"Friday on My Mind" has been on the minds of Australians since 1967, earning itself the number one position on APRA's list of Ten Best Australian Songs.
The Harry Vanda/George Young composition was honoured at the 2001 APRA Music Awards in Sydney tonight, with an electrifying performance of the song by You Am I featuring special guest guitarist, Harry Vanda himself.
After weeks of speculation, APRA revealed the ten best and most significant Australian songs of the past 75 years at tonight's Awards ceremony, which featured an extraordinary, poignant and sometimes humorous retrospective of classic Australian music.
Voted by 100 distinguished Australian writers, musicians, critics and broadcasters, the complete APRA Top 30 list was compiled to celebrate APRA's 75th anniversary, and to honour the songwriters who have provided the soundtrack for generations of Australians. While numbers 11-30 were announced earlier this month, APRA saved details of the big ten until tonight's celebrations.
Originally immortalised by Vanda and Young's 1960s group The Easybeats, "Friday on My Mind" was subsequently covered by David Bowie. Tonight's rocking version capped off APRA's biggest Awards night ever.
Ross Wilson was on hand to sing the number 2 song, "Eagle Rock," which he penned for his group Daddy Cool and made a hit in 1971.
A video tribute to the number 3 song, Midnight Oil's classic "Beds Are Burning," was introduced by Senator Aden Ridgeway, Australian Democrats Deputy Parliamentary Leader and spokesperson for Reconciliation.
Veteran country singer Slim Dusty gave a spirited live performance of the number 5 song, "Pub With No Beer," written by Gordon Parsons in 1958. Parsons, who died in 1990, was represented tonight by his wife, Jeanette Parsons.
Tex Perkins performed the number 6 song, "The Loved One"; Jodi Phillis, ex-Clouds singer, delivered a tender rendition of Neil Finn's "Don't Dream It's Over," which came in at number 7; and ex-Reels front man Dave Mason came out of musical retirement to sing the number 10 song, his 1981 composition, "Quasimodo's Dream."
Tributes were also made to the number 4 song, Colin Hay and Ron Strykert's defining Men At Work hit, "Down Under," and the number 8 and 9 songs, "Khe Sanh," written by Cold Chisel's Don Walker and AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top."
At the conclusion of the evening, Harry Vanda was joined on stage by other writers of the Ten Best Songs - Ross Wilson; Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst and James Moginie (Midnight Oil); Robert Lovett (The Loved Ones); Don Walker and Dave Mason - to receive awards from APRA.
The full list of APRA's Ten Best Australian songs follows.
APRA'S TEN BEST AUSTRALIAN SONGS
Song Performer/s Writer/s and Publisher 1. Friday on My Mind The Easybeats Writers: Harry Vanda, George Young Publisher: J Albert & Son Pty Ltd
2. Eagle Rock Daddy Cool Writer: Ross Wilson Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
3. Beds are Burning Midnight Oil Writers: Rob Hirst, James Moginie, Peter Garrett Publisher: Sony Music Publishing Australia
4. Down Under Men at Work Writers: Colin Hay, Ron Strykert Publisher: EMI Songs Australia Pty Ltd
5. Pub With No Beer Slim Dusty Writer: Gordon Parsons Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd
6. The Loved One The Loved Ones Writers: Ian Clyne, Gerry Humphreys, Robert Lovett Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
7. Don't Dream It's Over Crowded House Writer: Neil Finn Publisher: Mushroom Music Pty Ltd
8. Khe Sanh Cold Chisel Writer: Don Walker Publisher: Rondor Music Australia Pty Ltd
9. It's A Long Way To The Top AC/DC Writers: Ronald Scott, Angus Young, Malcolm Young Publisher: J Albert & Son Pty Ltd
10. Quasimodo's Dream The Reels Writer: Dave Mason Publisher: Festival Music Pty Ltd
