What Makes a Song Truly ‘Australian’?
This weekend, something big is happening in Australian music — Triple J is counting down the Hottest 100 Australian Songs of All Time. It’s one of those events that gets everyone talking, not just about the music, but about something much deeper: what exactly makes a song Australian ?
Now, sure, it might seem like a simple question at first. Is it about where the artist was born? Is it the sound of a didgeridoo in the background? Or maybe it’s about the stories told — the lyrics that reflect the lives, landscapes, or politics of this country. But as the countdown sparks heated debates and passionate playlists, it’s clear we’re really talking about national identity.
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Historically, Australian music has always been part of global musical currents. We’ve borrowed sounds from the UK and the US — jazz, rock, country, pop — and made them our own. But if we’re honest, those genres weren’t always uniquely ours . It wasn’t until the pub rock scene of the ‘70s that many argue we started hearing something distinctively Australian. Bands like Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil weren’t just mimicking trends — they were writing songs about us . Our cities, our politics, our culture. And a lot of this was supported by government moves back then to boost the arts — think Gough Whitlam’s cultural funding and the birth of 2JJ, which became today’s Triple J.
But even that era had its limits. It was mostly white, mostly male, and left out a lot of voices. Especially Indigenous ones. Over time, that’s started to change. Artists like A.B. Original, Baker Boy, and Thelma Plum aren’t just making music — they’re challenging ideas about who gets to represent Australia. Songs like Treaty by Yothu Yindi or January 26 don’t just sound Australian — they force us to think about what it means to be Australian.
At the same time, the music scene itself is under real pressure. Cost of living has made going to gigs or supporting community radio harder for everyday people. Venues are closing. Festivals are disappearing. Musicians are struggling. And community stations like FBi Radio — vital for local artist discovery — are fighting to survive. Even though the appetite for Aussie music is still there, the money just isn’t.
That’s why this Hottest 100 feels especially important. It’s not just about ranking songs. It’s about seeing which voices we choose to lift up, which stories we want to hear, and whether the idea of “Australian music” can continue to grow more inclusive, more diverse, and more honest.
So, when those songs play this Saturday, maybe the question isn’t what makes a song Australian — maybe it’s whose Australia are we listening to?
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