Wuigada is a dedicated space where First Nations musicians can share and celebrate music made by other First Nations musicians with PBS audiences.
Wuigada was named and developed by the highly acclaimed indigenous singer songwriter, Kutcha Edwards. Wuigada in Mutti Mutti means 'to sing'.
In this edition of Wuigada we hear from one of the founding fathers of contemporary Indigenous music in Queensland, Lance O'Chin. Best known for the songs 'Cherbourg Boy' and 'I Wonder Why You Cry', Lance has regularly performed alongside other legendary acts such as Mop & The Dropouts, Roger Knox, and Paul Kelly. A captivating live performer, Lance has recently had to pause appearing live due to COVID. When we caught up to talk about Wuigada, he told us that he is looking forward to get back into touring as soon as circumstances allow. Lance also spoke about the importance of the song 'Cherbourg Boy'.
"Cherbourg Boy was written by my brother Robin O'Chin but it was developed from a Torres Strait Island song back in the early days of World War II. A lot of people were sent to Cherbourg at the start of the war, and that's where my brother heard a tune that sounded like 'Cherbourg Boy'.
The song and tune sat idle until I was looking for a song to go onto a single 45 that I did in the eighties. On the A side was 'I Wonder Why You Cried' and on the B side was 'Cherbourg Boy'.
A copy of the record is at the Cherbourg radio station.
The song is now played at football games, funerals and parties. It is well known all over Australia, from Darwin to Melbourne."
It is with great pleasure that we share Lance O'Chin's top 10 songs for Wuigada:
Mop & The Dropouts - ‘Brisbane Blacks’
Bobby McLeod - ‘Wayward Dreams’
Tribal Link - ‘Woorabinda Song’
Coloured Stone - ‘No More Boomerang’
Lance O’Chin - ‘Cherbourg Boy’
Mop Conlon & Lance O'Chin - ‘Our Land’
Roger Knox - ‘Koorie Rose’
Chris Phillips - ‘My People My People’
Mop & The Dropouts - ‘Mother's Eyes’
Dennis Rose - ‘Yarrabah’
Harry Whaleboat - ‘Look For Me’
Listen to the Wuigada playlist in full via YouTube now.
Visit all the Wuigada stories, or check out: Izy, Alice Skye, Radical Son, Black Rock Band, Allara, Emma Donovan, Marlene Cummins, Benny Walker, Stiff Gins, Ripple Effect Band, Waveney Yasso, Sue Ray, Troy Jungaji Brady, Dave Arden, Shellie Morris, Deline Briscoe, LJ Hill, Selwyn Burns, Roger Knox and Kutcha Edwards.
Artwork by Dixon Patten.
