Songs

This Behind the News report looks at how a famous Australian band ended up in court recently after using part of another tune in one of its songs. Below this, you can follow the link to hear the song.

// Questions before listening //
 * Have you heard of the rock group “Men at Work”?
 * Have you heard the song ‘Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree’?
 * What is copyright protection?

// Watch the report // BTN story: "Copy, Right?" // and answer the questions //

1. Men at Work’s song //Down Under// was ... **A. a national hit B. an international hit** 2. When was the song //Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree// originally written? ** More than ** ……………………………………… 3. When did the owners of the song first notice the similarities? ** A. While listening to the radio B. While watching a TV show ** 4. From 2002 and into the future, what percentage of the money made from //Down Under// does Men at work have to pay the owners of //Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree//? ………………… ** % ** 5. Normally, who do bands have to pay if they want to use other people's songs? ** People that own the song, such as the song writer or ** ………………………………………. 6. The ABC doesn’t need a licence to use pop songs on BTN. **T / F** 7. Complete the statement at the end of the report: // “Some people believe it’s important to protect song writers and make sure others don't profit from their // ……………………………………”

Now, a classic Australian song: "Down Under" People in Britain started describing Australia as "the land down under" because it is in the southern hemisphere, "under" the globe.

Use the words to complete the lyrics:
 * //man / much / breakfast / come / said//**

Now listen to check

DOWN UNDER by Men at Work

Travelling in a fried-out kombi On a hippie trail, head full of zombie I met a strange lady, she made me nervous She took me in and gave me ..................... And she said,

"Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover."

Buying bread from a ................. in Brussels He was six-foot-four and full of muscles I ...................., "Do you speak-a my language?" He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich And he said,

"I ......................... from a land down under Where beer does flow and men chunder Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover."

Lyin' in a den in Bombay With a slack jaw, and not ................... to say I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me Because I come from the land of plenty?" And he said,

"Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover." Yeah!

Living in a land down under Where women glow and men plunder Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover!

Living in a land down under Where women glow and men plunder Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover!

Extra links: Kookaburra laughing "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree" song The flute melody in Down Under matches the first two lines of this song! That's why the songwriters went to court. "Kookaburra sits in the﻿ old gum tree Merry, merry king of the bush is he Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra! Gay your life must be." Lyrebird, imitating the kookaburra (and other things!)