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The Axis of Awesome

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The Axis of Awesome
OriginAustralia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresComedy rock
Years active2006–present
MembersJordan Raskopoulos (Lead vocals)
Lee Naimo (Guitar, vocals)
Benny Davis (vocals, Keyboard)
Websitewww.axisofawesome.net

The Axis of Awesome is an Australian musical comedy act. The band's members are Jordan Raskopoulos, Lee Naimo and Benny Davis. The trio cover a wide variety of performance styles, and perform a combination of original material and pop parodies.

History

The Axis of Awesome formed in 2006, their name being a play on the phrase "axis of evil" used by United States President George W. Bush. The trio were heavily involved in improv theatre at university in Sydney and decided to try something different. The band played at a few stand up comedy nights and improv events in Sydney and performed a fortnightly segment on FBi Radio, but got their first big break when they released a number of rap parodies lampooning the 2007 Australian Federal Election.

The band gained further success performing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and making television and radio appearances. Their 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, titled "The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular", received a Moosehead Award. They took the show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008 where it was received with critical and audience acclaim.[1][2]

After the Edinburgh festival, The Axis of Awesome's song "4 Chords", a medley of 36 pop songs that all contain the same basic chord structure, received airplay on BBC Radio 1.[3] This airplay drove listeners to the internet and "4 Chords" went viral, receiving millions of hits on YouTube. The success on YouTube prompted increased interest, both home and abroad, and the Axis performed the song on many radio and television programs, including Nova 969, Triple M, The Footy Show, Good News Week and 9am with David and Kim.

In April 2009, the Axis of Awesome performed at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival with a new show, The Axis of Awesome vs Bee.[4] The show wove the band's songs into a narrative involving a giant bee. The Axis of Awesome vs Bee was also performed at the Sydney Comedy Festival (formerly The Cracker Comedy Festival) in May 2009.

The Axis toured regional Queensland and New South Wales as part of The Melbourne Comedy festival roadshow and performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival[5] in May and June. They returned to The Edinburgh fringe in August with a new sell-out show "The Axis of Awesome: Infinity Rock Explosion" and appeared at the World's Funniest Island festival in Sydney in October.

In February 2010, The Axis of Awesome released their second album Infinity Rock Explosion! and performed sold out seasons at The Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Sydney Comedy Festival and The Singapore Flipside Festival. They received The Time Out award for best local talent at the Sydney comedy festival and recorded their first DVD "The Axis of Awesome Live" which was released in Australia on 6 October 2010 by Punchline and Beyond Entertainment.

Discography

Albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[6]
"Four Chords" 2011 175 Animal Vehicle

Awards

  • Melbourne International Comedy Festival Moosehead Award 2008
  • Time Out Sydney Comedy Festival Best Australian Act Award 2010
  • Time Out Sydney Best Comedy Show 2010-2011

Four Chords Song

"Four Chords" is one of The Axis of Awesome's best-known works. It is a medley of popular songs that all follow the pop-punk chord progression. The work is an attempt to outline the perceived formulaic nature of popular music. The "Four Chords", in Roman numeral analysis, are written I - V - vi - IV.[7] Since these four chords are played as an ostinato, the band also uses a vi - IV - I - V, usually from the song "Save Tonight" to the song "Torn". The band plays the song in the key of D so the progression they use is D-A-Bm-G. Many of the songs featured in the medley have been transposed from their original keys.

The band continually vary the songs comprising the medley, often incorporating new releases. The Axis' song "Birdplane" (itself a parody of the Five for Fighting song "Superman") is always included, as well as Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda" and "Down Under" by the Australian band Men at Work. The medley usually starts with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'".

In 2011, Axis of Awesome played a version of this song at Red Nose Day 2011.

On 20 July 2011, Axis of Awesome released an official music video for "Four Chords" on their YouTube channel.

Songs in the official music video [8]

  1. Journey -- Don't Stop Believing
  2. James Blunt -- You're Beautiful
  3. Black Eyed Peas -- Where Is the Love
  4. Alphaville -- Forever Young
  5. Jason Mraz -- I'm Yours
  6. Train -- Hey Soul Sister
  7. The Calling -- Wherever You Will Go
  8. Elton John -- Can You Feel The Love Tonight (from The Lion King)
  9. Akon -- Don't Matter
  10. John Denver -- Take Me Home, Country Roads
  11. Lady Gaga -- Paparazzi
  12. U2 -- With Or Without You
  13. The Last Goodnight -- Pictures of You
  14. Maroon Five -- She Will Be Loved
  15. The Beatles -- Let It Be
  16. Bob Marley -- No Woman No Cry
  17. Marcy Playground -- Sex and Candy
  18. Men At Work -- Land Down Under
  19. Theme from America's Funniest Home Videos
  20. Jack Johnson -- Taylor
  21. Spice Girls -- Two Become One
  22. a-ha -- Take On Me
  23. Green Day -- When I Come Around
  24. Eagle Eye Cherry -- Save Tonight
  25. Toto -- Africa
  26. Beyonce -- If I Were A Boy
  27. Kelly Clarkson -- Behind These Hazel Eyes
  28. Jason DeRulo -- In My Head
  29. The Smashing Pumpkins -- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
  30. Joan Osborne -- One Of Us
  31. Avril Lavigne -- Complicated
  32. The Offspring -- Self Esteem
  33. The Offspring -- You're Gonna Go Far Kid
  34. Akon -- Beautiful
  35. Timbaland featuring OneRepublic -- Apologize
  36. Eminem featuring Rihanna -- Love the Way You Lie
  37. Bon Jovi -- It's My Life
  38. Lady Gaga -- Pokerface
  39. Aqua -- Barbie Girl
  40. Red Hot Chili Peppers -- Otherside
  41. The Gregory Brothers -- Double Rainbow
  42. MGMT -- Kids
  43. Andrea Bocelli -- Time To Say Goodbye
  44. Robert Burns -- Auld Lang Syne
  45. Five for fighting -- Superman
  46. The Axis of Awesome -- "Birdplane"
  47. Missy Higgins -- "Scar"

Other songs that have been played in the medley [9][10]

  1. Alex Lloyd -- "Amazing"
  2. Crowded House -- "Fall At Your Feet"
  3. Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Under the Bridge"
  4. Daryl Braithwaite -- "The Horses"
  5. Pink -- "You And Your Hand"
  6. The Fray -- "You Found Me"
  7. 3OH!3 -- "Don't Trust Me"
  8. Tim Minchin -- "Canvas Bags"
  9. Blink-182 -- "Dammit"
  10. Alicia Keys -- "No One"
  11. Amiel -- "Love Song"
  12. Bush -- "Don't Let The Days Go By"
  13. Thirsty Merc -- "Twenty Good Reason"
  14. Lighthouse Family -- "High"
  15. Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Soul to Squeeze"
  16. Bic Runga -- "Sway"
  17. Ben Lee -- "Cigarettes Will Kill You"
  18. Michael Jackson -- "Man in the Mirror"

References

  1. ^ Comedy: Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular - Scotsman.com Living
  2. ^ 2008: The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular | Fest - the ultimate guide to Edinburgh Festival reviews
  3. ^ BBC - Radio 1 - Nihal Archive
  4. ^ The Axis of Awesome vs Bee | Melbourne International Comedy Festival - 1-26 April 2009
  5. ^ 2009 Adelaide Cabaret Festival - 5th - 20th June 2009
  6. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update (2.04.2011 - week 11)". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved 28 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (17 December 2010), "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die", The Guardian, p. 3 (Film & music), retrieved 19 February 2011
  8. ^ list in video description http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOlDewpCfZQ
  9. ^ Other recording 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob57ew1pU7Q
  10. ^ Other recording 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugdoPjqg2JU
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