Wollongong-residing journalist and author Humphries (a longtime music and sport expert) here selects 40 Australian tunes that qualify as the best, most anthemic songs ever created in this great southern land (get it?), with Crowded House (Don’t Dream It’s Over) making the cut because they’re as much Aussie as Kiwi, according to fans.
And immediately many out there will be ready to fight him about some of his decisions, but most are spot-on, and each chapter comes with a short but sweet history of the band, details about their other bangers, and how the chosen song has been celebrated, misinterpreted, and repurposed over the years. The Divinyls’ how-did-it-get-past-the-censors? I Touch Myself, for example, was retooled after the death of frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett, and used in a powerful ad campaign about breast cancer awareness.
The introduction makes important points, notably that the newest ditty here is Gotye’s 2011 monster Somebody That I Used To Know, and that’s because it takes at least ten or so years for a hit to become properly classic. Humphries also admits that there are significantly fewer offerings here by women or First Nations bands than those by white guys, but that’s more to do with the past state of the Australian music industry. And yet Missy Higgins (Scar) and Kylie Minogue (Can’t Get You Out Of My Head) get a look-in, as does Warumpi Band (Blackfella/Whitefella) and the various versions of Yothu Yindi’s Treaty.
There’s plenty of humour too, with Glen pondering just what the Hell the lyrics to The Vines’ Get Free actually mean, explaining that there isn’t much sun in April down Cuba way (sorry, Dragon), and how he personally hates Daddy Cool’s Eagle Rock. A lot.
Plus, if you have a Spotify account (whether you admit to it or not), this author has compiled a searchable playlist, so you can listen to the songs in any order. Or maybe you’d prefer to dig out the CDs or vinyl – if, of course, you have some way to play the damn things.
Aussie, Aussie… Aussie?
Aussie Rock Anthems by Glen Humphries is published by Gelding Street Press, RRP $39.99
