Australia (song) 601334 170846158 2007-11-11T23:24:44Z Cydebot 1215485 Robot - Removing category Songs with Place Name in Title per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] at [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2007 November 4]]. {{for|the song by The Shins|Australia (The Shins song)}} {{Infobox Single | Name = Australia | Cover = Australia_%281996_single%29.jpg| Artist = [[Manic Street Preachers]] | from Album = [[Everything Must Go (Manic Street Preachers album)|Everything Must Go]] | Released = [[December 2]], [[1996]] | Format = [[compact disc|CD]] <br> [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]] | Recorded = ? | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | Length = 4:05 | Label = [[Epic Records|Epic]] | Producer = | Reviews = <nowiki></nowiki> | Last single = "[[Kevin Carter (single)|Kevin Carter]]"<br />(1996) | This single = "'''Australia'''"<br />(1996) | Next single = "[[If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next]]"<br />(1998) |}} "'''Australia'''" was released by [[Manic Street Preachers]] on [[December 2]], [[1996]], and was the fourth single release from the ''Everything Must Go'' album of May that same year. The sentiment of the song is that [[Australia]] is just about the furthest one can go to get away from their home in [[Wales]] and is a metaphor for Nicky Wire's desire to escape from the emotional turmoil caused by the disappearance of his close friend and co-lyricist, [[Richey James Edwards]]. The first CD included "Velocity Girl", "Take The Skinheads Bowling" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (all three songs being [[cover versions]] of songs originally performed by [[Primal Scream]], [[Camper Van Beethoven]] and [[Andy Williams]], respectively), and the cassette featured a live recording of "[[A Design for Life]]". The lack of original Manics material for the single's extra tracks was attributed to Nicky Wire having a case of writers block, as he approached writing material for the band's next album. He put the block down to the fact that it was the first time he had written a whole album without Richey's help. On [[December 14]], "Australia" reached number seven in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] charts, giving the Manics their fourth straight top ten hit. It also made an appearance as track number seven on ''[[Forever Delayed]]'', the band's greatest hits album, released in [[November 2002]]. The song was the [[theme tune]] to the [[Nickelodeon UK]] [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Renford Rejects]]'' and has also been used in adverts for the Australian Tourist Board. ==Track listing== ===CD1=== # "Australia" (radio edit) # "Velocity Girl" (Primal Scream cover) # "Take The Skinheads Bowling" (Camper Van Beethoven cover) # "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (Four Seasons cover) ===CD2=== # "Australia" (radio edit) # "Australia" (Lion Rock Remix) # "Motorcycle Emptiness" (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remix) # "Motorcycle Emptiness" (Stealth Sonic" Orchestra Soundtrack) ===MC=== # "Australia" (radio edit) # "A Design For Life" (live) {{Manic Street Preachers}} [[Category:1996 singles]] [[Category:Manic Street Preachers songs]]