An all-star lineup of Australian and worldwide artists gathered in Melbourne on Sunday (Sept. 20) to honor John Farnham, the Australian music icon behind “You’re the Voice,” at a star-studded tribute live performance at Rod Laver Enviornment.
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Billed as The Songs of John Farnham: A Dwelling Legend – The Celebration Live performance, the one-off occasion drew greater than 120 performers, a 38-piece orchestra and the John Farnham Band earlier than a capability crowd, with proceeds going to Head and Neck Most cancers Australia. The live performance launched the group’s year-long Lend Your Voice marketing campaign, aiming to lift $1 million for the charity that supported Farnham by way of his personal most cancers remedy since 2022. Emcee Richard Wilkins famous that Farnham has performed the venue in a report 94 sold-out reveals over his profession — “so I suppose tonight makes it 95,” he advised the group.
Farnham, 77, didn’t attend. In an announcement, his spouse, Jill, and sons Robert and James confirmed his well being had “deteriorated in latest months,” noting he now requires steady oxygen assist, makes use of a wheelchair and receives “24-hour nursing care at house.” The household mentioned that whereas Farnham had been “deeply moved” by the tribute, they’d determined it was finest for him to stay at house “the place he may be secure and comfy.”
The live performance doubled as a celebration of the fortieth anniversary of “You’re the Voice,” launched in September 1986. Celine Dion carried out the anthem by way of satellite tv for pc from Paris, recalling that she had as soon as sung it as a duet with Farnham throughout a Melbourne go to. “John, you’ve all the time been such a deep inspiration to me; I all the time liked to listen to you sing,” she mentioned.
Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, a shock addition, appeared by way of satellite tv for pc with an unique music written for the event, “A Higher Singer Than Me.” “Sooner or later we’ll all be gone,” Martin sang, “however the factor about John Farnham songs is, they’ll hold dwelling on.” Keith City flew in from Nashville to carry out “Burn for You,” whereas Hugh Jackman appeared by way of satellite tv for pc with “Speak of the City,” calling Farnham the rationale “the entertainer I’m” exists.
The homegrown invoice was equally deep, co-headlined by Jimmy Barnes, Tina Enviornment, Kate Ceberano, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Vanessa Amorosi and Richard Marx, working by way of a catalog of Farnham hits. The evening additionally revisited Farnham’s celebrated flip as Jesus within the 1992 Australian area manufacturing of Jesus Christ Celebrity, with Stevens and Ceberano — his former co-stars — reuniting on “Every thing’s Alright.”
Farnham stays some of the profitable artists in Australian historical past. His 1986 solo album Whispering Jack spent 25 weeks at No. 1 on the Australian chart, was licensed 24-times platinum and stands because the highest-selling album ever by a home artist within the nation. Its lead single “You’re the Voice” topped the charts in Australia, Sweden and Germany and reached the UK prime 10, turning into an everlasting anthem later coated by artists worldwide — most just lately by the Jonas Brothers on the NFL’s first regular-season sport in Australia this month.
Farnham adopted it with the No. 1 Australian albums Age of Motive (1988) and Chain Response (1990), and is the one Australian artist to attain No. 1 data throughout 5 consecutive many years.
An eight-time ARIA Award winner and ARIA Corridor of Fame inductee, he was named Australian of the 12 months in 1987. In Could, Farnham confirmed that the surgical procedures from his most cancers remedy had ended his singing profession, saying performing onstage was “simply not attainable” anymore.
