.…And that bring us up to now.1 Fifty-odd songs, telling a story of Australia. And as promised, there wasn’t nearly enough EDM, or country music, or Models singles.2 Again, best of intentions.
You’ve probably got a sense of the many, many, many byways this story could have taken. What of Australia’s soul divas, from Renee Geyer to Tina Arena to Jessica Mauboy? What of films and television music, or the slogans-turned-singles like ‘It’s Time’ and ‘Up There Cazaly’? How come ‘Redback on the Toilet Seat’ didn’t get a look in? How about more on the nineties punk explosion, or the dominance of hardcore in the noughties? And, perhaps most importantly, whither Kevin Bloody Wilson? This shouldn’t be the end of the conversation, but rather a jumping-off point for many, many, many more conversations about Australian music. Which you can have among yourselves, thanks—I waste enough time on Facebook as it is.3
The main thing to remember, though, is that music only exists with an audience. And when you’re in the audience, you’ve got to be responsive. So: go see a band. Subscribe to your local community station. Buy some records and play them loud to cover your squelchy sex noises or let your parents know they don’t understand you. Help keep our nation’s music alive, because it’s pretty damn special stuff.4
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1 Or then, depending how far in the future you’re reading this.
2 Damn it. Still my favourite Australian band.
3 Nah, you’re welcome to let me know your own fifty-ish songs if you like, at andrewpstreet.com, @andrewpstreet on Twitter, or www.facebook.com/theandrewpstreet/. Or just accost me on a bus or something.
4 Except for ‘Angels Brought Me Here’, obviously, which is irredeemable. FACT. And did you find the other two lousy songs? Send me your answers.