Songs That’ll Make You Proud To Be Australian

With Australia Day literally around the corner, and whether you’re planning a barbie by the beach, drinking beers from the esky, playing cricket in your boardies and thongs or something less stereotypical, there’s a lot to be proud of when it comes to our country. Here are our top Aussie country music picks to listen to on January 26, featuring Troy Cassar-Daley, Amber Lawrence, Jason Owen, Fanny Lumsden and many more!

Troy Cassar-Daley – Another Australian Day

From his 2015 album, Freedom Ride, the music video for Troy Cassar Daley’s Another Australia Day “is dedicated to the amazing people and places in Australia (and their smartphones).”

Jason Owen – Sing Australia

Sing Australia has references to our native flora and fauna, landscapes, the building of a modern nation throughout the decades, as well as Jason Owen’s First Nations heritage.

Adam Brand & The Outlaws – Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia)

Originally recorded in 1985 by Australian rock back, Gang Gajang, Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia) was covered by Adam Brand and The Outlaws on the 2016 ARIA nominated self-titled album.

Adam Brand – The Anzac

First released in 2002 on Adam Brand’s third studio album, Build For Speed, The Anzac later took home the CMAA Golden Guitar Award for ‘Heritage Song of the Year’ the following year.

Lee Kernaghan – Spirit Of The Anzacs

Lee Kernaghan teamed with Guy Sebastian, Sheppard, Jon Stevens, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll and Megan Washington on the charity single, Spirit Of The Anzacs.

Simply Bushed – Raise Your Glass

Golden Guitar nominated for ‘Video Clip of the Year’, Raise Your Glass by Simply Bushed is a tribute to all the soldiers who served for us and our nation. It talks about ANZAC Day and is set around the story of Gallipoli.

Keith Urban & Olivia Newton-John – Sunburned Country

Keith Urban joined Olivia Newton-John on the duet, Sunburned Country, off her album (2). The 2002 album also features duets with Johnny O’Keefe, Human Nature, Tina Arena, Peter Album and more!

Travis Collins – I Am Australian (Live)

Written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and Dobe Newton of The Buckwackers, Travis Collins’ I Am Australian live cover features on his 2005 debut album, Start The Car.

Drew McAlister – Australian Heartbeat

Drew McAlister said of the track, “Australian Heartbeat is a reflection on the people who make the wheels turn every day of the year in Australia. It’s my family, it’s my friends, it’s me, it’s you.”

Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins – Our Backyard

Detailing Australian stories about life, love and friendship, the collaborative seven-track EP, Our Backyard by Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins won three CMAA Golden Guitar awards in 2018.

McAlister Kemp (featuring Ray Hadley) – 100 Years The ANZAC

Released in 2014 in honour of the 100 years since the end of World War I, McAlister Kemp released this special song. The song describes the landing at Gallipoli and the carnage that followed.

John Williamson – True Blue

Australian folk song True Blue, recorded by John Williamson in 1981 has become an iconic song evoking an era ‘of bush struggle from another time’. The lyrical content utilises Australian slang.

Fanny Lumsden – Roll On

Roll On was filmed during Fanny Lumsden’s two-month tour of Queensland. She said, “We hope it inspires more people to get right out and check out the little towns and everything in between.”

Luke O’Shea & Lyn Bowtell – Sing Me A Story

Luke O’Shea and Lyn Bowtell sing about our remarkable country in this 2020 Golden Guitar ‘Vocal Collaboration of the Year’ and ‘Heritage Song of the Year’ winning song, written by O’Shea and Felicity Urquhart.

Shannon Noll – C’mon Aussie C’mon

In 2004, Shannon Noll recorded a cover with updated lyrics. The track was released to aid the children’s charity Good Start, a joint charity set up by the Australian Red Cross and Sanitarium foods.

John Williamson – Home Among The Gumtrees

Arguably one of the most singsongy songs that ever was! First written in 1974 by Wally Johnson and Bob Brown, John Williamson later re-popularised Home Among The Gumtrees in 1984.

The Bushwackers – I Am Australian

As previously mentioned, I Am Australian was co-written by Dobe Newton, who recorded his version in 2009 and later with The Bushwackers (his folk/country band since 1971) in 2011.

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Image: Supplied