Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O: Why Melburnians celebrate the failure of Sydney's ‘Vile Kyle'
A billboard in Melbourne advertising the Kyle & Jackie O show, which has failed to attract Sydney-level audience numbers. Credit: Paul Rovere
Their $200 million deal – a sum that would have left even old 'Golden Tonsils' John Laws weak at the knees – was drawn up on the presumption that their peculiar popularity in Sydney (where they get ratings of about 16 per cent) would sweep all before them as they took their breakfast show, modestly titled Hour of Power , to the other state capitals, starting in Melbourne.
Oops. The Hour of Power Sydney toilet-jokes format on KIIS caused the pair to take a colossal gutser in Melbourne from the start.
A year on, their latest rating is a measly 5.1 per cent, placing the show eighth in Melbourne's breakfast slot.
For context, number one is the familiar Ross and Russ show on 3AW, where Melbourne locals Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft hold a mighty 20.6 per cent share of the city's breakfast audience, largely by avoiding insulting listeners' intelligence.
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Radio 3AW is owned by Nine, which also owns The Age .
Meanwhile, Australian Radio Network, which owns KIIS, is taking a mighty bath. Advertisers have fled and ARN has 'let go' 200 employees, who must be deliriously happy to have sacrificed their jobs to keep Kyle and Jackie O in their multimillion-dollar Sydney trophy homes.
It's an old story.
In the late 1980s, the Fairfax media group bought Melbourne HSV7 TV station and tried to meld it into its two other channels, in Sydney and Brisbane. It failed spectacularly because Melbourne audiences saw it, quite correctly, as a Sydney try-on.
Soon after, Fairfax, having lost several millions of dollars on its Melbourne bet, sold its TV interests to dodgy Christopher Skase's Qintex Group. Skase later went bankrupt and fled Australia.
Sydney shock jocks Stan Zemanek and Alan Jones both tried and failed to transfer their loudmouthed fame to Melbourne. Southern audiences just never warmed to Jones' dreadful braying, and the late Zemanek's flashiness lasted only a year on 3AW.
Not all black and white for Paul Keating. Credit: Photographic
Paul Keating earned scorn when, trying to broaden his appeal while launching his campaign to topple Bob Hawke as PM, he flew himself and several reporters to Melbourne to barrack for Collingwood at the MCG. No one was fooled that he had any serious interest in the Australian game, let alone Collingwood.
Keating was also famed for his reported view that, 'If you're not living in Sydney, you're just camping out.'
Even he knew it wouldn't fly among southern voters, and strategically disowned the comment during a visit to Melbourne in the lead-up to the 1996 election.
Asked about the 'camping out' observation by broadcasters Dean Banks and Ross Stevenson on 3AW in October 1995, Keating declared: 'No, somebody falsely attributed those words to me. I love Melbourne, the garden city of Australia.' Six months later, Keating and his government were booted out and he retired to his beloved Sydney.
Even Sydney's criminal milieu could not cut it in Melbourne.
My colleague John Silvester relates the amusing story of Sydney crook Stan 'The Man' Smith's abortive attempt to expand his criminal pursuits into Melbourne decades ago.
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'When he arrived at Tullamarine airport, waiting police miraculously found a matchbox full of hashish in the top outside jacket pocket – usually only used to display a decorative handkerchief,' Silvester wrote.
'Smith is said to have cried out, 'I'm being fitted up', no doubt a reference to his dapper, tailor-made suit. When he returned home (after serving one year), he vowed to never return to Melbourne because 'the cops run red-hot down there'.'
The fact that Melburnians have rarely bought Sydneysiders' pretensions was long attributed to Melbourne wearing a chip on its shoulder because Sydney was the first city established in Australia, and was blessed with greater natural beauty.
A friend has a more nuanced view.
Melbourne, she proposes, has always had to try harder to build itself a beating heart because it was not blessed with Sydney's astonishing natural loveliness.
How could Melbourne and its Yarra and its tame bay compete with Sydney's glorious ocean beaches, the great sweep of its harbour, its cliffs and river gorges and the Blue Mountains hovering away to the west?
The answer, of course, was to get serious and accomplished. About food, conversation, architecture, education and sport, for starters.
Sydneysiders could afford to play in the sun and the surf and merrily flaunt their wealth.
Melburnians hunkered beneath often leaden skies and worked at building a relatively sophisticated, relatively civil society, replete with marvellous restaurants and the nation's oldest and most visited art gallery, named (immodestly) the National Gallery of Victoria.
The naked flaunting of wealth, though increasingly common, remains a bit embarrassing in Melbourne, where it is still sport to take the piss out of ourselves.
Sandilands on Sydney Harbour in a 1959 Cadillac convertible, pictured for a 2023 AFR Magazine cover story on the rise of the 'schlock jock'. Credit: Nic Walker
And when vulgarians like Kyle Sandilands try to shoulder their way in, scorning the idea of taking a ride on a tram or choosing a footy team ('we're not gonna march into town and try all this hokey local rubbish', Sandilands spat during a radio interview a couple of months ago), Melburnians turn off, knowing imported coarseness is just not worth their while.
And anyway, it's enjoyable – if a bit smug – to make a big-mouthed Sydneysider squirm.
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The Screaming Jets had the first song in the Australian songs Hottest 100. But who did they vote for?
It's been a difficult moment for Australian music. Last month, the federal government's advisory body, Creative Australia, released statistics that showed just how challenging it's become for homegrown artists to have their music heard. Only 8 per cent of the top 10,000 artists streamed in this country were Australian. Today's Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time seeks to give music fans a clear reminder of the remarkable talent produced in this country. So we asked a bunch of Hunter identities who made their top 10. These Days, Powderfinger A brilliant song. I feel like the movie Two Hands would have been a lesser film without the inclusion of this great song. One Perfect Day, Little Heroes Such an evocative song for people in long-distance relationships. That longing for physical and emotional connection is exacerbated by the tyranny of distance. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers I absolutely love the songwriting of Kasey. She is a gem and sings with such authenticity. Love her. Overkill, Men At Work A song that has probably exceeded its original release in popularity. The voice of the great Colin Hay and Greg Ham's always amazing brass lines are just awesome. Most People I Know, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs A great song from one of the pioneers of Aussie rock. A true legend who wrote great songs, played guitar like a god and sang with all his might. Mr Damage, The Angels I remember being scared of the menacing undertone of this song when I heard it on my brother's stereo as a 10-year-old. Years later, the fear would be that I'd stuff up the lyrics in front of a rabid live Angels crowd. Baby, I'm Gettin' Better, Gyroscope I loved this band from the moment I heard the song. More evidence that there really is something in the water over in WA. Short Note, Matt Finish A beautiful song. Melancholy, yet strangely uplifting. A great vocal from the sadly departed Matt Moffatt. Squealer, AC/DC Probably a contentious song nowadays, but to me a fine example of Bon Scott's lyrical prowess. Sallie-Anne, Spy vs. Spy A powerful song based on the death of Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, a Sydney sex worker who was killed apparently because she knew too much about the underworld and its connection to high-ranking corrupt police officers in Kings Cross. Across the Night, Silverchair Daniel Johns is one of the most talented musicians alive. The Diorama album is his Magnum Opus; and he's a fellow Newcastle boy. Carrion, Parkway Drive An absolute metal anthem that blows the doors off every time. I remember hearing this for the first time and immediately running to pick up my guitar. To the Moon and Back, Savage Garden They were my first ever live concert at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and you can still catch me singing along to every word. Rhapsody on a Windy Night, The Getaway Plan Matt's [Wright] voice is haunting and this entire album gives me goosebumps. As a kid this band made me realise I will never be as musically talented as these guys are. Prisoner of Society, The Living End As a young teen, these guys gave me a lot of opportunity to scream in my bedroom and feel like I was giving a big middle finger to any sort of authority. Horror Movie, Skyhooks My father's favourite band. I remember listening to old tapes switching between Skyhooks and Cold Chisel. It was my introduction to Aussie rock. The News, The Mission In Motion A band my wife introduced me to when we first met. We saw them live together so many times and hearing their music takes me straight back to when Jess and I were dating. Give it All, The Amity Affliction This song and album got me through a lot of heavy shit when I was younger. If music is therapy, then I owe these guys a lot. Come into My World, Kylie Minogue When you say Aussie pop icon, Kylie is the only answer. I've still got as big of a crush on her now as I did when I was a teenager. Jewels for Eyes, Closure In Moscow Beautiful, ethereal and experimental. Closure is like Bowie meets The Mars Volta. Incredible Australian musicians. Electric Blue, Icehouse Transports me straight back to my childhood in the '80s. My parents playing Icehouse, Dire Straits, The Police and Huey Lewis and the News on cassette tapes, as we hit the road on holidays. Down Under, Men At Work Hard not to include this song in my top 10. Another one that takes me back to the 80s growing up in Australia. Iconic lyrics. Tomorrow, Silverchair Silverchair was big when I was in high school in Port Macquarie. I remember friends heading to Newcastle to see their concert. I loved covering the 30-year anniversary of Tomorrow late last year - their debut EP that continues to resonate and be revered. Pick You Up, Powderfinger A soundtrack to my senior years of high school. Double Allergic and Vulture Street CDs were on high rotation. Difficult Woman, Renee Geyer My dad introduced me to Renee Geyer in my late teens/early 20s. She has an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful voice. Lachlan Tigers, Bushwackers For the first three decades of my life, my dad played in a bush band, as well as a jazz band. The bush band played lots of Bushwackers songs including Lachlan Tigers. Goodbye Blinky Bill, John Williamson When I was small, I would visit the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital with my dad. He would play music and we would pass his Akubra hat around to raise money for the injured koalas. The chorus goes ... "Pass the hat around between your friends, there's no time to contemplate. Maybe if we show some love, maybe it's not too late." Better, Screaming Jets Newcastle's original rockstars and their epic rock anthem. I remember watching this film clip in the early '90s on Rage with my brother. My Island Home, Christine Anu A beautiful song that always makes me smile. It resonates with me ... having grown up in the small coastal community of Bonny Hills. Stalker, The Main Guy and The Other Guys Just like Silverchair, another iconic Newy band that needs to reform. Missing Piece, Vance Joy This song reminds me of how simply being with the right person can make everything feel lighter. Connection doesn't need grand gestures - just sincerity, safety, and shared space. Scar, Missy Higgins This one really resonates deeply with me on quite a few levels ... professionally and personally. I really appreciate authenticity and courage, especially in conversations about mental health and in my personal relationships. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS I just love the intensity and passion of this song. It's about intense connections and unbreakable bonds. Thankyou (For Loving Me at my Worst), The Whitlams I love how this one doesn't shy away from the fact that we all have our worst moments - times when we aren't easy to love - and rather than regretting, it's about being grateful for people who stayed. The Ship Song, Nick Cave This song, for me, is all about invitation and surrender, about offering someone your messy, beautiful world and asking them to stay anyway. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers It just aches, doesn't it, with the pain of being overlooked, underestimated, or dismissed - not because you lack substance, but because you don't fit the mould. How to Make Gravy, Paul Kelly This song makes me cry. I love that it's about family, forgiveness and finding connection even when people are apart or hurting. In the Summertime, Thirsty Merc I'm playing this a lot right now. I'm so nostalgic (and desperate) for summer. This song feels like lazy afternoons, road trips and the joy of Australian summers. Can't Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue It's bold, playful and iconic - I want words with anyone who doesn't have this on their list. Magic, Olivia Newton John I love this song for so many reasons. Of course, it's about belief being a catalyst for transformation and realised possibilities - trust your intuition. Get Free, The Vines Two minutes of pure rock adrenaline. When it was released in 2002 I thought The Vines could have been anything. The hype didn't last, but my god, it kicked in the back teeth. Purple Sneakers, You Am I My entire list could be filled with Tim Rogers songs. A genius. The lyrics of teenage awkwardness and the search for human connection just resonates above all the others. Straight Lines, Silverchair I met my wife at a Silverchair show and they're Newy's greatest band. I could have chosen Freak or Emotion Sickness, but Straight Lines was melodically Daniel Johns' finest moment. Bye Bye Pride, The Go-Betweens Once again, my list could be entirely filled with Go-Betweens songs. I absolutely adore the chorus, and when Grant McLennan and Amanda Brown's voices combine it simply soars. Blue Sky Mine, Midnight Oil Watching the Oils in 2017 at Hope Estate gave me an entirely new appreciation for the band. The outro where they sing "in the end the rain comes down" is spine-tingling. Perfect Now, Sarah Blasko A gorgeous performance from one of Australia's best vocalists. The song is about knowing your momentary happiness won't last. A melancholic thought, delivered powerfully. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala I've enjoyed Kevin Parker's later more electronic material too, but for me, Lonerism and this track were his pyschedelic peak. U Should Not Be Doing That, Amyl & The Sniffers The Melbourne four-piece are the most exciting band Australia has produced in years. This is punk rock with a modern flavour, verve and intelligence. One Crowded Hour, Augie March It's probably the most unconventional Triple J Hottest 100 winner, but one of the most stunning. Glenn Richards' romantic and poetic tale sounds like Jeff Buckley channelling mid-60s Bob Dylan. Jezabel, The Drones Gareth Liddiard is another of my favourite songwriters. This bleak tale about a man scarred by the horrors of Middle Eastern conflicts combines The Drones' discordant power and beauty. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool The riff is so pervasive - but what's the point of dropping your pants when you should be dancing? Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil Such a great combination of a driving bass rhythm and a political message. Throw Your Arms Around Me, Hunters & Collectors Because I'm a hopeless romantic. Boys In Town, Divinyls I introduced this to my son when he was 13. He loved it immediately, and suddenly gave me more respect. Star and the Slaughter, Heroes The song that closed the Star Hotel - and started a riot. The Newcastle Song, Bob Hudson I've performed this song to great laughs on stage in Newcastle, Melbourne, Christchurch and in a pub in the west of Ireland. The Biggest Disappointment, Slim Dusty I loved it as a Slim Dusty song many, many years ago, and I loved rediscovering it when Missy Higgins did an acoustic version recently. The Special Two, Missy Higgins A special song from an extraordinary album. Reckless (Don't Be So..), Australian Crawl Wonderful word imagery and music combined. Live it Up, Mental As Anything Such a great upbeat and happy song - you've gotta love it. Torn, Natalie Imbruglia Great song, great singer, great video. Big, Sneaky Sound System A catchy song that I loved when it first came out. It's still in my playlist. Like I'm Falling Down Stairs, Sparkadia I love the melody. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll), AC/DC It gets the heart pumping. Dumb Things, Paul Kelly Words to live by. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil An anthem for the politically minded. Better, Screaming Jets Novocastrians represent. Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes Classic Aussie rock. What's not to like? Hot Potato, The Wiggles What can I say, I'm a dad of three and love a singalong. Perfect for long car trips to get the backseat happy. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool This one has become a family hit with the kids. Sounds Of Then (This is Australia), GANGgajang Reminds me of life on the farm. Took The Children Away, Archie Roach It just epitomises the tragedy of the Stolen Generation, and it brings a tingle to my spine. Walking On A Dream, Empire Of The Sun I like chilling with a bit of electronica. It's an iconic song that takes you away. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil I love the politics of the album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, in particular. It means so much to me. Into My Arms, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds I'm a relatively late convert to Nick Cave. I saw him here at the Civic Theatre [in 2022] in what was one of the most incredible concerts I've ever seen. Fred Astaire, San Cisco It's a song most people have heard and like and it's one I certainly love. Better, Screaming Jets You hear that song and you get up and wanna dance and go hard. Iconic Novocastrians. Straight Lines, Silverchair At one point they were one of the world's biggest bands, and they're Newy. My kids go to Newy High and you walk in and see the photo of them. Just legends. So Caught Up, Teskey Brothers I'm a huge fan of the Teskey Brothers and they fit in perfectly with that blues and soul sound and have iconic voices. London Still, The Waifs One of my best friends is Josh Cunningham's [of The Waifs] brother Saul. I've seen them countless times and watched them go from playing at Moruya to performing to massive sold-out spaces. Follow The Sun, Xavier Rudd If I need to chill out from the stress of politics, I whack that one on and it's got bird calls and whistles. It's been a difficult moment for Australian music. Last month, the federal government's advisory body, Creative Australia, released statistics that showed just how challenging it's become for homegrown artists to have their music heard. Only 8 per cent of the top 10,000 artists streamed in this country were Australian. Today's Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time seeks to give music fans a clear reminder of the remarkable talent produced in this country. So we asked a bunch of Hunter identities who made their top 10. These Days, Powderfinger A brilliant song. I feel like the movie Two Hands would have been a lesser film without the inclusion of this great song. One Perfect Day, Little Heroes Such an evocative song for people in long-distance relationships. That longing for physical and emotional connection is exacerbated by the tyranny of distance. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers I absolutely love the songwriting of Kasey. She is a gem and sings with such authenticity. Love her. Overkill, Men At Work A song that has probably exceeded its original release in popularity. The voice of the great Colin Hay and Greg Ham's always amazing brass lines are just awesome. Most People I Know, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs A great song from one of the pioneers of Aussie rock. A true legend who wrote great songs, played guitar like a god and sang with all his might. Mr Damage, The Angels I remember being scared of the menacing undertone of this song when I heard it on my brother's stereo as a 10-year-old. Years later, the fear would be that I'd stuff up the lyrics in front of a rabid live Angels crowd. Baby, I'm Gettin' Better, Gyroscope I loved this band from the moment I heard the song. More evidence that there really is something in the water over in WA. Short Note, Matt Finish A beautiful song. Melancholy, yet strangely uplifting. A great vocal from the sadly departed Matt Moffatt. Squealer, AC/DC Probably a contentious song nowadays, but to me a fine example of Bon Scott's lyrical prowess. Sallie-Anne, Spy vs. Spy A powerful song based on the death of Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, a Sydney sex worker who was killed apparently because she knew too much about the underworld and its connection to high-ranking corrupt police officers in Kings Cross. Across the Night, Silverchair Daniel Johns is one of the most talented musicians alive. The Diorama album is his Magnum Opus; and he's a fellow Newcastle boy. Carrion, Parkway Drive An absolute metal anthem that blows the doors off every time. I remember hearing this for the first time and immediately running to pick up my guitar. To the Moon and Back, Savage Garden They were my first ever live concert at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and you can still catch me singing along to every word. Rhapsody on a Windy Night, The Getaway Plan Matt's [Wright] voice is haunting and this entire album gives me goosebumps. As a kid this band made me realise I will never be as musically talented as these guys are. Prisoner of Society, The Living End As a young teen, these guys gave me a lot of opportunity to scream in my bedroom and feel like I was giving a big middle finger to any sort of authority. Horror Movie, Skyhooks My father's favourite band. I remember listening to old tapes switching between Skyhooks and Cold Chisel. It was my introduction to Aussie rock. The News, The Mission In Motion A band my wife introduced me to when we first met. We saw them live together so many times and hearing their music takes me straight back to when Jess and I were dating. Give it All, The Amity Affliction This song and album got me through a lot of heavy shit when I was younger. If music is therapy, then I owe these guys a lot. Come into My World, Kylie Minogue When you say Aussie pop icon, Kylie is the only answer. I've still got as big of a crush on her now as I did when I was a teenager. Jewels for Eyes, Closure In Moscow Beautiful, ethereal and experimental. Closure is like Bowie meets The Mars Volta. Incredible Australian musicians. Electric Blue, Icehouse Transports me straight back to my childhood in the '80s. My parents playing Icehouse, Dire Straits, The Police and Huey Lewis and the News on cassette tapes, as we hit the road on holidays. Down Under, Men At Work Hard not to include this song in my top 10. Another one that takes me back to the 80s growing up in Australia. Iconic lyrics. Tomorrow, Silverchair Silverchair was big when I was in high school in Port Macquarie. I remember friends heading to Newcastle to see their concert. I loved covering the 30-year anniversary of Tomorrow late last year - their debut EP that continues to resonate and be revered. Pick You Up, Powderfinger A soundtrack to my senior years of high school. Double Allergic and Vulture Street CDs were on high rotation. Difficult Woman, Renee Geyer My dad introduced me to Renee Geyer in my late teens/early 20s. She has an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful voice. Lachlan Tigers, Bushwackers For the first three decades of my life, my dad played in a bush band, as well as a jazz band. The bush band played lots of Bushwackers songs including Lachlan Tigers. Goodbye Blinky Bill, John Williamson When I was small, I would visit the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital with my dad. He would play music and we would pass his Akubra hat around to raise money for the injured koalas. The chorus goes ... "Pass the hat around between your friends, there's no time to contemplate. Maybe if we show some love, maybe it's not too late." Better, Screaming Jets Newcastle's original rockstars and their epic rock anthem. I remember watching this film clip in the early '90s on Rage with my brother. My Island Home, Christine Anu A beautiful song that always makes me smile. It resonates with me ... having grown up in the small coastal community of Bonny Hills. Stalker, The Main Guy and The Other Guys Just like Silverchair, another iconic Newy band that needs to reform. Missing Piece, Vance Joy This song reminds me of how simply being with the right person can make everything feel lighter. Connection doesn't need grand gestures - just sincerity, safety, and shared space. Scar, Missy Higgins This one really resonates deeply with me on quite a few levels ... professionally and personally. I really appreciate authenticity and courage, especially in conversations about mental health and in my personal relationships. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS I just love the intensity and passion of this song. It's about intense connections and unbreakable bonds. Thankyou (For Loving Me at my Worst), The Whitlams I love how this one doesn't shy away from the fact that we all have our worst moments - times when we aren't easy to love - and rather than regretting, it's about being grateful for people who stayed. The Ship Song, Nick Cave This song, for me, is all about invitation and surrender, about offering someone your messy, beautiful world and asking them to stay anyway. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers It just aches, doesn't it, with the pain of being overlooked, underestimated, or dismissed - not because you lack substance, but because you don't fit the mould. How to Make Gravy, Paul Kelly This song makes me cry. I love that it's about family, forgiveness and finding connection even when people are apart or hurting. In the Summertime, Thirsty Merc I'm playing this a lot right now. I'm so nostalgic (and desperate) for summer. This song feels like lazy afternoons, road trips and the joy of Australian summers. Can't Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue It's bold, playful and iconic - I want words with anyone who doesn't have this on their list. Magic, Olivia Newton John I love this song for so many reasons. Of course, it's about belief being a catalyst for transformation and realised possibilities - trust your intuition. Get Free, The Vines Two minutes of pure rock adrenaline. When it was released in 2002 I thought The Vines could have been anything. The hype didn't last, but my god, it kicked in the back teeth. Purple Sneakers, You Am I My entire list could be filled with Tim Rogers songs. A genius. The lyrics of teenage awkwardness and the search for human connection just resonates above all the others. Straight Lines, Silverchair I met my wife at a Silverchair show and they're Newy's greatest band. I could have chosen Freak or Emotion Sickness, but Straight Lines was melodically Daniel Johns' finest moment. Bye Bye Pride, The Go-Betweens Once again, my list could be entirely filled with Go-Betweens songs. I absolutely adore the chorus, and when Grant McLennan and Amanda Brown's voices combine it simply soars. Blue Sky Mine, Midnight Oil Watching the Oils in 2017 at Hope Estate gave me an entirely new appreciation for the band. The outro where they sing "in the end the rain comes down" is spine-tingling. Perfect Now, Sarah Blasko A gorgeous performance from one of Australia's best vocalists. The song is about knowing your momentary happiness won't last. A melancholic thought, delivered powerfully. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala I've enjoyed Kevin Parker's later more electronic material too, but for me, Lonerism and this track were his pyschedelic peak. U Should Not Be Doing That, Amyl & The Sniffers The Melbourne four-piece are the most exciting band Australia has produced in years. This is punk rock with a modern flavour, verve and intelligence. One Crowded Hour, Augie March It's probably the most unconventional Triple J Hottest 100 winner, but one of the most stunning. Glenn Richards' romantic and poetic tale sounds like Jeff Buckley channelling mid-60s Bob Dylan. Jezabel, The Drones Gareth Liddiard is another of my favourite songwriters. This bleak tale about a man scarred by the horrors of Middle Eastern conflicts combines The Drones' discordant power and beauty. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool The riff is so pervasive - but what's the point of dropping your pants when you should be dancing? Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil Such a great combination of a driving bass rhythm and a political message. Throw Your Arms Around Me, Hunters & Collectors Because I'm a hopeless romantic. Boys In Town, Divinyls I introduced this to my son when he was 13. He loved it immediately, and suddenly gave me more respect. Star and the Slaughter, Heroes The song that closed the Star Hotel - and started a riot. The Newcastle Song, Bob Hudson I've performed this song to great laughs on stage in Newcastle, Melbourne, Christchurch and in a pub in the west of Ireland. The Biggest Disappointment, Slim Dusty I loved it as a Slim Dusty song many, many years ago, and I loved rediscovering it when Missy Higgins did an acoustic version recently. The Special Two, Missy Higgins A special song from an extraordinary album. Reckless (Don't Be So..), Australian Crawl Wonderful word imagery and music combined. Live it Up, Mental As Anything Such a great upbeat and happy song - you've gotta love it. Torn, Natalie Imbruglia Great song, great singer, great video. Big, Sneaky Sound System A catchy song that I loved when it first came out. It's still in my playlist. Like I'm Falling Down Stairs, Sparkadia I love the melody. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll), AC/DC It gets the heart pumping. Dumb Things, Paul Kelly Words to live by. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil An anthem for the politically minded. Better, Screaming Jets Novocastrians represent. Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes Classic Aussie rock. What's not to like? Hot Potato, The Wiggles What can I say, I'm a dad of three and love a singalong. Perfect for long car trips to get the backseat happy. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool This one has become a family hit with the kids. Sounds Of Then (This is Australia), GANGgajang Reminds me of life on the farm. Took The Children Away, Archie Roach It just epitomises the tragedy of the Stolen Generation, and it brings a tingle to my spine. Walking On A Dream, Empire Of The Sun I like chilling with a bit of electronica. It's an iconic song that takes you away. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil I love the politics of the album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, in particular. It means so much to me. Into My Arms, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds I'm a relatively late convert to Nick Cave. I saw him here at the Civic Theatre [in 2022] in what was one of the most incredible concerts I've ever seen. Fred Astaire, San Cisco It's a song most people have heard and like and it's one I certainly love. Better, Screaming Jets You hear that song and you get up and wanna dance and go hard. Iconic Novocastrians. Straight Lines, Silverchair At one point they were one of the world's biggest bands, and they're Newy. My kids go to Newy High and you walk in and see the photo of them. Just legends. So Caught Up, Teskey Brothers I'm a huge fan of the Teskey Brothers and they fit in perfectly with that blues and soul sound and have iconic voices. London Still, The Waifs One of my best friends is Josh Cunningham's [of The Waifs] brother Saul. I've seen them countless times and watched them go from playing at Moruya to performing to massive sold-out spaces. Follow The Sun, Xavier Rudd If I need to chill out from the stress of politics, I whack that one on and it's got bird calls and whistles. It's been a difficult moment for Australian music. Last month, the federal government's advisory body, Creative Australia, released statistics that showed just how challenging it's become for homegrown artists to have their music heard. Only 8 per cent of the top 10,000 artists streamed in this country were Australian. Today's Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time seeks to give music fans a clear reminder of the remarkable talent produced in this country. So we asked a bunch of Hunter identities who made their top 10. These Days, Powderfinger A brilliant song. I feel like the movie Two Hands would have been a lesser film without the inclusion of this great song. One Perfect Day, Little Heroes Such an evocative song for people in long-distance relationships. That longing for physical and emotional connection is exacerbated by the tyranny of distance. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers I absolutely love the songwriting of Kasey. She is a gem and sings with such authenticity. Love her. Overkill, Men At Work A song that has probably exceeded its original release in popularity. The voice of the great Colin Hay and Greg Ham's always amazing brass lines are just awesome. Most People I Know, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs A great song from one of the pioneers of Aussie rock. A true legend who wrote great songs, played guitar like a god and sang with all his might. Mr Damage, The Angels I remember being scared of the menacing undertone of this song when I heard it on my brother's stereo as a 10-year-old. Years later, the fear would be that I'd stuff up the lyrics in front of a rabid live Angels crowd. Baby, I'm Gettin' Better, Gyroscope I loved this band from the moment I heard the song. More evidence that there really is something in the water over in WA. Short Note, Matt Finish A beautiful song. Melancholy, yet strangely uplifting. A great vocal from the sadly departed Matt Moffatt. Squealer, AC/DC Probably a contentious song nowadays, but to me a fine example of Bon Scott's lyrical prowess. Sallie-Anne, Spy vs. Spy A powerful song based on the death of Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, a Sydney sex worker who was killed apparently because she knew too much about the underworld and its connection to high-ranking corrupt police officers in Kings Cross. Across the Night, Silverchair Daniel Johns is one of the most talented musicians alive. The Diorama album is his Magnum Opus; and he's a fellow Newcastle boy. Carrion, Parkway Drive An absolute metal anthem that blows the doors off every time. I remember hearing this for the first time and immediately running to pick up my guitar. To the Moon and Back, Savage Garden They were my first ever live concert at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and you can still catch me singing along to every word. Rhapsody on a Windy Night, The Getaway Plan Matt's [Wright] voice is haunting and this entire album gives me goosebumps. As a kid this band made me realise I will never be as musically talented as these guys are. Prisoner of Society, The Living End As a young teen, these guys gave me a lot of opportunity to scream in my bedroom and feel like I was giving a big middle finger to any sort of authority. Horror Movie, Skyhooks My father's favourite band. I remember listening to old tapes switching between Skyhooks and Cold Chisel. It was my introduction to Aussie rock. The News, The Mission In Motion A band my wife introduced me to when we first met. We saw them live together so many times and hearing their music takes me straight back to when Jess and I were dating. Give it All, The Amity Affliction This song and album got me through a lot of heavy shit when I was younger. If music is therapy, then I owe these guys a lot. Come into My World, Kylie Minogue When you say Aussie pop icon, Kylie is the only answer. I've still got as big of a crush on her now as I did when I was a teenager. Jewels for Eyes, Closure In Moscow Beautiful, ethereal and experimental. Closure is like Bowie meets The Mars Volta. Incredible Australian musicians. Electric Blue, Icehouse Transports me straight back to my childhood in the '80s. My parents playing Icehouse, Dire Straits, The Police and Huey Lewis and the News on cassette tapes, as we hit the road on holidays. Down Under, Men At Work Hard not to include this song in my top 10. Another one that takes me back to the 80s growing up in Australia. Iconic lyrics. Tomorrow, Silverchair Silverchair was big when I was in high school in Port Macquarie. I remember friends heading to Newcastle to see their concert. I loved covering the 30-year anniversary of Tomorrow late last year - their debut EP that continues to resonate and be revered. Pick You Up, Powderfinger A soundtrack to my senior years of high school. Double Allergic and Vulture Street CDs were on high rotation. Difficult Woman, Renee Geyer My dad introduced me to Renee Geyer in my late teens/early 20s. She has an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful voice. Lachlan Tigers, Bushwackers For the first three decades of my life, my dad played in a bush band, as well as a jazz band. The bush band played lots of Bushwackers songs including Lachlan Tigers. Goodbye Blinky Bill, John Williamson When I was small, I would visit the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital with my dad. He would play music and we would pass his Akubra hat around to raise money for the injured koalas. The chorus goes ... "Pass the hat around between your friends, there's no time to contemplate. Maybe if we show some love, maybe it's not too late." Better, Screaming Jets Newcastle's original rockstars and their epic rock anthem. I remember watching this film clip in the early '90s on Rage with my brother. My Island Home, Christine Anu A beautiful song that always makes me smile. It resonates with me ... having grown up in the small coastal community of Bonny Hills. Stalker, The Main Guy and The Other Guys Just like Silverchair, another iconic Newy band that needs to reform. Missing Piece, Vance Joy This song reminds me of how simply being with the right person can make everything feel lighter. Connection doesn't need grand gestures - just sincerity, safety, and shared space. Scar, Missy Higgins This one really resonates deeply with me on quite a few levels ... professionally and personally. I really appreciate authenticity and courage, especially in conversations about mental health and in my personal relationships. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS I just love the intensity and passion of this song. It's about intense connections and unbreakable bonds. Thankyou (For Loving Me at my Worst), The Whitlams I love how this one doesn't shy away from the fact that we all have our worst moments - times when we aren't easy to love - and rather than regretting, it's about being grateful for people who stayed. The Ship Song, Nick Cave This song, for me, is all about invitation and surrender, about offering someone your messy, beautiful world and asking them to stay anyway. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers It just aches, doesn't it, with the pain of being overlooked, underestimated, or dismissed - not because you lack substance, but because you don't fit the mould. How to Make Gravy, Paul Kelly This song makes me cry. I love that it's about family, forgiveness and finding connection even when people are apart or hurting. In the Summertime, Thirsty Merc I'm playing this a lot right now. I'm so nostalgic (and desperate) for summer. This song feels like lazy afternoons, road trips and the joy of Australian summers. Can't Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue It's bold, playful and iconic - I want words with anyone who doesn't have this on their list. Magic, Olivia Newton John I love this song for so many reasons. Of course, it's about belief being a catalyst for transformation and realised possibilities - trust your intuition. Get Free, The Vines Two minutes of pure rock adrenaline. When it was released in 2002 I thought The Vines could have been anything. The hype didn't last, but my god, it kicked in the back teeth. Purple Sneakers, You Am I My entire list could be filled with Tim Rogers songs. A genius. The lyrics of teenage awkwardness and the search for human connection just resonates above all the others. Straight Lines, Silverchair I met my wife at a Silverchair show and they're Newy's greatest band. I could have chosen Freak or Emotion Sickness, but Straight Lines was melodically Daniel Johns' finest moment. Bye Bye Pride, The Go-Betweens Once again, my list could be entirely filled with Go-Betweens songs. I absolutely adore the chorus, and when Grant McLennan and Amanda Brown's voices combine it simply soars. Blue Sky Mine, Midnight Oil Watching the Oils in 2017 at Hope Estate gave me an entirely new appreciation for the band. The outro where they sing "in the end the rain comes down" is spine-tingling. Perfect Now, Sarah Blasko A gorgeous performance from one of Australia's best vocalists. The song is about knowing your momentary happiness won't last. A melancholic thought, delivered powerfully. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala I've enjoyed Kevin Parker's later more electronic material too, but for me, Lonerism and this track were his pyschedelic peak. U Should Not Be Doing That, Amyl & The Sniffers The Melbourne four-piece are the most exciting band Australia has produced in years. This is punk rock with a modern flavour, verve and intelligence. One Crowded Hour, Augie March It's probably the most unconventional Triple J Hottest 100 winner, but one of the most stunning. Glenn Richards' romantic and poetic tale sounds like Jeff Buckley channelling mid-60s Bob Dylan. Jezabel, The Drones Gareth Liddiard is another of my favourite songwriters. This bleak tale about a man scarred by the horrors of Middle Eastern conflicts combines The Drones' discordant power and beauty. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool The riff is so pervasive - but what's the point of dropping your pants when you should be dancing? Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil Such a great combination of a driving bass rhythm and a political message. Throw Your Arms Around Me, Hunters & Collectors Because I'm a hopeless romantic. Boys In Town, Divinyls I introduced this to my son when he was 13. He loved it immediately, and suddenly gave me more respect. Star and the Slaughter, Heroes The song that closed the Star Hotel - and started a riot. The Newcastle Song, Bob Hudson I've performed this song to great laughs on stage in Newcastle, Melbourne, Christchurch and in a pub in the west of Ireland. The Biggest Disappointment, Slim Dusty I loved it as a Slim Dusty song many, many years ago, and I loved rediscovering it when Missy Higgins did an acoustic version recently. The Special Two, Missy Higgins A special song from an extraordinary album. Reckless (Don't Be So..), Australian Crawl Wonderful word imagery and music combined. Live it Up, Mental As Anything Such a great upbeat and happy song - you've gotta love it. Torn, Natalie Imbruglia Great song, great singer, great video. Big, Sneaky Sound System A catchy song that I loved when it first came out. It's still in my playlist. Like I'm Falling Down Stairs, Sparkadia I love the melody. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll), AC/DC It gets the heart pumping. Dumb Things, Paul Kelly Words to live by. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil An anthem for the politically minded. Better, Screaming Jets Novocastrians represent. Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes Classic Aussie rock. What's not to like? Hot Potato, The Wiggles What can I say, I'm a dad of three and love a singalong. Perfect for long car trips to get the backseat happy. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool This one has become a family hit with the kids. Sounds Of Then (This is Australia), GANGgajang Reminds me of life on the farm. Took The Children Away, Archie Roach It just epitomises the tragedy of the Stolen Generation, and it brings a tingle to my spine. Walking On A Dream, Empire Of The Sun I like chilling with a bit of electronica. It's an iconic song that takes you away. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil I love the politics of the album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, in particular. It means so much to me. Into My Arms, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds I'm a relatively late convert to Nick Cave. I saw him here at the Civic Theatre [in 2022] in what was one of the most incredible concerts I've ever seen. Fred Astaire, San Cisco It's a song most people have heard and like and it's one I certainly love. Better, Screaming Jets You hear that song and you get up and wanna dance and go hard. Iconic Novocastrians. Straight Lines, Silverchair At one point they were one of the world's biggest bands, and they're Newy. My kids go to Newy High and you walk in and see the photo of them. Just legends. So Caught Up, Teskey Brothers I'm a huge fan of the Teskey Brothers and they fit in perfectly with that blues and soul sound and have iconic voices. London Still, The Waifs One of my best friends is Josh Cunningham's [of The Waifs] brother Saul. I've seen them countless times and watched them go from playing at Moruya to performing to massive sold-out spaces. Follow The Sun, Xavier Rudd If I need to chill out from the stress of politics, I whack that one on and it's got bird calls and whistles. It's been a difficult moment for Australian music. Last month, the federal government's advisory body, Creative Australia, released statistics that showed just how challenging it's become for homegrown artists to have their music heard. Only 8 per cent of the top 10,000 artists streamed in this country were Australian. Today's Triple J Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time seeks to give music fans a clear reminder of the remarkable talent produced in this country. So we asked a bunch of Hunter identities who made their top 10. These Days, Powderfinger A brilliant song. I feel like the movie Two Hands would have been a lesser film without the inclusion of this great song. One Perfect Day, Little Heroes Such an evocative song for people in long-distance relationships. That longing for physical and emotional connection is exacerbated by the tyranny of distance. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers I absolutely love the songwriting of Kasey. She is a gem and sings with such authenticity. Love her. Overkill, Men At Work A song that has probably exceeded its original release in popularity. The voice of the great Colin Hay and Greg Ham's always amazing brass lines are just awesome. Most People I Know, Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs A great song from one of the pioneers of Aussie rock. A true legend who wrote great songs, played guitar like a god and sang with all his might. Mr Damage, The Angels I remember being scared of the menacing undertone of this song when I heard it on my brother's stereo as a 10-year-old. Years later, the fear would be that I'd stuff up the lyrics in front of a rabid live Angels crowd. Baby, I'm Gettin' Better, Gyroscope I loved this band from the moment I heard the song. More evidence that there really is something in the water over in WA. Short Note, Matt Finish A beautiful song. Melancholy, yet strangely uplifting. A great vocal from the sadly departed Matt Moffatt. Squealer, AC/DC Probably a contentious song nowadays, but to me a fine example of Bon Scott's lyrical prowess. Sallie-Anne, Spy vs. Spy A powerful song based on the death of Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, a Sydney sex worker who was killed apparently because she knew too much about the underworld and its connection to high-ranking corrupt police officers in Kings Cross. Across the Night, Silverchair Daniel Johns is one of the most talented musicians alive. The Diorama album is his Magnum Opus; and he's a fellow Newcastle boy. Carrion, Parkway Drive An absolute metal anthem that blows the doors off every time. I remember hearing this for the first time and immediately running to pick up my guitar. To the Moon and Back, Savage Garden They were my first ever live concert at Newcastle Entertainment Centre and you can still catch me singing along to every word. Rhapsody on a Windy Night, The Getaway Plan Matt's [Wright] voice is haunting and this entire album gives me goosebumps. As a kid this band made me realise I will never be as musically talented as these guys are. Prisoner of Society, The Living End As a young teen, these guys gave me a lot of opportunity to scream in my bedroom and feel like I was giving a big middle finger to any sort of authority. Horror Movie, Skyhooks My father's favourite band. I remember listening to old tapes switching between Skyhooks and Cold Chisel. It was my introduction to Aussie rock. The News, The Mission In Motion A band my wife introduced me to when we first met. We saw them live together so many times and hearing their music takes me straight back to when Jess and I were dating. Give it All, The Amity Affliction This song and album got me through a lot of heavy shit when I was younger. If music is therapy, then I owe these guys a lot. Come into My World, Kylie Minogue When you say Aussie pop icon, Kylie is the only answer. I've still got as big of a crush on her now as I did when I was a teenager. Jewels for Eyes, Closure In Moscow Beautiful, ethereal and experimental. Closure is like Bowie meets The Mars Volta. Incredible Australian musicians. Electric Blue, Icehouse Transports me straight back to my childhood in the '80s. My parents playing Icehouse, Dire Straits, The Police and Huey Lewis and the News on cassette tapes, as we hit the road on holidays. Down Under, Men At Work Hard not to include this song in my top 10. Another one that takes me back to the 80s growing up in Australia. Iconic lyrics. Tomorrow, Silverchair Silverchair was big when I was in high school in Port Macquarie. I remember friends heading to Newcastle to see their concert. I loved covering the 30-year anniversary of Tomorrow late last year - their debut EP that continues to resonate and be revered. Pick You Up, Powderfinger A soundtrack to my senior years of high school. Double Allergic and Vulture Street CDs were on high rotation. Difficult Woman, Renee Geyer My dad introduced me to Renee Geyer in my late teens/early 20s. She has an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful voice. Lachlan Tigers, Bushwackers For the first three decades of my life, my dad played in a bush band, as well as a jazz band. The bush band played lots of Bushwackers songs including Lachlan Tigers. Goodbye Blinky Bill, John Williamson When I was small, I would visit the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital with my dad. He would play music and we would pass his Akubra hat around to raise money for the injured koalas. The chorus goes ... "Pass the hat around between your friends, there's no time to contemplate. Maybe if we show some love, maybe it's not too late." Better, Screaming Jets Newcastle's original rockstars and their epic rock anthem. I remember watching this film clip in the early '90s on Rage with my brother. My Island Home, Christine Anu A beautiful song that always makes me smile. It resonates with me ... having grown up in the small coastal community of Bonny Hills. Stalker, The Main Guy and The Other Guys Just like Silverchair, another iconic Newy band that needs to reform. Missing Piece, Vance Joy This song reminds me of how simply being with the right person can make everything feel lighter. Connection doesn't need grand gestures - just sincerity, safety, and shared space. Scar, Missy Higgins This one really resonates deeply with me on quite a few levels ... professionally and personally. I really appreciate authenticity and courage, especially in conversations about mental health and in my personal relationships. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS I just love the intensity and passion of this song. It's about intense connections and unbreakable bonds. Thankyou (For Loving Me at my Worst), The Whitlams I love how this one doesn't shy away from the fact that we all have our worst moments - times when we aren't easy to love - and rather than regretting, it's about being grateful for people who stayed. The Ship Song, Nick Cave This song, for me, is all about invitation and surrender, about offering someone your messy, beautiful world and asking them to stay anyway. Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers It just aches, doesn't it, with the pain of being overlooked, underestimated, or dismissed - not because you lack substance, but because you don't fit the mould. How to Make Gravy, Paul Kelly This song makes me cry. I love that it's about family, forgiveness and finding connection even when people are apart or hurting. In the Summertime, Thirsty Merc I'm playing this a lot right now. I'm so nostalgic (and desperate) for summer. This song feels like lazy afternoons, road trips and the joy of Australian summers. Can't Get You Out of My Head, Kylie Minogue It's bold, playful and iconic - I want words with anyone who doesn't have this on their list. Magic, Olivia Newton John I love this song for so many reasons. Of course, it's about belief being a catalyst for transformation and realised possibilities - trust your intuition. Get Free, The Vines Two minutes of pure rock adrenaline. When it was released in 2002 I thought The Vines could have been anything. The hype didn't last, but my god, it kicked in the back teeth. Purple Sneakers, You Am I My entire list could be filled with Tim Rogers songs. A genius. The lyrics of teenage awkwardness and the search for human connection just resonates above all the others. Straight Lines, Silverchair I met my wife at a Silverchair show and they're Newy's greatest band. I could have chosen Freak or Emotion Sickness, but Straight Lines was melodically Daniel Johns' finest moment. Bye Bye Pride, The Go-Betweens Once again, my list could be entirely filled with Go-Betweens songs. I absolutely adore the chorus, and when Grant McLennan and Amanda Brown's voices combine it simply soars. Blue Sky Mine, Midnight Oil Watching the Oils in 2017 at Hope Estate gave me an entirely new appreciation for the band. The outro where they sing "in the end the rain comes down" is spine-tingling. Perfect Now, Sarah Blasko A gorgeous performance from one of Australia's best vocalists. The song is about knowing your momentary happiness won't last. A melancholic thought, delivered powerfully. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala I've enjoyed Kevin Parker's later more electronic material too, but for me, Lonerism and this track were his pyschedelic peak. U Should Not Be Doing That, Amyl & The Sniffers The Melbourne four-piece are the most exciting band Australia has produced in years. This is punk rock with a modern flavour, verve and intelligence. One Crowded Hour, Augie March It's probably the most unconventional Triple J Hottest 100 winner, but one of the most stunning. Glenn Richards' romantic and poetic tale sounds like Jeff Buckley channelling mid-60s Bob Dylan. Jezabel, The Drones Gareth Liddiard is another of my favourite songwriters. This bleak tale about a man scarred by the horrors of Middle Eastern conflicts combines The Drones' discordant power and beauty. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool The riff is so pervasive - but what's the point of dropping your pants when you should be dancing? Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil Such a great combination of a driving bass rhythm and a political message. Throw Your Arms Around Me, Hunters & Collectors Because I'm a hopeless romantic. Boys In Town, Divinyls I introduced this to my son when he was 13. He loved it immediately, and suddenly gave me more respect. Star and the Slaughter, Heroes The song that closed the Star Hotel - and started a riot. The Newcastle Song, Bob Hudson I've performed this song to great laughs on stage in Newcastle, Melbourne, Christchurch and in a pub in the west of Ireland. The Biggest Disappointment, Slim Dusty I loved it as a Slim Dusty song many, many years ago, and I loved rediscovering it when Missy Higgins did an acoustic version recently. The Special Two, Missy Higgins A special song from an extraordinary album. Reckless (Don't Be So..), Australian Crawl Wonderful word imagery and music combined. Live it Up, Mental As Anything Such a great upbeat and happy song - you've gotta love it. Torn, Natalie Imbruglia Great song, great singer, great video. Big, Sneaky Sound System A catchy song that I loved when it first came out. It's still in my playlist. Like I'm Falling Down Stairs, Sparkadia I love the melody. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll), AC/DC It gets the heart pumping. Dumb Things, Paul Kelly Words to live by. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil An anthem for the politically minded. Better, Screaming Jets Novocastrians represent. Working Class Man, Jimmy Barnes Classic Aussie rock. What's not to like? Hot Potato, The Wiggles What can I say, I'm a dad of three and love a singalong. Perfect for long car trips to get the backseat happy. Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool This one has become a family hit with the kids. Sounds Of Then (This is Australia), GANGgajang Reminds me of life on the farm. Took The Children Away, Archie Roach It just epitomises the tragedy of the Stolen Generation, and it brings a tingle to my spine. Walking On A Dream, Empire Of The Sun I like chilling with a bit of electronica. It's an iconic song that takes you away. Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil I love the politics of the album 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, in particular. It means so much to me. Into My Arms, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds I'm a relatively late convert to Nick Cave. I saw him here at the Civic Theatre [in 2022] in what was one of the most incredible concerts I've ever seen. Fred Astaire, San Cisco It's a song most people have heard and like and it's one I certainly love. Better, Screaming Jets You hear that song and you get up and wanna dance and go hard. Iconic Novocastrians. Straight Lines, Silverchair At one point they were one of the world's biggest bands, and they're Newy. My kids go to Newy High and you walk in and see the photo of them. Just legends. So Caught Up, Teskey Brothers I'm a huge fan of the Teskey Brothers and they fit in perfectly with that blues and soul sound and have iconic voices. London Still, The Waifs One of my best friends is Josh Cunningham's [of The Waifs] brother Saul. I've seen them countless times and watched them go from playing at Moruya to performing to massive sold-out spaces. Follow The Sun, Xavier Rudd If I need to chill out from the stress of politics, I whack that one on and it's got bird calls and whistles.

ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Here's which Hottest 100 tracks have been covered on Like A Version
The Hottest 100 of Australian Songs may not have included Like A Version performances (they got their own countdown in 2023, to be fair), but a whole heap of tracks in the list have been covered in the triple j studios. Over the last 20-odd years of Like A Version sound-tracking our Friday mornings, hundreds of songs have been covered. Among those include these 53 Australian tracks that you firmly believe are the best our country has ever produced. That's more than half of the countdown! From AC/DC to DMA'S, Missy Higgins to Regurgitator, here are all of the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs placegetters who have been covered in the Like A Version studio. #1 INXS - Never Tear Us Apart: covered by True Live (2008) and Allday (2014) #4 Missy Higgins – Scar: covered by 67 Special (2006) #5 Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over: covered by Middle Kids (2017) #6 Powderfinger - My Happiness: covered by Clare Bowditch (2010) and Ball Park Music (2017) #9 Paul Kelly - How To Make Gravy: covered by Luci Brasi (2016) #10 Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know: covered by Eskimo Joe (2011) #11 The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition: covered by Space Invadas (2010) #12 The Angels - Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again: covered by Seabellies (2010) and Dune Rats & Friends (2022) #13 AC/DC - Thunderstruck: covered by Odette (2022) #15 John Farnham - You're The Voice: covered by Bec Sandridge (2017) #18 Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning: covered by Anti-Flag (2008) #19 Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better covered by Ngaiire (2015) #20 Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane: covered by Tuka (2015) #22 Paul Kelly - To Her Door: covered by Gyroscope (2008) #24 Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream: covered by Boy & Bear (2011) #25 Hunters & Collectors - Throw Your Arms Around Me: covered by Ayla (2015) #26 Flume ft. kai - Never Be Like You: covered by Polish Club (2017) #27 Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head: covered by Dallas Crane (2007), The Flaming Lips (2009), Peking Duk (2014) and PANIA (2023) #28 Silverchair - Straight Lines: covered by Glades (2018) #29 The Church - Under The Milky Way: covered by Josh Pyke (2008) #31 AC/DC - Highway To Hell: covered by The Bellrays (2006) #32 Natalie Imbruglia – Torn: covered by Alex Lahey (2017) #34 Spacey Jane - Booster Seat: covered by Asha Jeffries (2024) #35 ICEHOUSE - Great Southern Land: covered by Little May (2015) #39 Australian Crawl — Reckless (Don't Be So): covered by Children Collide (2010) and Angie McMahon (2024) #40 Violent Soho — Covered In Chrome: covered by Northeast Party House (2016) #42 Gang Of Youths — Magnolia: covered by Odette (2018) #44 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Into My Arms: covered by Jess Ribeiro (2008) and Emma Louise (2016) #46 Bag Raiders — Shooting Stars: covered by Flume (2022) #48 Vance Joy — Riptide: covered by The Griswolds (2014) #51 Matt Corby — Brother: covered by Thundamentals (2012) #52 Missy Higgins — The Special Two: covered by Dear Seattle (2019) #53 Thelma Plum — Better In Blak: covered by Beddy Rays (2021) #54 Divinyls — I Touch Myself: covered by Behind Crimson Eyes (2006) and Lime Cordiale (2019) #55 The Presets — My People: covered by Basement Birds (2010) #58 The Avalanches — Frontier Psychiatrist: covered by Methyl Ethel (2021) #59 INXS — Need You Tonight: covered by Husky (2012) #61 Chet Faker — Talk Is Cheap: covered by Timberwolf (2017) #63 Redgum — I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green): covered by The Herd (2005) #65 Ocean Alley — Confidence: covered by Adrian Eagle (2019) #67 Regurgitator — ! (The Song Formerly Known As): covered by 360 (2011) and Client Liaison (2014) #75 The Church — The Unguarded Moment: covered by Ruby Fields (2019) #78 Eskimo Joe — Black Fingernails, Red Wine: covered by Polaris (2020) #80 Empire Of The Sun — We Are The People: covered by Metronomy (2009), Little Red (2010) and Tia Gostelow (2018) #81 You Am I — Berlin Chair: covered by Holly Throsby (2008) #83 Ben Lee — Cigarettes Will Kill You: covered by Alpine (2015) #85 DMA'S — Delete: covered by Sticky Fingers (2015) #86 Gotye — Hearts A Mess: covered by Missy Higgins (2012) #87 Gang Of Youths — The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows: covered by Gretta Ray (2021) #91 The Whitlams — No Aphrodisiac: covered by Horrorshow (2017) #93 The Avalanches — Since I Left You: covered by REMI (2013) #94 Flight Facilities — Clair De Lune covered by The Kite String Tangle (2014) #98 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Red Right Hand: covered by FIDLAR (2013)

ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
INXS's Hottest 100 win: How worlds collided for Never Tear Us Apart
An uncharacteristic ballad from one of Australia's biggest, best-selling rock bands, INXS's 'Never Tear Us Apart' long ago transcended its origins to become a bona fide anthem. But is it the best Australian song of all time? Yes, according to the 2.65 million votes in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. The nation has spoken, and the 1987 single has been crowned the people's favourite, surpassing classics by Hilltop Hoods, Missy Higgins, Crowded House, Cold Chisel and many more in the special edition of triple j's national music poll. INXS, a beloved global sensation with more than 70 million records and 4 billion streams to their name, were always going to be a frontrunner in the countdown. The group's greatest hits compilation, The Very Best, is currently number two on the ARIA Australian Album Charts, and it's held a spot in the Top 20 for a whopping 12 years. Formed in 1977, INXS toured relentlessly, sculpted by Sydney's pub rock scene. They grew into an excellent singles band who, beginning with 1983's Nile Rodgers-produced 'Original Sin', began competing — then dominating — on an international level. Fronted by the enigmatic Michael Hutchence, INXS reached their commercial and creative peak with breakthrough sixth album, Kick. Released 19 October 1987, Kick was a blockbuster that cemented the six-piece in the coveted American market, despite the band's label initially hating the record. Atlantic Records didn't grasp the sleek fusion of pop, rock and funk, fearing Kick would alienate rock radio and fail to compete with that year's chartbusters: Michael Jackson's Bad, U2's The Joshua Tree, and hair metallers Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard and Whitesnake. Long-time INXS manager Chris Murphy said Atlantic offered him a million dollars to re-record the album. He rejected and his and the band's instincts were vindicated. Kick peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200 (behind George Michael's Faith and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack) and reached #2 in Australia (kept from the top spot by Icehouse's Man of Colours). Its success extended to being the best-selling album in Australia of 1988, eventually going seven times Platinum at home. In America, it shifted a staggering six million units (six times Platinum) and produced four top 10 hits: 'New Sensation', 'Devil Inside', 'Need You Tonight' (the band's first and only US number one, and #59 in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs), and 'Never Tear Us Apart'. Courtney Barnett was one of several Australian musicians who voted for 'Never Tear Us Apart' in the Hottest 100 of Australian songs, alongside G Flip, Rüfüs Du Sol, and The Veronicas. Kick came out the year she was born. "I was obsessed with the whole album," says Barnett, who covered Kick in its entirety in late 2012, for Melbourne-based Pure Pop Records, with naught but voice and guitar. "So many great songs, but I think ['Never Tear Us Apart'] is so epic and dramatic and a great love song. I think that makes it feel really timeless." Among Kick's muscular grooves and arena-ready sing-alongs, 'Never Tear Us Apart' is the power ballad, with the emphasis on power. But it began life as an even stranger outlier in the band's catalogue: a swaggering, up-tempo number in the vein of old-fashioned rockabilly sensation Gene Vincent. "I wanted to do something that was very different from what we were doing before," keyboardist-guitarist and songwriter Andrew Farriss said in a 2024 'Behind The Scenes' video. "In fact, when Michael first heard what I was doing, he laughed … I don't think he took it all that seriously." But the frontman took Farriss's cassette demo and grew to love what he was hearing. In a break between touring and back in Australia, "he came around to my little apartment," says Farriss, who had transposed the music to piano. "[Michael] put the lyrics on it [and] worked out the melody, which I think is fantastic; the way it's really understated." Even so, when the band got into the studio to record Kick, Farriss was still unsure if the ballad was going to make the cut. British producer Chris Murphy was adamant it had to be on the record, remembers Farriss. "But I think he was uncomfortable with an electric or acoustic guitar, or even piano, playing like that… He said, 'have you got a string sample or something?'." Farriss did: the Emulator II Marcato strings, a keyboard preset made ubiquitous in the 1980s via songs by Madonna, The Smiths, The Cure and more. Hutchence was already an iconic 1980s sex symbol, but 'Never Tear Us Apart' works so well because he plays to his tender side. He isn't the smouldering rock star, he's the wounded lover, bringing necessary levels of drama in a career-best vocal performance. This is a man you believe could make wine from your tears. And he conveys that sense of tortured romance — the melancholy, and the triumph — in just two short verses and a chorus. "He had the ability to say a lot in a very short space of time," says Farriss. "And I think that communication is evident in 'Never Tear Us Apart'. It goes straight to people's hearts. They want to own it." Ambling at a steady 97 beats per minute in the uber-common key of C Major, 'Never Tear Us Apart' is in the waltz-like time signature of 6/8, which enhances one of its key features: The dramatic silences. The first (at 48 seconds) leads to the twangy, Spaghetti Western guitar break into the second verse. The second (at 1:49) was used to theatrical effect in concert, where lead guitarist and elder Farriss brother, Tim, would stretch out the silence to whip crowds into a frenzied anticipation. "He stops it for as long as he likes," Hutchence deadpanned in a 1987 interview. "We can go have drinks and sit down for a while." This second break leads into another of the song's distinguishing elements: Kirk Pengilly's saxophone solo. Blustering, borderline-erotic, instantly hummable — it lasts only five bars but provides an added climax to the song. Live, Pengilly would often "wander off into the audience and find a spot to do the sax solo," Hutchence recalled. "And we never see him again." Hutchence experienced plenty of high-profile romances in his life, including Kylie Minogue, Danish supermodel Helena Christensen, and TV presenter/wife of Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof, Paula Yates, among them. But the lyrical inspiration for 'Never Tear Us Apart' was actually Michele Bennett, his pre-fame girlfriend who — even after splitting in 1987 — remained Hutchence's dear friend and confidante during the height of his fame. She also introduced Hutchence to filmmaker Richard Lowenstein, who cast the frontman in his 1986 cult classic Dogs In Space and became a long-time INXS collaborator, directing 15 of their music videos. That included 'Never Tear Us Apart', shot in Prague during winter, a universe removed from the sunny beaches of Sydney, using the Czechoslovakian capital's architecture and landmarks as a romantic backdrop to their tear-jerker. "That was shot in the old town centre, it's so beautiful there," Hutchence remarked in a behind the scenes video commemorating the song's 35th anniversary. "One thing about communism is it's kept most of the buildings intact. It's like a medieval city." At the 1989 ARIA Music Awards, 'Never Tear Us Apart' won INXS Best Group and Best Video, and was a staple of MTV overseas, amplifying Michael Hutchence's magnetic star power. "He was a cross between Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison," MTV video jockey Alan Hunter told Billboard. Famously, Hutchence's career was tragically cut short. He died by suicide in 1997, at age 37, at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sydney's Double Bay while his INXS bandmates were in rehearsals for another tour. The last person to speak to Hutchence alive? His old flame, Michele Bennett, who received a distressing phone call from the troubled frontman and unsuccessfully attempted to meet him at his hotel room. There was no response, so she left a note with reception. Hutchence's body was discovered by a hotel maid the next morning. An accomplished film and TV producer (whose credits include 2000 hit Chopper and music videos for U2, Prince, Silverchair and Foo Fighters), Bennett didn't speak publicly about Hutchence's death until 2019 documentary Mystify, directed by mutual friend Lowenstein. The filmmaker often felt that if Hutchence were to ever settle down, it would have been with Bennett. "I always felt that, after everything, he'd go back and marry Michele and have a baby with her," Lowenstein told The Independent in 1998. The only INXS song played at Hutchence's funeral, as his casket was carried out of St. Andrew's Cathedral, was 'Never Tear Us Apart', its already emotive words forever given added weight and bittersweet resonance. When triple j's Hottest 100 first shifted to an annual format in 1993, INXS's commercial dominance was beginning to wane, struggling to detach themselves from the 80s, the era that made them icons. As such, INXS have never previously appeared in the annual poll. Some voters in the Hottest 100 of Australian songs may have been aware of this fact, wanting to vindicate one of Australia's all-timers in our country's most famous music poll (similar to The Veronicas anthem 'Untouched', reaching #3, marking their Hottest 100 debut). Then again, the majority of voters probably had no idea INXS have never made the Hottest 100 before. The biggest voting demographic for 'Never Tear Us Apart' were people aged 18 — 29 (42 per cent of the song's vote), but the track's popularity across all age groups is what rocketed it to the top. Where most other songs were only popular with a single demographic, 'Never Tear Us Apart' had cross generational appeal. It had a higher-than-average vote in ballots from people of all ages. For example, it's the only song to feature in the top five of both men under 30 and the #1 song choice for women aged 46 — 55. Mothers and sons love INXS! So, how did a song approaching its 40th anniversary resonate so broadly with people of all ages? Cultural impact and longevity. INXS's catalogue has been a go-to soundtrack choice in plenty of film and TV moments over four decades, from Law & Order SVU and One Tree Hill to the 2004 director's cut of cult indie hit Donnie Darko. Most significantly, INXS served as an important story thread in HBO series Euphoria, exploring the 1980s-era adolescence of Cal Jacobs (played by Eric Dane) and his best friend Derek (Henry Eikenberry) in season two. Specifically, 'Never Tear Us Apart' is used in full in a cold open where the pair's friendship blossoms into a queer romantic exploration, a moment that leans into the tender, feminine side Michael Hutchence expressed in the song. Music supervisor Jen Malone used INXS as her "jumping-off point" to soundtrack these flashback sequences and introduced younger audiences to legacy artists. The five INXS songs used across Euphoria season two enjoyed a resurgence as the show's young audience discovered, and embraced, their music. Spotify streams of 'Never Tear Us Apart' enjoyed a 22 per cent boost in the month following the series finale. "I think that Euphoria is an element of music discovery," she told Variety in 2022. "And to be able to introduce some of the Gen Z audience to this amazing music is so exciting. More recently, 'Never Tear Us Apart' was featured in the A24 erotic thriller, Babygirl, thanks to INXS fan Nicole Kidman. The song scores a particularly steamy montage between Kidman's powerful CEO Romy and young intern Samuel (Harry Dickinson) in the office. When director Halina Reijn used it early in production, she knew no other song would better suit the scene. "I call A24 and I'm like, 'We need the rights to this song.'," Reijn told the Reel Blend podcast in 2024. "[A24] tried it but it was a hard no [from INXS' people]. I didn't sleep for a week. I tried every other song but nothing worked. As is typically the case with any enduring Aussie anthem, 'Never Tear Us Apart' also has a strong sports connection. Just ask any Port Adelaide fan — it's been the club's unofficial anthem for more than a decade. Pears supporters regularly hold club scarves, emblazoned with the track name, high above their heads as the song rings out across Adelaide Oval; a pre-game tradition that began in 2014 when the team moved its home ground from Alberton Park to Adelaide Oval. When the idea was first pitched, "I was quite overwhelmed," Andrew Farriss told ABC Overnights in 2024. "What really struck me, firstly, there's no one performing on the oval, it's the audience endearing themselves to [the] song… and it's gone into Australian culture. That part hit me quite hard…" The song continues to resonate with audiences new and old alike, and it's been covered countless times by artists from across the musical spectrum. Tom Jones and Natalie Imbruglia performed it as a duet in 1999. English DJ Tall Paul delivered a thumping remix, titled 'Precious Heart', in 2001. The National recorded a rendition for an Australian bushfire fundraising compilation in 2020. Closer to home, both Allday and True Live covered 'Never Tear Us Apart' for triple j's Like A Version. Dua Lipa — whose hit 'Break My Heart' interpolated INXS's 'Need You Tonight' – performed the song during the Sydney leg of her Australian tour earlier this year. First nations pop sensation The Kid LAROI covered the song at the 2024 NRL Grand Final, surprising the crowd and his own mother. Reflecting on LAROI's performance, Farriss told ABC Overnights: "One of the most endearing and surprising things of all is that we, INXS, I don't think any of us really imagined that 30 or something years later, we'd even be relevant. "It just amazes me still, after all these years, that especially the younger generation of people embrace what INXS did at the time." "Only the band members would ever know what it's like to be INXS," Jon Farriss told triple j. "Being on stage, being the only people to actually see what it looks like with all the people's reactions and how beautiful it is." But that perspective was so treasured precisely because of the band's audience, across time and around the world. "Over the years, the songs do take on their own sort of energy and power, which is really bequeathed from the audience, and it's out of our hands. Once we design and record it, it's sort of takes it and the people choose to do what they want with it." 'Never Tear Us Apart' is a song that has truly stood the test of time, a testament to a band at the peak of their powers, and the seemingly ageless appeal of their charismatic frontman. "Michael would be so proud of how much longevity some of the songs we wrote together have really had," Andrew Farriss told ABC in 2024. "I can't believe it." Farriss fondly remembers the "person that I met in high school when we were teenagers. That's the person I often think about. It's not the uber-famous megastar" who earned the respect and admiration of peers like Tom Jones, Mick Jagger and Bono. "I don't think of it like that." 'He's not here… to enjoy a lot of the flow-on, as years have gone on, and I miss him.' Farriss is right. There are millions of memories embedded in just three minutes of music. And you only need scour the comments section of any INXS content to see innumerable fans sharing fuzzy tales of the tune scoring deeply personal moments of triumph and tragedy alike, late-night pub sing-alongs and private revelries. The same could be said for many of the iconic songs in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. Just ask anyone that went through the punishing task of culling their shortlists down to just 10 tunes from across Australian music history — and there's literally tens of thousands of Hottest 100 voters you could quiz. Ultimately, the main takeaway from that difficult task is that it wasn't really about competition, it was about revisiting — and celebrating — the vast scope, scale, and quality of music this county has produced. It's about realising 'how bloody great is Australian music!?' INXS sit atop the countdown, but all 100 songs — and many more that didn't make the cut — contain countless memories, milestones, and meaning. And nobody could never, ever tear that apart.