In keeping with the holiday vibe, the article below is full of song, inspired by a recent post on the future of Medicare Locals, in which the University of Queensland’s Philip Davies managed to drop references to Leonard Cohen and David Byrne.
Croakey contributors were asked what song title best sums up the current state of health reform in Australia. Below we offer a rather eclectic musical journey, from Meatloaf to Godspell, from Brecht to Newton-John.
Philip Davies, Professor of Health Systems and Policy, University of Queensland:
Ch-ch-ch-changes (Bowie)? – Too obvious.
It’s only Roxon’s role (but I like it) (Rolling Stones) – as sung by Tanya Plibersek
Virginia Plain (Roxy Music) – Virginia tobacco in plain packaging (Groan!)
Long and winding road (Beatles)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cUaO1P2mfo[/youtube]
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Carol Bennett, Consumers Health Forum
We’ve only just begun – The Carpenters
Won’t get fooled again – The Who
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI[/youtube]
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Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association
Don’t dream it’s over – Crowded House
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjBwAYIxUso[/youtube]
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A/ Prof Gawaine Powell Davies, CEO, UNSW Research Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity
From Brecht’s Threepenny Opera: The Song of the Inadequacy of Human Striving
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Paul Grogan, Cancer Council Australia
A few songs in a national cancer control policy context:
Meatloaf‘s Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad (tobacco control, capital grants good – screening investment not good enough).
BTO’s Takin’ Care of Business – the government’s tendency to favour the big food companies over public health on things like advertising and labelling.
Elvis’s It’s Now Or Never – self-explanatory, perhaps.
Rolling Stones’ Rocks Off (to the AG’s office)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJprEyXMrIk[/youtube]
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Professor Alan Rosen, psychiatrist and mental health reformer
“Lets get Practical” (to the tune of Let’s get physical)…a national (including CoAG) commitment to some REAL key aspirational but practical and achievable 5 and 10 year objective goals and targets, with lines like “Let me see your money talk…”.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA[/youtube]
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Dr Andrew Gunn, University of Queensland
The Who’s Won’t get fooled again (“meet the new boss, same as the old boss”).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE[/youtube]
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Dr Andrew Pesce, Sydney obstetrician and gynaecologist, former AMA president
For incoming medical students, in an era of health workforce reform
“While my ATAR gently weeps” (Apologies to George Harrison)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ITrQXES8kU[/youtube]
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Dr Peter Sainsbury, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
My nomination is the lyric from Windmills of Your Mind, soundtrack from The Thomas Crown Affair and sung over the years by many artists:
Round, like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel,
Never ending or beginning
On an ever spinning wheel.
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon,
Like a carousel that’s turning
Running rings around the moon.
Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of its own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone.
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half forgotten dream
Or the ripples that you find
In the windmills of your mind.
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And a fragment of this song,
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the colour of her hair?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU[/youtube]
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Dr Ruth Armstrong
“All for the best” from Godspell – nice and upbeat!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIW-eIAJxE[/youtube]
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Simon Burrow
The times they’re a’changin (Bob Dylan)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYQZSDOWwww[/youtube]
