Pauline Pantsdown
Encyclopedia
Simon Hunt, sometimes known as Pauline Pantsdown, is an Australian satirist and Australian Senate
candidate who parodied Pauline Hanson
, a controversial former member of federal parliament, in 1997. His birth name was Simon Hunt, but he changed his name by deed poll
so that he would appear on the electoral ballot as Pauline Pantsdown; it was later changed back to Simon Hunt. Hunt is the son of David Hunt
, a retired Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
.
Pantsdown is a drag queen
whose taste in fashion parodies Hanson's, and is best known for the songs "Backdoor Man" and "I Don't Like It". The song "Backdoor Man" was a huge hit on the youth radio network Triple J
after its release in 1997, being played almost hourly due to a massive number of requests, making it into the 1997 Hottest 100
list at number 5. However, less than a week after its release, Hanson obtained a court injunction
against the song, claiming it was defamatory. In September 2004, after Hanson launched a campaign for the Australian Senate
, the ABC
was reported to be planning a challenge to the injunction. However, after public criticism from Hanson, the ABC backed down.
Pantsdown performed a remixed version of "I Don't Like It" at the 2011 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Party during Bob Downe's 'Retro-Gras' DJ set just days before Hanson announced her candidacy in the 2011 NSW state election.
live music festival, complete with apparently gay half-naked Asian dancers. He suffered the indignity of being booed and pelted with objects and later claimed "Homophobia
is alive and well in Sydney
".http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/pauline_pantsdown
politics. Hanson vehemently condemned the track, claiming that the song portrayed her as a prostitute
and a transsexual
.
After the injunction over "Backdoor Man", Pantsdown released the follow-up single "I Don't Like It" in response. Once again the song used segments of Hanson's voice to parody her, this time with equally ridiculous but less personal lyrics such as "Why can't my blood be coloured white? I should talk to some medical doctors, coloured blood is just not right". Once again the song was a hit on Triple J and peaked in the ARIA Charts
at #10 during the 1998 federal election campaign.
In 2004, on the Rock Against Howard
compilation, Pauline Pantsdown released the song "I'm Sorry" under the pseudonym Little Johnny, which had appeared as a download on her website some three years earlier with a video. This song used the same techniques to parody John Howard
's refusal to apologise to the Aboriginal
people of Australia over the Stolen Generations.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
candidate who parodied Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Lee Hanson is an Australian politician and former leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a political party with a populist and anti-multiculturalism platform...
, a controversial former member of federal parliament, in 1997. His birth name was Simon Hunt, but he changed his name by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
so that he would appear on the electoral ballot as Pauline Pantsdown; it was later changed back to Simon Hunt. Hunt is the son of David Hunt
David Hunt (judge)
David Anthony Hunt AO QC is an Australian judge who served on the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where he was the Chief Judge at Common Law, and the Judicial Commission of New South Wales...
, a retired Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
.
Pantsdown is a drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
whose taste in fashion parodies Hanson's, and is best known for the songs "Backdoor Man" and "I Don't Like It". The song "Backdoor Man" was a huge hit on the youth radio network Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
after its release in 1997, being played almost hourly due to a massive number of requests, making it into the 1997 Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
list at number 5. However, less than a week after its release, Hanson obtained a court injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against the song, claiming it was defamatory. In September 2004, after Hanson launched a campaign for the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
was reported to be planning a challenge to the injunction. However, after public criticism from Hanson, the ABC backed down.
Pantsdown performed a remixed version of "I Don't Like It" at the 2011 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Party during Bob Downe's 'Retro-Gras' DJ set just days before Hanson announced her candidacy in the 2011 NSW state election.
Homebake appearance
The resulting controversy resulted in Pauline Pantsdown making an appearance at the 1998 HomebakeHomebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
live music festival, complete with apparently gay half-naked Asian dancers. He suffered the indignity of being booed and pelted with objects and later claimed "Homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
is alive and well in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
".http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/pauline_pantsdown
Songs
"Backdoor Man" consists of a series of samples of Hanson's speeches stuck together to form sentences such as "I'm a backdoor man. I'm homosexual. I'm very proud of it", and "I'm a backdoor man for the Ku Klux Klan with very horrendous plans. I'm a very caring potato", parodying Hanson's conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
politics. Hanson vehemently condemned the track, claiming that the song portrayed her as a prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and a transsexual
Transsexualism
Transsexualism is an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their biological sex. Simply put, it defines a person whose biological birth sex conflicts with their psychological gender...
.
After the injunction over "Backdoor Man", Pantsdown released the follow-up single "I Don't Like It" in response. Once again the song used segments of Hanson's voice to parody her, this time with equally ridiculous but less personal lyrics such as "Why can't my blood be coloured white? I should talk to some medical doctors, coloured blood is just not right". Once again the song was a hit on Triple J and peaked in the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at #10 during the 1998 federal election campaign.
In 2004, on the Rock Against Howard
Rock Against Howard
Rock Against Howard is an Australian compilation CD featuring anti-Coalition musicians, released in 2004. The project hoped to inspire young voters to turn out in federal elections that year to vote against then-Prime Minister John Howard, but Howard's party prevailed all the same.Rock Against...
compilation, Pauline Pantsdown released the song "I'm Sorry" under the pseudonym Little Johnny, which had appeared as a download on her website some three years earlier with a video. This song used the same techniques to parody John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's refusal to apologise to the Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
people of Australia over the Stolen Generations.
External links
- The Unofficial Pauline Pantsdown Fan Club
- Pauline Pantsdown lyrics on LyricWiki
- "Backdoor Man" MP3
- ABC television news story on the "Backdoor Man" lawsuit - contains video footage of Ms Hanson and Ms Pantsdown outside the Supreme Court of QueenslandSupreme Court of QueenslandThe Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...