"Blow Up the Pokies" is a song by Australian band, The Whitlams, released in May 2000 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Love This City, it peaked at number 21 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
The lyrics written by lead singer Tim Freedman were a statement on the destruction he saw in original Whitlams bassist Andy Lewis's life due to his gambling. The original music and some lyrics were written by Greta Gertler. The song was originally called "Dwell" before being later adapted by Freedman. During the band's Canadian tour in April 2000 supporting Blue Rodeo, the band received word Lewis had committed suicide back in Australia.[2] Tim soon after wrote "The Curse Stops Here", a piece describing being the "last one" from the original line-up of the band, and voicing his determination to survive. "The Curse Stops Here" was included as a B-side track on the "Blow Up the Pokies" single and also appeared on the album Little Cloud. The song was re-recorded for its single release, with new vocals and different instrumentation. This version appeared on their best-of compilation in 2008.
Music video
A music video was made for the song and features all four members playing in an abandoned theatre (the theatre in the music video is the Princess Theatre in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba).
Reception
The Guardian said, "this protest anthem about the poison of gambling in Australia is the Whitlams’ biggest radio hit. Knowing that Lewis killed himself just three months after this album was released, having just lost a week’s wages to the pokies, makes it even more impactful."[3]
Track listing
"Blow Up the Pokies" (Ocean Way Radio Mix) – 3:25
"Thank You (for Loving Me at My Worst) (Single Edit) – 3:52
^"Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
^Rooke, Drew (25 May 2018). "Blow up the pokies: the misery and destruction of Australia's poker machines".
^Sian Cain. "The Whitlams: their 25 best songs – sorted!". The Guardian.
^"The Whitlams – Blow Up the Pokies". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
January 15, 2023
blow, pokies, song, australian, band, whitlams, released, 2000, second, single, from, their, fourth, studio, album, love, this, city, peaked, number, aria, singles, chart, single, whitlamsfrom, album, love, this, cityreleased29, 2000genrepiano, rocklength3, 27. Blow Up the Pokies is a song by Australian band The Whitlams released in May 2000 as the second single from their fourth studio album Love This City it peaked at number 21 on the ARIA Singles Chart Blow Up the Pokies Single by The Whitlamsfrom the album Love This CityReleased29 May 2000GenrePiano rockLength3 27Songwriter s Tim Freedman Greta GertlerThe Whitlams singles chronology Thank You for Loving Me at My Worst 2000 Blow Up the Pokies 2000 Made Me Hard 2001 In January 2018 as part of Triple M s Ozzest 100 the most Australian songs of all time Blow Up the Pokies was ranked number 84 1 Contents 1 Song Meaning 2 Music video 3 Reception 4 Track listing 5 Charts 6 ReferencesSong Meaning EditThe lyrics written by lead singer Tim Freedman were a statement on the destruction he saw in original Whitlams bassist Andy Lewis s life due to his gambling The original music and some lyrics were written by Greta Gertler The song was originally called Dwell before being later adapted by Freedman During the band s Canadian tour in April 2000 supporting Blue Rodeo the band received word Lewis had committed suicide back in Australia 2 Tim soon after wrote The Curse Stops Here a piece describing being the last one from the original line up of the band and voicing his determination to survive The Curse Stops Here was included as a B side track on the Blow Up the Pokies single and also appeared on the album Little Cloud The song was re recorded for its single release with new vocals and different instrumentation This version appeared on their best of compilation in 2008 Music video EditA music video was made for the song and features all four members playing in an abandoned theatre the theatre in the music video is the Princess Theatre in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba Reception EditThe Guardian said this protest anthem about the poison of gambling in Australia is the Whitlams biggest radio hit Knowing that Lewis killed himself just three months after this album was released having just lost a week s wages to the pokies makes it even more impactful 3 Track listing Edit Blow Up the Pokies Ocean Way Radio Mix 3 25 Thank You for Loving Me at My Worst Single Edit 3 52 Bring Me Back Full Band Version 4 54 Putting On a Show 2 01 The Curse Stops Here 3 37Charts EditChart 2000 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 4 21References Edit Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M s Ozzest 100 Musicfeeds 27 January 2018 Retrieved 4 January 2020 Rooke Drew 25 May 2018 Blow up the pokies the misery and destruction of Australia s poker machines Sian Cain The Whitlams their 25 best songs sorted The Guardian The Whitlams Blow Up the Pokies ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved 26 December 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blow Up the Pokies amp oldid 1120296021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
