Midnight Oil Brings Australia Home

Australia, in fact, has had greater than its justifiable share of music that made it large abroad. AC/DC, INXS, Iggy Azalea, Kylie Minogue, Tame Impala, The Bee Gees … the listing may go on and on. And but some musicians which can be completely iconic right here in Australia have by no means fairly damaged by within the U.S.

Crowded Home can pull in a pretty big viewers in American venues, bolstered by the enduring success of their 1986 hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts within the U.S., although many People who’re acquainted with that music wouldn’t know that the band has continued to provide music to nice success in Australia.

Nick Cave (who, admittedly, has not lived in Australia since 1980) holds a big cult following globally, which appears to be rising exponentially yearly. However Paul Kelly, who’s repeatedly (and solely considerably precisely) described as Australia’s Bob Dylan, has by no means gained a big foothold within the U.S. market, regardless of touring there repeatedly. His 1988 music, “Dumb Issues,” which was on the soundtrack of the film “Younger Einstein,” was his most profitable worldwide hit.

I’ve seen Paul Kelly play in America roughly a dozen occasions, normally in tiny venues. I ponder why he does it, when he can simply fill arenas at dwelling. Maybe the expertise of intimacy is as magical to him as it’s to the viewers — and it’s magical, heartbreaking, transfixing. I’ve introduced alongside American family and friends to his reveals, hoping that by listening to this intensely Australian singer who has meant a lot to me that they may perceive one thing of my Australian soul.

They normally don’t get it. I’ve questioned aloud for many years why that’s. My brother had essentially the most poetic response: “Listening to Paul Kelly is Australian in the identical means because the spooked feeling that grips you whenever you’re alone within the bush. Strive telling somebody about that — except they’ve skilled it, except they’ve lived right here, they gained’t get it.”