For that particular date, though, best concert goes to Red Hot Chili Peppers (the sock it to me tour), a close runner up to Psychedelic Furs (pretty in pink), and third place to Elvis Costello opened by Squeeze (pulling mussels from a shell).
I was going to say “Down Under” is my favorite Aussie tune – “Jesse’s Girl” sounds to American – but then you finished off (pun intended) with “I Touch Myself”. I gotta give it to a song/video/woman that made teenage me all tingly down there.
I voted Down Under but I Touch Myself was a reeeeally close second. Also love Under the Milky Way but only the Sia version. Never wanted to buy a car so bad as I did after hearing her sing that in a Lincoln commercial. Ugh. I touched myself afterwards.
@xenophod Rock? Synthpop. Blew up on college radio in the US. I remember doing my own remix since there wasn’t one, and the released remix verson was too short. The break was epic and a four-on-the-floor filler. Definitely in the Flock of Angels vein.
@xenophod If you’re going Aussie Synthpop, why stop there?
Go all in with your earworm turned up to eleven with…
Kylie Minogue "Cant get you outta my head"
@mike808 IT’S OZ ROCK! I HAD A CASSETTE TAPE CALLED “OZ ROCK” WITH A BUNCH OF OZ ROCK ON IT! I listened to it in the bath tub, all the time, in Australia, in the late 80s when I was 10 years old, living in Australia.
No appreciation of 80’s Aussie pop is complete without Flash and the Pan. Don’t think they’re obscure. Look 'em up, and you’ll see Vanda and Young involved in a whole lot of stuff coming from down under. I’d recommend starting with " Media Man "
The best thing Icehouse did was their debut album (when they were known as Flowers in Austrialia; by the time the album got issued in the US the band name had been changed to Icehouse). The International (non-Australian) version of the album is better than the original release, with some remixing and re-recorded vocals. Just about everything on the album is better than Electric Blue, but I’ll select the title track:
@KwadGuy Ah, the wondrous confluence of genius and stupidity of youth. Remember destroying the packed dancefloor at the legendary Parade in New Orleans switching from the Lipps/HotTrax version and people just losing their minds over it. Epic.
And then there’s the amazing Hey St. Peter by Flash and the Pan, they ex- of The Easybeats (Friday on My Mind). This was from their first album and I don’t think they ever bettered it:
And then things went dark, very dark, in Oz at the end of the 80s with the two of the most semenal industrial goth synth bands of all time, Skinny Puppy, and The Severed Heads.
Skinny Puppy “Testure” (1989)
Man, for once I know so many of the songs on the list. Gotta go with The Church, it’s still a favorite 30 (!) years later. Damn. When did I get so old?
It was great to see someone (way up) beat me to mentioning the brilliant Nick Cave, so my back up is going to be a cover of one of his songs. Maria Hoy and Friends “Shivers” from the Dogs in Space soundtrack.
BTW, my vote was for Big Pig, “Breakaway”. Loved that song well before Bill and Ted ever came out.
Let’s see, which song got referenced for the title on the blurb?
@simplersimon
Down Under
@JasonToon
The Big Don’t Argue
Here’s a studio version. There’s a live version out there that’s pretty good.
Technically 80’s music, and, er, definitely Australian. This, for me, is the most memorable song.
/youtube Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Seen Men At Work and Midnight Oil live.
Love them both. Voted Midnight Oil.
@f00l Seconded. Saw Midnight Oil Thanksgiving night.
For that particular date, though, best concert goes to Red Hot Chili Peppers (the sock it to me tour), a close runner up to Psychedelic Furs (pretty in pink), and third place to Elvis Costello opened by Squeeze (pulling mussels from a shell).
@mike808
I saw them open - I think for for Neil Young - a long time ago.
They rocked.
I was going to say “Down Under” is my favorite Aussie tune – “Jesse’s Girl” sounds to American – but then you finished off (pun intended) with “I Touch Myself”. I gotta give it to a song/video/woman that made teenage me all tingly down there.
Thank you for this playlist. It was enormous fun.
I voted Down Under but I Touch Myself was a reeeeally close second. Also love Under the Milky Way but only the Sia version. Never wanted to buy a car so bad as I did after hearing her sing that in a Lincoln commercial. Ugh. I touched myself afterwards.
I haven’t even listened to the playlist yet but I voted; “Under the Milky Way” is one of my favorite songs.
Prefer “Need you tonight” for INXS.
% Smoldering.
Pure
Chrissy Amphlett, 25 October 1959 – 21 April 2013. Do we have to start fact-checking @JasonToon ?
@ninkumpoop You have yours, Jason has his. Because, Freedom.
Yay, 'Mehrica!
How the fuck is AC/DC not on this list?
For those about to rock …
That was a dirty deed, done dirt cheap, @JasonToon.
@mike808 Different scene, man! Like I said in the post, Aussie hard rock is worthy of its own playlist.
I’ve heard my share of 80’s songs by Australian artists, and I am unable to comprehend the omission of my favorite OZ ROCK staple.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Send_Me_an_Angel_(Real_Life_song)
Please replace your poll asap.
@xenophod Rock? Synthpop. Blew up on college radio in the US. I remember doing my own remix since there wasn’t one, and the released remix verson was too short. The break was epic and a four-on-the-floor filler. Definitely in the Flock of Angels vein.
@xenophod If you’re going Aussie Synthpop, why stop there?
Go all in with your earworm turned up to eleven with…
Kylie Minogue "Cant get you outta my head"
@mike808 IT’S OZ ROCK! I HAD A CASSETTE TAPE CALLED “OZ ROCK” WITH A BUNCH OF OZ ROCK ON IT! I listened to it in the bath tub, all the time, in Australia, in the late 80s when I was 10 years old, living in Australia.
Go to “1980s”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music_in_Australia
Don’t pigeon hole my childhood into “Synthpop”, although, I like synthpop…
Jason,
No appreciation of 80’s Aussie pop is complete without Flash and the Pan. Don’t think they’re obscure. Look 'em up, and you’ll see Vanda and Young involved in a whole lot of stuff coming from down under. I’d recommend starting with " Media Man "
Pure 80s Aussie. Do Re Mi “Man Overboard”. Jangly, mullets, moody.
More jangly goodness.
The Marigolds "Waiting in line"
Icehouse "Hey Little Girl"
@mike808 Another Icehouse monster … “Great Southern Land” (on the Young Einstein soundtrack, a fine Aussie film).
I’d toss in Split Enz, but they’re Kiwis, not Aussies. Also not making the cut was Dead Can Dance “Opium”, as it’s just too dark for me now.
Aussie’s own Red Hot Chili Peppers moment, before RHCP stole the idea.
Best band name ever.
Ladies and Gentlemen, …
Lubricated Goat “In the Raw” (live, on the local station).
Summer is almost here.
Enjoy The Models “Barbados”.
The best thing Icehouse did was their debut album (when they were known as Flowers in Austrialia; by the time the album got issued in the US the band name had been changed to Icehouse). The International (non-Australian) version of the album is better than the original release, with some remixing and re-recorded vocals. Just about everything on the album is better than Electric Blue, but I’ll select the title track:
And a shout out to the overlooked Out of Sight, Out of Mind by The Models:
@KwadGuy Great highway rocker!
In for another 80s Aussie power ballad, sir.
Moving Pictures "What about me?"
Also, let’s include Psuedo Echo, who’s cover of Funkytown reclaimed it from what was then the dustbin of disco:
@KwadGuy Ah, the wondrous confluence of genius and stupidity of youth. Remember destroying the packed dancefloor at the legendary Parade in New Orleans switching from the Lipps/HotTrax version and people just losing their minds over it. Epic.
And then there’s the amazing Hey St. Peter by Flash and the Pan, they ex- of The Easybeats (Friday on My Mind). This was from their first album and I don’t think they ever bettered it:
Let’s not forget Jimmy Barnes, whose Working Class Man offered a Springsteen-esque anthem from down under…Used on the soundtrack to the movie Gung Ho…
Finally, any discussion of the Australian wave should include Moving Pictures and “What About Me?”
@KwadGuy Three posts up, mate.
And how can we possibly forget the queen of Aussie pop, Miss Olivia Newton John?
May I present to you, “Physical (Hot Trax Funky Remix)”.
More from the Midnight Oil school, with
Porcelain Bus "Can’t work it out"
And then things went dark, very dark, in Oz at the end of the 80s with the two of the most semenal industrial goth synth bands of all time, Skinny Puppy, and The Severed Heads.
Skinny Puppy “Testure” (1989)
@mike808 Severed Heads “All Saints Day” (Max Headroom, anyone?)
@mike808 isn’t Skinny Puppy a Canadian band?
TISM.
No mention of Cold Chisel? The biggest Aussie pub rock band of the 80s?
Or Skyhooks?
I didn’t know Rick Springfield was Australian.
/youtube Je Suis Rick Springfield
Surprised to see a couple good songs for once. The two leading options are shit though. You people suck.
A steamy forty-five degrees.
Man, for once I know so many of the songs on the list. Gotta go with The Church, it’s still a favorite 30 (!) years later. Damn. When did I get so old?
It was great to see someone (way up) beat me to mentioning the brilliant Nick Cave, so my back up is going to be a cover of one of his songs. Maria Hoy and Friends “Shivers” from the Dogs in Space soundtrack.
BTW, my vote was for Big Pig, “Breakaway”. Loved that song well before Bill and Ted ever came out.
Thank you for reminding me that I bought the Big Pig album; I wish I knew where it was!