Play It Safe is a musical journey from nervous conformity to joyful riot.

Tim Minchin embodies the listener’s cautious inner voice, imploring us to toe the line and keep it simple – but all the while, winking at what’s possible if we're brave enough not to listen.

While Tim directs us to play it safe, the action on screen shows the wonders that are possible when you do the opposite. The music video begins inside the House, before scaling the roof and bursting out onto the steps. The colour palette evolves from drab greys and browns to a vibrant kaleidoscope. Cameo appearances from the Opera House’s eight resident companies, as well as a host of treasured Australian performers, serve as further evidence that nothing extraordinary ever came from playing it safe.

It was a simple, daunting brief: create a musical tribute worthy of the Sydney Opera House. (Where do you begin celebrating a House that means so much to so many?)

The task also required us to:

Nod to the past but celebrate the future.

Our solution needed to acknowledge the rich legacy of the Sydney Opera House, while also shining a spotlight on the bright future of Australian creativity.

Incorporate each of the Sydney Opera House’s resident companies:

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet, Bangarra, The Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, The Sydney Philharmonia Choir, Opera Australia, The Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Make people feel like the House belongs to them.

There’s a common misconception that the Sydney Opera House is elitist, or “not for people like me.” Though whatever we created needed to be artful, it also needed to speak to every Australian.

Since its release, Play It Safe has made Australians laugh, cry, and burst with pride.

It was covered widely, locally and internationally, landing 662 stories in top-tier publications across TV, radio, digital and print media.

Play It Safe achieved a total campaign reach of 1.8 billion people globally.

There are two Australias.

On the one hand, there’s the enduring myth of the larrikin. The cheerful, charming iconoclast who delights in challenging convention; the modern Ned Kelly with anti-authoritarian convict blood pumping through their heart. The one who’ll never let the rules get in the way of what’s right, and who’ll break rank with a cheeky smile on their face. Bold, brave, brash. This is how Australia likes to see itself.

On the other hand, though, there’s the real Australia. The nervous, conservative country defined by the phenomenon known as ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’. If anyone becomes too bold, too outspoken, too successful – if any poppy grows too tall – we are quick to cut them down to size. We’re suspicious, often resentful, of anyone who breaks rank or challenges convention. Though it was born of noble, egalitarian ambitions, Tall Poppy Syndrome has created a culture that encourages playing it safe and leaving conventions unchallenged.

Australia’s cultural identity is a contradiction – we’re defined by a love of boldness, until we actually see it.

We wanted to appeal to Australia’s best side by taking aim at its worst, and our choice of lead artist and songwriter was key to delivering our message.

Tim Minchin is an internationally renowned Australian comedian, provocateur and songwriter. A passionate advocate of the arts and challenging the status quo, we knew Tim’s experience as an artist would give him a unique perspective on resisting conformity and creating provocative work that lives on in culture.