies that he travels back home for. I always said he balanced the two worlds better than most people. Interviews and feature reports from NITV. Gurrumuls not an activist or a social commentator, said Hohnen. His condition had worsened in recent years, to the extent that Skinnyfish had retired the singer from touring in late 2015. 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. Three days later, on July 25, 2017, Gurrumul died in Royal Darwin Hospital. ominis gaunt why is he blind. He sang . Critics raved about his unearthly voice, fusion of music styles and authentic Aboriginal sound and stories. With such a big, bright personality, heis a very much loved and honoured member of his community. 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 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. His first album as an acoustic artist, Gurrumul, was released in Australia in 2008 and went double platinum. 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. ", Explains Hohnen, "In most situations when an Aboriginal person up here passes away, the name gets changed, and the music and imagery gets stopped," explains Hohnen. 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. A new documentary and posthumous album dispel the myths surrounding a beloved Australian Indigenous artist. "Gurrumul was such a unique and happy person, someone who, no matter how recalcitrant, always made you feel that fun and music and traditional culture were here to be lived and loved.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aboriginal singer beats poverty and prejudice to top Australian charts. The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001. 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. 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. Honhen points out the cello mimicking rhythms of the yidaki, and says the Yolngu who came to the studio would immediately recognise and know the corresponding dance. Its a really bad business model in lots of ways, but you have to give in to that world. We just tried to make that record, which had that mood, to try to seep into peoples consciences and hearts and minds without actually having the listener have any responsibility to listen and work out what someones saying.. 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. Gurrumul shot to prominence in 2008 with the release of his debut album Gurrumul, which was nominated for four ARIAs and won two. "Spot on.". Gurrumuls uncle, Mandawuy Yunupingu, died from kidney disease in June 2013, aged 56. However, a very rare exception has been made byGumatj and Glpu clan leaders for this film. Offered a 40-minute window of opportunity to meet him early one Saturday morning at Sydney airport, Maestri seized it. "He'd finished his contribution, that side of things was over, and that was the last time I spoke to him. [8][28] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011, he won Best World Music Album and performed "Warwu" featuring Missy Higgins on piano. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu did exactly what youd do if you didnt want to be successful but he succeeded anyway. "But I now feel like we did everything possible to live up to the standards that he and his family expected of us. It was an album four years in the making and was completed by producer and arranger Michael Hohnen. On Gurrumul's left between his hairline and ear lobe, a fine line of side burn arcs in unison with the extended line of his full, high cheekbone in contrast with his fleshy left ear behind it, the lines of which undulate and small irregular soft folds. 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. The recording is as much a representation of all Yolngu. Among those offering tributes to Gurrumul was Midnight Oil lead singer and former Australian education minister Peter Garrett, as well as current Labor Party opposition leader Bill Shorten. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. Gurrumul performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, past-US President Barack Obama, Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark, in addition to being one of only two Australian performers at the Queens Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, confirming this multi ARIA award-winning musicians place as an international star who had transcended cultural boundaries while staying true to his culture. [26] In 2009 a portrait of Yunupingu by Guy Maestri won Australia's major art prize, the Archibald Prize. as well as on it. In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. [27], He was again awarded the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album in 2011 for his album Rrakala. "[21], In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA Awards,[22] winning the awards for Best World Music Album[23] and Best Independent Release. abbreviation. "Yep, spot on," Gurrumul told the three in Melbourne. Gurrumuls death at such an early age is another tragic confirmation of the huge social gapin health as well as employment, education, housing and other basic indicesbetween indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. [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. His fragile but uniquely emotive high tenor voice and aura-like persona elicit feelings of peace and longing in listeners. Critics have heaped praise on the singer and described his voice as having transcendental beauty. But the basic incompatibility of this shy, private man with the hype and spotlight of the music industry were . It commenced in 2004. Hohnen, a classically trained bass player and co-founder of Skinnyfish Music, was among the first to recognise the unique qualities of Gurrumuls voice. "Dialysis was not something that he enjoyed," Hohnen says. Hohnen was on the phone with Gurrumul, his longtime friend and musical partner, and the biggest star at Skinnyfish, which he co-owns. In garnering fans like these, Gurrumul sold out venues the world over, won awards and confounded critics with his wide-ranging success. 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. Just ask. He says the Queen remembered Gurrumul from their last meeting, saying: "Yes, I've met this man before." But Hohnen says Gurrumul was more excited at the chance to meet American music legend Stevie Wonder. did he go blind from his family torturing him or was he born that way i don't remember if they expanded on it or not. he says. [5][8][15][16] His first solo album, Gurrumul, was released in 2008, debuting at No. 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 was born blind, "One world is Balanda, the other world is Yolngu," as Gurrumul describes it. Blind from birth, the proud Yolngu man spoke through his music. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (born 1970) is an indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language. Best. This technology is used to diagnose gland dysfunction (MGD), which indicates an abnormality or blockage of the glands. We underestimated him.. I think thats the only way you move forward. abbreviation. As of 2020, it is estimated that Yunupingu has sold half a million records globally. The only treatment is several hours of dialysis three times per week, or a kidney transplant. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It could be that you are wondering whether you are in the right place. When asked what he would do with any money he makes, he suggested it will go to his mother and aunts, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth. The CD simply titled Gurrumul quickly achieved triple platinum sales status in Australia and sold half a million copies worldwide. Accompanying a scene that depicts the funeral of his father, the score features Gurrumul singing, the sound bleeding into the strains of a French horn. Light spills to the left side of his face, tumbling down his forehead, eyebrow, cheek and lips. The post-pod life looks great on her! He has had solo exhibitions at the Tim Olsen Gallery and was a finalist in the 2007 and 2008 Dobell Drawing Prize. His family, while supportive of his success in the lead-up to the US tour, had flagged their apprehension about his expansion into the Balanda or white persons world; they were happy for him to be the bridge between two cultures, but worry that he could not maintain his cultural ties. And I think Yolngu don't want him forgotten, that's what they said to us. These glands have tiny openings to release oils onto the surface of the cornea. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - History (I Was Born Blind) - YouTube 0:00 / 3:47 Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - History (I Was Born Blind) DramaticoMusic 67.2K subscribers 309K views 13. 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. Him and Michael, they've delivered this gift of music. Gurrumul was no stranger to orchestral work, having released a live album in 2013 with the Sydney Symphony. 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. [24] 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)". I still think that., Gurrumul, the documentary, is released 25 April through Madman. [13], In 1989, at the age of 18, Yunupingu joined Yothu Yindi as a multi-instrumentalist and backing vocalist, notably contributing to their 1991 album, Tribal Voice. Your email address will not be published. "Bayini" by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Rrawun D Maymuru), Michael Hohnen and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu for, Ted Howard, Robin Mai & Matthew Cunliffe for, Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert, "Gathu Mawula" (featuring Blue King Brown), Label: Dramatico / Skinnyfish Music (0063), Label: Universal / Skinnyfish Music (3764720), Formats: CD, LP, CD + DVD, streaming, digital download, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 01:35. Gurrumul rarely said anything during his concerts and gave no interviews. 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. With a voice that captured the heart of millions across the world, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an enigmatic talent. [30][8] In 2012, Yunupingu was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Sydney. 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. It says, in part, "The family have given permission that, following the final funeral ceremony (which occurred at Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island on November 24 last year), his name and image may once again be used publicly, to ensure that his legacy will continue to inspire both his people and Australians more broadly. 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 . "[13] He later sang hymns in the mission choir and also enjoyed Western pop music, particularly Dire Straits, Cliff Richard, and Stevie Wonder. **Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this content contains images of people who have died. There's a depth to it all, and the drone of the strings and the popping of horns add their own weight to what is, within each song, a slow-building story. His condition had worsened in recent years, to the extent that Skinnyfish had retired the singer from touring in late 2015. The cover of Gurrumul's posthumous album, Djarimirri (2018). The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). 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. [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. Herein, how did gurrumul go blind? "It was like he was becoming a shadow of his former self," Hohnen recalls. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program. 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. But I can play and sing and tell people things through my songs. 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). Both men were ministers in the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments from December 2007 to September 2013. "This last record is testament to him transcending genre and transcending what's expected of an Indigenous artist," he says. "Gurrumul had hundreds of songs in his head," says Hohnen. Maestri worked on the painting for a month, listening to Gurrumul's music as he built up the image layer upon layer. I worked on it for over a month, mostly while listening to his music. Many examples of Gurrumuls remarkable work are available on YouTube. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (born 1970) is an indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language. Gurrumul's face centrally occupies the frame, leaving minimal room for background detail, indistinct light grey brushstrokes behind his neck and face. When Gurrumul arrives home after long periods away from touring and recording, we see a great deal of affection upon his return. 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. The journey that we took with him was almost the opposite. Please try again later. In Yolngu lore the name, image and voice of the recently deceased is retired from all public use. Though affectionately calling each other "wwa", the Gumatj word for 'brother', we can see how their connection was more like family. (age35in2009), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu . His musical success as a member of Yothu Yindi, Saltwater Band and then as a solo artist, is a source of great pride in Elcho Island. The world wants to know more about him. 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 . Born blind, his powerfully emotive yet fragile voice has affected the public unlike any other Australian artist. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (19702017), a Gumatj man from north-east Arnhem Land, was born blind but learned to play guitar, keyboard, drums and didgeridoo as a child. This was deliberate, Hohnen says. Blind from birth, he played the guitar upside down with his left hand. They commenced in 2005. 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. '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. Its a heartbreaking moment in the film. In 2009 a portrait of Gurrumul by Guy Maestri won Australias major art prize, The Archibald Prize. 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. Gurrumul sang about Gumatj stories in Yolngu, but his song 'Gurrumul History' was in English, to spread his story.