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{{Short description|Australian pop band}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Operator Please
| name = Operator Please
| Img = OperatorPleasePRphotoByDanielBoud.jpg
| image = OperatorPleasePRphotoByDanielBoud.jpg
| image_size = 150
| Img_capt = From left to right: Henderson, McConnell, Wilkinson, Commandeur, Gardiner.
| caption = Operator Please in 2008. L–R: Henderson, McConnell, Wilkinson, Commandeur, Gardiner
| Img_size =
| Landscape = yes
| landscape = yes
| Background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| Alias =
| alias =
| Origin = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Gold Coast, Queensland]], [[Australia]]
| origin = [[Gold Coast, Queensland]], Australia
| Genre = [[Indie rock]]<br />[[Indie pop]]<br />[[Baroque Pop]]
| genre = [[Indie rock]], [[indie pop]], [[pop rock]], [[New wave music|new wave]], [[dance-punk]], [[teen pop]]
| years_active = 2005–2011
| Years_active = [[2005 in music|2005]]&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;present
| Label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin/EMI]]<br />[[Brille Records|Brille]]
| label = [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]<br />[[EMI Music Australia]]
| associated_acts = [[Bossy Love]], [[Colour Coding]]
| Associated_acts =
| website =
| URL = [http://www.operatorpleaseband.com/ operatorpleaseband.com]
| current_members =
| Current_members = Amandah Wilkinson<br />Taylor Henderson<br />Ashley McConnell<br />Tim Commandeur<br />Chris Holland<br />
| Past_members = Sarah Gardiner<br />Stephanie Joske<br />Kieran Richards<br />
| past_members = [[Amandah Wilkinson]]<br />Taylor Henderson<br />[[Tim Commandeur]]<br />Chris Holland<br />Ashley McConnell<br />Sarah Gardiner<br />Stephanie Joske<br />Kieran Richards<br />Blake Ross
}}
}}


'''Operator Please''' are a [[baroque pop]] band from the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] of [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]. The band formed in 2005, and their current lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson, drummer Tim Commandeur, keyboardist Chris Holland, bassist Ashley McConnell and violinist Taylor Henderson.
'''Operator Please''' were an Australian [[Pop music|pop]] band, originating in the [[Gold Coast, Queensland]], in 2005. Their final line-up consisted of vocalist and guitarist [[Amandah Wilkinson]], drummer [[Tim Commandeur]], keyboardist Chris Holland, bassist Ashley McConnell and violinist Taylor Henderson. They are best known for their 2007 single "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]", which won an [[ARIA Music Award]] at the [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007 ceremony]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22548616-5007184,00.html|title=Ping Pong proves a winner for indie band Operator Please|author=Braithwaite, Alyssa|date=8 October 2007|access-date=15 November 2007|publisher=News Limited}}</ref>

The original members met and formed Operator Please as students of [[Elanora State High School]], in order to compete in the school's "[[Battle of the Bands]]" competition.<ref name="triplej">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/events/ausmusicmonth_06/next_crop/operator_please.htm|title=Operator Please|publisher=[[Triple J]]. [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|accessdate=2007-11-15}}</ref> In 2007, Operator Please released the singles "[[Get What You Want]]", "[[Leave It Alone (song)|Leave It Alone]]", "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]" and their debut studio album, ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''. "Just a Song About Ping Pong", their most successful single to date, was nominated for two [[ARIA Music Awards|ARIA Awards]] in [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]], winning one for Breakthrough Artist - Single.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22548616-5007184,00.html|title=Ping Pong proves a winner for indie band Operator Please|author=Braithwaite, Alyssa|date=[[October 8]], [[2007]]|accessdate=2007-11-15|publisher=News Limited}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
===2005–2011===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Operator Please MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2007.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Operator Please attending the [[MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2007]].|{{deletable image-caption|1=Tuesday, 31 March 2009}}]] -->
Operator Please formed in early 2005 by [[lead singer]] and guitarist [[Amandah Wilkinson]] and students of [[Elanora State High School]] in an attempt to compete in the high school's annual "[[Battle of the Bands]]" competition, which they went on to win.<ref name="triplej">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/events/ausmusicmonth_06/next_crop/operator_please.htm|title=Operator Please|publisher=[[Triple J]]. [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=15 November 2007}}</ref>


Operator Please was formed in early 2005 by [[lead singer]] Amandah Wilkinson in an attempt to compete in her high school's annual "[[Battle of the Bands]]" competition. After winning the contest, the five members, aged 17 to 19, started working on getting their name out through an independently produced [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[On the Prowl (EP)|On the Prowl]]''. Their second EP, ''[[Cement Cement]]'', generated interest both locally and internationally, from a combination of word of mouth and exposure on the Australian youth radio network [[Triple J]] (which featured their first single, "Crash Tragic", taken from the EP, on high rotation for quite some time).<ref>
After winning the contest, the five members, aged 17 to 19, recorded and self-released the [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[On the Prowl (EP)|On the Prowl]]'' in 2006, limited to 300 handmade copies. The EP included an early version of the song "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]". The band released a second EP, ''Cement Cement'', in 2006, which generated interest both locally and internationally from a combination of word of mouth and exposure on the Australian youth radio network [[Triple J]], and the band were signed to Virgin Records.<ref>
{{cite news|title = Give us more Operator Please|publisher = The Courier Mail|url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22172422-5003421,00.html|access-date = 21 August 2007| first=Catriona| last=Mathewson| date=2 August 2007}}</ref> The band opened for [[Arctic Monkeys]] and [[Kaiser Chiefs]] on their 2007 Australian tours.<ref>{{cite web|title = Kaiser Chiefs / Wolf And Cub / Operator Please|publisher = Rave Magazine|url = http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/4807/82/|access-date = 22 July 2007}}</ref>
{{cite web
|title = A&R Worldwide Reports
|publisher = Radio & Records
|url = http://www.lelandgrant.com/anr.pdf
|accessdate = 2007-08-22
}}</ref> Within months, and with the help of a record label sponsored showcase in [[NYC]], they had agreed a deal with [[Virgin Records|Virgin/EMI Records]] for Australia, and for the UK with indie label [[Brille Records]].<ref>
{{cite web
|title = Give us more Operator Please
|publisher = The Courier Mail
|url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22172422-5003421,00.html
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>


In July 2007, the band released a re-recorded version of "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]" as their debut single. The song peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Charts and at the [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007]]; the song won the [[ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single]].<ref name="aria">{{cite web|title = ARIA Nominees Announced|publisher = SameSame.com.au|url = http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/1368/ARIA-Nominees-Announced.htm|access-date = 21 September 2007}}</ref> Celebrity blogger [[Perez Hilton]] labelled Operator Please as "our favourite new band" and "the next big thing".<ref>{{cite web|title = Listen To This: Our New Obsession| date=15 July 2007 |publisher = Perez Hilton|url = http://perezhilton.com/?p=1487|access-date = 21 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Listen To This: The New Wave!| date=5 July 2007 |publisher = Perez Hilton|url = http://perezhilton.com/?p=956|access-date = 21 August 2007}}</ref>
"[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]" was one of the most added songs at Australian commercial radio with the Hot 30 and [[Nova (radio network)|Nova]] [[Radio broadcasting|radio stations]] nationally leading the charge. The [[music video]] for the song was played on music programmes around Australia, UK, and Europe including [[MTV]]<ref>{{cite web
|title = The NME Chart
|publisher = MTV UK
|url = http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtv2/shows/the_nme_chart_vote
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>, [[Channel V]]<ref>{{cite web
|title = Top 50 Most Requested Songs
|publisher = Channel [V]
|url = http://channelv.com.au/V/Requests.aspx
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>, and [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]'s ''[[Rage (TV program)|rage]]''<ref>{{cite web
|title = Playlist Saturday, 18 August 2007
|publisher = ABC
|url = http://www.abc.net.au/rage/archive/s2007722.htm
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>. It was featured on the front page of [[MySpace]] and [[YouTube]]<ref>{{cite web
|title = Operator Please - Just A Song About Ping Pong
|publisher = [[YouTube]]
|url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHqsSblXg0
|accessdate = 2007-07-22
}}</ref>. Operator Please has since been labelled as "our favorite new band" and "the next big thing" by celebrity blogger [[Perez Hilton]].<ref>{{cite web
|title = Listen To This: Our New Obsession
|publisher = Perez Hilton
|url = http://perezhilton.com/?p=1487
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title = Listen To This: The New Wave!
|publisher = Perez Hilton
|url = http://perezhilton.com/?p=956
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>


In October 2007, the band released "[[Get What You Want]]", which peaked at number 27 on the ARIA Charts.<ref name=aus/> This was followed by the band's debut studio album, ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]'', in November 2007, which peaked at number 28 on the ARIA album chart.<ref name=aus/>
Since the announcement that the band were to play the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] in August, Operator Please continued to play industry showcases in the UK<ref name="uktour">{{cite web
|title = Operator Please UK Tour Dates
|publisher = Music-News Unsigned
|url = http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=14816
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>. The single "Just a Song About Ping Pong", released in Australia on [[July 28]], has been added to national UK radio station [[BBC Radio 1]] and [[London]] station [[Xfm|XFM]], following an ''[[NME]]'' feature which named them one of EMI's buzz bands. The single debuted in the [[ARIA Singles Chart]] on [[August 6]] at #15, and topped out at #12<ref name="charts">{{cite web
|title = Singles Charts
|publisher = Australian Record Industry Association
|url = http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>. The single is nominated for two [[ARIA Music Awards|ARIA Awards]] in [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]: Best Pop Release and Breakthrough Artist - Single<ref name="aria">{{cite web
|title = ARIA Nominees Announced
|publisher = SameSame.com.au
|url = http://www.samesame.com.au/news/local/1368/ARIA-Nominees-Announced.htm
|accessdate = 2007-09-21
}}</ref>, and won the award for Breakthrough Artist - Single. Also, this was on the same night of their television performing debut performing that single.


In 2008, the band toured throughout [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]<ref name="tour">{{cite web
The band recorded their debut [[studio album]], titled ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]'' at The Groves, on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia<ref>{{cite web
|title = All Shows for Operator Please|publisher = MySpace|url = http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bandprofile.listAllShows&friendid=42470861&n=Operator+Please|access-date = 21 August 2007
|title = Believing the hype.
}}</ref> and released ''Yes Yes Vindictive'' in the UK on 17 March 2008.
|publisher = The Courier Mail
|url = http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=916604&id=879000706
|accessdate = 2007-02-08
}}</ref>, which was released on [[November 10]]. It charted at number 28 on the ARIA Albums Chart on the week beginning [[November 19]].<ref>[http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1G50 Australian Top 50 ARIA Albums Chart]. [[Australian Recording Industry Association]]. Retrieved on [[November 18]], [[2007]].</ref> A track titled "Zero! Zero!" was heard on the ''Top Shelf'' program of Australian radio station [[Triple J]] on [[October 2]]<ref>{{cite web
|title = Zero Zero (Operator Please)
|publisher = JPlay
|url = http://www.jplay.com.au/JSite/ViewSong.aspx?SongID=11087
|accessdate = 2007-10-03
}}</ref>. The band also recently opened for [[Arctic Monkeys]] and [[Kaiser Chiefs]] on their Australian tours<ref>{{cite web
|title = Kaiser Chiefs / Wolf And Cub / Operator Please
|publisher = Rave Magazine
|url = http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/4807/82/
|accessdate = 2007-07-22
}}</ref> and are now on tour in the UK, [[Europe]], and [[Asia]].<ref name="tour">{{cite web
|title = All Shows for Operator Please
|publisher = MySpace
|url = http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bandprofile.listAllShows&friendid=42470861&n=Operator+Please
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.stv.tv/content/out/gallagherstravels/display.html?id=opencms:/content/out/gallagherstravels/The_ones_to_watchx_130907_20070913 The Ones to Watch?], stv.tv blog, September 07</ref>. The band finally released ''Yes Yes Vindictive'' in the UK on the 17th of March 2008. During the summer the band will be support touring [[The Futureheads]] and [[Lightspeed Champion]]. They have been playing many festivals across Europe including [[Glastonbury Festival]]. They have also covered 2 songs, Push It by Salt 'n' Pepa and Whip It by Devo, videos of these can be seen on YouTube


As of 12 June, 2009, Operator Please have started recording their next album. They are expecting to release a single in August and have their album released in late 2009. They have revealed that ''Logic'' will be one of the track names.
Operator Please spent 2009 composing their second album. On 8 February 2010, the band released the album's lead single, "Logic". The band's second album, ''[[Gloves (album)|Gloves]]'', was released on 23 April 2010 in Australia and 31 May 2010 in the rest of the world. The album peaked at number 20 on the ARIA album chart.<ref name=aus/>


In June 2010, the band completed their first headlining tour since late 2008; they were supported by Perth band [[Tim & Jean]] and Sydney band [[Chaingang (band)|Chaingang]]. Shortly afterwards, they would play a variety of festivals, including [[Splendour in the Grass]] and [[Canberra]] festival Stonefest. They also played the Australian leg of the 2011 [[Big Day Out]] festival. March and April 2011 saw the band tour Australia, this time as the main support for Sydney musician [[Sparkadia]]. "Catapult" was released in January 2011 as the fifth and final single from ''Gloves''.
==Discography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
<big>'''Studio albums'''</big><div style="padding: 10px;">
* 2007: ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''
* 2009: ''TBA''
</div>
<big>'''Singles'''</big><div style="padding: 10px;">
* 2007: "[[Get What You Want]]"
* 2007: "[[Leave It Alone (song)|Leave It Alone]]"
* 2007: "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]"
* 2008: "[[Two for My Seconds]]"


===2012–present===
</div>
Although the band have not officially split,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/homeandhosed/blog/s3339635.htm|title=Has Operator Please Called It Quits? No!|work=Home & Hosed - New Australian Music blog|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]|access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> they have been inactive since 2011, and the band members are currently part of other projects. Wilkinson has adopted the moniker [[Bossy Love]], collaborated with John Baillie Jnr of [[Dananananaykroyd]], and released her debut EP ''Me + You'' in October 2013;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/press/bossy-love-announces-debut-ep-me-you-out-october-21st-2013|title=Bossy Love Announces Debut Ep 'Me + You' Out October 21st 2013|date=17 September 2013 |publisher=[[Contactmusic]]|access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> Holland and Commandeur formed the duo [[Colour Coding]] and released their debut EP ''Proof'' in March 2012, later announcing a hiatus for that project in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ColourCoding/posts/594799530586705|title=Colour Coding - It is a little sad to announce, but we...|publisher=[[Colour Coding]] on [[Facebook]]|access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref>
{{col-2}}


==Discography==
<big>'''Extended plays'''</big><div style="padding: 10px;">
===Studio albums===
* 2006: ''[[On the Prowl (EP)|On the Prowl]]''
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
* 2007: ''[[Cement Cement]]''
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
</div>
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title
{{col-end}}
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Official Charts|UK]]<br /><ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_O.HTM|title=Chart Log UK 1994–2010: The O – Ozric Tentacles|website=zobbel.de|access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''
|
*Released: November 2007
*Label: [[Virgin Records|Virgin]] (5137072)
*Format: [[Compact Disc|CD]]
| 28 || 157
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Gloves (album)|Gloves]]''
|
*Released: 23 April 2010
*Label: Virgin, [[EMI Music]] (50999 6290472 8)
*Format: CD, [[Music download|DD]]
| 20 || —
|}


===Charts and certifications===
===Extended plays===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details
!Year
! Title
!Song
! Details
!style="width:4em"|<small>[[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]]</small>
|-
!style="width:4em"|<small>[[UK Indie Chart|UK Indie Singles Chart]]</small>
! scope="row"| ''[[On the Prowl (EP)|On the Prowl]]''
!style="width:4em"|<small>[[Triple J Hottest 100]]</small>
|
!style="width:4em"|<small>[[UK Singles Chart]]</small>
*Released: 2006
!Album
*Label: Operator Please
*Format: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''Cement Cement''
|
*Released: 2006
*Label: Scorpio Management, Virgin (3864422)
*Format: CD, DD
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>Australian chart peaks:
*All top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Operator+Please|title=Discography Operator Please|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=4 September 2022}}
*Top 100 (ARIA) peaks to December 2010: {{cite Ryan|page=209}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name=uk/>
|-
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]"
|rowspan="3"|2007
|rowspan="3"|2007
|align="center"|12
|"[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]"
|align="center"|#12
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|#10
|align="center"|#27
|align="center"|-
|rowspan="4"|''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''
|rowspan="4"|''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''
|-
|-
|"[[Get What You Want]]"
!scope="row"|"[[Get What You Want]]"
|align="center"|#27
|align="center"|27
|align="center"|#1
|align="center"|121
|align="center"|#77
|align="center"|#121
|-
|-
|"[[Leave It Alone (song)|Leave It Alone]]"
!scope="row"|"[[Leave It Alone (Operator Please song)|Leave It Alone]]"
|align="center"|#62
|align="center"|62
|align="center"|#3
|align="center"|133
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|#133
|-
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Two for My Seconds]]"
|rowspan="1"|2008
|2008
|"[[Two for My Seconds]]"
|align="center"|#93
|align="center"|93
|align="center"|-
|align="center"|—
|-
|align="center"|-
!scope="row"|"[[Logic (song)|Logic]]"
|align="center"|-
|rowspan="4"|2010
|align="center"|47
|align="center"|—
|rowspan="5"|''[[Gloves (album)|Gloves]]''
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Back and Forth (Operator Please song)|Back and Forth]]"
|align="center"|84
|align="center"|—
|-
!scope="row"|"Like Magic"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
!scope="row"|"Volcanic"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
!scope="row"|"Catapult"
|2011
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|}
|}

Operator Please's first single "Just a Song About Ping Pong" reached its peak of #12 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] (as of [[27 August]], [[2007]])<ref name="charts">{{cite web
|title = Singles Charts
|publisher = Australian Record Industry Association
|url = http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50
|accessdate = 2007-08-21
}}</ref> and has reached #10 on the [[UK Indie Chart]]<ref name="indie charts">{{cite web
|title = Uk Indie Singles Charts
|publisher = Official Charts Company
|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/indiesingles.shtml
|accessdate = 2007-08-27
}}</ref>.
The next single "[[Get What You Want]]" debuted at #40 on [[5 November]]. It has thus far peaked at #27.<ref name="charts"/> Their Australian album release ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]'' has so far charted at #5 on iTunes<ref name="itunes charts">{{cite web
|title = iTunes Charts
|publisher = Apple, Inc.
|url = http://www.apple.com/au/itunes
|accessdate = 2007-11-15
}}</ref>, at #55 on the New Zealand iTunes chart, #49 on the UK iTunes chart and #9 on the UK Indie Album Chart.

==Departed members==
On the 18th of April, 2008, it was announced through several media sources that Gardiner had quit the band <ref name="top forty">{{cite news| url=http://www.take40.com/news/14344/Operator-Please-Keyboardist-Quits| title=top forty news| publisher=top forty.com | accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>. The first to report the story were nme.com, who found the information through an unofficial blog post Gardiner had made on facebook.com <ref name="nme.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.nme.com/news/operator-please/35989| title=nme.com news| publisher=nme.com| accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>. The band have been quoted saying the decision to split was mutual, following Gardiner's two-month break from touring in early January. Sarah is the third official member of Operator Please to leave the band (following Keiran Richards and Stephanie Joske).

==Performances==

===Festivals===
[[Image:Operator Please Concert - Brisbane Valley Fiesta 2008.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Operator Please Performing at Valley Fiesta, Brisbane, Australia.]]
*Good Vibrations Festival(2007)
*[[Big Day Out]] (2007)
*Great Escape Festival (2007)
*Camden Crawl 2007
*[[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] (2007)
*[[Splendour in the Grass]] (2007)
*[[Homebake]] (2007)
*Coca-Cola Live 'n Local Up Close (2007)
*Falls Festival (2007)
*[[Big Day Out]] (2008)
*Saint Kilda Festival (2008)
*[[Hurricane Festival]] (2008)
*[[Glastonbury Festival]] (2008)
*Southside Festival (2008)
*Wakestock Festival (2008)
*Roxy Festival (2008)
*Slottsfjell Festival (2008)
*Melt Festival! (2008)
*Grazzhopper Festival (2008)
*Festival Of The Sun (2008)
*Fisher's Ghost Festival (2008)
*Valley Fiesta (2008)<ref name="Valley Fiesta">{{cite news| url=http://www.ozmusicscene.com/operator-please-play-valley-fiesta/| title=Operator Please Play Valley Fiesta| publisher=B5Media| accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref>
*Dusty Days ([[Wagga Wagga]]) (2009)
*Clipsal 500 (2009)
*Northbeat (2009)

===Television===
*21st Annual [[ARIA Awards]] - [[October 28]] [[2007]]
*[[The Sideshow]] - [[November 3]] [[2007]]
*[[Rove (TV series)|Rove]] - [[November 18]] [[2007]]
*[[Sunrise]] - [[December 16]] [[2007]]
*[[Later With Jools Holland]] [[May 2]] [[2008]]
*[[Rove (TV series)|Rove]] - [[June 15]] [[2008]]
*BBC Sound [[June 14]] [[2008]]
*Virgin Blue Commercial (Get What You Want Was Played During Commercial) (2007)
*Basement Sessions (2007)


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
===ARIA Awards===
===ARIA Awards===
The [[ARIA Music Awards]] is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of [[Australian music]].
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Year
Line 241: Line 153:
! Work
! Work
! Result
! Result
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]
| rowspan="3"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2007|2007]]
| Breakthrough Artist - Single
| [[ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single|Breakthrough Artist – Single]]
| "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]"
| "[[Just a Song About Ping Pong]]"
| align="center" style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
| align="center" style="background: #ddffdd"| Won
| rowspan="3"| <ref name="ARIA2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2007 |title=ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2007: 21st Annual ARIA Awards |publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) |access-date=13 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118143950/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2007 |archive-date=18 November 2007 }}</ref>
|-
|-
| Best Pop Release
| [[ARIA Award for Best Pop Release|Best Pop Release]]
| "Just a Song About Ping Pong"
| "Just a Song About Ping Pong"
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|-
| [[ARIA Award for Best Pop Release|Best Pop Release]]
| [[Magoo (Australian producer)|Magoo]] for "Just a Song About Ping Pong"
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2008|2008]]
| rowspan="2"| [[ARIA Music Awards of 2008|2008]]
| Breakthrough Artist - Album
| [[ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Album|Breakthrough Artist – Album]]
| "[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]"
| ''[[Yes Yes Vindictive]]''
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
| rowspan="2"|<ref name="ARIA2008">{{cite web| url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2008| title = Winners by Year: 2008| publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)| access-date = 5 June 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090813152819/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2008| archive-date = 13 August 2009| url-status = dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Best Pop Release
| Best Pop Release
| "Yes Yes Vindictive"
| ''Yes Yes Vindictive''
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
| align="center" style="background: #ffdddd"| Nominated
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<div class="references-small" style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>

== External links ==
* [http://www.operatorpleaseband.com '''Official website''']
* [http://myspace.com/operatorplease Official web page] on [[MySpace]]
* [http://youtube.com/ividdythou Official web page] on [[YouTube]]
* [http://www.supersweet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=491&Itemid=27 Interview with SUPERSWEET], October 2007
* [http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/11821/Operator-Pleases-Big-Day-Out.htm Interview with FasterLouder], January 2008


==External links==
{{Commons category|Operator Please}}
{{Operator Please}}
{{Operator Please}}
{{ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Queensland musical groups]]
[[Category:Queensland musical groups]]
[[Category:Australian indie rock groups]]
[[Category:Australian indie rock groups]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:ARIA Award winners]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2005]]

[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011]]
[[de:Operator Please]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Australia]]
[[fr:Operator Please]]
[[Category:Australian indie pop groups]]
[[it:Operator Please]]
[[Category:Australian new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:Musicians from the Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]

Latest revision as of 21:26, 6 August 2024

Operator Please
Operator Please in 2008. L–R: Henderson, McConnell, Wilkinson, Commandeur, Gardiner
Operator Please in 2008. L–R: Henderson, McConnell, Wilkinson, Commandeur, Gardiner
Background information
OriginGold Coast, Queensland, Australia
GenresIndie rock, indie pop, pop rock, new wave, dance-punk, teen pop
Years active2005–2011
LabelsVirgin
EMI Music Australia
Past membersAmandah Wilkinson
Taylor Henderson
Tim Commandeur
Chris Holland
Ashley McConnell
Sarah Gardiner
Stephanie Joske
Kieran Richards
Blake Ross

Operator Please were an Australian pop band, originating in the Gold Coast, Queensland, in 2005. Their final line-up consisted of vocalist and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson, drummer Tim Commandeur, keyboardist Chris Holland, bassist Ashley McConnell and violinist Taylor Henderson. They are best known for their 2007 single "Just a Song About Ping Pong", which won an ARIA Music Award at the 2007 ceremony.[1]

History

[edit]

2005–2011

[edit]

Operator Please formed in early 2005 by lead singer and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson and students of Elanora State High School in an attempt to compete in the high school's annual "Battle of the Bands" competition, which they went on to win.[2]

After winning the contest, the five members, aged 17 to 19, recorded and self-released the EP On the Prowl in 2006, limited to 300 handmade copies. The EP included an early version of the song "Just a Song About Ping Pong". The band released a second EP, Cement Cement, in 2006, which generated interest both locally and internationally from a combination of word of mouth and exposure on the Australian youth radio network Triple J, and the band were signed to Virgin Records.[3] The band opened for Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs on their 2007 Australian tours.[4]

In July 2007, the band released a re-recorded version of "Just a Song About Ping Pong" as their debut single. The song peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Charts and at the ARIA Music Awards of 2007; the song won the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single.[5] Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton labelled Operator Please as "our favourite new band" and "the next big thing".[6][7]

In October 2007, the band released "Get What You Want", which peaked at number 27 on the ARIA Charts.[8] This was followed by the band's debut studio album, Yes Yes Vindictive, in November 2007, which peaked at number 28 on the ARIA album chart.[8]

In 2008, the band toured throughout Europe and Asia[9] and released Yes Yes Vindictive in the UK on 17 March 2008.

Operator Please spent 2009 composing their second album. On 8 February 2010, the band released the album's lead single, "Logic". The band's second album, Gloves, was released on 23 April 2010 in Australia and 31 May 2010 in the rest of the world. The album peaked at number 20 on the ARIA album chart.[8]

In June 2010, the band completed their first headlining tour since late 2008; they were supported by Perth band Tim & Jean and Sydney band Chaingang. Shortly afterwards, they would play a variety of festivals, including Splendour in the Grass and Canberra festival Stonefest. They also played the Australian leg of the 2011 Big Day Out festival. March and April 2011 saw the band tour Australia, this time as the main support for Sydney musician Sparkadia. "Catapult" was released in January 2011 as the fifth and final single from Gloves.

2012–present

[edit]

Although the band have not officially split,[10] they have been inactive since 2011, and the band members are currently part of other projects. Wilkinson has adopted the moniker Bossy Love, collaborated with John Baillie Jnr of Dananananaykroyd, and released her debut EP Me + You in October 2013;[11] Holland and Commandeur formed the duo Colour Coding and released their debut EP Proof in March 2012, later announcing a hiatus for that project in November 2013.[12]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[8] 		UK
[13]
Yes Yes Vindictive
  • Released: November 2007
  • Label: Virgin (5137072)
  • Format: CD
 28 157
Gloves
  • Released: 23 April 2010
  • Label: Virgin, EMI Music (50999 6290472 8)
  • Format: CD, DD
 20 —

Extended plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
On the Prowl
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Operator Please
  • Format: CD
Cement Cement
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Scorpio Management, Virgin (3864422)
  • Format: CD, DD

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[8] 		UK
[13]
"Just a Song About Ping Pong" 2007 12 — Yes Yes Vindictive
"Get What You Want" 27 121
"Leave It Alone" 62 133
"Two for My Seconds" 2008 93 —
"Logic" 2010 47 — Gloves
"Back and Forth" 84 —
"Like Magic" — —
"Volcanic" — —
"Catapult" 2011 — —

Awards and nominations

[edit]

ARIA Awards

[edit]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Award Work Result Ref.
2007 Breakthrough Artist – Single "Just a Song About Ping Pong" Won [14]
Best Pop Release "Just a Song About Ping Pong" Nominated
Best Pop Release Magoo for "Just a Song About Ping Pong" Nominated
2008 Breakthrough Artist – Album Yes Yes Vindictive Nominated [15]
Best Pop Release Yes Yes Vindictive Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Braithwaite, Alyssa (8 October 2007). "Ping Pong proves a winner for indie band Operator Please". News Limited. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
  2. ^ "Operator Please". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
  3. ^ Mathewson, Catriona (2 August 2007). "Give us more Operator Please". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  4. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs / Wolf And Cub / Operator Please". Rave Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  5. ^ "ARIA Nominees Announced". SameSame.com.au. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Listen To This: Our New Obsession". Perez Hilton. 15 July 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  7. ^ "Listen To This: The New Wave!". Perez Hilton. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d e Australian chart peaks:
    • All top 50 peaks: "Discography Operator Please". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
    • Top 100 (ARIA) peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 209.
  9. ^ "All Shows for Operator Please". MySpace. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  10. ^ "Has Operator Please Called It Quits? No!". Home & Hosed - New Australian Music blog. ABC. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  11. ^ "Bossy Love Announces Debut Ep 'Me + You' Out October 21st 2013". Contactmusic. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Colour Coding - It is a little sad to announce, but we..." Colour Coding on Facebook. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Chart Log UK 1994–2010: The O – Ozric Tentacles". zobbel.de. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  14. ^ "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2007: 21st Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Winners by Year: 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
[edit]
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