Treaty (song)
Encyclopedia
"Treaty" is a song by Australian indigenous
music band Yothu Yindi
, which is made up of Aboriginal and balanda (non-Aboriginal) members. Released in June 1991, "Treaty" peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart
in September. "Treaty" was the first song by a predominately-Aboriginal band to chart in Australia and was the first song in any Aboriginal Australian language (Yolngu-Matha) to gain extensive international recognition, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
singles charts.
In May 2001 "Treaty" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
of all time.
In 2009 'Treaty' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia Registry.
, Bob Hawke
, visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu
and Wenten Rubuntja
. Hawke responded to the Barunga Statement with a promise that a treaty would be concluded with Indigenous Australians
by 1990. In 1991, Yothu Yindi were Hughie Benjamin on drums, Sophie Garrkali and Julie Gungunbuy as dancers, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar, Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapstick
s) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo
), Gurrumul Yunupingu
on keyboards
, guitar and percussion, Makuma Yunupingu on yidaki, vocals, bilma, Mandawuy Yunupingu on vocals and guitar, Mangatjay Yunupingu as a dancer. Mandawuy, with his older brother Galarrwuy, wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government. Mandawuy recalls:
"Treaty" was written by Australian musician Paul Kelly
and Yothu Yindi members Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika. The initial release received limited radio and television exposure (mainly on ABC radio and SBS television) and failed to chart. Mushroom Records
saw the potential for a dance-orientated remix and engaged Melbourne-based sound mixers, Robert Goodge (ex-I'm Talking
), Gavin Campbell and Paul Main to produce one. The Filthy Lucre remix was produced without the band's involvement but with the understanding that the 'Yolngu' side of the music was preserved. The remix not only modified the musical backing but dispensed with the majority of the English language lyrics, with the song sung almost entirely in the Aboriginal language, Gumatj. The Filthy Lucre remix, was released in June, entering the charts in July and peaking at No. 11 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) singles charts
by September, spending a total of 22 weeks in the national charts.
Success for the single was transferred to the related album Tribal Voice
which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album produced by Mark Moffatt for Mushroom Records
was released in September 1991. Mandawuy Yunupingu took leave of absence from his duties as principal to tour and promote the single and album. Other singles from the album were a re-released "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" which peaked at #13 in 1992 and "Tribal Voice" which didn't reach the Top 50. At the 1992 ARIA Awards
Yothu Yindi won awards for 'Engineer of the Year' for "Maralitja" (maralitja is Yolngu matha for crocodile man - one of Mandawuy's tribal names), "Dharpa" (dharpa is tree), "Treaty", "Treaty (Filthy Lucre remix)" and "Tribal Voice" by David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson and Simon Polinski; 'Song of the Year' for "Treaty"; and 'Single of the Year' for "Treaty". Both "Treaty" in 1992 and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" in 1993 charted on the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play
singles charts, with "Treaty" peaking at #6.
In May 2001 "Treaty" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
of all time.
s) and yidaki (didgeridoo
). The song's text is partly in English and partly in Yolgnu Matha, and the form of the song, while conforming to the Balanda rock structure of verses and choruses with an 'instrumental' break, and the process of intensity through repetition of short motives, is nevertherless that of a djatpangarri, a form of Yolgnu popular music.
clips for "Treaty". The first features footage of the 1988 Barunga Festival where the Barunga Statement is shown in its final stages of preparation, and Prime Minister Hawke is shown participating didjeridu-playing and spear-throwing competitions. As the Barunga Statement is presented to the Prime Minister, he is accompanied by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Gerry Hand
. Also included in this first clip are images of the band in concert, and footage from the Gove Peninsula
of industrial bauxite mining, ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush and children dancing on the beach. According to the director, Stephen Johnson, it was never his intention to make a consciously 'political' video.
A second clip for "Treaty" was made to accompany the Filthy Lucre remix. It was also directed by Stephen Johnson and dispenses with the overtly political shots of the previous video. The video features images of the band in concert as well as footage from the Gove Peninsula of ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush, Witiyana and Milkayngu dancing with their instruments on the beach, Mandawuy singing over a blazing fire and children dancing on the beach with portable stereo given to them by Mandawuy.
Additional musicians
Production details
Indigenous Australian music
Australian indigenous music includes the music of Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, who are collectively called Indigenous Australians; it incorporates a variety of distinctive traditional music styles practiced by Indigenous Australian peoples, as well as a range of contemporary...
music band Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
, which is made up of Aboriginal and balanda (non-Aboriginal) members. Released in June 1991, "Treaty" peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
in September. "Treaty" was the first song by a predominately-Aboriginal band to chart in Australia and was the first song in any Aboriginal Australian language (Yolngu-Matha) to gain extensive international recognition, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
singles charts.
In May 2001 "Treaty" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
of all time.
In 2009 'Treaty' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia Registry.
Background
In 1988, as part of Bicentennial celebrations, Prime Minister of AustraliaPrime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
, Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Galarrwuy YunupinguAM is a leader in the Australian Indigenous community, and has been involved in the fight for Land Rights throughout his career...
and Wenten Rubuntja
Wenten Rubuntja
W. Rubuntja was an Australian artist and Aboriginal rights activist. He belonged to the Arrernte indigenous people of Central Australia. His works were painted in acrylic or watercolours and influenced by themes from Dreamtime myths. His paintings are to be found in Australia's Parliament House,...
. Hawke responded to the Barunga Statement with a promise that a treaty would be concluded with Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
by 1990. In 1991, Yothu Yindi were Hughie Benjamin on drums, Sophie Garrkali and Julie Gungunbuy as dancers, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar, Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapstick
Clapstick
Clapsticks or clappers are a type of drumstick or percussion mallet that are used to serve the purpose of maintaining rhythm. Unlike drumsticks, which are generally used to strike a drum, clapsticks are intended for striking one stick on another....
s) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
), Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.He was born in Galiwin'ku , off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitar and percussion, Makuma Yunupingu on yidaki, vocals, bilma, Mandawuy Yunupingu on vocals and guitar, Mangatjay Yunupingu as a dancer. Mandawuy, with his older brother Galarrwuy, wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government. Mandawuy recalls:
"Treaty" was written by Australian musician Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
and Yothu Yindi members Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika. The initial release received limited radio and television exposure (mainly on ABC radio and SBS television) and failed to chart. Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
saw the potential for a dance-orientated remix and engaged Melbourne-based sound mixers, Robert Goodge (ex-I'm Talking
I'm Talking
I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian funk-pop rock band, which featured vocalists Kate Ceberano and Zan Abeyratne. They formed in 1983 in Melbourne and provided top ten hit singles "Trust Me", "Do You Wanna Be?" and "Holy Word" and a top fifteen album, Bear Witness, before disbanding in...
), Gavin Campbell and Paul Main to produce one. The Filthy Lucre remix was produced without the band's involvement but with the understanding that the 'Yolngu' side of the music was preserved. The remix not only modified the musical backing but dispensed with the majority of the English language lyrics, with the song sung almost entirely in the Aboriginal language, Gumatj. The Filthy Lucre remix, was released in June, entering the charts in July and peaking at No. 11 on the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) singles charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
by September, spending a total of 22 weeks in the national charts.
Success for the single was transferred to the related album Tribal Voice
Tribal Voice
-Reception:The album reached a peak of #4 on the ARIA album charts.-Track listing:#"Gapu" #"Treaty" #"Djäpana" #"My Kind of Life" #"Maralitja" -Reception:The album reached a peak of #4 on the ARIA album charts.-Track listing:#"Gapu" (Traditional song, arranged by Galarrwuy Yunupingu)#"Treaty"...
which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album produced by Mark Moffatt for Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
was released in September 1991. Mandawuy Yunupingu took leave of absence from his duties as principal to tour and promote the single and album. Other singles from the album were a re-released "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" which peaked at #13 in 1992 and "Tribal Voice" which didn't reach the Top 50. At the 1992 ARIA Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
Yothu Yindi won awards for 'Engineer of the Year' for "Maralitja" (maralitja is Yolngu matha for crocodile man - one of Mandawuy's tribal names), "Dharpa" (dharpa is tree), "Treaty", "Treaty (Filthy Lucre remix)" and "Tribal Voice" by David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson and Simon Polinski; 'Song of the Year' for "Treaty"; and 'Single of the Year' for "Treaty". Both "Treaty" in 1992 and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" in 1993 charted on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
singles charts, with "Treaty" peaking at #6.
In May 2001 "Treaty" was selected by Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
(APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs
APRA Top 30 Australian songs
APRA's Top 30 Australian songs between 1926 and 2001 was a list created by the Australasian Performing Right Association to celebrate its 75th anniversary...
of all time.
Musical style
Musically the song is a mixture of Yolgnu and Balanda ways. The timbres of the song include the Balanda rock ensemble of electric guitars, keyboard and drumkit, and on occasion Balanda voices. The Yolgnu sounds include the lead singer's vocal quality, and the traditional instruments, bilma (ironwood clapstickClapstick
Clapsticks or clappers are a type of drumstick or percussion mallet that are used to serve the purpose of maintaining rhythm. Unlike drumsticks, which are generally used to strike a drum, clapsticks are intended for striking one stick on another....
s) and yidaki (didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
). The song's text is partly in English and partly in Yolgnu Matha, and the form of the song, while conforming to the Balanda rock structure of verses and choruses with an 'instrumental' break, and the process of intensity through repetition of short motives, is nevertherless that of a djatpangarri, a form of Yolgnu popular music.
Videos
There were two videoHome video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
clips for "Treaty". The first features footage of the 1988 Barunga Festival where the Barunga Statement is shown in its final stages of preparation, and Prime Minister Hawke is shown participating didjeridu-playing and spear-throwing competitions. As the Barunga Statement is presented to the Prime Minister, he is accompanied by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Gerry Hand
Gerry Hand
Gerard Leslie Hand is a former Australian politician, who was a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the seat of Melbourne...
. Also included in this first clip are images of the band in concert, and footage from the Gove Peninsula
Gove Peninsula
The Gove Peninsula is at the northeastern corner of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The peninsula became strategically important during World War II when an airforce base was constructed at what is now Gove Airport. The peninsula was named after Pilot Officer William Gove, who...
of industrial bauxite mining, ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush and children dancing on the beach. According to the director, Stephen Johnson, it was never his intention to make a consciously 'political' video.
A second clip for "Treaty" was made to accompany the Filthy Lucre remix. It was also directed by Stephen Johnson and dispenses with the overtly political shots of the previous video. The video features images of the band in concert as well as footage from the Gove Peninsula of ceremonial dancing led by Witiyana in the bush, Witiyana and Milkayngu dancing with their instruments on the beach, Mandawuy singing over a blazing fire and children dancing on the beach with portable stereo given to them by Mandawuy.
Yothu Yindi original version
- "Treaty" (Paul KellyPaul Kelly (musician)Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, Mandawuy YunupinguMandawuy YunupinguMandawuy Yunupingu , born 17 September 1956, is an Aboriginal Australian musician, most notable for being the front man of the band Yothu Yindi.-Early life:...
, Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguGeoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguGeoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.He was born in Galiwin'ku , off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation...
, Milkayngu Mununggurr and Witiyana Marika) – 3:35 - "Yolngu Boy" (Mandawuy Yunupingu) – 4:14
Yothu Yindi (Filthy Lucre remix version)
- "Treaty" (Filthy Lucre Remix) – 6:52
- "Treaty" (Radio Mix) – 3:50
- "Treaty" (Dub) – 7:30
Personnel
Yothu Yindi members- Stuart Kellaway – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Witiyana Marika – vocals, clapsticks, backing vocals
- Milkayngu Mununggurr – didgeridooDidgeridooThe didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
, backing vocals - Galarrwuy YunupinguGalarrwuy YunupinguGalarrwuy YunupinguAM is a leader in the Australian Indigenous community, and has been involved in the fight for Land Rights throughout his career...
– vocals, clapsticks - Gurrumul Yunupingu – keyboards, percussion, guitar, didgeridoo, organ, backing vocals
- Makuma Yunupingu – didgeridoo
- Mandawuy YunupinguMandawuy YunupinguMandawuy Yunupingu , born 17 September 1956, is an Aboriginal Australian musician, most notable for being the front man of the band Yothu Yindi.-Early life:...
– lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar - Cal Williams – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Huey Benjamin – drums
- Rose BygraveRose BygraveRose Bygrave is an Australian singer/songwriter.-Biography:Roslyn 'Rose' Louise Bygrave grew up in Western Victoria and later attended art school in Ballarat and Melbourne. Her musical career began in 1979...
– backing vocals - Ricki Fataar – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Tim FinnTim FinnBrian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
– backing vocals - Mark Moffatt – organ, bass guitar, guitar
- Allen MurphyAllen MurphyAllen Murphy is a retired American professional basketball player. Murphy was a 6'4½" 190 lbs guard and at played shooting guard for the University of Louisville Cardinals of whom he was part of their 1975 Final Four team...
– drums - Ray Periera – congas
- Archie RoachArchie RoachArchie Roach is an Australian musician. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, he survived a turbulent upbringing to develop into a powerful voice for Indigenous Australians, a storyteller in the tradition of his ancestors, and a nationally popular and respected artist.- Biography :In his own words,...
– backing vocals - Steve WadeSteve Wade (singer)Steve Wade is an award-winning Australian singer, songwriter and musician. For four years he was the lead vocalist for Little River Band. Wade is a two-time winner of Australian Songwriter of the Year.-Singer:...
– backing vocals
Production details
- Engineer – David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson, Simon Polinski
- Producer – Mark Moffatt
- Remixers – Robert Goodge, Gavin Campbell, Paul Main (Filthy Lucre version)
External links
- 'Treaty' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia Registry in 2009
- Listen to an excerpt of 'Treaty' and read more about the song on australianscreen online
- Aaron Corn (2009) Reflections & voices: exploring the music of Yothu Yindi with Mandawuy Yunupingu Sydney: Sydney University Press (ISBN 9781920899349)
- Castles, J. (1992) Tjungaringanyi: 'Aboriginal Rock Hayward, Philip (ed) From Pop to Punk to Postmodernism Sydney: Allen and Unwin