5 Powerful Iconic Australian Songs

BaileyisDarcy

0.5 The National Anthem

This one doesn't count as being on the list, considering it's the anthem and technically not a song? (I don't know, I've just heard anthems aren't songs) but honestly, I don't consider our anthem to be an iconic song. It's just the anthem.

Our anthem was originally "God Save The Queen" until it was changed in 1984.

Advance Australian Fair was first performed in 1878 as a patriotic song and was composed by a man named Peter Dodds McCormick.

1. I Am Australian

In my honest opinion, this should be our national anthem. It speaks of our history, our culture and what we believe in. It is the very essence of what it means to be Australian, and I'm afraid so many people now don't know what that means. (plus more people know the words by heart than they do our ACTUAL anthem)

This song is my top favourite of all on this list.

I am Australian was written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and Dobe Newton of The Bushwackers.

2. Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda is still Australia's unofficial anthem. According to the National Film and Sound Archive there are more recordings of Waltzing Matilda than there are ANY other Australian song.

The name is actually old Australian slang for walking with your belongings in a pack. To travel on foot was to waltz, and the pack was called a matilda.

A jumbuck is a sheep.

Coolibah tree is one of these http://lh5.ggpht.com/4u1neu_tXkUulHPR4WOPkF7Dwj0hVYB5Gxp19cm1YS0ZQpL4gs-JhXAS1E6LF-ucbNJHXNzt7ZwiAO33mWe5=s580

A very thick gum tree basically.

The lyrics were originally written in 1895 by Banjo Paterson and were first published as sheet music in 1903 and first recorded in 1926 by John Collison and Russell Callow.

This is my personal favourite version.

3. Land Down Under

By Men At Work, this is a song about a man travelling the world and being proud of his nationality (as anyone should be).

Land Down Under was originally released in 1980 and is the only Men At Work song to have hit the top 20 charts in the UK.


4. Great Southern Land

Released by Icehouse in 1982.

To tell you the truth, I'm not a fan of this song. I like the lyrics and what the song is about, and as much as I get that this is simply the style of the band, I don't like the way it was executed.


5. I Was Only 19

Released in 1983 by Redgum.

This song is about a young volunteer member of the Australian Army during the Vietnam war. Common belief is that he was conscripted however, men do not become eligible for conscription until they're 21.

The lyrics were written based on the experiences John Schumann (the bands lead guitarist) had heard from veterans, particularly Mick Storen and Frankie Hunt.

There we go, five very powerful Australian songs.

Let me know what you think and if I've missed one let me know!

I was originally going more for a patriotic theme, but I found that I was leaning more towards songs about Australia that felt powerful to me, than simply ones that are essentially just saying, yay Australia.

Bonus Song

I can't believe I forgot this one XD thanks @SarcasticElla41 for the reminder.

I wouldn't call this a powerful song, it is just a very fun song that i think every Aussie loves and can sing word for word.

But, it's here anyway because fuggit.

5 Powerful Iconic Australian Songs
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