| Australia | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | the Shins |
| Album: | Wincing the Night Away |
| Released: | 9 April 2007 |
| Genre: | Indie rock |
| Length: | 3:56 |
| Label: | Sub Pop |
| Producer: | James Mercer Joe Chiccarelli |
| Prev Title: | Phantom Limb |
| Prev Year: | 2007 |
| Next Title: | Turn on Me |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
"Australia" is a song by American indie rock band the Shins, and is the second track on their third album, Wincing the Night Away. The song was released as the second single from that album in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2007.[1] [2]
All three versions of the single are currently available on the United Kingdom iTunes. It is one of the songs on the soundtrack of the Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 4 and was also released as downloadable content for the Rock Band video game series initially through the Rock Band Network,[3] then in 2018 as DLC for Rock Band 4.[4]
The lyrics of the song have many interpretations. Despite its name, the song's lyrics do not reference Australia at all.
The official music video was directed by Matt McCormick. It shows the band members arriving at a car dealership. While one of them poses as a customer to distract the salespeople, the others coordinate a theft of the many gas-filled balloons the dealership has affixed to their cars and to advertise their merchandise. They are discovered but manage to escape with the balloons in their van while the decoy walks away undisturbed. The group drives the van to a field where they release the balloons and watch them rise into the sky.
"Australia" was well received by critics. Pitchfork wrote that "'Australia' is a peppy rocker in the spirit of Chutes best, elevated by a newfound confidence and expressive range in Mercer's voice."[5]
PopMatters wrote: "Still familiar and addictive, the song nevertheless turns the tried and true formula on its ear, coming off slightly like a New Wave dance anthem."[6]
The single entered the UK Singles Chart on 21 April 2007 at #62.[7]