Music that unites

Yesterday, the iconic Australian Triple J radio station celebrated 50 years by hosting the top one hundred Australian songs of all time, as voted by 2.7 million people.

The day started at 10 AM and finished at 8 PM.

It turns out the votes were not skewed by the younger generation toward recent hits.

The young and old around the country united around the Aussie classics. 

The radio was up loud, people dancing, cheering and singing. That would include me. My partner of six years, Tony, revealed more about his youth by singing songs word for word in the kitchen as we prepared food.

It was a synchronous, digital and live celebration. My daughter and I were texting each other all day. Her partner, who had been in Australia for 8+ years from the UK, was receiving an education in Aussie music culture. 

No one knew what the top song would be until it started to play. Turns out it was INXS, Never Tear Us Apart, from 1987. The lead singer, Michael Hutchence, lived a troubled life and died too young in 1997. He was born in the same year as me. It is not the song I picked, yet it seemed fitting.

Against a backdrop of horror around the world, this was a day of collective joy, memories, education, and good fun. Such a simple thing, yet so very powerful.

Great songs that mark so many milestones for so many people. And that over the course of 10 hours, we shared together. From John Farnham, You’re the Voice, to Cold Chisel, Khe Sahn, to ACDC Thunderstruck, to Treaty by Yothu Yindi, to Rufus Du Sol Innerboom (My #1 pick), Men at Work, Kylie Minogue, Gang of Youths…it was fun and surprise, dancing and singing, a country united around music.

Photo July 27th 2025, Article republished July 27th 2025