Read About It

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"Read About It"
Single by Midnight Oil
from the album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
B-side"Outside World"
Released1983 (1983)
Length3:51
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Robert Hirst, James Moginie, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Peter Gifford
Producer(s)Midnight Oil, Nick Launay
Midnight Oil singles chronology
"Power and the Passion"
(1983)
"Read About It"
(1983)
"When the Generals Talk"
(1984)

"Read About It" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil, released as the third and final single from their 1982 studio album, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. It was a favourite with the band and with fans, appearing at least once on every tour since its release and appearing at the WaveAid concert. Very few other Midnight Oil songs have appeared so often (only "Power and the Passion", "Beds Are Burning", "The Dead Heart", and "Say Your Prayers" are known to have been performed so often).

At the 1984 Countdown Music Awards, the group were nominated for Best Group Performance in a Video for their work in this work.[1][2]

Song structure and meaning[edit]

The abrasive "Read About It" has a repeatedly staggered time signature, shifting between 7/4, 4/4, and 6/4.

The song targets Rupert Murdoch in particular and Australian media in general. On the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour, Peter Garrett referred to the song as the 'Rupert Murdoch Alligator Express'.

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Read About It" (Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Peter Gifford)[3] – 3:51
  2. "Outside World" (Hirst, Moginie, Garrett, Rotsey, Gifford)[4] – 4:22

Compilations[edit]

The song's original studio version was featured on Flat Chat.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Final episode of Countdown". 1970scountdown. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ ""Read About It" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  4. ^ ""Outside World" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 18 November 2010.