Although his solo career brought him wider acclaim, he was also formerly a member of Yothu Yindi, and later Saltwater Band. He was the most commercially successful Aboriginal Australian musician at the time of his death.
The first of four sons born to Ganyinurra (Daisy) and Nyambi (Terry) Yunupingu, he was born in Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island in 1971, situated off the coast of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, about 530 kilometres east of Darwin. He was from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother was from the Galpu nation. He was born blind, never learned Braille and did not have a guide dog or use a white cane, and was said to be acutely shy. When he was four years old, he learned how to play a toy piano and an accordion by teaching himself. A year later he began to play a guitar; despite being a left-hander, he played a right-handed guitar, holding it "upside down", which he would continue to do throughout his career.
His first solo album, Gurrumul, debuted at No. 69 on the ARIA Charts and No. 1 on the independent chart. Gurrumul peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Charts. The album was certified triple platinum. Yunupingu's friend Michael Hohnen produced the album and was his translator. Critics have heaped praise on the singer, describing his voice as having "transcendental beauty". Elton John, Sting and Björk were among his fans. When asked what he would do with any money he made, he suggested it would go to his mother and aunts, following the Aboriginal tradition of sharing wealth.
In 2008 Yunupingu was nominated for four ARIA Awards, winning the awards for Best World Music Album and Best Independent Release. He also won three Deadlys, winning for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Gurrumul and Single of the Year for "Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind)".
In November 2009, he was named Best New Independent Artist, and his album, Gurrumul, Best Independent Release and Best Independent Blues/Roots Release at the Jägermeister Australian Independent Record (AIR) Awards held at Melbourne's Corner Hotel. In 2009 a portrait of Gurrumul by Guy Maestri won Australia's major art prize, the Archibald Prize.
He was again awarded the Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for Best Independent Blues and Roots Album in 2011 for his album Rrakala. In the same year his single Bayini became the first track by an indigenous musician to reach the top five of the Australian charts.
In 2012 Gurrumul was one of the contributing vocalists on Gary Barlow's commemorative single "Sing" for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which features artists from across the Commonwealth. He performed "Sing" live at the Diamond Jubilee Concert on Monday 4 June 2012 together with many of the song's contributing artists. In 2012 Gurrumul had conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Sydney.
In 2013, Gurrumul joined Delta Goodrem for a special performance of "Bayini" on The Voice Australia. During the performance, he stated: "Yolngu are deep thinking philosophical people. The words in the song refer to many families sitting together on the beach looking to waves and sea, the horizon, contemplating."
In December 2013, Gurrumul released a live album, titled His Life and Music which was recorded in the Sydney Opera House and released through ABC Music. It was nominated for Australian Independent Record Labels Association and ARIA awards.
In 2015, Gurrumul toured the US. He released his third studio album, The Gospel Album on 31 July 2015. It debuted at number 3 on the ARIA Charts. In October 2015, the album won Gurrumul's third ARIA Award for Best World Music Album.
Yunupingu died at Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, at about 5 p.m. on 25 July 2017, aged 46. He had suffered from liver and kidney diseases for many years. Upon his death he was described as an important figure in fostering racial harmony, and as a voice of indigenous Australians. He received tributes from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, fellow musician Peter Garrett, and the Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Galiku
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dhiyakuŋuna watawuŋu ḏirrmalawuŋu. djaw'
waṉa ṉirrpuna banuydjina bili wuḻungupayina. djaw'
barrŋbarrŋ dhuwalinydja galiku watawuŋu. djaw'
Giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. wuyupthhurrunana djaw' r.r djaw'
Barrŋbarrŋ galiku. waṉa ṉirrpu.
ganydjarrwuyaŋina wuḏuminyba. gaŋgayparrana
Nhenydja buŋgul waŋana. watawuŋ ḏirrmalawuŋu
rrondhu marrtji ŋunha Mindharrŋura. Wilirrŋura Muthamul
nhumanydja rrondhu märi walala. mala Mandjikay. m.m. m.m
Lomuyinana lomu Mawuyul. wäŋaŋura Yanhdhaḻa
Yulpa? Bäpadjambaŋba. wäŋaŋura Djulkayalŋgi
Wiripunydja burakina Birrinydjiwala. Djindjiray Baḻawuku
Māwuḻmirri. Gandjamarr Birrapirra
nhenydja ŋäthili. wutthurra wurrminyba
wäŋaŋura, Seki Gurrumuru, m.m. m.m
Dhuwalana dhārriŋdja, Gāḏinŋura Djaltjunbi
dhiyaŋi Dhuwa dhawal. Girriwaḻa Ṉambatjŋu
Djarpanbulu. Raŋimula Gaṉdjitji
ṉirrpunydja burakina. Gätjiŋba. m.m. m.m
Wanhaŋuru buwapuŋala Ḻuku-ḏumdhunawala
Melwula Barrthanagaŋuru. Dholtji Manunu
yä märiwala. Ḏilingarra Yawunbaŋuwala
Bungurrukurruwala. Walaywalayunawala. m.m. m.m
Giḻaŋ'thurrunana dhoṯthinana Djalinda yuṯa, djaw'
giḻaŋ'thurrunana ŋaeaka dhuwalinydja Yamaliny Ḏaṯarrwaŋa. djaw'
Djanŋala miyamara Gapala namba Barrumbarru. djaw'
bili nhanbalay dhuwali namba Gätjiŋba. djaw'
giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. wuyupthurrunana. djaw' r.r djaw'
[english translation]
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance is here, take it
From this northerly wind, take it
On the mass the flags are playing, take it
The flags torn by the wind, take it
Giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, fraying to pieces, take it
torn flags. mast arms
giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. on the masts. shredded flags
shredded by the power of wuḏuminy. gaŋgayparra winds
You (flags) asked to fly dancing. from the northern wind
Flags dancing there at Mindharrŋura. Wilirrŋura. Muthamul
you grandmother-flag mob, you Mandjikay families. m.m. m.m
Soft sands of Mawuyul. at the place Yanhdhaḻa
For who? For Bāpadjambaŋ. at the place Djulkayalŋgi
Also playing there for the Birrinydji. Djindjiray Baḻawuku
Māwuḻmirri. Gandjamarr Birrapirra nation
you first, clash the knives
at the place, Seki Gurrumuru, m.m, m.m
Here is the trepang oven, at the Gāḏinŋura Djaltjunbi (Bawaka)
this Dhuwa country. Girriwaḻa Ṉämbatjŋu (Yāŋunbi)
Djarpanbulu. Raŋimula Gaṉdjitji (Barrkira)
the mast flags flew, for Gätjiŋ. m.m. m.m
Where have the masts come from to be with Ḻuku-ḏumdhuna (ancestor)
From Melwula Barrthanaga, to Dholtji Manuna
Oh my grandmother families. Ḏilingarra Yawunbaŋu
Bungurrukurru, Walaywalayuna m.m, m.m (Warramiri nation)
Raising a new folded flag, take it
'giḻaŋ' as it is raised up the mast. take it
Singing the country Djanŋala. Gapala, Barrumbarru, take it
Because this is marked for Gätjiŋba, take it
giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. disappears from sight
*' giḻaŋ' the sound made by mast rope against the mast and a flapping flag at the masthead
The lyrics of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's song "Galiku" use the imagery of a flag mast and the dancing flags to represent the power of the winds of the north. The song begins with "buŋgul", which means dance, and repeats this word to encourage the listener to participate in this dance. The lyrics then describe how the torn flags on the mast are fraying to pieces, an example of the power of the winds. The second verse mentions soft sands and places where the flags are dancing, evoking a sense of movement and freedom.
The third verse brings in the names of different families and nations, indicating a sense of community and belonging. The fourth verse describes the trepang oven, where the masts come from and the raising of a new flag marked for Gätjiŋba. The repetition of "giḻaŋ" at the end of each verse suggests the sound of the mast ropes against the mast and the flapping of the flag at the top, as mentioned earlier.
Line by Line Meaning
Buŋgul. buŋul. buŋgul. buŋgul. buŋgul bunana. djaw'
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance is here, take it from the northerly wind.
dhiyakuŋuna watawuŋu ḏirrmalawuŋu. djaw'
Take it on the mass the flags are playing and the flags torn by the wind.
waṉa ṉirrpuna banuydjina bili wuḻungupayina. djaw'
Take it as the flags are fraying to pieces by the power of the winds.
barrŋbarrŋ dhuwalinydja galiku watawuŋu. djaw'
Take it as the shredded flags dance and play in the wind.
Giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, wuyupthhurrunana djaw' r.r djaw'
Take it as the flags are being shredded to pieces by the wind's power.
Barrŋbarrŋ galiku. waṉa ṉirrpu.
The shredded flags move as they dance.
giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. baṉdjarrŋulili. wuḻungupa banuydji
The masts are flying shredded flags, playing in the winds.
ganydjarrwuyaŋina wuḏuminyba. gaŋgayparrana
These winds are powerful and carry the flags wherever they go.
Nhenydja buŋgul waŋana. watawuŋ ḏirrmalawuŋu
The flags dance as if they're asking to fly in the northern winds.
rrondhu marrtji ŋunha Mindharrŋura. Wilirrŋura Muthamul
These flags are dancing at Mindharrŋura, Wilirrŋura, and Muthamul.
nhumanydja rrondhu märi walala. mala Mandjikay. m.m. m.m
These flags belong to the Mandjikay families.
Lomuyinana lomu Mawuyul. wäŋaŋura Yanhdhaḻa
This dance was performed on the soft sands of Mawuyul at the place Yanhdhaḻa.
Yulpa? Bäpadjambaŋba. wäŋaŋura Djulkayalŋgi
For whom is this dance? It's for Bāpadjambaŋ at the place Djulkayalŋgi.
Wiripunydja burakina Birrinydjiwala. Djindjiray Baḻawuku
Also dancing are the Birrinydji at Djindjiray Baḻawuku.
Māwuḻmirri. Gandjamarr Birrapirra
The Māwuḻmirri and Gandjamarr Birrapirra nations are also dancing.
nhenydja ŋäthili. wutthurra wurrminyba
They are dancing with their knives.
wäŋaŋura, Seki Gurrumuru, m.m. m.m
This dance is also performed at Seki Gurrumuru.
Dhuwalana dhārriŋdja, Gāḏinŋura Djaltjunbi
Near the Gāḏinŋura Djaltjunbi, the trepang oven is here.
dhiyaŋi Dhuwa dhawal. Girriwaḻa Ṉambatjŋu
This is Dhuwa country, Girriwaḻa Ṉambatjŋu.
Djarpanbulu. Raŋimula Gaṉdjitji
The mast flags flew at Djarpanbulu, Raŋimula, and Gaṉdjitji.
nirrpunydja burakina. Gätjiŋba. m.m. m.m
These flags were flown to Gätjiŋ.
Wanhaŋuru buwapuŋala Ḻuku-ḏumdhunawala
The masts have come here with Ḻuku-ḏumdhuna.
Melwula Barrthanagaŋuru. Dholtji Manunu
They came from Melwula Barrthanaga to Dholtji Manunu.
yä märiwala. Ḏilingarra Yawunbaŋuwala
These dances are also for Ḏilingarra Yawunbaŋu.
Bungurrukurruwala. Walaywalayunawala. m.m. m.m
This dance is also performed at Bungurrukurru and Walaywalayuna.
giḻaŋ'thurrunana dhoṯthinana Djalinda yuṯa, djaw'
Raising a new folded flag, it flies as it is raised up the mast.
giḻaŋ'thurrunana ŋaeaka dhuwalinydja Yamaliny Ḏaṯarrwaŋa. djaw'
The mast ropes make the sound of 'giḻaŋ' as they flap against the masthead.
Djanŋala miyamara Gapala namba Barrumbarru. djaw'
The flags sing the country of Djanŋala, Gapala, Barrumbarru.
bili nhanbalay dhuwali namba Gätjiŋba. djaw'
These flags are marked for Gätjiŋ.
giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ, giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. giḻaŋ. wuyupthurrunana. djaw' r.r djaw'
The sound of 'giḻaŋ' fades away as the flags disappear from sight.
Writer(s): Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Lim, Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Limited
Contributed by Reagan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.