R.I.P George Burrarrawanga - 'The Black Mick Jagger'

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:52 am

George Burrarrawanga, the lead singer of the legendary Warumpi Band died in Arnhem Land last week. I saw them once in Sydney supporting The Cruel Sea - and George blew Tex Perkins off the stage.

I'm guessing not many of you may have heard of the Warumpis. Check these videos - they are awesome:

Blackfella/Whitefella - one of the greatest songs ever written (I'm feeling a cover version coming on) - great video here of the Warumpis with Midnight Oil (including Australian Parliment's Right Honourable mebmer for Kingsford-Smith and current Shadow Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett MP)

Very, very cool song and video:
Warumpi Band - Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)

Sadly, this is the only video of the Warumpis live on youtube - but it does show some of George's stage moves:
Stompen Ground

Blackfella, whitefella, yellafella, any fella
It doesn't matter what your colour
As long as you, are true fella

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:45 am

I've never heard of him, but I know now. I've just spent an hour watching the vids you posted and a bunch more. Very cool.
The Out Of Jail song is pretty cool. Tapping the boomerangs was a nice touch.
I really like My Island Home song.

Caravan Ray · Post by **Caravan Ray** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:17 pm

Billy's Little Trip wrote:I've never heard of him, but I know now. I've just spent an hour watching the vids you posted and a bunch more. Very cool.
The Out Of Jail song is pretty cool. Tapping the boomerangs was a nice touch.
I really like My Island Home song.

That was a huge hit (in English) a few years ago for Christine Anu - a Torres Strait Islander girl and was recently voted One of the 30 Greatest Australian Songs of All Time by APRA. She sang it at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

According to the SMH article linked above:
Burarrawanga was saddened that the song, written about him and his life, became instead a vehicle for fame for performers such as Christine Anu and co-writer Neil Murray. In reclaiming his own story, he rewrote and hence only performed the song in his mother tongue, Gumatj.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:55 pm

Interesting story. Reminds me a bit of an Aboriginal version of Bob Marley.