Do Re Mi - Man Overboard (1985)

[BiggerThinking1]

3:42 - 3:45 - HENRY sZEPS FROM "MOTHER AND SON"? gOOD CALL OR WHAT?

[MrMarcoc74]

Does anyone know if these guys are doing a tour!!!

[nerdflanders8710]

ewww  dykes. run!!!!

[nerdflanders8710]

check out the ranga in the first second.

[TheJohnflynn64]

Unlike women in American films, Deborah Conway makes no mention here of the toilet seat, up or down, which proves two things. (1) American ladies don't have the sense to realize it's better left up due to the fact they are simply afraid to touch it, and (2) Deborah evidently has more on her mind.

[TheNosferatu1969]

Love this song- never realized how awesome it was when I was a teenage whipper snapper at the time it came out!! Love the film clip too, classic Aussie stuff!!! Thanks for posting :)

[HamadaEizan]

Cool vids.

[possessivetoast]

If you knew what this song was REALLY about, would you still listen?

[fullatalent]

Powerful words, powerful singer. I wish Deborah had done more like this. Such a depth of meaning from those lyrics: "I've tried to play it open-handed...Even when th questions are candid, My arrows miss" - no matter how she tries to talk about their problems, he avoids the issue. "You wallow in a swamp of trivia" SO sums up my ex! It was all about him, and I "got tired of being a crutch under his arm". "Next door's camellias" - the guy pinches flowers from ND & passes them off as a gift - CHEAP!

[joodrops]

LOOOOOVE this song, Deborah Conway is a brilliant singer!

[elizabethgracecooley]

my friends dad haha :)

[TheFuzzyDreamer]

Powerhouse!



[jackeroo08]

I've always liked to play this one as loud as my stereo can go

[MrJetboywinno]

My favorite song on the juke box at the Standard Hotel Fitzroy in the 80's.

[aaainaaaa]

@MrJetboywinno WOW, u hade no life

[Ockalouie]

Some triva:- Do Re Mi played live inside Bathurst Gaol/Jail, NSW Australia in 1985. Done an outdoor concert on the football oval.

[The18Angus]

hey they were just talkin bout this song on neighbours..

[silver760]

The poster forgot to that "Anal Humour" is also mentioned in the song!

[TheFlyslip]

Just like watching it on Countdown back in the day. Thanks mate.

[bigmac2x2]

Yes they are diggers, they are wearing medals and sprigs of rosemary, which is customary for ANZAC day, respect....

[bigmac2x2]

Yes they are diggers, they have medals and they are wearing sprigs in their lapels, which you wear on Anzac day. Bit o respect please....

[MARKBALLARD73]

I was in Portland, Victoria for most of 1985. This was one of my favourite songs from my stay in Australia. I love it still. Thanks for posting it!

[Circe200]

An anthem

[vinnyd91]

Does anyone know where the last bit panning across the apartment blocks was filmed? If it is Bondi, man, that place has changed in the past 25 years.

[MrGutley]

@vinnyd91 It's definitely Bondi, looking south up the hill towards Bondi Road, as a previous poster said. I live on the far side of that hill. The residential areas haven't really changed that much since 1985, but the commercial areas have transformed completely.

[MrGutley]

@MrGutley The arched window building at 3:49 with the brown gable next to it is at 34 Francis St Bondi. It's clearly visible in the street view at Google maps. As others have said, the construction sites are in the western CBD from the time of the Darling Harbour redevelopment.

[aaainaaaa]

@MrGutley thanks professer

[OzCTA]

Haven't seen this in 20 years. Lyrically a fantastic song

"Your wit: Out of control, misunderstood and hen-pecked"

[Mayortwilleger]

The 2 door val and celica. God I miss living in this time.

[elsieb66]

Song still brilliant after all these years. Power, passion and am amazing voice.

[gkavner]

The flats at the end look very very Bondi but I can't exactly make it out. It could be taken from somewhere like the Bondi hotel looking southish toward Bondi Rd.

In the 1980's Australians were rightly ambivalent about their history. These days the Anzac legend means we actually WON at Gallipoli! Thankyou John Howard.

Still don't want embrace our convict beginnings do we? I'd call that far more influential on modern Australia than anything else.

[karlafsa7]

This sound is just amazing, full of power! Great Music!

[Resenbrink]

only decent song conway ever did

[chr0naut]

I was roadcrew for Do Re Mi for a while and always had a huge crush on Deb since I first saw her backstage at the Carringbah Inn (go Casbah!) very early in their existence. There was this little Italian looking girl who was obviously two young to be backstage @ a pub. Then at the soundcheck she opened up with Man Overboard and whoah what a big voice! Still love her but I'm only one of many.

[aaainaaaa]

one of many!!!

yes!!

[Nodrogification]

Loved this song - I have it on an old cassette - taped from the top 8 at 8 on eon fm. It's all I had out there in the western district - that and an insane pair of feuding parents and my Mum's copy of the Female Eunuch.

[NoPlaceForLoafers]

Man, the Top 8 at 8!!

Now I feel old!

I've got it on vinyl. How cool are all these old vids!?

[blackynth]

@Nodrogification That would be the Top at 8 with John Peters?? He is still on Melbourne Radio....a very funny man

[MsRedbelly]

@Nodrogification

Yep, my ma had a copy of that too. And I loved this song.

[aaainaaaa]

such a great voice,, awesome.

[nzoz1985]

probably old diggers... you know, people we should actually give respect to?

[nzoz1985]

oh right.. they probably are. fuck them, what a bunch of cunts... they shouldn't have been in this video... they've spoiled the song now... i think i'll try finding them and shoot 'em all, if they're still alive!

[psycotropy]

@aaainaaaa you speaka da english?

[aaainaaaa]

@psycotropy ya why?

[muzaku]

3:37 that's my mum

[nzoz1985]

What did that man say to her to make her uncomfortable?

[muzaku]

no idea, this was recorded 10 years before i was born, and 6 years before my brother so yeah...

[shootrmgavin]

@nzoz1985 well that makes

me your father... Hi son

[friedegg3000]

@muzaku hehe...cool :)

[mastertusk]

@muzaku Deborah is your mum? how very wonderful...di she explain the song to you in detail? is she still hot..probably a milf no doubt...

[muzaku]

no at 3:37 the girl talking to the guy in the cafe, she's my mum... and if Deborah was my mum... WHY WOULD YOU ASK IF SHE IS A MILF?! THAT WOULD BE CREEPY

[swaneefan1]

This is great!!!- Deb still sings this in her live gigs, usually in the encore, I dont think radio still play this, Triple J might once a year, its too old and alternate for most FM Metro stations, Deb Conway did a song with Pete Townshend in 1989, and you can hear his influence on her 1991 String of Pearls album. Aussie talent at its best!!!

[TheSamara89kitten]

The Brits banned this?? LOL

[nzoz1985]

insane! Canadian band Rough Trade were a lot more explicit than this ('All Touch') and their song still became a hit.

[theselector]

@TheSamara89kitten Why? I hope not because of "Pubic hair" and "Anal Humour"..

even back in 85' that was OK.....I don't remember anyone being the least bit offended by this song.

[TheSushisnake]

it was butchered on Australian commercial radio, too. Beeps all over the place. Couldn't keep the angst out though! What a voice Deborah Conway has. What a shame the stuff she did post-Do-Re-Mi didn't really exercise that voice.

[MsRedbelly]

Always loved this song, & remember liking the doco feel of the clip. Saw DRM live a no. of times in the 80s, excellent live, what a voice that woman has!. Interesting that this single was banned from airplay in UK.

Such a great live music scene in Sydney in 80s & early 90s.... I feel lucky 2 have experienced it!

Anyone remember '3 bands for 3 bucks' at the Hordern Pavilion? (were they Triple-J gigs?)

[heatseeker64]

And why should these beaver biting, cock sucking, people not very sure of their sexuality pick on Vietnam veterans assembling to march on ANZAC Day? .. those blokes did more in their lives than these pontificating inner city bong smoking fuckwits ever will!

[shiraz2034]

heatseeker. You show your age. Or lack of it. These were WW2 vets. And try and be witty with insults, not a boor/bogan.

[TheNuszAbides]

yeah, i always figured it was RSL or something, and that the bloke at the far right with the cigar was one of their sons trying to fit in.

[heatseeker64]

This band was comprised of an angry bunch of bull dikes and complete poofs!

[nchantedinoz]

Pink can write her own songs.. this one is DEB's

[PestyTheCat]

love it.

[spassy13]

THIS IS SO wear did early early hunters get there sound

[escon]

It's so awesome to watch vids done when I was growing up. Even back then this vid was a bit taboo. Nice watching Deb and the crew playing live when I I remember the gigs they used to do. Edgy stuff back then.

[sparkiekosten]

Wow, I haven't heard this in years. Thanks NZOZ1985 for sharing some awesome songs

[gogandmagogkilla]

Pink would do an awesome cover of this

[Erikvan7]

Always liked this - makes a change to hear music with a little meaning, rather than just some pre-fab Idol performer churning out predictable and boring stuff yet again...

[Allsmilesaus48]

more like misanthropic shit.. dykes on mics...

[Elitist20]

The men at the beginning must be old soldiers at a gathering after the Anzac Day (25 April) march. As this was 1985, they would have been in World War II (the young one with the cigar was probably in Vietnam). Brave, yes, but no idea of how to deal with women. And it seems to be implied that the young guys seen later in the clip (who'd now be in their 40s!) are no better.

[shiraz2034]

At the time (early to mid 80s) Anzac Day also had an annual women's march to commemorate women raped in war. There was much greater ambivalence about Anzac Day - critics calling it a celebration of war - and Reagan was President of the USA. This clip would have aimed at challenging the notion of the bravery of the diggers, it would have echoed much more critical views.

[johnny89racer]

Awesome song, love that voice!

[23flowergirl]

Yes!

[tpbrcombo]

...ps on the topic of the opening, does anybody know any of the locations in the beginning and throughout the video? I live in Sydney now, but I can't place anything.

[nzoz1985]

i recognise them... especially the area where we first meet Deborah Conway. I can't name it on top of my head though.

[caveclanner]

alot of that area in now where King Street Wharf is.. they used to be old docks..

[murringo9]

the intersection looks like Kent and Bathurst Streets...next scene looks like behind Darling Harbour when old railway yards still there (knocked down and rebuilt by '88), then next scene shows the Entertainment Centre.

[TheNosferatu1969]

@murringo9 Yep, you're correct. Corner of Kent and Bathurst, the porsche goes past the Belvedere Hotel and then the camera pans right past where the Madina Grand now stands.

[MrGutley]

@murringo9 Yes, starts with Kent st heading south to Bathurst St intersection. The overpass is Pier St, and we look North underneath it to the future Exhibition Centre site at 0:25. @ 0:30 we look west to the Powerhouse (later the Powerhouse Museum). 0:35 is Hay St, later extended and rebuilt as Darling Dr. We can see Goldsborough Mort building, AML&F building (burnt down) & Pyrmont Power House chimneys (demolished). Deb stands in front of the nearby Entertainment Centre carpark.

[shiraz2034]

The opening is the underpass next to the Sydney Entertainment Centre - Darling Harbour as we now know it was then under construction (prveviously it was a working port). The street scenes look like that part of Sydney, Sussex and Kent Street. As for the endless apartment blocks, I suspect it is somewhere round the eastern suburbs, but no firm placing.

[tpbrcombo]

I was eleven when this song came out, so as much as I love it (and always have) I don't have the same recollections as others about it being a pioneering song of sexual politics. But that video - very arty yet utterly suburban, epic yet concise, sort of uneventful but very descriptive. I love the opening - the camera walking down the footpath (yet following the Porsche driving through the intersection - brilliant), Deb suddenly appearing - awesome. Was there a better Oz vid in the 80s?

[TheMemberForHiggins]

I also was very young at the time and frankly didn't 'get' this immediately. But it's aging more beautifully than so much else from '85. Has anyone spotted it on 'classic rock' radio anywhere lately? :)

[inezryan]

Ahh, this takes me back to my university days...

[octogarden72]

a beautiful anger song. Love goes wrong.

[reynay69]

I need some help, folks: I'm not Australian and my native language is not English neither, but I have discovered this song a couple years ago and love it ever since. But I'm still wondering what this song actually is about. Reading the lyrics just confuses me more. Do you have ideas, or do you know? Thanks :-)

[nzoz1985]

The song is about:

- Sexual politics

[reynay69]

Thanks a lot, Nzoz :-), although that's a bit vague, lol. What I hear is a strong woman singing, but is it indeed meant to be about liberation?

[nzoz1985]

I don't know if this song has ever implied sexual liberation. I just think this song is about a woman who has to put up with a dickhead of a lover/boyfriend.

Pubic hair around the pillow - 'you talk about penis envy, your friend's applaud' - 'shout man overboard' (boyfriend in some crisis)....

The man's a dickhead and she's had enough.

[reynay69]

Thank you very much, Nzoz! Yes, this helps lots! :-)

[mattandersonchadwick]

ABSOLUTE GENIUS! incredible lyrics...

[nvek69]

Possibly one of the most intense songs in Australian pop history. The lyrics when read without the music are even scarier.

[Elitist20]

1985 - Selina's Coogee. Triple bill - Do Re Mi, Paul Kelly, Hunters & Collectors. Deborah was wearing that checked jacket.

[Laras420]

great song!!!!!!

good live too

[b0ban]

Deborah Conways voice is FWOARRRRRRRRRR!!! UN PHUNKING BELIEVABLE!!!

[ewey1]

amazing song writing...only problem is that the band has to content with Julie Andrews everytime we key word search

[floriego7]

my best friend and i were at so many of the do re mi gigs in the 80's in sydney..ahh the days, sydney cove tavern, kardomah (dark coma it was also known coz of the location he heh) mosman hotel, etc etc..i was 15 and totally immersed in everything aobut this band and their music..thanks to helen she inspired me to take up bass playing...i miss this band and only concrete blonde and johnetter come close to how they shaped my love for music..

[verymadchook]

I can see my old flat in here at 3.48!

[nwjh1957]

Could you point out which one?

[mookyezz20]

loved this since i was little. thanks for posting it.

[rotcafarg]

There was an even earlier, faster version of this song, where she sang the intro accapella. I used to have it on a 4 song vinyl EP before they signed to a major label. I still remember them doing it live as their first song of the night. Deborah Conway was wearing a grass hula skirt. I was in serious lust.

[j1p9v6t8]

That version is on the cd as a bonus track!

[HeadlandRoad]

ah, so brilliant: what a combo!

[nasa72]

Thanks for posting, absolutely love this song.

[TheBallroom]

Absolut fantastisch und total unterbewertet !!!

[M0RT0N7595]

Conway was so cranky - as a 14 year old I was so inspired.

[Diamond3864]

cool. thanks for putting this one up.

I had forgotten what this band was called but always had the song in the back of my head. I thought it was Deck chairs overboard.

[melwynau]

Diamond3864 - there did used to be a band called Deckchairs Overboard...can't recall anything they did by name tho.

Conway's voice...mate when she lets rip it makes my hair stand on end.

[RickFortune]

I remember them. The late Paul Hester used to be in Deckchairs Overboard.

As for Do Re Mi, I STILL play this album on occasions. Brilliant.