The Top 50 80s Australian Songs

[jeemak]

https://youtu.be/ZCbyByY-A6w?si=-HqoY8tQVcJIC7aJ

https://youtu.be/CtThVRs0u8k?si=SHEhQ03XT_ihC7m4

https://youtu.be/wLKmcWOaFp8?si=-5-kNIWA_nX-UD4L

https://youtu.be/K8KgP2aOXcA?si=bia9f_Ba7vwpC6ct

https://youtu.be/tSNxFGW09Mo?si=1dmdcSiYr6tr_ugr

https://youtu.be/8UVNT4wvIGY?si=FjLEdtZXCvAEmbmB

https://youtu.be/_YkLnmTp4jU?si=JXa6y0YQxLvl4bUy

https://youtu.be/7N5akOOlGTI?si=XO10--lDgTmYfYB1

https://youtu.be/VmFYRfkPt4M?si=rNZzz64mLY89dj4J

https://youtu.be/jxKjOOR9sPU?si=cljYceHlzHXeC7H2

I don't know how to embed videos, but there's the links. Go off beautiful boy.

Also, I don't care what anyone says "That's Freedom" by your boy JF Is a banger.

Bahahaha, That's Freedom is pretty cool (especially if you need musical motivation not to vote Coalition). What I would say though is Age of Reason is underrated. Musically sound, ticks a lot of boxes.

[EasternWest]

Bahahaha, That's Freedom is pretty cool (especially if you need musical motivation not to vote Coalition). What I would say though is Age of Reason is underrated. Musically sound, ticks a lot of boxes.

Let's be honest, late 80's John Farnham really hit elite levels.

[mjp]

Let's be honest, late 80's John Farnham really hit elite levels.

Just in case anyone is close to jumping on board with all this John Farnham love, let’s be clear:

He sings the blandest of bland tracks - the ‘Eagles’ of Australia if you will.
He was popular in an era where you were forced to listen to middle of the road radio - and the music companies owned the airwaves.
Just because you can hum “age of reason” or “two strong hears” because you were forced to listen to them doesn’t make them good or compelling songs. They suck. You may as well vote for Air Supply.

Where is two dogs? This thread needs him!

[Sedat]

Just in case anyone is close to jumping on board with all this John Farnham love, let’s be clear:

He sings the blandest of bland tracks - the ‘Eagles’ of Australia if you will.

I was always quite partial to "Down on the Border" by LRB - still am.

Any poll that doesn't include "Cool World" by Mondo Rock is not worth a pinch of salt for mine. Damn that song is as close to perfectly constructed as you can get, and I would never have uttered that during my prolonged indie w@nker phase. And whilst I no longer participate in that scene, I am an unabashed admirer of "Flesh War" by Total Control - brilliant song.

"Know Your Product" by The Saints is still a beast - it simply cannot and will not be denied. Ditto "I Hear Motion" by The Models.

[mjp]

I was always quite partial to "Down on the Border" by LRB - still am.

Any poll that doesn't include "Cool World" by Mondo Rock is not worth a pinch of salt for mine. Damn that song is as close to perfectly constructed as you can get, and I would never have uttered that during my prolonged indie w@nker phase. And whilst I no longer participate in that scene, I am an unabashed admirer of "Flesh War"" by Total Control - brilliant song.

"Know Your Product" by The Saints is still a beast - it simply cannot and will not be denied. Ditto "I Hear Motion" by The Models.

Love that first saints album.

[Bornadog]

Just in case anyone is close to jumping on board with all this John Farnham love, let’s be clear:

Can't stand him

I was always quite partial to "Down on the Border" by LRB - still am.

Any poll that doesn't include "Cool World" by Mondo Rock is not worth a pinch of salt for mine. Damn that song is as close to perfectly constructed as you can get, and I would never have uttered that during my prolonged indie w@nker phase. And whilst I no longer participate in that scene, I am an unabashed admirer of "Flesh War" by Total Control - brilliant song.

"Know Your Product" by The Saints is still a beast - it simply cannot and will not be denied. Ditto "I Hear Motion" by The Models.

some great songs there, although not a fan of The Saints

[Bornadog]

The Loved Ones from the mid sixties were different and influential, but didn't stay together very long

[EasternWest]

Just in case anyone is close to jumping on board with all this John Farnham love, let’s be clear:

He sings the blandest of bland tracks - the ‘Eagles’ of Australia if you will.
He was popular in an era where you were forced to listen to middle of the road radio - and the music companies owned the airwaves.
Just because you can hum “age of reason” or “two strong hears” because you were forced to listen to them doesn’t make them good or compelling songs. They suck. You may as well vote for Air Supply.

Where is two dogs? This thread needs him!

Sounds like you're "all out of love" for Australia's Johnny.

[whythelongface]

Por vouz scrag man.

I couldn't possibly put Big Pig Breakaway on my list but hot damn it is a GREAT song

some cracking songs on that list.

my list for the 80’s would be dominated by:

chisel
early Church
H&C
died Pretty
hummingbirds
saints - all fools day rocks
celibate rifles
some Oils
birthday party

[The Underdog]

IMG_6317.jpg
Come At Me

[josie]

IMG_7399.jpg

I meant to vote for Richard Clapton’s Girls on the Avenue not Deep Water. I’ve contacted JJJ and asked them to change it.

I’m a sucker for strong pop or rock melody and interesting lyrics & chord changes.

And yes, I’m a mature and proud feminist.

Wanted to vote for all 3 Divinyls songs but that meant missing out on another artist/singwriter.

Toss up b/w Down Under vs Tina Arena’s Sorrento Moon, with former winning out as it’s such an iconic and memorable Aussie song. Still think the successful copyright case Kooka Sits in Old Gumtree song owners against Men At Work’s Down Under flute solo is a dreadful ruling (thankfully 5% not initial 60%). As Men At Work’s QC said “"The notes are different, the harmony is different, they are in different parts of the musical sentence, the key is different”.

[mjp]

IMG_6317.jpg
Come At Me

Great list mate - love you including Smudge but I still say that Evan's version of that song is better...you could have gone with "Crash out on my Divan" or whatever it's called - great hook on that track.

[mjp]

Wanted to vote for all 3 Divinyls songs but that meant missing out on another artist/singwriter.

Given your list I thought you might have given "Man Overboard" a shout...

[josie]

IMG_6317.jpg
Come At Me

Forgot about the Hoodoo Gurus. Fun band - catchy jangly guitars. Imagine them and The Bangles on tour together - apparently they got along & liked each other’s music.

[The Underdog]

Great list mate - love you including Smudge but I still say that Evan's version of that song is better...you could have gone with "Crash out on my Divan" or whatever it's called - great hook on that track.

It probably is, but the song itself stands up although I probably should have gone Tenderfoot in hindsight. Anyway, I mainly made the list to get Smudge and God in. So job done.