John Farnham has taken out the top spot on a list of Australia’s top 100 singers printed in the Herald Sun today. The list, which was voted on by a panel of local musicians, has inevitably generated plenty of discussion amongst music lovers across the country.
These kinds of lists are never perfect. Once the numbers are crunched, we can all think of deserving talents who missed out. I was shocked that Richard Clapton and Mark Seymour missed out. I would have also loved to see David Campbell recognised for more than just being a decent morning show host. I couldn’t believe James Reyne, Dame Joan Sutherland, and Peter Allen were left languishing in the bottom half of the list. I also heard plenty of criticism about the number of Kiwis that made the cut, but perhaps it’s time we truly opened our arms to anyone who calls Australia home.
I was impressed at the diversity of the top 100. We saw legends of the local industry and bright young things with so much ahead of them. We saw artists from so many genres: rock, country, pop, soul, opera, world music whatever that means, and the list goes on. What a reminder that we can do more than straight up pub rock.
Perhaps it’s that reminder of the strength of our industry that I like more than anything. I can imagine young music fans reading the words that chart-topping musicians had to say about the country’s pioneers, and that inspiring them to explore the back catalogues. I also marvelled at the number of acts still kicking on, still performing regularly, even if it’s at the RSLs and small theatres rather than arenas. I started my concert-going long before the heyday of many of these artists, yet I can proudly say I’ve seen many of these talented musicians on stage.
We’ve got a lot to be proud of here, and this top 100 is a lovely reminder of it, don’t you think?
Image source: Jeanie Mackinder @ Wikimedia Commons