ERIC Jupp’s television theme “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo” and Eric Bogle’s “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” have made it into the ranks of the immortals in the announcement by the National Film and Sound Archives of this year’s top 10 “Sounds of Australia” choices.
As well, Midnight Oil’s “Power and the Passion”, Christine Anu’s “Island Home” and The Wiggles’ “Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car!” have been declared national treasures.
Sounds of Australia focuses on culturally, historically and aesthetically significant sounds that have made history and become part of our national identity.
They have been popular songs, advertising jingles, famous speeches, radio broadcasts, or any other sound recording – as long as they’re Australian and more than 10 years old.
This year the only classical work to make it into the top 10 was Nigel Westlake’s “Antarctica: Suite For Guitar and Orchestra”.
Inclusion in Sounds of Australia means that these recordings will live on at the Archives.
The 10 additions for Sounds of Australia 2016 are, in chronological order:
1912 – When Father Papered the Parlour, by Billy Williams – popular song
1937 – Life Without Love, by Frank Coughlan’s Trocadero Orchestra – jazz
1968 – Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, by Eric Jupp – television theme
1971 – And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, by Eric Bogle – popular song
1978 – C’mon Aussie C’mon, by The Mojo Singers – popular song
1982 – Power and the Passion, by Midnight Oil – popular song
1985 – Sounds of Then (This is Australia), by GANGgajang – popular song
1992 – Antarctica: Suite For Guitar and Orchestra, by Nigel Westlake – classical
1995 – Island Home, by Christine Anu – popular song
1998 Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car, by The Wiggles – popular song
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