Montage from “Ragged Bloody Heroes”, music video for ANZAC, 4 mins. 2009
Music video is a special genre, and I have a particular interest in it, as I am a musician myself.
Constructing music videos requires an understanding of song-story, sound engineering and visual economy, as most music videos are under 4 minutes. I also source music from a variety of music libraries, for my corporate and promotional commissions. I sometimes compose or commission a musical score for a particular client.
“Ragged Bloody Heroes” is a song by Australian singer / a songwriter LUKE O’SHEA. It’s a country / rock number honouring the military personnel of past wars and celebrating the ANZAC tradition in a the modern style of a contemporary rock anthem.
Luke first recorded the song with Christchurch guitarist PHIL DOUBLET and their group MEDICINE WHEEL in 2007 as a feature track on their album “Listen to the Words”.
In 2009 New Zealand film maker PAUL DAVIDSON heard Luke perform the song at the Caboolture Music Festival and saw the potential for a Kiwi version.
Luke re-recorded the song with some minor changes to the lyrics while Paul called in Kiwi war veterans, Brooklyn schoolchildren and film industry colleagues to help him put together a beautiful new videoclip.
The New Zealand RSA (Returned and Services Association) saw the opportunity to promote the ANZAC message in a new way and supported the project with planning, resources and funding assistance.
The new Kiwi version of “Ragged Bloody Heroes” again celebrates the ANZAC tradition in a special and striking manner – from a distinctly New Zealand perspective. It tells an old story in a new way, a contemporary celebration of our Armed Forces heritage – perfect for a young media-savvy MTV generation.
THE VIDEO SHOOTS: Brooklyn War Memorial, 20th Feb 2010. 5.30am
Brooklyn RSA, 19th Feb 2010, 9.30pm
KAIAPOI WMC, 26th Feb 2010, 7.30pm
Words & Music – Luke O’Shea
Proudly marching down to the Quay
The Air Force, Army and Navy
Tired old men who do their best
With their ribbons and their medals upon their chest
Young folk they don’t understand
Forgotten wars, forgotten lands
Every year the bagpipes play
To remind all us of yesterday
To the Ragged Bloody Heroes
Who stood up to the test
Well I have this to say
On another Anzac Day
That I – I shall not forget I shall not forget
Through the African and Asian and the European wars
These were once younger men, they heard the call
Marching through the gates of hell
Where they bravely fought, and bravely fell
And as they saw what no man should
With blood they sealed a brotherhood
ANZACs – from the Southern Lands New Zealand and Australians
To the Ragged Bloody Heroes
Who stood up to the test Well I have this to say On another Anzac Day
That I – I shall not forget
I shall not forget
And the greatest gift that’s been given to me
Is that I live in a land that is so free
May it pass without regret
You gave us freedom to forget
And as we march through history
You leave to us your legacy
And as we pause may we understand
What it means to give your life
For another man
To the Ragged Bloody Heroes
Who stood up to the test
Well I have this to say
On another Anzac Day
That I – I shall not forget I shall not forget (They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old)
I shall not forget (Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn)
I shall not forget (At the going down of the sun – and in the morning
We will remember them. We will remember them)
Lest we forget yeah yeah
And I shall not forget