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"Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)" is a song written and recorded by Australian country music singer, Beccy Cole, from her album, Feel This Free (2005).

At the 35th annual Country Music Awards of Australia in January 2007, the song won three Golden Guitars for Song of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Single of the Year.

At the 2007 Tamworth Songwriters Awards, the song won Contemporary Country Song and Country Song of the Year. Cole performed "Poster Girl" at the MCG on ANZAC day in 2007 in front of a crowd of 100,000.

Background and release

Between December 2005 and January 2006, Cole travelled to Iraq and The Middle East to do a series of concerts for Australian Defence Force. Upon her return, she received a letter from a fan objecting to her Tour de Force appearances, mistakenly thinking her singing overseas to Aussie troops amounted to her supporting the war. Cole said the criticism stung, "To be accused of supporting some sort of ridiculous war on terror – which was not what I was doing at all – hurt." Cole explained; "I was incredibly inspired by the whole experience of going over to the Middle East to entertain the Aussie troops, but also getting to know them and understanding what they're all about. I was like a proud mother hen over there, so I really did want to come back and sing their praises. I wanted to write a song, but I didn't know what angle. That's when I received the criticism." Cole continued saying "You can support the troops without supporting the war. You can recognise that they do an amazing job, that they put their lives on the line and put themselves in danger because we need a Defence Force. Wonderful, wonderful people."

In October 2006, the song went viral after there was a short passage about the song in Defence Direct and was picked up by Melbourne blogger, Andrew Llanderyou, which was the source of Andrew Bolt's Herald Sun article which in turn was the source for American blogs like Blackfive and even the Toronto Sun.

Charts

"Poster Girl (Wrong Side of the World)" reached number one spot on the Country Tracks Top 30 singles chart.

References

1. ":: Spotlight :: Country Music Awards of Australia 2007". Media Search. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
2. "Golden Guitar Award Winners 2000s". Country Music Australia. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
3. "Tamworth Songwriters Association Past Winners". Tamworth Songwriters Association Online. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
4. "Cruisin Country Beccy Cole". Retrieved 16 December 2016.
5. "Country Star Tells Of Gympie Muster Courage For Mates". 1 July 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
6. "Beccy Cole: Australians Are Sensitive With Beautiful Hearts". 23 August 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
7. ^ "Beccy Cole - "Poster Girl" on the Wrong Side of the World". Black Five. October 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
8. "Chart update – Beccy holds on to number one". Country Music Bulletin. August 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

• 2005 songs
• 2006 songs
• Songs about Australia
• Anti-war songs
• Universal Music Australia singles