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Yothu Yindi — Dots On The Shells (w/ Neil Finn)
Album: Freedom
Avg rating:
5.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1013









Released: 1993
Length: 3:14
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Yarryurra gunbilk marrawulwul
Djambi dhoru warrpididi
Dhawalnydja dhuwala marrawurrtjara
Dhawalnydja dhuwala dhuruthuruya

Like the lines on your face
The answer is here
And the light in your eyes
Don't hide it away
Like th dots on the shells
They shine

Dhawalnydja dhuwala dirrmalaya
Dhawalnydja dhuwala lunggurmaya
Yawuyawu ganyawuya
Yawuyawu yangayana

Like the lines on your face...

And waters edge goes on
Always rolling into the horizon
We'll go down where the octopus plays
Changing colour with the incoming day

Like the lines on your face...

Like the last star in the sky tonight
Like the lights
In the city tonight
Comments (79)add comment
More Yothu Yindi on RP please. The world needs to hear it. 
Posted 4 months ago by adelaide68    [ Reply ]
So cool to hear this transcendent music from such a surreal place. My explorations of Northern Territory remain among my greatest treasures in this life... Thanks, RP, Neil, and the Spirits that manifest The Wonders of Nature! Like dots on the shells we shine!
Posted 7 months ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
What a totally seamless transition from Al Di Meola and "Mediterranean Sun" to this.  I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't had the volume cranked and heard it for myself.  Pure genius, Bill and Rebecca.  Many thanks.
Posted 2 years ago by Simon_Tassie    [ Reply ]
RIP Dr G.
Posted 3 years ago by cable99    [ Reply ]
Had to look as I thought that sounded like Neil Finn but certainly wasn't Crowded House. Great song.
Posted 3 years ago by middle-aged-hipster    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:
Nice.  

More 'abo' music please.  

 
 
I think you should recognize (or should have, since this comment is 5 years old) that the term you used is considered offensive in Australia. 
Posted 4 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
 rsfc_carp wrote:
Amazing.  A Finn can take even Australian aboriginal music and make it sound exactly like everything else he's ever done.  What a gift.

 

{#High-five}


Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Amazing.  A Finn can take even Australian aboriginal music and make it sound exactly like everything else he's ever done.  What a gift.
Posted 8 years ago by rsfc_carp    [ Reply ]
I've always thought this was Midnight Oil. At least I had the right hemisphere.
Posted 9 years ago by agkagk    [ Reply ]
More great indigenous music please - love it (Neil Finn is pretty good too!) 
Posted 9 years ago by Pakelly2107    [ Reply ]
 melzabutch wrote:


 
Thanks for the pic! :D
Posted 9 years ago by Athyrius    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
Very nice!
 
Posted 9 years ago by Dav3thedog    [ Reply ]
 Cruithne3753 wrote:
I you're one of those people who's thinking "what the hell does this remind me of?" then it's probably "Neighbourhood" by Space. At least that's what I think.

catsoup wrote:

That's where my head went. Glad I'm not the only one.

 
and just in case it helps "Neighbourhood" by Space is the song that some people think is called "who lives in a house like this" (but isn't)
cheers
Posted 9 years ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
TBH, this at first sounded like some Adam Sandler joke song to me. Then Neill Finn came in and I was all {#Dance}
Posted 9 years ago by kyleminor    [ Reply ]
Nice.  

More 'abo' music please.  

 
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Great song, great album!
Posted 10 years ago by Jur    [ Reply ]
  gentle Antipodean sounds....
Posted 10 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
This is what I sound like when I come back from the dentist...
Posted 10 years ago by testpilot    [ Reply ]
 awwww.. loved that seggie into World Party
Posted 10 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 BMTR wrote:
{#No}...so primitive...

 
Possibly, but it has a good tune, so 7...
Posted 10 years ago by toomanyollys    [ Reply ]
WTF?
Posted 10 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
{#No}...so primitive...
Posted 10 years ago by BMTR    [ Reply ]
 TreeFiddy wrote:
The other guy shouldn't be singing with Neil, it just sounds horrible.

 
Isn't that for Mr. Finn to decide? 
Posted 10 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
The dots on the shells are those on Cowry Shells found all around the world and also in Australia (the home of Yothu).
Posted 11 years ago by pekingbucks    [ Reply ]
Fair journey Mr. Yunupingu!  
Posted 11 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 gypsyman wrote:
Um, the people singing that aren't Neil Finn - I can't understand a word of it.....
 
Sorry gypsyman, can't understand what you mean. Perhaps if you wrote with a more familiar accent...
Posted 11 years ago by lungfish    [ Reply ]
The other guy shouldn't be singing with Neil, it just sounds horrible.
That's not his fault though, I could listen to Neil sing the phone book. 
Posted 11 years ago by TreeFiddy    [ Reply ]
Um, the people singing that aren't Neil Finn - I can't understand a word of it.....
Posted 11 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
 Frater_Kork wrote:
Reminds me of the Strawbs, not in a good way.
 
I'm not sure how the Strawbs can remind anyone in a good way.
Posted 12 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of the Strawbs, not in a good way.
Posted 12 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Man, I thought this was new Crowded House at first!  {#Good-vibes}  I'd recognize Neil's voice anywhere.

Posted 13 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
an amazing song.  One of the members of this band, Geoffrey Gurumul Yunupingu, came out with an amazing album a couple of years ago.  would love to see him and more Yothu Yindi on RP.

Posted 13 years ago by brighter    [ Reply ]
my first guess was Guster.  I like it.
Posted 13 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
 pherthyl wrote:
Reminds me of Kashtin in parts.
I was thinking a poppy Tinariwen...

Posted 14 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
Amazing, love it! 8
Posted 14 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 RobMartin wrote:
Definitely! Neil makes ANYTHING sound better. {#Yes}
 
Bumpity bump.
Posted 14 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
Nice cover art!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 Sloggydog wrote:
Never liked Yothu Yindi but somehow you throw in a healthy measure of Neil Finn and i'm all over it.
  Definitely! Neil makes ANYTHING sound better. {#Yes}


Posted 14 years ago by RobMartin    [ Reply ]
 Art_Carnage wrote:
Kirsty MacColl's version is much better.

 
Opinions are like....well, whatever  {#Roflol}
Posted 14 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
Kirsty MacColl's version is much better.

Posted 15 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
Never liked Yothu Yindi but somehow you throw in a healthy measure of Neil Finn and i'm all over it.
Posted 15 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
How cool to hear sth from/with Neil Finn on RP that I've not heard anywhere else before.

Great song. 8.
Posted 15 years ago by le_colonel    [ Reply ]

The vocals are killing me...{#Yell}


Posted 15 years ago by SpamNRice    [ Reply ]
Wow, this was great! Never heard of them before - too bad it looks like it's hard to buy the track.

This is why I listen to RP, for the stuff I've never heard before. Thanks
Posted 15 years ago by Mr_Wilson    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing Yothu Yindi!  Loved one of their other CDs and played it all the time. 
Posted 15 years ago by bluemoon88    [ Reply ]
I really enjoy this song. Probably because I hear it so rarely. The groove and harmonics just get me.
Posted 15 years ago by MortimerS    [ Reply ]
i still remember when i had this CD on super-repeat. one of my favorite australian CDs even today.
Posted 15 years ago by Gartholamundi    [ Reply ]
dahal buyah yawna buh yah - like the lines on your face? - A bit gruff in the AM
Posted 15 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
 catsoup wrote:

That's where my head went. Glad I'm not the only one.
 
Evidently, Bill agrees...

Now Playing:
Yothu Yindi - Dots On The Shells (w/ Neil Finn)
Space - Neighbourhood
Norah Jones - Sinkin' Soon


Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
 Cruithne3753 wrote:
I you're one of those people who's thinking "what the hell does this remind me of?" then it's probably "Neighbourhood" by Space. At least that's what I think.
 
That's where my head went. Glad I'm not the only one.


Posted 16 years ago by catsoup    [ Reply ]
Always brings to my mind Galarrwuy Yunupingu, one of Australias' Living National Treasures.
As such, a great song for all Australians.
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
{#Stop}
Posted 16 years ago by Kittee    [ Reply ]
Neil's and Yothu's voices seem to compete in this track rather than compliment each other. Kind of ruins it for me.
Posted 16 years ago by Yamson    [ Reply ]
RP - All Finns, all the time! :)
Posted 16 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
What the? Hey, this is cool.
Posted 16 years ago by tclodes    [ Reply ]
Yothu Yindi = Indigenous for child and mother. Radio Paradise goes Aboriginal!
Posted 16 years ago by Arcee    [ Reply ]
Cruithne3753 wrote:
I you're one of those people who's thinking "what the hell does this remind me of?" then it's probably "Neighbourhood" by Space. At least that's what I think.
Sweet, oh so sweet seque. That is one of Bill's greatest talents (other than getting us all here for this musical party)! And on we go . . .
Posted 16 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
Does anyone hear a young John Lennon on vocals? (not literally, of course!)
Posted 16 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Squirrel wrote:
Wow - Yothu Yindi on RP! This song is actually better without Neil Finn, hard as that is to believe . . .
Actually the song popped out for me when I heard his voice. otherwise the song was nice... as a background.
Posted 17 years ago by TriskyJen    [ Reply ]
Very nice song.
Posted 17 years ago by Contaminator    [ Reply ]
I'm so surprised to hear such an obscure song--by both artists.
Posted 17 years ago by teapot    [ Reply ]
pherthyl wrote:
Reminds me of Kashtin in parts.
9.
Posted 17 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
I you're one of those people who's thinking "what the hell does this remind me of?" then it's probably "Neighbourhood" by Space. At least that's what I think.
Posted 17 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of Kashtin in parts.
Posted 17 years ago by pherthyl    [ Reply ]
Squirrel wrote:
Wow - Yothu Yindi on RP! This song is actually better without Neil Finn, hard as that is to believe . . .
I agree....awesome.
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
Squirrel wrote:
Wow - Yothu Yindi on RP!

This song is actually better without Neil Finn, hard as that is to believe . . .


I think I agree. He has too much presence/legacy.. kind of disturbs the song.
edit, I'll take this back. After repeated listening, it has really grown on me.
Posted 18 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
I like ethnic music, but not ethnic pop
Posted 18 years ago by federico    [ Reply ]
zipper wrote:
Will dots on the shells echo?
Posted 18 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
Fantastic to hear Yothu Yindi on RP ! They toured Europe 1993-99 and put on some great shows ! Unfortunately haven't seen much of them since their performance at the Olympic closing ceremony in Sydney.
Posted 18 years ago by hvb    [ Reply ]
Wow - Yothu Yindi on RP! This song is actually better without Neil Finn, hard as that is to believe . . .
Posted 18 years ago by Squirrel    [ Reply ]
Will dots on the shells echo?
Posted 18 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Very bad singing. Neil Finn is good of course and I understand the intention, but the song is bad...
Posted 18 years ago by ocsike    [ Reply ]
But it's Neil Finn... That's what made me stop and listen.
Posted 18 years ago by redfern777    [ Reply ]
All for giving something new a chance, but I'm on the singing-being-flat side of the fence.
Posted 18 years ago by lester    [ Reply ]
What a non-event. It was over before I knew it. And yes, the singing is flat.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
Yay! I've actually seen Yotho Yindi in person. They're amazing live!
Posted 18 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
Holy cow! I never expected to hear YY here... Wow. Are they still around? For those who are not familiar with Yothu Yindi, they are an aboriginal group out of Australia...
Posted 18 years ago by sirrus    [ Reply ]
Funky! Singing kind of flat though.
Posted 18 years ago by Tireux_De_Roche    [ Reply ]