Gadigal Land

"Gadigal Land" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, featuring Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie. The song was released in August 2020. It is the band's first single in 17 years, and is the part of The Makarrata Project, a themed mini-album of collaborations with indigenous artists.[2]

"Gadigal Land"
Single by Midnight Oil featuring Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie
from the album The Makarrata Project
Released	7 August 2020
Length	4:45
Label	Sony Music Australia
Producer(s)	Warne Livesey[1]
Midnight Oil singles chronology
"No Man's Land" (2003) "Gadigal Land" (2020)
Dan Sultan singles chronology
"Every Day My Mother's Voice" (2019) "Gadigal Land" (2020)

The track takes its title from Sydney's traditional owners, The Gadigal (also spelled "Cadigal"), whose land extends from the Sydney CBD to South Head and through to the inner west.[2] A statement from Sony Music explains that "It is a provocative recount of what happened in this place, and elsewhere in Australia, since 1788”. [1]

In a statement, the band said "We've always been happy to lend our voice to those who call for racial justice, but it really feels like we've reached a tipping point. We urge the federal government to heed the messages in the Uluru Statement From The Heart and act accordingly. Hopefully this song and The Makarrata Project mini-album we've created alongside our First Nations friends can help shine a bit more light on the urgent need for genuine reconciliation in this country and in many other places too."[2]

The song includes a verse written and spoken by Gadigal poet Joel Davison, who said the experience has been "validating" as a poet and language revivalist. Davison said "It was kind of wild being contacted by their manager, and at first I thought it was a scam or something. I didn't know what to think." Davison added "I'm glad that I was able to be there to make sure that the language of my Gadigal ancestors was heard on this track."[3]

Midnight Oil has pledged to donate its share of any proceeds it receives from the song to organisations promoting the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, which called for the creation of a "First Nations Voice" enshrined in the Australian Constitution.[1]

Midnight Oil will play the song at the 2020 National Indigenous Music Awards on 8 August 2020.[4]

Reception

Tom Breihan from Stereo Gum said "It's a big, bouncy rocker that sounds a whole lot like an arena jam. But like so many Midnight Oil songs before it, the track is all about how Australia belongs to its Aboriginal people and about how white colonizers should get the fuck out."[4]

Michael Dwyer of Sydney Morning Herald said "Propelled by the Oils' unmistakable brass-studded attack, it is an uncompromising song of rage on behalf of the First Nations people acknowledged in the song's title and represented more broadly by the guest performers."[5]

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue
Australia	7 August 2020[6][7]	digital download streaming radio	Sony Music Australia

References

1. "Midnight Oil Return With Politically-Charged "Gadigal Land": Stream It Now". Billboard. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
2. "Midnight Oil release their first new song in 20 years, "Gadigal Land"". nine. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
3. "The story behind the Gadigal poetry on Midnight Oil's latest track". SBS. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
4. "Midnight Oil Share "Gadigal Land", First New Song in 17 Years". Stereo Gum. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
5. "Midnight Oil's Gadigal Land is an uncompromising song of rage". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
6. "Gadigal Land (DD) by Midnight Oil". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
7. "Singles to Radio 7 August 2020". themusicnetwork. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.