15 Songs To Play On Australia Day

Everyone will have their opinion on this list. But I reckon if you’re sitting around a BBQ on Australia Day and these come on - you’re going to sing along!

In no particular order…

1. Sounds Of Then
GANGgajang
Writer, Mark Callaghan recalled that it started as a poem in his notebook, reflecting on the time that his family moved from England to Bundaberg in Queensland, a major culture shock for him: "We lived half way between Bundaberg and the ocean, all around was bush scrub and cane fields. And walking up to the top of the street to catch the school bus, one morning you turn around and there's fire.”

2. Tomorrow
Silverchair
Tomorrow by Silverchair was written when the band members were only 15. This powerful grunge anthem, influenced by the Seattle sound of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, featured heavy guitar riffs and growling vocals. The song reached number one on the Australian charts. It also gained international recognition for the band and performed well in the US.

3. Flame Trees
Cold Chisel
Don Walker says, "In my mind, it’s a northern New South Wales song. But there’s a lot of people who love that song and in their minds, it’s set in their home towns. A lot of people finish up away from where they come from."

4. Down Under
Men At Work
The lyrics to Down Under depict an Australian man travelling the globe (specifically mentioning Brussels and Bombay), meeting people who are interested in his home country. The story is based in part on singer Colin Hay's own travels abroad, including a prominent reference to a Vegemite sandwich, which derived from an encounter with a tall baker from Brussels who emigrated from Brunswick, Melbourne. Hay has said the lyric was partly inspired by Barry Humphries' character Barry McKenzie.

5. I Touch Myself
Divinyls
This song was incredibly controversial when it was released in 1990. It featured on Divinyls' self-titled album. The lyrics, an unapologetic expression of female sexuality, caused outrage and propelled the song up the charts. It remains Divinyls' most successful international hit, outlasting the initial uproar. Chrissy Amphlett is still regarded as one of Australia's most iconic female singers.

6. True Blue
John Williamson
The lyrics included a reference to Vegemite, a food paste, but that was removed in a later version because Williamson "just didn't want the song to be commercialised". The 1986 version was used for the Australian Made campaign. The song was adopted by the Australia national cricket team and the Australia national rugby union team as an unofficial theme song and is often performed at sporting events or other ceremonies.

7. Solid Rock
Goanna
Solid Rock deals with issues of land rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and was the lead single from Goanna's debut studio album, Spirit of Place.

8. The Horses
Daryl Braithwaite
Braithwaite's 1990 hit is one of the most popular songs in Australian music history. It was initially written by Rickie Lee Jones and Walter Becker (of Steely Dan). The cover by Daryl Braithwaite on his studio album Rise was a slow-burning hit. However, it eventually went to number one on the ARIA charts in 1991. It stayed in the top 50 for nearly six months.

9. You’re The Voice
John Farnham
This iconic Australian song became an anthem and helped make John Farnham a national treasure. The track was on the Whispering Jack album. It was a huge success, going to number one in Australia and charting in the UK and Europe. It won several ARIA awards and was the best-selling single in Australia in 1986.

10. Great Southern Land
Icehouse
This song was written by Iva Davies and was the lead single from Icehouse's Primitive Man album. Great Southern Land lyrics talk about Australia's unique beauty and cultural identity.

11. You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
This is one of AC/DC's most iconic songs and a typical hard rock song you'd expect from one of Australia's biggest bands. It was included on their album "Back in Black", the first album to include lead singer Brian Johnson after the band's former frontman Bon Scott died.

12. Beds Are Burning
Midnight Oil
Beds Are Burning is another iconic protest song for Aboriginal land rights, and it was included on Midnight Oil's “Diesel and Dust” album. The song is a fine example of blending rock and new wave, complete with a memorable chorus, which you need for a protest song.

13. Khe Sanh
Cold Chisel
This song, written by Don Walker, tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran trying to return to a peaceful society. The song is named after one of the biggest confrontations during the Vietnam War, though the song talks more about after the war. The song was originally banned from the radio but was still a hit.

14. Torn
Natalie Imbruglia
Though the song was originally by the American rock band Ednaswap, Natalie Imbruglia's pop version was a much bigger hit, making her one of Australia's biggest artists from just one song. It was on her album "Left of the Middle" and charted in Australia, the UK, and the US. It became one of the most popular songs on Australian radio, and it's suggested that it's been played more than any other song in Australian radio history.

15. To Her Door
Paul Kelly
This is one of the most iconic songs by the Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly. It was released in 1987 and featured on his album Under the Sun. This is a folk-rock and country song that features some incredibly lyrical storytelling, which resonated with fans.

Descriptions ripped from various sources.