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The Axis of Awesome

From Alfawiki
The Axis of Awesome
Company typeMusical group
IndustryEntertainment, Comedy music
Founded2006
Defunct2018
Headquarters
Australia
Key people
Jordan Raskopoulos, Lee Naimo, Benny Davis
ProductsComedy music performances, albums

The Axis of Awesome was a comedic musical ensemble from Australia, featuring members Jordan Raskopoulos, Lee Naimo, and Benny Davis. Active between 2006 and 2018, the trio blended original songs with parodic takes on popular music, showcasing a range of performance techniques.

History

Established in 2006, the group's name cleverly referenced the term "axis of evil," famously used by US President George W. Bush. The members initially connected through improvisational theatre at the University of Sydney and began performing at stand-up comedy events as well as on FBi Radio. Their initial rise to prominence occurred with rap parodies centered around the 2007 Australian Federal Election.

Their popularity increased following appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival alongside various television and radio spots. Their 2008 production, "The Axis of Awesome Comeback Spectacular," earned them a Moosehead Award and garnered praise at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

After their success in Edinburgh, their track "4 Chords"—a medley demonstrating a shared chord progression present in 36 pop songs—received airtime on BBC Radio 1 and went viral on YouTube, significantly expanding their global audience. This exposure facilitated invitations to programs such as Nova 96.9, Triple M, The Footy Show, Good News Week, and 9am with David & Kim.

In April 2009, they debuted "The Axis of Awesome vs Bee" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and subsequently performed it at the Sydney Comedy Festival. Their touring schedule included regional stops throughout Queensland and New South Wales as part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival roadshow, as well as an appearance at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. They returned to Edinburgh with their sold-out show "Infinity Rock Explosion" and participated in Sydney’s World's Funniest Island festival.

February 2010 marked the release of their sophomore album, Infinity Rock Explosion!, coinciding with sold-out performances at major festivals such as Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival, and Singapore Flipside Festival. That year, they received the Time Out award for best local talent at Sydney Comedy Festival and launched their first DVD release, The Axis of Awesome Live, distributed by Punchline and Beyond Entertainment.

The group made another return to Edinburgh in 2014 with their show "Viva La Vida Loca Las Vegas."

In February 2016, frontman Jordan Raskopoulos publicly announced her transgender identity through a video titled "What's happened to Jordan's beard," which was met with widespread positive feedback. The album released that year featured a cover of Against Me!'s "Transgender Dysphoria Blues."

By August 2018, via a Facebook announcement, the band revealed that following a hiatus starting in early 2017, they would cease performing together under The Axis of Awesome name.

Albums

Singles

Selected singles including chart rankings, release years, and associated albums
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
"Four Chords" 2011 175 Animal Vehicle

Awards

  • Moosehead Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2008
  • Best Australian Act Award at the Time Out Sydney Comedy Festival, 2010
  • Time Out Sydney’s Best Comedy Show, 2010–2011
  • Best YouTube Channel at the Online Video Awards, 2014

"Four Chords"

The Axis of Awesome’s hallmark piece, Four Chords, is a medley featuring well-known songs arranged over the I–V–vi–IV progression. While not every song strictly adheres to this chord sequence, the group employs it as a repeating motif, occasionally substituting with a vi–IV–I–V progression. The performance is primarily in the key of D (shifting to E during live YouTube renditions), with most songs transposed from their original keys.

This medley expands by incorporating new chart-toppers but consistently retains the band’s original "Birdplane" and Men at Work’s "Down Under." It usually begins with Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’" and concludes with Missy Higgins’ "Scar," modifying the closing lyric to emphasize the recurring four-chord pattern.

An official music video was launched on their YouTube channel on 20 July 2011.

The official video includes these songs:

  1. Journey – "Don't Stop Believin'"
  2. James Blunt – "You're Beautiful"
  3. The Black Eyed Peas – "Where Is the Love"
  4. Alphaville – "Forever Young"
  5. Jason Mraz – "I'm Yours"
  6. Train – "Hey, Soul Sister"
  7. The Calling – "Wherever You Will Go"
  8. Elton John – "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
  9. Akon – "Don't Matter"
  10. John Denver – "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
  11. Lady Gaga – "Paparazzi"
  12. U2 – "With or Without You"
  13. The Last Goodnight – "Pictures of You"
  14. Maroon 5 – "She Will Be Loved"
  15. The Beatles – "Let It Be"
  16. Bob Marley – "No Woman, No Cry"
  17. Marcy Playground – "Sex and Candy"
  18. Men At Work – "Down Under"
  19. Jill Colucci – "The Funny Things You Do" (Theme from America's Funniest Home Videos)
  20. Jack Johnson – "Taylor"
  21. Spice Girls – "2 Become 1"
  22. A-ha – "Take On Me"
  23. Green Day – "When I Come Around"
  24. Eagle Eye Cherry – "Save Tonight"
  25. Toto – "Africa"
  26. Beyoncé – "If I Were A Boy"
  27. Kelly Clarkson – "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
  28. Jason Derulo – "In My Head"
  29. The Smashing Pumpkins – "Bullet with Butterfly Wings"
  30. Joan Osborne – "One of Us"
  31. Avril Lavigne – "Complicated"
  32. The Offspring – "Self Esteem" and "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid"
  33. Akon – "Beautiful"
  34. OneRepublic – "Apologize"
  35. Eminem feat. Rihanna – "Love the Way You Lie"
  36. Bon Jovi – "It's My Life"
  37. Lady Gaga – "Poker Face"
  38. Aqua – "Barbie Girl"
  39. Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Otherside"
  40. The Gregory Brothers – "Double Rainbow Song"
  41. MGMT – "Kids"
  42. Andrea Bocelli – "Time to Say Goodbye"
  43. Robert Burns – "Auld Lang Syne"
  44. Five for Fighting – "Superman (It's Not Easy)"
  45. The Axis of Awesome – "Birdplane"
  46. Missy Higgins – "Scar"

Various renditions have also featured: Alex Lloyd's “Amazing,” Adele’s “Someone Like You,” Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts,” Crowded House’s “Fall At Your Feet,” Rihanna’s “Take a Bow,” Pink’s “U + Ur Hand,” The Fray’s “You Found Me,” Blink-182’s “Dammit,” Alicia Keys’ “No One,” Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball,” Imagine Dragons’ “Demons,” Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris’ “We Found Love,” Avicii’s “Wake Me Up,” Flo Rida’s “Whistle,” The Script feat. will.i.am’s “Hall of Fame,” Iyaz’s “Replay,” among others.

See also

External links

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