MARCUS CHEONG watches ‘John Farnham: Finding The Voice’…
John Farnham: Finding The Voice (AU-M)
In a word: Underdog
John Farnham
The Australian music icon, John Farnham, has become synonymous with the hit song You’re The Voice. Finding The Voice is the “authorised” documentary that reveals the untold ups and downs of a career that has spanned generations.
Johnny Farnham was discovered in 1967 when he was signed to EMI with the novelty song Sadie (The Cleaning Lady). The song was a hit that propelled Farnham to stardom at the age of 18 and made him a teen heart-throb. However, what could have been a successful career instead languished in a limbo of poor management, spiraling debt and uninspired music.
“The story of Farnham’s life is told through a series of interviews with friends, music executives, celebrities and relatives. Archival footage from concerts and TV appearances from his 50 year career accompany the interviews to portray a truly remarkable life. Farnham himself appears primarily in the archival footage and is not featured in the most recent interviews as he has been fighting against mouth cancer for the past year. “
After more than a decade was lost and any international potential squandered, he was given a second chance with his new manager and friend, Glenn Wheatley. By the 80’s Farnham struggled to be taken seriously, unable to shake the stigma of his kitsch 1960’s song and juvenile persona.
Wheatley made the bold decision to invest heavily in Farnham and then relaunched him with the new, mature, stage name, John Farnham. The cutting edge album that they created became the legendary Whispering Jack which featured the smash hit You’re The Voice that has become an unofficial Australian anthem.
The story of Farnham’s life is told through a series of interviews with friends, music executives, celebrities and relatives. Archival footage from concerts and TV appearances from his 50 year career accompany the interviews to portray a truly remarkable life. Farnham himself appears primarily in the archival footage and is not featured in the most recent interviews as he has been fighting against mouth cancer for the past year.
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As an authorised documentary, it seems that we are being presented with the sanitised version of his life. Issues of depression and drugs are mentioned in passing but never fully explored. Finding the Voice choses to focus instead on an inspiring tale of resilience, perseverance and loyalty. Celebrities Celine Dion, Richard Marx, Olivia Newton-John, Jimmy Barnes, Darrel Braithwaite, Robbie Williams and Tommy Emmanuel all share the impact Farnham and his music has had on them. The participation of this impressive lineup is a testament to how influential Farnham has been and the goodwill he has built throughout his career.
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The first half of the documentary focuses on Farnham’s roller coaster career that culminates in his tremendous comeback in the 80’s. The latter part of the movie highlights his friendship with Glenn Wheatley who was was convicted of fraud and sent to jail in 2007. Despite this scandal, John remained loyal to his friend and they continued to work together until the end.
Finding The Voice has enough twists and turns to be engaging. The underdog story of a washed up singer making a comeback truly captures the Australian spirit. There is an undeniable swell of emotions when Farnham finally makes it and a feel good finish when you realise what a loyal friend he is. This tale further cements John Farnham’s status as a national icon as it showcases the Australian values of loyalty, mateship and the success of an Aussie battler.
