Phil's Top 5 Australian Political Songs

Listening to the The Herd the other day it dawned on me that, proportionally Australia seems produces more musicians that are political than any other countries.

I don't mean political like Jamie Foxx or Beyonce at a Barack Obama rally, but political in their work.

Without even putting much effort into it how many political Australian musicians can you name?

The Herd, Midnight Oil, Kev Carmody, Redgum, Powderfinger, Blue King Brown, John Butler Trio, Xavier Rudd.

With this in mind, I've decided to come up with my 5 favourite Australian political songs.

5. Powderfinger "Like A Dog" 2001.

Though this came out in 2001, five years after John Howard was first elected, it was still one of the first songs to publicly attack the platform on which he campaigned on.

Though it was a bit of a trend setter, it was also a little contained. From a band such Powderfinger you come to expect a litte more outrage and anger.

4. Redgum - "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Green Light)"* 1983

The lead singer of Redgum, John Schuman wrote this song after speaking to his brother in law about his experiences in the vietnam war.

Because of the depth of research Schuman put into writing this song it sounds as if Schuman himself had been there, not just some tacky grab for money.

Also the fact that all the royalties from this song go to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia is highly commendable.

* I included The Herd's 2005 cover version in this as well, as it's pretty much the same thing.


3. Eric Bogle "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" 1971

Gallipoli is one of has almost a sacred spot in the hearts of most Australians and Bogle's song is one of the few that criticised the futility of the Gallipoli campaign.

Bogle's song has been praised for the haunting images it's lyrics conjure, and was voted one of the top 30 Australian Songs of all time by APRA.

The song has also had a lasting impression. The Herd heavily sampled the track for their song, "The Metres Gained" off their "The Sun Never Sets" album.

2. Midnight Oil "Beds Are burning" 1987

This list wouldn't be complete without a song from the Oils.

Though just about everyone of there songs could have made this list, "Beds Are Burning" is most probably their biggest and most recognised song, both in Australia and around the world.

The song examines Aboriginal land rights and openly called for Native Title to be acknowledged and for land to be given back to it's traditional owners.

"Beds Are Burning" was voted as the third best Australian song of all time, behind The Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" and Daddy Cool's "Eagle Rock."

And who can forget the song being performed at the closing ceremony of the 200o Olympics, the Oils wearing shirts that said "SORRY" and John Howard watching on?

1. The Herd "77%" 2003

Some may say that the top spot in this list should go to the Oils on sheer weight of numbers, but The Herd are no slouches themselves.

The majority of there songs have a political bent, and "77%" is the best of them.

The song was released after the Howard Government's reaction to the MV Tampa issue, and it's title is taken from the supposed proportion of Australians who supported the government's action.

What makes this song great is that it doesn't tip toe around the issue, it goes at it like a bull at a gate.

Wake up. This country needs a f---ing shake-up.
Wake up. These c---s need a shake-up.
Talkback? Squawking hacks - won't relax
until Jonesy, Zemanek and Laws are all axed.
77 per cent of Aussies are racist
and if you're here, I'll say it to your faces.
Rich, redneck pricks still hold all the aces

Rather than use clever innuendo, MCs, Urthboy and Ozi Batla tell the audience straight up what they think.