Few hit songs of any era have become as well-known—or as deeply lodged in the jukeboxes of our heads—as Men At Work's "Down Under."
The song, which was first a hit in their homeland of Australia and then Canada before taking over American airwaves and moving on to the European charts, emerged as an anthem for all things Australian. Filled with Aussie slang lyrics (including a mention of a vegemite sandwhich) and complete with a lead flute melody, "Down Under" became a distinctive piece of Australian culture that permeated worldwide and introduced Men At Work to a global audience.
In 1983, the band took home the GRAMMY for Best New Artist at the 25th GRAMMY Awards and performed their breakout hit on the telecast.
Catch that performance from more than 35 years ago in this latest edition of GRAMMY Rewind, and stay tuned for more trips down memory lane in future episodes.
GRAMMY Rewind Returns With History-Making Performances, Acceptance Speeches & More