Art inspired by our national music icons.
For the un-initiated among us, this weekend may seem like any other. For dedicated listeners of Triple J, however, Saturday marked an important day. In celebration of 50 years of operating, the ABC-owned radio station held the ‘Hottest 100 of Australian Songs’, a countdown featuring Australian songs from the 1970s onwards, ranked from 1-100 according to how the public votes. Influenced by this truly democratic celebration of Australian music royalty, today’s artistic curation is inspired by everything we love about our local music scene. May the best song win!
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Although the popularity of radio in the digital age is negatable, few radio stations can claim to be as instrumental in the development of Australian music as Triple J. Recognised for their platforming of up-and-coming artists, Triple J featured many music acts long before they experienced mainstream success - including bands such as Midnight Oil, INXS, and Mental As Anything. Untethered to commercial sponsorship commitments, there is something deliciously punk rock about Triple J’s radical approach to radio.
Over the past five decades, thousands of musical acts have cemented themselves in our national music history, and yet few artists represent the innovation of Australian music better than Reg Mombassa. The frontman for the new wave and pop rock band Mental As Anything, Mombassa was at the forefront of Australia’s evolving music scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As an artist, Mombassa also helped shape a visual language of Australian music that became instantly recognisable - one filled with bold typefaces and whimsical, cartoon-like characters.
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In Australia, our local arts scene is an interconnected ecosystem, and just as we are all passionate about the visual arts, we too can recognise that artistic innovation takes many forms, especially through music. So whether you tuned into the countdown or not, we ask the question - what does your favourite Australian song mean to you?
Michael Leunig 'Untitled (Abstract Dance)'
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