The Church - Under The Milky Way

"Under the Milky Way" is a 1988 song by Australian alternative rock band The Church. Written by the band's vocalist and bassist, Steve Kilbey, and his then-girlfriend Karin Jansson, the song was originally released on The Church's Starfish album and won the Australian ARIA award for best song in 1989. The song was the band's only international hit, staying in the U.S. top 40 for several weeks, and charting in Canada (#69) and the UK (#90). In their native Australia, "Under The Milky Way" was also a hit, peaking at #22. However, it was not their biggest homeland hit: The Church placed two singles slightly higher in the Australian charts in their career ("Almost With You" at #21, and "Metropolis" at #19).

Unlike most of the band's songs, "Under the Milky Way" featured a 12-string acoustic guitar melody along with a solo that, although sounding like a bagpipe, was actually an EBow on a Fender Jazzmaster.

According to a press release issued with Starfish, the song was written about an Amsterdam music and cultural venue called Melkweg (Dutch for "Milky Way"), which Kilbey used to frequent.

The single was released in several configurations (7", double 7", 12", CD single), in many countries, with at least five different cover art designs. The main b-sides were "Musk" and "Warm Spell." Spanish versions added "Anna Miranda" and "Perfect Child."

Sheet music for "Under The Milky Way" was published by Hal Leonard.

A colorfully cinematic music video was filmed for the song; it is featured on The Church's video compilation Goldfish (Jokes, Magic & Souvenirs).

"Under The Milky Way" was included in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko, which was set in October 1988, in the Directors Cut it was moved to a different position and can be heard playing on the car radio just before the first encounter with "Grandma Death". DVD.

In 2006, the song was performed with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Lead singer Steve Kilbey said after the performance that it was as if the song was made for the occasion, though in his blog he was critical of the Commonwealth Games as an event.

In September 2008 readers of The Weekend Australian Magazine voted it as the best Australian song of the last 20 years.