Dave Dobbyn - Overnight Success

Television (Full Length) – 1999

To mark the release of his 1999 compilation album Overnight Success, Dave Dobbyn gives broadcaster Jim Mora a wide-ranging interview exploring his musical legacy, the infamous Queen Street riot, his relationship with drugs and alcohol and his newfound identity as a Christian. Dobbyn reveals the origin stories of several hit songs such as scribbling the chords for DD Smash hit 'Whaling' on a beer mat, and suggests the reason Kiwis are "so fond" of him is down to "an enduring affection that goes both ways". The songwriter also describes the "visit from the man himself" that awakened his spirituality.

There's a point at which your songs — although they're your property and you should justly get paid for them —they become everybody else's as well.
– Dave Dobbyn on songs becoming 'national anthems'

Key Cast & Crew

Jim Mora

Writer, Interviewer

Jay Adshead

Sound Recordist

Mark Chamberlin

Cinematographer

John Fraser

Editor

Dave Dobbyn

Subject

Jill Graham

Director, Producer

See all 12 credits

Produced by

TVNZ

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision - TVNZ Collection

Music

Includes excerpts from 'Ball of Light' (under the working title 'Infidels'), 'Hallelujah Song' (live), 'Beside You' (live with UPR), 'Be Mine Tonight', 'The Devil You Know' 'Outlook for Thursday', 'Magic (What She Do)', 'Loyal', Whaling', 'Slice of Heaven' and 'Blindman's Bend'