Friday, 17 April 2026

  

-  A  U S T R A L I A   1 9 8 2  - 

This is basically a follow up to last Wednesday's intro story (see here 🔽)
During the weeks that I was 'Down Under' something had been going on 'Up Here' ! 
Britain had acquired a new TV station. Channel 4 had launched on November 2nd, and by the time of my return Australia was happening in a big way. To begin with C4 had begun by showing The Paul Hogan Show. This had been on Australian Television for almost 10 years but was new to the UK and introduced a host of colourful characters and Aussie catchphrases. Paul Hogan would soon be 'Crocodile Dundee' and an international star. 
While the radio was continually playing a great new song by a band called Men At Work. The track had been a No.1 success the previously year 'Down Under' and would now top the charts in both the US and UK by January 1983. 
More colourful lyrics and Australian slang - so lets go "travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie" - with the official video > 


In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) celebrating its 75th anniversary named the 30 Best Australian Songs from 1926 to 2001, as decided by a hundred-strong industry panel. "Down Under" was ranked as the fourth song on the list.
Link to the full list. 

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