“Whimsy” columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS  says he’s in a time warp when it comes to popular music. His September resolution is to bring himself up to date by listening to the top 10 records on the Australian hit parade and pay more attention to the lyrics. 

“The music we listen to may not define who we are. But it’s a damn good start”  – American writer Jodi Picoult 

UNFORTUNATELY, once your children leave home you are no longer exposed to contemporary music. Even before they leave you may not be aware of what they’re listening to because they’re plugged into earphones. 

In April, I went to the Canberra Theatre to experience Bjorn Again. After the interval, the keyboard player did a great solo of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” from 1986 and, to my surprise, most of the audience knew the lyrics. Then this week I was at a pub where the band played “Pompeii” by Bastille – released in 2013. I hadn’t heard it before and, once again to my surprise, most of the audience knew the lyrics. 

I realised belatedly that my mental playlist dates mainly from 1950 to 1980. This focus has been reinforced by listening to radio stations that specialise in music from that era – such as 2CA, which targets an audience aged 55 plus. Since 1980, I have seldom listened to new pop music or the top 10. 

Occasionally, a “new” song will enter my consciousness. An example being Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”, which has even become mainstream enough to be sung by the Brisbane Pub Choir. 

However, in this case it’s actually not a new song – it originally charted in 1985. It’s a re-entry to the charts after it was prominently featured in the fourth season of “Stranger Things”.

The main Australian music sales charts are issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association (styled ARIA). They’re a record of the highest-selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. 

The charts are released on Fridays at 5pm AEST. In March, ARIA announced that chart figures would also include YouTube streaming data. 

Songs that have reached number one in Australia this year are Harry Styles’ “As It Was” (14 weeks in the top 10), Jack Harlow’s “First Class” (13 weeks), Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” (7 weeks), and Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” (4 weeks). Styles has had eight songs in the Australian top 10 this year. Who, some of you might ask, is this Harry Styles? 

Well, Harry Styles, 28, is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He released his first “Harry Styles” solo album through Columbia Records in 2017. It reached number one in the UK and the US and was one of the world’s top-10 best-selling albums of the year. 

Styles’ second album “Fine Line” (2019) saw the biggest ever first-week sales by an English male artist in the US. Styles’ third album, “Harry’s House” (2022), was widely acclaimed and he broke several more records (no pun intended). 

Apart from his music and acting, Styles is known for his flamboyant dressing, and is the first man to appear on his own on the cover of “Vogue”. In 2021, Styles came second in “The Sunday Times” Rich List of Musicians in the UK Under 30 with an estimated net worth of £75 million ($A130 million). First was Ed Sheeran, but he’s now over 30! 

Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Ed Sheeran, either?! Sheeran has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Globally, Spotify named him the second most streamed artist of the last decade. Only Canadian rapper Drake achieved more plays. 

I have to admit I knew little of all of this until recently, but am now looking forward to the Friday release of the ARIA top 10 to continue, like Doctor Who, to reinvent myself. 

However, listening to some boringly repetitive modern rap music, I am reminded of what Elvis Presley once said: “I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to.” 

Clive Williams is a Canberra columnist