Neil Finn, Daniel Johns, Paul Kelly record Nick Cave cover

25 July 2011

by Nathan Jolly

A number of highly acclaimed artists have banded together - under the guidance of award-winning music video director Paul Goldman and music director/arranger Elliott Wheeler - to record a song and accompanying video... in honour of the Sydney Opera House.

The Ship Song is a tasteful cover of the 1990 Nick Cave track, and features vocals by Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah Blasko, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly, Temper Trap, Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Daniel Johns (most of whom have impeccable foresight regarding not just affixing themselves to anything). It's an impressive lineup, and testament to this project as being more than a fly-by-night promotional push.

The Sydney Symphony, Opera Australia and the Australian Chamber Orchestra bring the beautiful track to life, while the accompanying video clip features The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Bell Shakespeare Company. It's an epic undertaking, designed to showcase the Opera House as a worldwide centre for - and symbol of - the arts.

Sydney Opera House CEO Richard Evans said of the project, “We set out to create a tribute to the House’s role in the global creative community – a love song to creativity if you wish. We wanted to give people everywhere the opportunity to experience the creative genius that makes this place tick, to get a taste of the artists, venues and other spaces that power the heart that beats beneath our soaring white sails.”

The un-embeddable (for now) video is viewable here, while you can also watch a behind the scenes video below. A full documentary on The Ship Song project is to air on FOXTEL in the near future.