Reckless! That’s the one I’ve been wracking my brain to remember – though now I notice it was on Girl From Mars’s list too. I’ll also second And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, though it might be a bit of a downer for a holiday soundtrack. 
:smack: :smack: D’oh that’ll teach me not to check before I post it. How could I get that wrong, one of my favourite songs.
I’m not Australian, never even visited that fair land. But I have learned so much about Australian history from Midnight Oil records.
“Bullroarer” from Diesel and Dust actually features - yep, you guessed it - a bullroarer, an Aboriginal communication device. If I’m not mistaken, they got a bit of stick because they weren’t supposed to use it, or something.
“Kosciuszko” from Red Sails… is just cool because of the mention of so many landmarks… the mountain, Darwin, Alice Springs, Charleville…
There are so many Australian historical facts on Earth and Sun and Moon… almost every track talks about the nation’s history of imperialism, the mistreatment of Aborigines… amazing record.
As for INXS, my other favorite Australian band, their quintessential Aussie track is Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down The Mountain). Not so much for the lyrics, but the video is beautiful and it makes me want to book a ticket to Sydney and see that beautiful country.
Haven’t heard that one. I was coming in to say that while I think their album Freedom was fantastic (listen to Mabo), I don’t even like the song Treaty.
This thread gives me cultural cringe.
What actor screams Australia to you?
[DEL]Heath Ledger[/DEL]
Yahoo Serious
Unfortunately Gimme a Home Among the Gum Trees
song got hijacked into a theme for a television show, but it is quintessentially Australian IMHO.
Bogle’s: ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’,
Allen’s: ‘I Still Call Australia Home’.
Captain Matchbox: ‘Wangaratta Wahini’.
or, my fave, also by Eric Bogle: The Aussie BBQ
When the steaks are burning fiercely
When the smoke gets in your eyes
When the snags* all taste like fried toothpaste
And your mouth is full of flies
It’s a national institution
It’s Australian through and through
So come on mate and grab your plate
Let’s have a barbecue
When the summer sun is shining on Australia’s happy land
Round countless fires in strange attires you’ll see many solemn bands
Of glum Australians watching their lunch go up in flames
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell that it’s barby time again
The Scots eat lots of haggis, the French eat snails and frogs
The Greeks go crackers over their moussakas and the Chinese love hot dogs
Welshmen love to have a leek, the Irish like their stew
But you just can’t beat that half-cooked meat at an Aussie barbecue
There’s flies stuck to the margarine, the bread has gone rock-hard
The kids are fighting and the mozzies** are biting, who forgot the Aerogard?***
There’s bullants in the Esky**** and the beer is running out
And what you saw in Mum’s coleslaw you just don’t think about
And when the barby’s over and your homeward way you wend
With a queasy tummy on the family dunny***** many lonely hours you spend
You might find yourself reflecting, like many often do
Come rain or shine that’s the bloody last time that you’ll have a barbecue
*Snags=sausages
**Mozzies=mosquitoes
***Aerogard=insect repellent
****Esky=portable ice-chest, mainly for beer.
*****You MUST know what a dunny is, yes?
I’ll second Xavier Rudd.
Me too! Except for me it’s Muriel’s Wedding…
The only other things I would think of are the same as the OP - Land Down Under and digjeridoo music.
Maybe the soundtracks to Young Einstein and other notable Aussie flicks?
Also that OOO-OOO-OOOh OOO-OO-OO–OOOhhh song they used for the commercial where the toothbrush swings from jungle vines like Tarzan for some reason.
I was amazed it took as long as it did to mention Slim Dusty. I mean he defined part of Australia and the spirit of Australia for so long. When he died, the country wore black. Well, the part I was in, at least.
I dunno, I was gonna say “Waltzing Matilda.”
Maybe some Oils, like the B-side of Earth & Sun & Moon?
:smack:
You’re making it worse!
Seriously, people outside Australia remember him? Wow.
…but I never even mentioned Kevin Bloody Wilson!
…whoops.
Crowded House
Kylie Minogue
Silverchair
I recognize those words but they don’t seem to make sense the way they are strung together.
VB
:d