Key Points
- You're the Voice features in a video advocating for a Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
- Following the ad's release, there were suggestions on social media that Farnham had been paid for the song's usage.
- Friends of the singer, including the widow of his former manager, have said he "gifted" the song to the campaign.
John Farnham did not receive any money for in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
The song is the soundtrack to a three-minute advertisement for the Yes campaign released on Sunday, which pairs Farnham's anthemic song with transformative moments in Australian history.
The ad looks back at defining moments in Australian history, including the 1967 referendum to count Aboriginal people in the census, the Mabo decision, the America's Cup, the Uluru hand-back and Cathy Freeman's gold medal.
While Farnham said he hoped You’re the Voice, which "changed [his] life", could in some small way help to change the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the better, not everyone is happy with the use of the song.
Did John Farnham get paid by the Yes campaign?
Following suggestions on social media that Farnham was paid for the use of the song, Gaynor Wheatley - the widow of Farnham's former manager Glenn Wheatley - and the singer's friend David Wilson said: "We confirm that John Farnham has gifted his performance of You're the Voice for its use in the Uluru Dialogue Yes Campaign advertisements."
The advert was lauded by celebrities including Magda Szubanski, who posted: "How could John Farnham be even more of a legend than he already is? By doing this - “gifting” his Voice to The Voice So proud to have even a small role in this historic moment".
Comedian Adam Hills posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: "I was lucky enough to be in the room where this video was launched tonight, alongside so many proud Indigenous Australians. I wanna do what I can to amplify their voice, and give them a voice to Parliament."
However, others expressed their disappointment in the musician lending the song to the cause, upset that it would be associated with the matter.
Some Farnham fans are so outraged they have posted that they will no longer support the musician, with some even throwing out their Farnham CDs.
A fan club dedicated to Farnham has had to restrict comments on its Facebook page since the release of the video.
John Farnham Fan Club posted on Monday morning reminding Facebook users: “This page is for celebrating John and his music. It is not the appropriate forum for comments relating to the Voice referendum, therefore all comments will be removed.”
Opposition leader's dig over You're the Voice lyrics
In response to the use of the song in the pro-Voice video, Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who is against establishing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, , pointing to the line, “You’re the voice, try to understand it”.
Dutton has long argued not enough information has been provided to the public about how the Voice would operate, but the Government has said many details would be worked out after the vote, and the design principles of the Voice to Parliament agreed by the First Nations Referendum Working Group are public.
Tim Wheatley, Farnham’s close friend and son of his late manager Glenn Wheatley, said the song is aligned with humanity and is for all Australians.
“You’re the Voice is not aligned with any political party. It is aligned with humanity. It’s a song for all Australians. Always has been, always will be,” Wheatley said.
“Win or lose this referendum, this song will forever remain on the right side of history. Both John and my father have fiercely protected this song’s use for decades, I think for this very moment.”
Protesters sang You're the Voice
British musician Chris Thompson co-wrote You're the Voice and has spoken about how it was inspired by a nuclear disarmament march that took place in London at the time it was written.
While Farnham has not been actively involved in politics in the past, in 2020, his then-manager Glenn Wheatley slammed the actions of anti-lockdown protesters who sung You're the Voice at a rally.
Wheatley told media Farnham did not personally endorse such protests, which occurred while Melbourne was under strict lockdown conditions in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The manager also criticised the use of the song at far-right demonstrations.
“It was not meant to be a protest song, it was meant to be used as an inspirational song for nations and for people, not in a situation of what was an illegal protest,” he said.
The story of John Farnham
Farnham is one of Australia’s most well-known musicians, and was named Australian of the Year in 1987.
In the 1960s he went from working as a young plumber to becoming a teen sensation. He went on to become the lead singer of the Little River Band in the 1980s, before returning to performing solo.
In 1986, You’re the Voice - from Farnham's comeback album Whispering Jack - revived the singer's stalled career, dominating the Australian music charts and performing well in some European countries.
Last month, Farnham celebrated being cancer-free, after battling mouth cancer.
He has given the all-clear by his medical team, 12 months on from.
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