Power and the Passion by Midnight Oil

Title:
Power and the Passion by Midnight Oil
NFSA ID
217837
Year
1982
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The most popular single from Midnight Oil’s breakthrough fourth studio album, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. As one of the band's most famous songs, it has been performed on every Midnight Oil tour since its release. The video was filmed in 1982 amongst the ‘Woolloomooloo Mural Project’ in Sydney. The song highlights disparities between those ‘living in paradise’ and those falling behind, and references Australian symbols and places, from panel vans to Pine Gap. The track came to symbolise the passionate performance style of the band and its lead singer Peter Garrett. It peaked at No. 8, with the album peaking at No. 3, and remained in the charts for 171 weeks. In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association named the song as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.