Gaga over Gaga
She came; she saw and she got the whole nation talking. The pint size tornado which is Lady Gaga landed in Sydney for a few days last week and was able to make everyone from the Prime Minister down take notice.
Gaga only made a few select performances including secret shows at two of Sydney’s premier gay bars Nevermind and Arq. Her one organised gig saw Sydney Town Hall recreated into ‘Monster Hall’ for a night with 800 lucky fans known as ‘Little Monsters’, who were witness to her extravagant and multi-costume performance.
The Lady also found time to weigh in on Australia’s political issues voicing her support for gay marriage and appealing to Julia Gillard to change the law during an interview with A Current Affair.
To top it off Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore awarded her citizenship of the city for her work on equality and human rights issues. Not bad for a couple of days Down Under, Ms Gaga.
Hottest 100, post-game analysis
The dust has settled and the results are out for the greatest albums of all time as voted by the Triple J listening public. Powderfinger’s Odyssey Number 5 took the honours followed by Silverchair’s Frogstomp and Back in Black by AC/DC coming in at third.
At Motherland headquarters we’ve been furiously examining the results, scratching our heads and obtaining massive amounts of data, because frankly it makes us sound important and almost like we know what we’re talking about… so here’s what we concluded:
Triple J is a youth station. 64 of the 100 albums were made in the last 11 years. Only 15 of them were released before 1990. Has Oz music hit its straps in the past decade and shown the oldies how it’s done? Probably not, more likely the younger people are the ones voting whereas original listeners from the 80’s and 90’s have moved onto greener pastures.
Maybe the station should give wider coverage to older tracks and educate the younger generation on the origins of good Australian music? Or maybe the station is just continuing to do what it’s always done and playing new music which the kids want.
Triple J is often flagged as the radio which plays music the mainstream won’t. The influence it has to put bands in the mainstream though is undeniable, with 33 of the albums featured holding number one on the ARIA charts, no doubt helped with early Triple J play.
There you have it, simple really. Well maybe we’ve just confused you more but at the end of the day the public has voted for what they think are the best albums of all time at this time. We’re just concerned the day comes when we’re not with it and don’t know what everyone’s listening to on our favourite Oz station*.
*Editors note — this day most likely happened long ago and we’re still in sweet blissful denial.
Can you help out?
Iconic Sydney music venue the Annandale has been on the market for over six months with developers circling, no doubt to produce another flashy shopping mall and deliver another blow to the music scene in the city.
Luckily current owners Dan and Matt Rule are holding out for a buyer who will maintain the hotel as it is but time is running out. If anyone could throw us a spare $30 million we will gladly take over the place to keep the live music running. In return you can have free entry to all gigs and half price drinks before 10pm. What a deal!
Counting down to Homelanz
Not long now til the Antipodean hordes hit London. Led by those cool and crazy clubber faves, Sneaky Sound System, a host of talent are heading this way for Homelanz festival on 13 August. Some of the hottest Aussie and Kiwi acts will be turning Boston Manor Park into a home away from home and their won’t just be classic entertainment on offer! There’s also a showcase of Australasian food and culture. So no matter whether it’s Sneaky, Townhall Steps, Brooke Supple, Jayson Norris or any of the many others on offer, get it in the diary and get on down.
