1983 Rock Song, Nearly Left Off the Album, Became an International Hit

For plenty early '80s music fans, just hearing the words "What about me? It isn't fair" is enough to transport them back in time. But one emotional rock anthem almost never happened.

Before becoming an international hit for Australian band Moving Pictures and climbing the charts around the world, "What About Me" came close to being left off the group's debut album altogether.

Ironically, the track itself was inspired by a moment of being overlooked. Guitarist Gary Frost reportedly got the idea after noticing a young boy being ignored inside a Sydney corner shop while waiting for lunch, planting the seed for a song about wanting to be seen and heard.

"That image of someone being disregarded, yearning to be acknowledged became the opening line and set the tone for this track," according to Professor of Rock host Adam Reader.

As the song was nearly cut from the final tracklist on the band's debut album, producer Charles Fischer urged Frost and lead singer Alex Smith to record it, Reader explained.

The song became a hit almost immediately, topping the charts in Australia for six consecutive weeks. After gaining success internationally, "What About Me" peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. It re-entered the Billboard charts in 1989, peaking at number 46 during its resurgence.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 9:05 PM.