They’re the ones that Australia wants! Ten new titles have been inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s (NFSA) Sounds of Australia registry of sound recordings that have helped shape our nation’s culture.
The new Sounds of Australia include three of the most popular songs of the 1970s (You’re The One That I Want by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, written by Australian musician John Farrar), 80s (You’re The Voice by John Farnham) and 90s (Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden).
In addition to these huge pop music hits, this year’s list contains invaluable recordings made by Aboriginal communities of Central Australia in 1901-1902; the first commercially available record by an Aboriginal artist, pioneering harmony duo Olive and Eva (1955); and the unofficial anthem of Australian rules football, Up There, Cazaly by The Two-Man Band.
Also honoured are country singer Chad Morgan, soprano Florence Austral, Leonard Teale’s rendition of The Man From Snowy River, and a 2004 ballet score. The 2019 Sounds of Australia are:
1. Cylinder Recordings from Central Australia, Spencer and Gillen, and Aboriginal communities, 1901-1902
2. Twilight of the Gods / Die Gotterdammerung – Florence Austral, 1928
3. I’m the Sheik of Scrubby Creek, Chad Morgan, 1952
4. Prestophone Mastertape, Olive and Eva, 1955
5. The Man From Snowy River, Leonard Teale, 1956
6. You’re The One That I Want, Olivia Newton John and John Travolta (John Farrer, composer), 1978
7. Up There, Cazaly, The Two-Man Band, 1979
8. You’re The Voice, John Farnham, 1986
9. Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden, 1997
10. Wild Swans, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (Elena Kats-Chernin, composer), 2004
Established in 2007, the Sounds of Australia is the NFSA’s selection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance, which inform or reflect life in Australia. They can be popular songs, advertising jingles, famous speeches, radio broadcasts, or any other sound recordings – as long as they’re Australian and more than 10 years old.
Each year, the Australian public nominates new sounds to be added with final selections determined by a panel of industry experts. For more information and to view the full list of 145 recordings, visit: www.nfsa.gov.au for details.
Image: John Farnham – courtesy of NFSA