Portal:Music of Australia

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The Music of Australia Portal

Australian music is the name given to music originating in Australia. Whilst most modern trends in Australian music are based on similar trends from the United States or United Kingdom, traditional indigenous music dates back to the prehistory of Australia.

Rock music in Australia first became popular in the 1950s, with artists including Johnny O'Keefe topping charts around the world. This tradition was continued into the 1960s, by groups such as Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, The Easybeats, and The Bee Gees. Throughout this time, Indigenous Australian music and Australian jazz remained consistently popular.

Pub rock was immensely popular in the 1980s, and the era was typified by Mental As Anything, Midnight Oil, The Angels, Cold Chisel and Icehouse. INXS and Men at Work also achieved fame worldwide, and the song "Down Under" became an unofficial anthem for Australia. Australian hip hop began in the early 1980s, primarily influenced by overseas works, but buy the 1990s a distinctive local style had emerged, with Hilltop Hoods achieving international acclaim for their work.

The 90s saw an increase in the popularity of indie rock in Australia. AC/DC and INXS continued to achieve commercial success in the United States, whilst a multitude of local bands, including Regurgitator, You Am I, Powderfinger, Silverchair and Something for Kate, were popular throughout the country. A small electronic music scene emerged around Sydney and Melbourne, with Severed Heads, Ollie Olsen's No, and Foil all peaking in the 90s.

Australian music experienced somewhat of a rock renaissance in the 2000s with groups such as The Vines, Jet and Wolfmother charting internationally. Hilltop Hoods were the first Australian hip-hop group to reach the top of the ARIA chart. Channel 10's Australian Idol program was highly popular locally, as were the many "idols" produced.

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"Lost and Running" is a song by Australian rock group Powderfinger. It was released as the first single from the group's sixth studio album Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. It is the band's twenty-second single and peaked at #5 on the Australian chart, the group's second highest charting single after "My Happiness". It made its radio debut on 13 April on Triple J and was released to wide radio play and the band's MySpace on 16 April 2007. The single was officially released on 12 May 2007. (More...)

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Credit: Aaron Hollett

Tim Rogers with his band The Temperance Union, performing in Canberra in November 2005. Tim Rogers (born Timothy Adrian Rogers 20 September 1969) is the frontman of Australian band You Am I. He is also a solo artist, as well as having fronted and released albums with bands The Twin Set and The Temperance Union. (more...) edit

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Related portals

Music Australia AC/DC Powderfinger

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Australian charts

ARIA Charts (09/06/08)

The number-one single in Australia is "Sweet About Me" by Gabriella Cilmi.
The number-one album in Australia is Here I Stand by Usher.

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Did you know...

… that Powderfinger's "D.A.F." was named after its chord progression, rather than its hook as most songs are?

… that Peter Garrett, former lead singer for rock band Midnight Oil is currently an Australian Federal Government minister?
… that Paul Piticco is the manager for Australian musicians including Bernard Fanning, The Grates, Drag, Powderfinger, and The Predators?
...that Bassinthegrass became a Darwin-only music festival after the 2004 creation of Bassinthedust?