We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

"MANDATE​!​" (with the Prime Minister on guest vocals​)​.

from POLITICS CAN BE FUN! A musical journey through the flaws of party​-​system democracy. by EYE

/

about

"Mandate!" received huge amounts of radio airplay around Australia on the Community Radio station network between 1998 and 2003 or so. It was often played many times per day on various stations from early morning breakfast shows to drive-time-sunset shows to after-midnight programs.

"Mandate!" was composed in protest against the Prime Minister John Howard claiming he had a "mandate!" to impose his unpopular laws (* see note below) just after he had actually lost the 1998 election. He had received just 38% of the vote - 62% voted against his political party yet he remained in power due to flaws in the way votes are distributed into actual places in the parliament. See the note marked * below that explain the references in the song.

Although EYE comes from an electro-industrial music background "Mandate!" is a landmark track in Aussie hip-hop protest music - one of the earliest to receive large amounts of radio play. It helped to pave the way for many artists in subsequent years to get airplay and recognition. The track was often broadcast at rallies and protests against the government in 1999 and the early '00s.

In 1999 a video was made for "Mandate!" that was featured on ABC-TV's "Rage" program and on SBS-TV's "Alchemy" program. During the filming at Parliament House EYE were harassed by security and threatened with arrest whilst dancing around in silly costumes. The video is on youtube via:
www.youtube.com/EYEmusique

* The unpopular government's proposals that are referenced in the song include:
i) the new Goods & Services Tax (GST);
ii) the mining of uranium (for nuclear purposes) in Jabiluka, Northern Australia;
iii) cuts to education funding;
iv) the full sale (privatisation) of the national communication network Telstra (formerly Telecom) which was once owned by the Australian people via the government.

credits

from POLITICS CAN BE FUN! A musical journey through the flaws of party​-​system democracy., released December 21, 1998

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

EYE image

EYE Australia

The EYE music band/group has 10+ Albums/EPs/Singles in styles of dark alternative, psychedelic, darkwave, electro industrial rock, heavy electronica, gothic metal, electro/cyber/synth-punk/goth/pop/rock, glitch/hip-hop, intelligent/electronic dance music, musique concrete, ambient, power noise & political protest songs / Side groups/projects/bands: AYA, DJ Citizen, E.L.F., XELF, DJ Robot Citizen ... more

contact / help

Contact EYE

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

EYE recommends:

If you like EYE, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now