Sydney’s Gang Of Youths are on top of the world right now. With their second record, Go Farther In Lightness, currently sitting at the top of the ARIA charts, and with the group set to kick off a national tour this week, their hard work has truly paid off, as they gain the recognition they so greatly deserve.
But when it comes to recognition, we have to wonder why Gang Of Youths’ frontman Dave Le’aupepe isn’t talked about as being one of the greatest frontmen in Aussie rock. In fact, we think he’s so brilliantly charismatic, wise, and personable that he’d make for an excellent candidate for Prime Minister. So we’ve decided to take a look a politics and give you ten reasons why Gang Of Youths’ Dave Le’aupepe deserves your vote to be the next Prime Minister of Australia.
He’s a survivor
For anyone who has listened to Gang Of Youths’ debut record, The Positions, the trials and tribulations that Le’aupepe has endured in his life become painfully clear. While it’s often quoted how he and his ex-wife survived through her cancer battle, before the breakdown of their relationship drove Dave to a suicide attempt, we have to give him some major kudos for managing to come out the other side of things relatively unscathed.
Using raw, personal experiences, Le’aupepe has managed to turn the dark times in his recent history into beautiful art that has seen the group reach new, lofty heights. If we need anyone running this country, it’s someone who is able to learn, grow, and utilise their past experiences to better themselves as a human being.
He’s a grassroots musician
Dave Le’aupepe might have been a music fan for quite some time, but his musical career has rather humble beginnings. After playing in a number of small bands before Gang Of Youths, he began to write songs seriously as a way to cope with the troubles he was facing in his life. From there, he managed to assemble a group of musicians, including friends from his days at church, to create the band that became Gang Of Youths.
Going from small support slots, to becoming a headlining band in their own right, Le’aupepe and the rest of Gang Of Youths know what its like to pay your dues and to work hard to get where you want to be. We definitely need someone in charge of Australia who has worked their way up from the bottom, proving they’re not afraid of hard work and getting their hands dirty.
He’s immensely wise
What we need in this country right now is someone with the smarts to tackle the big issues, and has the knowledge and ability to not shy away from the problems that face everyone in the country. Thankfully, Dave, who is a massive reader and an absolute master of words, holds that ability. Just look at his deeply profound insights and tell us you wouldn’t want him running this country:
“I opened myself up to love, and I found someone that I want to love for the rest of my life. I opened myself up to pain, and I experienced a lot of it. I overcame so much of it. That’s what this record is about: overcoming. Becoming human. It’s about realising and recognising that the absence of meaning, objectively, in the universe is not a death-knell for us all. If anything, it’s a liberating and motivating force that can propel us into better, more illustrious places as people.”
“This notion that we can all master our humanness. There’s this great line that Colin Firth’s character says in Kingsman: The Secret Service. ‘Nobility isn’t being superior to others – it’s being superior to your former self.’ That stuck with me. There’s a Nietzschean element to it.”
Just imagine how great his speeches would be
When was the last time you downloaded a parliamentary speech to your iPod? We’re going to take a wild guess and say never. But there’s a good reason why you haven’t, after all, who wants the words of an older, boring politician polluting your ears? We don’t want to hear about the technical terms for your trade policies, we already know the basics, spice it up a little!
Now, imagine a political speech being made by Dave Le’aupepe. Alright, alright, stop swooning, it’s only a hypothetical right now. But just imagine his mastery of the English language being put to good use as the leader of Australia. We’d not only have one of the smoothest, most verbose world leaders out there, but there’s a fair chance you’d see the world’s first album of political speeches topping the ARIA charts. Now that’s progress.
He not adverse to quoting Katy Perry
And that’s exactly what parliament needs much more of.
He’s incredibly straightforward
You know what folks really hate about politicians? All the double-speak, flip-flopping, and constant barrage of mistruths that spew from their mouths. That’s why we need a straight-shooter like Dave Le’aupepe running things. All you need to do is look at one interview with him to see that he’s not one to mince words; he’s completely open, straightforward, and transparent when it comes to everything he says.
He’s genuinely passionate, and deeply loving
Love is a commodity that the world is in desperate need of, to paraphrase world-class poet Hal David, and what better person to deliver that commodity than Dave Le’aupepe? As we learnt from his recent interview with us, he refers to numerous people as his “best friend in the world”, and his genuine personality allows you to completely believe that, because his very nature proves it.
If we had someone who can treat everyone they meet with that level of love, respect, and basic human kindness, well this country, and by extension, the rest of the world eventually, would be a far nicer and loving place.
He’s one heck of a dancer
If you’ve ever seen Gang Of Youths live, you’ve undoubtedly been mesmerised by Le’aupepe’s moves on stage. With hip gyrations that make him look like the second coming of both Elvis and Michael Hutchence, his stage presence is phenomenal, and makes for an amazing experience at their concerts. Why, one only need to look at the video for the track ‘Magnolia’ to see him show off some of his movies.
But what we’re getting at here is that it wouldn’t hurt to have a PM who knows his way around the dance floor. Remember Peter Costello dancing the ‘Macarena’ 20 years ago? Who knows if Costello would today be a political superpower if he knew how to bust a move with greater success?
He’s relatable and personable
Why would you want to vote for a Prime Minister who is out of touch with the everyday Australian, and has no grasp on our own personal struggles, fears, and loves? Well, in addition to Dave Le’aupepe being the sort of bloke who would sit down with you and not leave until you’ve hashed out every problem that you face, his uncanny ability to relate to the everyday Australian is just one more reason to give him your vote. Why, he loves Slayer and Shania Twain just as much as the rest of us, though he doesn’t keep either of those loves a secret, like many do.
Finally, this could be his Prime Ministerial photo, and we’d all be better for it
While you’re considering just who to vote for in the next Australian election, be sure to familiarise yourself with Gang Of Youths’ immensely personal, and deservedly popular ‘Magnolia’, along with the dates for the group’s tour which kicks off tomorrow night, below.
Gang Of Youths 2017 National Tour
Thursday, 31st August
The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, 1st September
The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday, 6th September
Festival Hall, Melbourne, VIC (All Ages)
Friday, 8th September
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, VIC (All Ages)
Wednesday, 13th September
Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS (All Ages)
Friday, 15th September
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide, SA (All Ages)
Saturday, 16th September
Metropolis, Fremantle, WA
