Pictured: Briggs, Gurrumul, and Trials (of The Funkoars). Photo Credit: Michelle Grace Hunder. Last week was NAIDOC week. Also, July is Black History Month, so most Blackfullas are pretty out and proud about things this time of year. Up until Friday morning I was having a fairly boring time. I attended a few Community events (got my free feeds and pulled off a show-bag heist with my Aunt as coey at the Fitzroy Town Hall Government NAIDOC event. Truly, filled up the whole backseat of the car with all sorts of promotional goodies. You Mob know what I’m sayin…) and I even wrote a couple of blog posts for the Deadly Bloggers Blog Carnival, looking at my own Identity, and what I feel it means to me to be Black in a contemporary world, vastly different from our Ancestral forebears. In my article, “Contemporising and Continuing Culture” I mentioned an Aboriginal hip hop artist by the name of Briggs. I suggested that his music, a special brand of rap with all the qualities of a master, in a young man’s body, is the continuation of his Yorta Yorta People’s Culture of entertainment. Adam Briggs is, essentially, the contemporary equivalent of the Songmen of days passed. His commitment, injection of emotion, pride, and sheer theatrical prowess is the modern version of those Old Ceremonies. Those Songs. Those Stories. So, on Friday morning, when I turned on my radio, and started my drive to work, I felt a physical surge of Black fervency within me, when I heard my djarmbi, accompanied by the one-and-only Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (also a respectable cast of session musicians, including James Mangohig from Sietta, Mr. Trials from The Funkoars, and vocalist Dewayne Everettsmith), perform an homage to Uncle Archie Roach’s timeless classic “Took the Children Away” for Triple J’s Like a Version segment; a weekly event where artists are invited in to the ABC studios to perform a song of their own, and a cover version of a song of their choice. Watch the footage here if embedded media fails https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Of7JZK8lTEI The Children Came Back-
LYRICS: I’m Fitzroy where the stars be I’m Wanganeen in ninety three I’m Mundine, I'm Cathy Free’ Man that fire inside a me I’m Adam Goodes, and Adam should Be applauded when he stands up You can look to us when time stop I’m Patty Mills with the last shot I’m Gurrumul, I’m Archie I’m everything you ask me I’m everything you can’t be I’m the dead heart’s, heart beat I’m Doug Nicholls, I’m Jimmy Little With a Royal Telephone I’m the world champ in ’68 Boy I’m Lionel Rose I’m William Cooper, I take a stand When no one even knows I’m The Walk Off, I’m the sound of The children coming home I’m Gurrumul, I’m Archie I’m everything you ask me I’m everything you can’t be I’m the dead heart’s, heart beat I’m a take it home, I’m Rumba I’m the sand hills on Cummera I’m Les Briggs, I’m Paul Briggs I’m Uncle Ringo with all them kids I’m Uncle Buddy - everybody love me Aint none below, aint none above me I’m - the carvings outta every Scar Tree I’m those flats birthed Archie But Mr. Abbott if you think about it - me and you we feel the same That might sound strange, I’m just saying, we both unsettled when the boats came I’m Gurrumul, I’m Archie I’m everything you ask me I’m everything you can’t be I’m the dead heart’s, heart beat I cried (just a bit). I sent Cuzzo a text as soon as it was done and told him he’d made me tear up, told him how proud I was of what he’d just done… FOR ALL OF US. Of course he laughed at me, but going by the social media response to the song, I’d say emotions were pretty extreme for lots of other people too. Briggs probably couldn’t have chosen a better song to cover, or make reference to, as it were. The original “Took the Children Away” by living legend and Aboriginal Icon, Uncle Archie Roach, is by far one of the most powerful and emotionally charged songs in Australian contemporary music. It was a key selection in the mix-tape of my childhood. It has played an important role in the education of, and healing from, an horrific time in our recent National history. A sad, and quintessentially Black song, that has now made a path for a new voice, with a new story. The respect paid to the original (and its subject) is undeniable, however Briggs has brought a new theme of triumph, pride, achievement, in the sonic-equivalent of every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who has faced a world which often behaves as if it doesn’t want them, and smiled. To be executed with the assistance (and absolute support of) Gurrumul, who is arguably high on the list of most revered Australian musicians and artists, is almost sublime in its poetry. A truly magical collaboration between differing generations of Aboriginal music Avant Garde, where we almost feel a Passing of the Baton has occurred. The accreditation from industry leadership bestowed upon a new Keeper of the Flame. The references to some of our greatest sporting heroes, like Gavin Wanganeen, Anthony Mundine, Cathy Freeman, the mighty Fitzroy Stars, and of course Uncle Lionel Rose. The references to some of our political and Cultural heroes, like Uncle Doug Nicholls, Uncle Jimmy Little, and Uncle William Cooper. The references to Adam’s own family heroes, his Father and Uncles, and his Traditional Country. All these things, brought together so effortlessly (I’ve been informed that this whole Like a Version thing was pulled-together in a week. I can’t even get my head around that) with support from an amazing group of artists and friends, to create what is easily, in my opinion, the greatest anthem of Aboriginal Pride of this generation. There. I said it. I’m annoyed, because Adam is already brash enough to snarl a train off its tracks, but he deserves to be acknowledged for his hard work. This is a bloke that has done things the thorough way. The right way. I’ve had a few sneak previews of the new album, and I can honestly say that it deserves all the hype. At the risk of committing The Kooridinal Sin of nepotism by promoting my Brother, I’ve got this to say about Briggs… Support him. Invest in him. Respect him, for it is certainly due. In an industry where it’s all too easy to sell-out and claim that quick dollar, Briggs stays true to his ethics. He’s a strong Black role model. He comes from one of the most politically involved Mobs in Australia. He gives a damn about his People, and he seeks to represent us all through strong, high-quality music. No corners cut. All boxes ticked. As his hand tattoos say, “2 Black – 2 Strong” and “Always Was – Always Will Be”. Go get em, Brother. “I’m not sure if there has been anything as powerful as hearing/seeing the collaboration between Briggs and Gurrumul reworking a classic Archie Roach song. In the hip hop world, anyway. The only regret I have is not to have been in the room while they were doing it. This performance will surely go down as one of those ‘moments’ we will forever remember.” Hau latukefu. Triple J Hip Hop Show. "The Briggs Gurrumul (and Trials) collaboration has been an exciting project for all people involved. For Gurrumul there is a public impression that he just sings acoustic folk songs. In fact he loves many musical styles, and in fact grew up in the live club scene touring Yothu Yindi's remix Treaty. He responds to musicianship and friendliness, humour, respect and professionalism which Briggs has displayed throughout the whole process. It's bridged a divide that sometimes exists across Aboriginal Australia bringing together strengths of urban and remote cultural expression and Gurrumul has loved the whole project. Especially the lead guitar playing he got to do." Michael Hohnen. Skinnyfish Music (representing Gurrumul and Dewayne Everettsmith) “I’m really proud that he[Adam]’s strong in his identity, he’s strong in his sense of who he is. The song was an affirmation of his strength, and his respect that he’s given to the history of his People, and to the people that have been leading in his industry. It’s sending out a message, to the young people, right around Australia, about the value of their identity. The value of the RESPECT of their Aboriginal identity, and that it’s steeped in great Tradition, and making a wonderful contribution to Australian society. Symbolically, it does tie a link between Northern Australia and Southern Australia, that we are One People, though we’re all separate. His Ancestors would be very proud of him. As I am.” Uncle Paul Briggs OAM. Yorta Yorta Community Leader. Father of Adam Briggs. The Triple J performance also included a flawless version of “The Hunt”, the first single (also featuring Gurrumul) off Briggs’ upcoming album, SHEPLIFE. Watch here if embeded media fails https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=28nB3T5ZO1g The Hunt-
