You're the Voice

John Farnham

About 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. "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. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1987 it won Single of the Year. 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. 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.""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 (to advertise the company's SYNC voice control system) in a 2012 Ford TV commercial. The power ballad 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. 


Year:
1995
5:04
18 
#1

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You're The Voice

We have the chance, to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh-wo-wo-wo, oh-wo-wo-wo
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear
Oh-wo-wo-wo, oh-wo-wo-wo

This time, we know we call can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing, we can make it better
We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

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John Farnham

John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham (born 1 July 1949), is an English Australian pop singer. As Johnny Farnham he was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as lead singer of Little River Band during 1982–1985. In September 1986 his solo single, "You're the Voice" peaked at No. 1 on the Australian singles charts. The associated album, Whispering Jack, held the No. 1 position for a total of 25 weeks, and is the highest-selling album in Australian history. Both the single and the album had Top Ten success internationally including No. 1 in Sweden. more »

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Written by: Chris Thompson, Maggie Ryder, Andy Qunta, Keith Reid

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Bucks Music Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


7 facts about this song

Composition and Release
"You're the Voice" is a song which was originally written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder, and Chris Thompson. - It was released as a single in September 1986, making it over three decades old, yet its popularity endures.
John Farnham's version
For Australian artist John Farnham, "You're the Voice" is the lead single from his album "Whispering Jack". - Farnham's version of the song is one of his biggest successes. It reached number one in the Australian singles charts and the Swedish singles chart. - Farnham's "You're the Voice" won the ARIA Award for Single of the Year in 1987.
Heart's version
American rock band Heart covered the song for their thirteenth studio album "Red Velvet Car" that was released in 2010. - Heart's members, Ann and Nancy Wilson, have said that they love the song because it is about the human spirit and conviction, about not giving up, which resonates with them.
Video Features
The music video of John Farnham’s "You're the Voice" was filmed at the famous Sydney Opera House and at the disused Callan Park Hospital for the Insane (located in Lilyfield, New South Wales), which adds significant historical and cultural value to the song.
Cultural Impact
The powerful, anthemic nature of the song has led to its use in several popular movie soundtracks, like "Hot Rod" in 2007 and "The Blind Side" in 2009. - In Australia, the song has become an unofficial national anthem, played at various sports and major events.
Lyrics Significance
"You're the Voice" is often regarded as a protest song, calling for peace and unity, and encouraging individuals to take a stand and make themselves heard. This message has made the song timeless and relevant even today.
Other Covers
In addition to Heart, "You're the Voice" has been covered by numerous artists across different genres, including Celine Dion, Alan Parsons, Seal, and Rebecca St. James. These versions highlight the song's versatility and enduring popularity.

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    You're the Voice

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1990

    Billboard #82


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