There's no depression in New Zealand - Blam Blam Blam (NZ Music Month)

A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa

Celebrating NZ Music Month with the song "There is no depression in New Zealand" (July 1981) by Blam Blam Blam

Music, NZ Music Month, Blam Blam Blam, Springbok rugby tour, Economic depression, Depression, Protests, Muldoon

Auckland band Blam Blam Blam released the single "There is no depression in New Zealand" in July 1981. This song was on the charts for 10 weeks and peaked at number 11 (see www.charts.org.nz). The lyrics, written by Richard von Sturmer, satirically capture the mood of the times, as described by NZ History: "1981 was a time of great economic anxiety in New Zealand, which was characterised by rising unemployment, industrial strife and the Muldoon government's wage and price freeze. On the social/political front an impending Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand carried with it the fear of massive civil unrest." For a profile of the band, see Audioculture.

Image: No depression in New Zealand

Cover sleeve of the single released in July 1981

No depression in New Zealand

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Band: Don McGlashan (vocals, drums), Mark Bell (guitar) & Tim Mahon (bass).

NZ On Screen

Image: There is No Depression in New Zealand

Video of Blam Blam Blam on roof of TVNZ's Shortland Street studios

There is No Depression in New Zealand

NZ On Screen

LYRICS:

See lyrics for There's no depression in New Zealand to hum along to whilst viewing these images which illustrate each line.

Image: There is no depression in New Zealand. Apparently.

There is no depression in New Zealand. Apparently.

Public Address

Image: Wellington Trades Council workers demonstration against wage controls and wage freeze

Wellington Trades Council workers demonstration against wage controls and wage freeze

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sheep

Sheep

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Farm consulting

Sheep were in this paddock

Farm consulting

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Longburn Meatworkers Union protest

Longburn Meatworkers Union protest

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Kennedy, Ronald E (Ronken), fl 1981 :Political Diversion. Bok Tour '81. Floating vote 1981. Our economic situation. ca. 1968-1981.

Kennedy, Ronald E (Ronken), fl 1981 :Political Diversion. Bok Tour '81. Floating vote 1981. Our economic situation. ca. 1968-1981.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mururoa Atoll bomb test

Mururoa Atoll bomb test

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: pins, safety

pins, safety

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: 'Dole' to job

'Dole' to job

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Unemployment benefit brochure

Unemployment benefit brochure

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Drug dog at work

Drug dog at work

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: "Stop the Tour 1976" protest in Wellington

"Stop the Tour 1976" protest in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Beauty contest opponents, 1979

Beauty contest opponents, 1979

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: No narking

No narking

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Sideshow clowns with mouths open

Sideshow clowns with mouths open

mychillybin

Image: Lynch, James Robert, 1947- :'Reform. The Past. Change. Muldoonism. Economic Reality. Protection. The Free Market. Controls'. 1 July 1985

Lynch, James Robert, 1947- :'Reform. The Past. Change. Muldoonism. Economic Reality. Protection. The Free Market. Controls'. 1 July 1985

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Honey in bed

Honey in bed

Auckland Libraries

Image: Nuclear-free stamp

Nuclear-free stamp

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Falklands War cartoon

Falklands War cartoon

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Staying safe in the city

Staying safe in the city

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Protests

Treaty of Waitangi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Police dealing to protestor. Orakei Bastion Point Occupation

Bastion Point

Police dealing to protestor. Orakei Bastion Point Occupation

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Protesters outside Parliament

Samoans protesting NZ citizenship law 1982

Protesters outside Parliament

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Anti-mining protesters

Anti-mining

Anti-mining protesters

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Greenpeace members protesting against whaling - Photograph taken by Auckland Star

Anti-whaling

Greenpeace members protesting against whaling - Photograph taken by Auckland Star

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Youth March

Youth march

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Protest against the six-day week

Opposing six-day week

Protest against the six-day week

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Protest against petition opposing the Homosexual Law Reform Bill - Photograph taken by Greg King

Protesting petition opposing Homosexual Law Reform Bill

Protest against petition opposing the Homosexual Law Reform Bill - Photograph taken by Greg King

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: SIS

SIS

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Police outside Regent Theatre, Queen Street Riot

Riot at DD Smash concert

Police outside Regent Theatre, Queen Street Riot

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Anti Springbok tour demonstrators overturn a car, Auckland, New Zealand - Photograph taken by an Auckland Star photographer

Springbok Tour protestors

Anti Springbok tour demonstrators overturn a car, Auckland, New Zealand - Photograph taken by an Auckland Star photographer

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Protesters 1981

Protesters 1981

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Image: brightly coloured prescription pills

brightly coloured prescription pills

mychillybin

Image: Drugs and Sports

Drugs and Sports

DigitalNZ

Image: No drugs and a clean environment

No drugs and a clean environment

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Sheep moving to greener pastures

Sheep moving to greener pastures

mychillybin

Image: Peter Bromhead on Muldoon's economic miracle, 1978

Peter Bromhead on Muldoon's economic miracle, 1978

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: How's the Weather, Jim?

Outlook is for ...........

How's the Weather, Jim?

NZ On Screen

Image: Peaceful Garden

Perfectly calm

Peaceful Garden

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage