You're the Voice

"You're the Voice" is a song written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder and Chris Thompson, and recorded by the Australian singer John Farnham and released as a single in September 1986 ahead of his album Whispering Jack.[2][3] "You're the Voice" was one of the biggest hits of 1986 in Australia, topping the Kent Music Report singles chart for seven weeks from 3 November to 21 December.[4] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1987 it won Single of the Year.[5]

"You're the Voice"
Single by John Farnham
from the album Whispering Jack
B-side"Going, Going, Gone"
Released15 September 1986[1]
Recorded1985–1986
Genre
Length5:04
LabelWheatley
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ross Fraser
John Farnham singles chronology
"Love (It's Just the Way It Goes)"
(1985)		 "You're the Voice"
(1986)		 "Pressure Down"
(1986)
Music video
"You're the Voice" by John Farnham on YouTube

The music video was recorded with celebrities (Derryn Hinch and Jacki Weaver) and musicians (James and Vince Leigh of Pseudo Echo, Greg Macainsh), none of whom are on the original audio recording; and were assembled by Farnham's talent manager, Glenn Wheatley.[6] Wheatley later recalled, "[it] was done on a shoestring budget. I called in Derryn and Jacki, some of the guys from Pseudo Echo (James and Vince Leigh) and Greg Macainsh from Skyhooks are in the band, it was pretty much anyone who'd do me a favour."[6]

"You're the Voice" re-entered the Australian singles chart more than 25 years after its original release (reaching No. 64), thanks to its appearance in a 2012 Ford TV commercial to advertise the company's SYNC voice control system.[7]

The power ballad[8] is also one of Farnham's biggest successes in Europe, charting at No. 1 in Germany and Sweden and reaching the Top 10 in Austria, Ireland, Switzerland and the UK. Although "You're the Voice" was also successful in Canada (reaching the Top 20), in the US the track performed relatively poorly, missing the chart on its initial 1987 issue. BMG/RCA re-released the song in the US in February 1990 after Farnham made the Adult Contemporary chart with "Two Strong Hearts". Farnham's version eventually spent eight weeks on the US charts, peaking at No. 82, but in the US the song is probably best known for a charting version issued in 1991 by the band Heart.

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100" of the "most Australian' songs of all time", the song was ranked number 6.[9]

Chart history

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "You're the Voice"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[29] Gold 45,000double-dagger
Sweden (GLF)[30] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Gold 400,000double-dagger

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The song has been featured in numerous TV and film productions, including the film Hot Rod, the BBC series Merlin, the film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and comedian Peter Kay's Car Share, and in the Swedish film Medicinen.[32]

The Australian Electoral Commission has used the song in advertisements surrounding Australian State and Federal elections since 2001.[33]

It is also featured in the original release of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City in in-game radio station Vice City FM, but was removed following the games 10th Year Anniversary.

The song has been used by anti-lockdown protesters who rallied in Melbourne, Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 21 September 2020, it was reported by Seven News that the song had become a common theme at rallies around the city as Stage 4 lockdowns continue, however, Farnham's manager described it as "offensive" to Farnham and the manager himself.[34]

Heart version
"You're the Voice"
Single by Heart
from the album Rock the House Live!
B-side"Wild Child" (live)
Released2 September 1991 (1991-09-02)[35]
RecordedNovember 1990
GenreRock
Length5:05
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Richie Zito
Heart singles chronology
"Secret"
(1991)		 "You're the Voice"
(1991)		 "Black on Black II"
(1993)
Music video
"You're The Voice" by Heart on YouTube

As a lead promotion for their first live album, Rock the House Live!, in 1991, US rock band Heart released their live version of "You're the Voice" as a single. It was recorded during the US leg of their Brigade world tour in November 1990. Commercially, the single reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. In the UK, the single peaked at No. 56. A music video was released that includes footage shot from the tour while coverage of the then-ongoing Gulf War intervene.

The song was released in multiple limited-edition formats in different territories. A studio version of the track had been recorded in late 1989 as part of the sessions for the Brigade album, though it did not make the album track list. This studio version would not see release until July 2000, when it was included on the greatest hits package, Greatest Hits: 1985–1995.

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "You're the Voice"
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[36] 65
UK Singles (OCC)[37] 56
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[38] 20

World Liberty Concert
"You're the Voice"
Single by Alan Parsons
B-side"White Dawn"
Released1995 (1995)
RecordedFebruary 1995
StudioParsonics, Santa Barbara, California
Genre
Length4:14 (radio edit)
LabelCNR Music
Songwriter(s)Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder, Chris Thompson
Producer(s)Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons singles chronology
"Luciferama (live)"
(1994)		 "You're the Voice"
(1995)		 "Brother up in Heaven"
(1996)
Audio
"You're the Voice" by Alan Parsons on YouTube

Chris Thompson had joined Alan Parsons' band for his first solo album after the split of The Alan Parsons Project and was also one of the two frontmen on the ensuing tour, which was captured on the album Alan Parsons Live. For the US release of this album in 1995 (retitled The Very Best Live), the band added three new studio recordings, recorded in February 1995. One of these was "You're the Voice", which marked the first time a version featuring the original songwriter had been released.[39]

"You're the Voice" was then performed at the World Liberty Concert in May 1995 by The Alan Parsons Band, Chris Thompson and Metropole Orkest. The only official release associated with the concert was a single featuring a radio edit of the live version (faded out after four minutes). The B-side was a live recording of "White Dawn", which was performed by the Metropole Orkest and Gelders Opera and Operetta Gezelschap (GOOG) choir. The song was arranged by Andrew Powell and conducted by Dick Bakker.[40] During the performance of "White Dawn", a battle was simulated that included gunfire, which can be heard around the middle of the recording. This track has not been issued on any other release.

Track listing
  1. "You're the Voice (Radio Edit)" – (Qunta, Thompson, Reid, Ryder) – 4:14 Lead Vocals Chris Thompson
  2. "White Dawn" – (Parsons) – 4:50 instrumental

Thompson has continued singing the song live in concert, e.g. with Mandoki Soulmates as recorded on the live album BudaBest[41] as well as recording several more studio versions, e.g. with Mads Eriksen on the album Rediscovery.[42] The original demo by Andy Qunta and Chris Thompson appeared on the deluxe reissue of Qunta's album Legend in a Loungeroom.[43]

Planet Rock Allstars

In November 2019, a single in support of the mental health charity MIND was curated by Planet Rock DJ Wyatt Wendels in conjunction with a 2000-mile charity cycle ride The Road to Rockstock. The limited release CD was then made available from the ride's support vehicle, during late November/early December.[44] The CD features three versions, the main version featuring many well-known rock artists including Alice Cooper, Joe Elliott, Lzzy Hale, Justin Hawkins, Doug Aldrich, Phil Campbell, Bruce Dickinson and Dan Reed. The other versions include the original backing track with Toby Jepson on vocals, and a version with vocals by Joe Elliott. The song was released as a digital download on 6 December 2019.[45]

Sampling

Farnham's vocals are sampled in a UK hardcore track "You're the Voice" by the artist Waxman, released by record label Raving Mad in 1996 as the A-side of a 12" Vinyl record.[46][47]

References
  1. "Kent Music Report No 635 – 15 September 1986 > Singles: New Releases". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'John Farnham'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  3. "Voice Events – The Official John Farnham Fan Club – You're the Voice". Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 109. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid–1983 and 12 June 1988.
  5. "Winners by Year 1987". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  6. Adams, Cameron (11 April 2018). "Why John Farnham was nearly rock-blocked from 'You're the Voice'". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  7. "Archived copy". www.ford.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "The 21 best power ballads". The Telegraph. 23 July 2015.
  9. "Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Musicfeeds. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  10. "John Farnham – You're the Voice" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. "John Farnham – You're the Voice" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. "Wallonia peak". Radio2.be.
  13. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  14. "Danish Charts Archive?". Ukmix.org.
  15. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'John Farnham' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – John Farnham" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  17. "John Farnham – You're the Voice". Top 40 Singles.
  18. "John Farnham – You're the Voice". Singles Top 100.
  19. "John Farnham – You're the Voice". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. "Official Charts > John Farnham". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  21. "Billboard > John Farnham Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  22. "Offiziellecharts.de – John Farnham – You're the Voice". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  23. "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  24. "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  25. "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  26. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987: Singles". Swiss Chart Portal (in German). Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  27. "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 23 January 1988. p. 36. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  28. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1987". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  29. "Danish single certifications – John Farnham John – You're the Voice". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  30. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  31. "British single certifications – John Farnham – You're the Voice". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  32. "BBC Playlists - Peter Kay's Car Share: Forever FM". BBC.
  33. "Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) 2001 TV ad". youtube.com. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  34. Chapman, Alex (21 September 2020). "John Farnham Slams COVID Protesters Marching To His Song". 7news.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  35. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 31 August 1991. p. 19.
  36. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1684." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  37. "Heart: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  38. "Heart Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  39. "Alan Parsons – The Very Best Live". Discogs. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  40. "Alan Parsons – You're The Voice". Discogs. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  41. Mandoki Soulmates - BudaBest, retrieved 3 August 2022
  42. Chris Thompson & Mads Eriksen - Rediscovery (A Musical Journey), retrieved 3 August 2022
  43. Andy Qunta - Legend In A Loungeroom + The Songwriter Demos, retrieved 3 August 2022
  44. "WaterBear Education Website". WaterBear.org.uk. 19 November 2019.
  45. "Wyatt joins forces with Def Leppard, Black Stone Cherry and more for charity single". Planetrock.com.
  46. "Waxman's 'You're the Voice' - Discover the Sample Source". Whosampled. WhoSampled.com Limited. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  47. "Waxman – You're The Voice / On Top Of The World (1996, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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