Tears and Thoughts on 26th January 2018

   Today I acknowledge the Awabakal people and the people of the many nations and the intricate culture/s and family systems that make up our indigenous people in Australia. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and being formed for the future. Their 'songlines', stories and gentle spirit could be the making of this country one day.
   I'll celebrate today with a pie, a lamington (and I'll overdo it with a Hoadley's Violet Crumble) and have some small tender lamb steaks for the bbq tonight with the coleslaw... Aussie as...
   As I have twice this week I will almost shed a tear for the disregard of the many over the choice of this date and it's reinforcement in my lifetime of shifting from the nearest Monday to the actual day each year. There is no peace without justice!!
   I'm with Senator Penny Wong, "when we are at our best, we the country other countries in the world want to be"!! One example is the hosting of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. It's no accident that event did the work to listen, to include and to pay respect to our indigenous history. It allowed the representation to not be token or 'captured' without relationship.
   My other highlight this week came from Jim Courier's second invitation to Chung Hyeon at the tennis, to speak to fans in his first language and this was embraced by all present. This is the country we could be and sometimes are...
   Here's my obvious choice of song for today, "The Dead Heart" Midnight Oil with a bonus video from "The Making of Midnight Oil" Curators Workshop with Ross Heathcote and Rob Hirst et al. Rob explains the genius of their songwriting approach in coming up with this track. Hat Tip Jim Moginie for the end result!! Midnight Oil speaking truth to power and garnering support for the voiceless... We have choices that could be life giving if we listened instead of being offended...

Next I'm watching "Songlines" on NITV from 11.10am...

Here it is live from the MCG Bushfire Relief Concert in 2009!!



And the bonus story clip...

My Australia Day Hottest 100

Making up a Hottest 100 List seems to be a bit controversial this year (rightly so)!!
Apparently you can just make this stuff up no matter your expertise, politics or whatever!!
As it happens I would support a holiday celebration on the last Monday in January. Kind of what it used to be but after it used to be June or July. A unifying day chosen for it's purpose, not it's historical connections. This would allow maximum chance for everyone to celebrate and yet be close enough for those choosing to focus on lament, without the pain being exacerbated. One day we will listen and respond
I have already shared my seven songs leading up to but not including the 26th...

BUT to remove contention I have sorted my Hottest 100 autobiographically!!!



1. "April Sun in Cuba" Dragon
2. “Are You Old Enough” Dragon
3. "Great Southern Land" Icehouse
4. “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” The Angels
5. “Hey St Peter” Flash n the Pan
6. "Heaven (Must Be There)" The Eurogliders
7. “I Need You” Avion
8. "Khe San" Cold Chisel
9. "Flame Trees" Cold Chisel
10. "Throw Your Arms Around Me" Hunters & Collectors
11. "A Thousand Miles" Hood Gurus
12. "Need You Tonight" INXS
13. "Street of Love" Jenny Morris
14. "Solid Rock" Goanna
15. "Pleasure and Pain" The Divinyls
16. “Saturday Night Fever” The Bee Gees
17. “Run to Paradise” Choirboys
18. "It's a Long Way to the Top" AC/DC
19. "Reckless" Australian Crawl
20. "My Island Home" Neil Murray
21. "Never Tear Us Apart" INXS
22. "The Day You Went Away" Wendy Matthews
23. "Don't Tear It Down" Spy v Spy
24. “The Hard Times” Spy v Spy
25. “It’s Only the Beginning” Debra Conway
26. “Weather With You” Crowded House
27. "Power and the Passion" Midnight Oil
28. “Read About It” Us Forces
29. “US Forces” Midnight Oil
30. “Beds are Burning" Midnight Oil
31. "The Dead Heart" Midnight Oil
32. “Blue Sky Mine” Midnight Oil
33. “Forgotten Years” Midnight Oil
34. "From Little Things Big Things Grow" Kev Carmody/Paul Kelly
35. "Took the Children Away" Archie Roach
36. "Black Fella/White Fella" Warumpi Band
37. "Treaty" Yothu Yindi
38. “Dots on the Shells” Yothu Yindi
39. "To Her Door" Paul Kelly
40. "I Make Hamburgers" The Whitlams
41. “Salt” David Bridie
42. “Better” The Screaming Jets
43. “Accidentally Kelly St” Frente
44. “Raise the Alarm” The Living End
45. “Harpoon” Jebediah
46. “Cardigan” Eskimo Joe
47. “Wedding Cake Island” Midnight Oil
48. “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” Eskimo Joe
49. “One Country” Midnight Oil
50. “Scar” Missy Higgins
51. “Sometimes” Alex Lloyd
52. “Tomorrow” Silverchair
53. "Across the Night" Silverchair
54. “One Crowded Hour” Augie March
55. “Love Me Like the World is Ending” Ben Lee
56. "These Days" Powderfinger
57. "The Sound of White" Missy Higgins
58. “I Know What You Need” Shane Nicholson
59. “Don't You Think It’s Time” Bob Evans
60. “Long Ride” The Audreys
61. “Special Two” Missy Higgins
62. “Tell These Hands” Sara Storer
63. “Am I Not Pretty Enough” Kasey Chambers
64. “Minute by Minute” Grinspoon
65. “Private Universe” Crowded House
66. “Lost and Running” Powderfinger
67. “Burn Your Name” Powderfinger
68. “Wash Me Clean” Bernard Fanning
69. “Sometimes” Midnight Oil
70. “Oceans” John Butler Trio
71. "Best of Both Worlds" Midnight Oil
72. “Redneck Wonderland” Midnight Oil
73. “Cannot Buy My Soul” Kev Carmody
74. “The Thing About Grief Is” Claire Bowditch
75. “Caught in the Crowd” Kate Miller-Heidke
76. “Is God Real?” Kasey Chambers
77. “Zebra” John Butler Trio
78. “Rain” Jen Cloher
79. “Beautiful Secrets” Sarah Blasko
80. “The World is a Picture” Josh Pyke
81. “Light All My Lights” Seeker Lover Keeper
82. “From Little Things Big Things Grow” The Waifs
83. “Riptide” Vance Joy
84. “A Number of Us” Tim Hart
85. “Hope” Jack Carty
86. “All Around the World” Jim Moginie
87. “Meet Me in the Middle of the Air” Paul Kelly et al
88. “The Ship Song Project” Paul Kelly and others
89. “Departures (Blue Toowong Skies)” Bernard Fanning
90. “I Was Born Blind” Gurrumul
91. “Laterns” Birds of Tokyo
92. “Truth Walks Slowly (In the Countryside)” O’Shea
93. “How to Make Gravy” Paul Kelly
94. “White Wine in the Sun” Tim Minchin
95. “Kosciusko” Midnight Oil
96. "Calm & Crystal Clear" Neil Murray
97. “Your Own History” Jim Moginie
98. "Kingdom" Dan Sultan
99. “The Wonder” Alex Lloyd
100. “Dreamworld” Midnight Oil

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #07

"Kingdom" Dan Sultan from his album "Killer"
   Lament and hope, a brilliantly prophetic song from Dan Sultan with power in his voice, band and performance way beyond the individual parts. This clip resonates with me even because of the venue... a country show ground hall or it's like, venue for many an Easter!! The song speaks of a day when all the voices will be heard, when there is not only peace but justice... To some it'll be shrill annoyance yet to others no doubt tears of hope...

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #06

"Calm and Crystal Clear" Missy Higgins covers Neil Murray
Acoustic clip sorry, but just listen to this stunning version of an absolute classic!!!
A song about looking at the world through your story and that of those you know...

This showcases Neil Murray's sharp lyrics and Missy Higgins versatile voice...

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #05

   From the arguably richest era of Australian rock music, today we have "Take a Long Line" by the Angels, at the peak of their powers!! They were part of an era with AC/DC and bands like Rose Tattoo, Kevin Borich, Dragon, the Oils, SpyvSpy and many more BUT this song and the other 2-3 around it, are just wonderful examples of the outdoor festival stage vibe that was so popular back then... the late Doc Neeson and the Brewsters could have been as big as AC/DC, yes?

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #04

"From Little Things Big Things Grow" Paul Kelly/Kev Carmody (this time with John Butler)
   It's the story of Vincent Lingiari and the other indigenous farm workers who went on strike with a land claim and a plea for fair wages. I love the quote from Vincent that "we know how to wait" which was apt as it took years to resolve, once taken seriously!!
   These are Australia's storytellers at their very best! The image of Gough Whitlam pouring sand into Lingiari's hand at the hand over ceremony is a stunning photo capturing a remarkable moment in Australian history. A story of 'speaking truth to power' and what can happen when we listen, empathise and act for the coming good...

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #03

"The Dead Heart" Midnight Oil
   A special version (albeit via mobile phone and hat tip to the powder worker responsible) at Sydney's Domain on Saturday 11/11/17 closing in on the end of The Great Circle Tour 2017!!
It features the amazing Charlie McMahon on "didge."
His didgeridoo is a tune-able two piece PVC pipe with slider. It's mic'd up and played by a terrific bloke (with his one metal prosthetic hand). Charlie features on the Black Fella/White Fella Tour, MTV Unplugged and Tours around that time etc...
   The song puts into words the story the band heard as they travelled the outback in 1986 ahead of recording the album "Diesel and Dust" with it's campfire sing-a-long acoustic rock and the kind of 'space' in the music you'd learn out there... The message is simple, and it's only confronting because it's honest, listen...
 
My highlights of 'The Making fo Midnight Oil' Museum Exhibit included:
- Red dust and camping utensils from the trip
- Handwritten song lyrics on notepad paper
- Charlie's 4WD number plates (all that's left)
- Rob Hirst' water tank on the roadside in the Top End, brought back via Charlie's truck

Had the chance to say g'day to him at the Domain after his participation when he was trying to meet up with his lift home, just in front of the merch tent...

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #02

   Double treat today with Neil Murray's "Black Fella/White Fella" most famously with the Warumpi Band and the co-tour with Midnight Oil AND then his song "Native Born." Rachel Taylor harmonies here as well!! You can hear how top end music influenced the Oils and how a song collaboration with Neil would sound. Known by ordinary fans and punters everywhere Neil Murray is a hidden Australian Living Treasure!!

"Australia, where are your caretakers gone?"

Australia Day Seven Day Music Celebration #01

"My Island Home' Warumpi Band (Neil Murray)

Plenty has been and will be written and said about Australia Day in the coming week!! 

   Then too many (strong opinions included) will forget about it for another year. What started this time around with Triple J's timely decision to shift it's Hottest 100 has been a stronger (but no more helpful) debate on social media. 

   A mature country, with a history like ours, should be able have a sensible debate about something so important. Some indigenous people even see value in January 26th ability to provoke hard conversations. Unfortunately too many people are full of opinion and short on listening, especially to the most effected and vulnerable on the issue. Fear of some imagined challenges to freedoms or way of life seem to make lots of people completely irate when it come to questions of national identity and what's worth celebrating...

   There's a growing group of people who seem to share any number of 'love it or leave it' or anti muslim or anti asylum seeker posts alongside all sorts of random claims about threats to "the Aussie way of life." These seem to feed off themselves and have little or no basis in reality. Fear is a powerful distorter of truth. Just because someone takes a photo of a lamb chop and photoshops it over an Aussie flag, claiming these simple symbols are under threat, doesn't mean they actually are...

   Don't get me started about people claiming to be 'Christian' with little or no evidence of how those values shape, impact, digress from or enhance nationalism or patriotic fervour.

Some of what I celebrate about Australia:

- Our wonderful climate, freedoms, relative peace and ideals about equality and 'a fair go'

- Creativity, education, positivity, holidays, music and the arts

- Aboriginal story, culture, community, music and art

- Attitude to pretention, abuse of power and bad politics

- Opportunities

- Sport

Some of what I grieve:

- The scar on our soul that is our failure to fully embrace aboriginal history and culture 

- Cruelty to refugees and asylum seekers dressed up as 'stop the boats' when it hasn't anyway

- The growing gap between rich and poor

- The pain evident in society

   I'm a bit like those artists/bands who have and will continue to play at indigenous concerts and at Darling Harbour or Sydney's Domain all on the one day... Awabakal beginning to the day then BBQ or a pie and laminations for lunch but listening to Yothu Yindi, Dr Yunupingu, or the Warumpi Band and the Oils etc in the afternoon... glad not to be tuning in to the Hottest countdown!!

For what it's worth, what I have learnt in my limited but wonderful engagement with indigenous 'brothers and sisters', their stories and thoughts, is that 26th January is not an appropriate day for Australia Day. I would prefer it to be the last Monday in January, whatever that date was (or to wait until we choose to be a Republic and set that to start at the end of January). Same time of year, celebrated how it sometimes has been over the years... better than the jingoistic May 8 (better weather too!!) more rich than Federation or July and less conflicted than ANZAC Day or another dual celebration. Recognition or Treaty are two other markers...

   To change it is to live out the values of the Beatitudes, to not extinguish a flame or break a bent reed, to work for the common good, to value community and shared story over national constructs...

   It would value story over hype and would recognise 'it wasn't always thus.' Anyhow we haven't really done very well discussing it since 1938, so one wonders what the catalyst will be... 

I suspect it'll take more than a survey claiming most people wouldn't mind the change...

What I plan to do also is to celebrate seven days of music connected with Australia and this is Day #01 with the Warumpi Band...

   

   

Vale Dolores O'Riordan "Ordinary Day"

   This is from Dolores solo album work and the song "Ordinary Day" is the one I heard on radio to put me on to this record. Such a wonderful voice and crafting of songs and such energy fronting her band "The Cranberries"... 46 year olds I've never met die every day, some of them were no doubt reportedly ill within the last 12 months and some of them have talents that become known and shared worldwide and make an impact on our lives and so here's one such person I've heard about again today!! That gives me pause for thought, to be thankful for the gift of songs that examine life and expand my own reflections and for the influence of Irish culture, sound and world view. Dolores O'Riordan had a powerful lilting voice and she used it so beautifully...

Ordinary Day
This is just an ordinary day
Wipe the insecurities away
I can see that the darkness will erode
Looking out the corner of my eye
I can see that the sunshine will explode
Far across the desert in the sky
Beautiful girl
Won't you be my inspiration?
Beautiful girl
Don't you throw your love around
What in the world, what in the world
Could ever come between us?
Beautiful girl, beautiful girl
I'll never let you down
Won't let you down
This is the beginning of your day
Life is more intricate than it seems
Always be yourself along the way
Living through…

Second Annual "Deadpool" win since it's inception...

I won and return to one list for 2018, stay tuned I guess!!

Here's the main part of my email to the competitors...

"I hesitate to call it an ‘honour’ to back up and win a second time!!
For something that started out of boredom at the SCG this ‘competition’ certainly has longevity (like Jaques Kallis’ innings on that day)
While it could be seen as quite ghoulish there’s a place in our lives sometimes for a touch of black humour or an ability to laugh and relieve the tension in otherwise stressful situations…
That said is it a worry that occasionally I’m less concerned at the death of a world famous celebrity than the fact they weren’t on my list?

... Advice, one word, “research”… I’ll share my googling tips in conversation but it also helps to be a pop culture critic/writer and to sign up for a celebrity demise email to ensure you don’t miss any significant departure!!! I also took Greg’s challenge up when we adjusted the Pool to include points for under 100 and my list always features a few speculative or at least younger guesses, just in case!! So don’t worry, I take it way too seriously for about a week each year...

2018 entry almost prepared, I’ll see some of you Day Two!!!

Lastly, I do intend to donate the proceeds to charity… either the McGrath Foundation or possibly "Love Your Sister” as Connie Johnson is one big reason for 178 points all up...