{{for|the episode|List of Bluey episodes#ep62}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Rug Island | type = soundtrack | artist = Joff Bush | cover = Rug Island album cover.png | alt = | released = {{start date|2024|10|25|df=y}}<ref name="bbcrugisland"/> | recorded = 2023 | studio = | genre = Soundtrack | length = 40:51 | label = Demon | producer = Joff Bush | prev_title = Dance Mode! | prev_year = 2023 | next_title = Up Here | next_year = 2026 | misc = {{Singles | name = Rug Island | type = soundtrack | single1 = Octopus | single1date = 2 August 2024 | single2 = Onesies | single2date = 30 August 2024 | single3 = Bluey Theme Tune (Vocal Version) | single3date = 4 October 2024 }} }}
'''''Rug Island''''' is the third soundtrack album of the Australian animated television series ''Bluey''. It was released on 25 October 2024 by Demon Records. Most of the soundtrack's music was composed and performed by Joff Bush, the composer for the television program, alongside a team of musicians.<ref name="bbcrugisland"/>
Much like the previous two albums, the soundtrack was released through Demon Music Group, a subdivision of BBC Studios, who hold global rights to release the show's music.<ref name="presssingle">{{cite press release|url=https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/bluey-theme-tune-available-online/|date=November 2020|title=''Bluey'' theme tune available online|newspaper=|publisher=BBC Studios|access-date=18 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117214437/https://www.bbcstudios.com/news/bluey-theme-tune-available-online/ | archive-date=17 November 2020| url-status=live}}</ref> Leading up to the album's release, three singles were released; the first, "Octopus", was released on 2 August 2024,<ref name="bbcrugisland"/> the second, "Onesies", was released on 30 August 2024,<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=OfficialBlueyTV|number=1829444127756636257|title=Time to move your hips and dance along to 'Onesies' now! |date=30 August 2024}}</ref> and the third, a vocal version of the ''Bluey'' theme song, was released on 4 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=OfficialBlueyTV|number=1842097349503651924|title=It's the #Bluey theme song like you've never heard it before! Listen to the 'Vocal Version' available now! |date=4 October 2024}}</ref>
==Background and composition== Joff Bush serves as the primary composer of ''Bluey'', writing half of the television show's score himself and leading a group of additional composers, including David Barber.<ref name="joffbush1">{{cite web|url=https://news.griffith.edu.au/2019/07/16/meet-the-composer-behind-australias-best-loved-tv-shows/|title=Meet the composer behind Australia's best-loved TV shows|last=Crossen|first=Louise|work=Griffith News|publisher=Griffith University|date=16 July 2019|access-date=23 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001044127/https://news.griffith.edu.au/2019/07/16/meet-the-composer-behind-australias-best-loved-tv-shows/| archive-date=1 October 2020| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="davidbarber">{{cite web|url=http://www.davidbarber.com.au/blueyindex|title=''Bluey'' Index|last=Barber|first=David|access-date=23 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229192307/http://www.davidbarber.com.au/blueyindex | archive-date=29 December 2019| url-status=live}}</ref> Bush graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, where he met executive producer Daley Pearson, and before ''Bluey'', worked on series such as ''The Family Law'' and ''Australian Survivor''.<ref name="joffbush1"/> Bush has stated that each episode has its own unique musical style, and he likes to become involved in the episodes as they are scripted;<ref name="joffbush1"/> he regularly has detailed discussions with series creator Joe Brumm.<ref name="number1article"/> Live instruments are regularly played for the recordings.<ref name="joffbush1"/> Every episode of ''Bluey'' is individually scored, a decision made by Brumm, who was inspired by the original compositions for ''Charlie and Lola'' while working on the series in the United Kingdom.<ref name="globalising">{{cite journal |last1=Potter |first1=Anna |date=25 July 2020 |title=Globalising the local in children's television for the post-network era: How Disney+ and BBC Studios helped Bluey the Australian cattle dog jump the national fence |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1367877920941869 |journal=International Journal of Cultural Studies |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=216–232 |publisher=University of the Sunshine Coast|doi=10.1177/1367877920941869 |s2cid=225404150 |access-date=24 October 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Bush recorded a soundtrack for the first series of the program, titled ''Bluey: The Album'', which was released on 22 January 2021.<ref name="kidspotalbumann">{{cite web|url= https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/entertainment/books-tv-and-movies/cheese-and-crackers-bluey-album-is-coming-for-those-who-love-the-abc-songs/news-story/111a6a9ea377de7179a8b46ca8112b62 |title=Cheese and Crackers! ''Bluey'' album is coming for those who love the ABC songs|last=Goulis |first=Leah |work=Kidspot|date=4 December 2020|access-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205032745/https://www.kidspot.com.au/lifestyle/entertainment/books-tv-and-movies/cheese-and-crackers-bluey-album-is-coming-for-those-who-love-the-abc-songs/news-story/111a6a9ea377de7179a8b46ca8112b62?nk=b5b410a05e9e2014c0e99350a64fd8cd-1607138865| archive-date=5 December 2020| url-status=live}}</ref> The soundtrack debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart in February 2021.<ref name="auschart">{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart |url=http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/D99167AA9CC4B2BEF0CC99DA85BD1F60CA32C43A8DB682CDF5D46C811176BB4C/ARIA%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=35 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130103224/http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/D99167AA9CC4B2BEF0CC99DA85BD1F60CA32C43A8DB682CDF5D46C811176BB4C/ARIA%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=35 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=30 January 2021 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association}}</ref> It was recognised as the first children's album to reach the top of the charts in Australia.<ref name="number1article">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/bluey-becomes-first-children-s-album-to-top-aria-music-charts-20210130-p56y2p.html|last=Carmody|first=Broede|date=30 January 2021|title=Bluey becomes first children's album to top ARIA music charts|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Nine Entertainment|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130102823/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/bluey-becomes-first-children-s-album-to-top-aria-music-charts-20210130-p56y2p.html| archive-date=30 January 2021| url-status=live}}</ref> It won Best Children's Album at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards,<ref name="aria2021">{{cite news|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/11/bluey-wins-aria-award.html|first=David|last=Knox|date=25 November 2021|title=''Bluey'' wins ARIA Award|newspaper=TV Tonight|access-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125125806/https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/11/bluey-wins-aria-award.html| archive-date=25 November 2021| url-status=live}}</ref> and an APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album in 2021.<ref name="screenmusicawards2021">{{cite news|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/02/screen-music-awards-2021-winners.html|first=David|last=Knox|date=22 February 2022|title=Screen Music Awards 2021: winners|newspaper=TV Tonight|access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180630/https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/02/screen-music-awards-2021-winners.html| archive-date=21 February 2022| url-status=live}}</ref> The second album, titled ''Dance Mode!'', was released on 21 April 2023.<ref name="dancemodepreview">{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/new-bluey-track-coming-this-month-album-out-soon/_eLlERATEhU/14-01-23|first=|last=|date=14 January 2023|title=New ''Bluey'' Track Coming This Month; Album Out Soon|website=TheMusic.com.au|publisher=SGC Media|access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126005042/https://themusic.com.au/news/new-bluey-track-coming-this-month-album-out-soon/_eLlERATEhU/14-01-23| archive-date=26 January 2023| url-status=live}}</ref>
''Rug Island'' features songs from the second and third series of ''Bluey''. The album is headlined by a three-part musical piece from "Rug Island", the namesake of the album; other notable pieces include a single titled "Octopus", featuring Australian rock band King Stingray, "Fairytale", an "'80's-inspired synth rock", "Explorers", described as a "traditional style sea shanty" modeled after Jack Russell's expedition in the titular episode, "Muffin Drive", described as a "driving rock song", and the "simple sweet" piece "Turtleboy".<ref name="bbcrugisland"/> "Explorers" and "Cricket" features contributions from Steven Peach and Pluto Jonze respectively. Production on the album began in 2023.<ref name="blueysiterugisland">{{cite web|url= https://www.bluey.tv/blog/joff-bush-introduces-rug-island/|date=2 August 2024|title=Joff Bush introduces ''Rug Island''|website=Bluey.tv}}</ref>
==Release== The soundtrack, titled ''Rug Island'', was officially announced on 1 August 2024, with pre-orders opening the following day. The album was released on 25 October 2024 on CD, streaming services, and orange vinyl,<ref name="bbcrugisland"/> including a limited edition vinyl picture disc.
==Track listing== All songs written and produced by Joff Bush except where noted. {{Track listing | headline = ''Rug Island'' track listing<ref name="bbcrugisland">{{cite press release|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2024/bluey-to-release-awesome-new-album-october-25|date=1 August 2024|title=''Bluey'' to release awesome new album October 25|newspaper=|publisher=BBC Studios|access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref> | title1 = Bluey Theme Tune | note1 = vocal version | writer1 = | length1 = 1:23 | title2 = Rug Island, Pt. 1 | length2 = 1:29 | title3 = Obstacle Course | length3 = 3:09 | title4 = Octopus | note4 = featuring King Stingray | length4 = 2:41 | title5 = Wild Girls | length5 = 2:42 | title6 = Escape | length6 = 2:43 | title7 = Onesies | length7 = 3:24 | title8 = Fairytale | length8 = 2:57 | title9 = Rug Island, Pt. 2 | length9 = 1:17 | title10 = Explorers | note10 = featuring Steven Peach | length10 = 3:20 | title11 = Muffin Drive | length11 = 1:11 | title12 = Turtleboy | length12 = 2:48 | title13 = Bin Night | length13 = 3:14 | title14 = Cricket | note14 = featuring Pluto Jonze | length14 = 3:37 | title15 = Café | length15 = 3:17 | title16 = Rug Island, Pt. 3 | length16 = 1:39 | total_length = 40:51 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Rug Island'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 November 2024|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1809|page=7|date=4 November 2024}}</ref> | 82 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bluey}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2024 soundtrack albums Category:Demon Music Group albums Category:Soundtracks by Australian artists Category:Television animation soundtracks Category:Bluey (TV series)