I was debating what to do about Australia Day this year. I have friends who think it is an important day of celebration, others who think it’s just New South Wales imposing themselves on the rest of us, and some who call it Invasion Day. But I did want to do something for the day.
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
Now, in the past, I have looked at 1980s songs about Australia , but have decided this time to focus on songs that mention Australia by name in the title. Some of these are rather obscure, and a couple of my first-choice picks did not have even the tracks on YouTube, so we have a weird mix. Oh, and for what it’s worth, 'Sounds Of Then' by Gang Gajang (1985) is not called “this is Australia” despite that refrain being repeated over and over, so is not here.
Normal rules apply: one song per artist, one version of each song, the word “Australia”, “Australian” or “Aussie” is in the title, I need to like the song. Some live tracks here because that is how comedy is generally recorded, so that rule is waived. I have not included the Australian National Anthem, except as a part of a different song. You’ll see. These are also just songs from my collection, presented here in alphabetical order.
Anyway, here are some fine songs with Australia in the title.
’Advance Australian Working Class Man’ by Adam Hills (2002-ish)
So, the lyrics to the Australian national anthem sung to the tune of Jimmy Barnes’ ‘Working Class Man’, a mix that works so well. If we kept the lyrics to the anthem and changed the tune to this, then I think we would have the best national anthem in the world.
’Aussie Doghouse Blues’ by Lee Kernaghan (2000)
Some Australian country, sung tongue-in-cheek, and with a sense of fun. I had a few Lee Kernaghan songs to choose from, but I like this one most.
’Aussie Music (You’ve Sure Come A Long Way) (Part One)’ by Frankie Davidson (1984)
I have this on 45; it is really just a roll call of Australian music acts from the 1950s to the 1980s, continued in ‘Part Two’ (the B-side). It really is just one long song, and listening to it as such is probably the best way to go.
’Australia’ by Gyro Scope (2008)
Some more recent pop here, just a decent little track that I have on a compilation album, and which is one of the better tracks from that collection.
’Australia’s Christmas Day’ by The Borderers (1995)
In my household, this was a staple of Christmas music. We didn’t play a lot in the house, but this was always there. We followed The Borderers from their start after the break-up of Shamrock & Thistle, and this track is just a great celebration of our December 25.
’Fair Dunkum Aussie Blues’ by Matt Taylor (1973)
Matt Taylor was the lead singer with Chain, then went on to have some solo success. This song is one I have on 45, and it is a fair representation of the sort of music Taylor would continue to produce throughout his career.
’Good Old Aussie Beer’ bY Rocky Page With The Country Cousins (1962)
Early Australian country music and, like a lot of early Australian country music, about alcohol. This song was still one I heard in the 1970s, so it must have struck a chord somewhere. It is just a fun song, really.
’I Am, You Are, We Are Australian’ by Rai Thistlethwayte (2003)
This is probably going to be one of the more contentious selections here because most people prefer the version by The Seekers. I have maybe half a dozen versions of this song, one of many “unofficial national anthems,” and this is my favourite version.
’I Still Call Australia Home’ by Peter Allen (1980)
Since co-opted by some advertising campaigns, this song was one that I know a few ex-pats really got into, because it was the best description of how they felt trapped elsewhere in the world. For many, Allen’s greatest work.
’South Australia’ by The Pogues (1988)
This song was a staple of our music lessons when I was growing up, in primary school, in an old sea shanty. I first heard it by The Seekers, but The Pogues do a rollicking version.
’Twistin’ Australia Way’ by Johnny O’Keefe (1962)
Never afraid to jump onto a bandwagon, JO’K released this Australian version of a twist song that did quite well locally and was one of many tracks that made Australian teenagers feel like they were part of the new rock world.
’Wake Up Australia’ The Bootleg Family Band (1973)
And we finish with a rare song from the 1970s that did not do much on the charts, but which is just a strange song lyrically, and one I quite enjoy.
So, there we have it – a dozen songs with Australia in the title. And, interestingly, not all are by Australian artists, but, at the core of them all, is a love for the country. Lots of different musical styles here, and I hope there is something for everyone to enjoy.