"Rising Seas" is a song by Australian rock band

Midnight Oil Midnight Oil (known informally as "The Oils") are an Australian rock band composed of Peter Garrett (vocals, harmonica), Rob Hirst (drums), Jim Moginie (guitar, keyboard) and Martin Rotsey (guitar). The group was formed in Sydney in 1972 by H ...

. The song was released on 28 October 2021 as the lead single from the band's thirteenth studio album ''

Resist A resist, used in many areas of manufacturing and art, is something that is added to parts of an object to create a pattern by protecting these parts from being affected by a subsequent stage in the process. Often the resist is then removed. For ...

''. The group performed the song on '' The Sound'' on 28 November 2021. At the

APRA Music Awards of 2023 The APRA Music Awards of 2023 were the 41st annual series, known as the APRA Awards. The awards are given in a series of categories in three divisions and in separate ceremonies throughout the year: the APRA Music Awards, Art Music Awards and ...

, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year and nominated for Most Performed Rock Work. In 2023 the song was nominated for the Environmental Music Prize.

Music video

The Cameron March-directed and Mac De Souza-executive produced video features the band performing the song in front of stock footage from Greenpeace and footage including Sydney shrouded in smoke, melting icecaps and floods.

Critical reception

Sosefina Fuamoli from ''

Music Feeds ''Music Feeds'' is a free bi-weekly digital music and lifestyle magazine ( street press) established in 2008 and based in Sydney, Australia Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Austr ...

'' said the song is "as pointed as you'd expect" saying "the focus of 'Rising Seas' sits squarely on creating real change; as well as Australia's lack of action when it comes to achieving a number of targets, particularly to do with carbon emission. A song like 'Rising Seas' is made to incite and encourage positive change, as much as it about calling out the incompetencies and failings of those in power." Tyler Jenke from ''

Rolling Stone Australia ''Rolling Stone Australia'' is the Australian edition of the United States' ''Rolling Stone'' magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture, published monthly. The Australian version of ''Rolling Stone'' was initially published in 197 ...

'' said "'Rising Seas' is Midnight Oil at their powerful, resonant best." Nathan Jolly from ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' said "The band delivers its grim message with the same raw power of its best anthems. This is an important song, and hopefully it won't fall on deaf ears."

References

{{authority control 2021 songs 2021 singles Sony Music Australia singles Midnight Oil songs Environmental songs Songs written by Jim Moginie Songs about climate change