On this day, February 12, 1983, Down Under by Men at Work reclaimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, marking its second time at the top. The song had originally reached #1 from January 15 to January 29, before briefly being dethroned, only to return to the top from February 12 to February 18.
A defining anthem of the 80s, Down Under blended catchy new wave sounds with Australian cultural references, making it one of the most recognizable hits of the decade. The track was a global sensation, also reaching #1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, and several other countries. It helped push their album Business as Usual to massive success, making Men at Work the first Australian band to have both a #1 single and #1 album simultaneously in the U.S.
Despite its upbeat melody, the song’s lyrics carried a deeper message about Australia’s changing identity and commercialization, adding to its lasting appeal.
80s insight: The famous flute riff in Down Under was later ruled to have been unintentionally similar to the Australian folk song Kookaburra, leading to a controversial copyright lawsuit years after the song’s release.
A defining anthem of the 80s, Down Under blended catchy new wave sounds with Australian cultural references, making it one of the most recognizable hits of the decade. The track was a global sensation, also reaching #1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, and several other countries. It helped push their album Business as Usual to massive success, making Men at Work the first Australian band to have both a #1 single and #1 album simultaneously in the U.S.
Despite its upbeat melody, the song’s lyrics carried a deeper message about Australia’s changing identity and commercialization, adding to its lasting appeal.
80s insight: The famous flute riff in Down Under was later ruled to have been unintentionally similar to the Australian folk song Kookaburra, leading to a controversial copyright lawsuit years after the song’s release.
