BU in Sydney: Pop Culture 101

Oh, Kylie

While living in Sydney, I have learned how to understand and decipher the incredibly interesting ways of Australian pop culture. And, especially now that I’m an editorial intern at Rolling Stone, I’ve learned to love it even more, particularly as it shows up in television and music.  Australia still gets most of its visual entertainment from America, either by making Australian versions of popular American shows (i.e. “Biggest Loser Couples Australia,” which is on, like, five nights a week) or simply by importing shows like “NCIS,” “Law & Order,” and the occasional HBO show or two. Music generally follows suit, with names like Ke$ha and Lady Gaga bandied about these days.

But, there are some fantastic, home-grown pop-culture fixtures that I find to be absolutely fantastic. So, take a seat, class, while I introduce you to some of Australia’s home-grown talent:

Television

“Neighbours”: This one-hour soap opera drama is an Australian institution. Much like the immortal “Days of Our Lives,”  “Neighbours” has become an incredible fixture in society, and has launched its fair bit of careers. Like any soap opera, the story lines are relatively implausible: the residents of Erinsbourough, a small suburban community outside Melbourne, deal with everything from thefts to abortions to murder. Secret love children? Check. Sex tapes? Check. Freeing animal testing monkeys from cages? Check and check, and all of these things have happened since I’ve been in Sydney! It’s wonderfully trashy, but has served the as the springboard for many national and international stars, including “Memento” and “The Hurt Locker” actor Guy Pearce.  In any case, it’s incredibly clear that Aussies do love their soaps.

“Home and Away”: Which, of course, leads me to the second-longest running drama, soap opera “Home and Away.” This show is actually considered prime-time, given its 7 o’clock slot, so even busy office workers can tune into this drama-filled soap after work. Set around fictional Summer Bay, over 115 different characters have filtered through the dramatic web of secrets, lies, and racist Aussies starting fires (another wonderful episode that aired this year). This show is also considered a star factory, giving big breaks to household names like Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts, Julian McMahon and Isla Fisher. Oz is certainly obsessed with soap operas, and “Home and Away” delivers a healthy dose to the population 5 days a week.

Music

Kylie Minogue: Now, I know it’s no secret, but Kylie Minogue is one of Australia’s leading pop stars. However, did you know that she has been superstar status Down Under for over 20 years? Long before her smash hit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” Australia’s “singing budgie” (as they lovingly call her) got her big break on, of course, “Neighbours.” Playing teenager Charlene Robinson, Kylie scored a huge audience and became an incredible star in the late 80’s, in both Australia and the UK. Her final storyline culminated in a marriage that attracted over 20 million viewers worldwide. And, after she left, she scored it big in 1987 with this gem, a remake of “Locomotion”:

Kylie Minogue – Locomotion

Yeah…pure gold. Kylie’s incredible career made her a darling to the Australian public long before America truly took notice. Plus, do you see that hair? Fantastic.

Gabriella Cilmi: This young pop-star has enough rising hype to be considered by the Australian public as a next-gen Kylie. At the tender age of 16, Melbourne-native Gabriella scored a huge hit with her Amy Winehouse-eque “Sweet About Me,” which earned her six Australian Record Industry Association awards.  And, it looks like she’s on her way to star status down under, with her new CD “Ten” blowing up the charts. Now that she’s legal, the girl is coming out fierce and sexy, like a  young, not-crazy Britney. Check out her disco-laced, futuristic ode to bitches in charge, “On a Mission”:

It’ll be interesting whether this chick will actually make it big in the US. She’s got potential, but it is incredibly hard to break out of the Australian market and into the international scene. Good luck, Gabriella!

Pure Awesome

Brain Johnson (Left) and Angus Young Rock out, photo courtest of Wikimedia
Brian Johnson (left) and Angus Young of AC/DC rock out. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

AC/DC: In a category all their own, you can’t mention Australian pop culture without their rock-gods, AC/DC. They’re not typically considered an “Aussie band” (like Men at Work, i.e. “The Land Down Under” dudes), but believe it or not this rock powerhouse actually formed in Sydney before  making it big in America with their hits like “Shook Me All Night Long” and “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap).” They recently toured Oz in February, and it was freaking insane. Thousands flocked to see Aca-Deca’s shows, which sold out like hotcakes. The band is probably Australia’s most legendary export, but people rarely know that’s the case. So, the next time you’re trashed at a house party and “Shook Me All Night Long” comes on, thank the Aussies for recognizing their potential.

That’s just a taste  of the wide variety of fantastic stuff that Australian culture has to offer. And, I have to say, the Aussie’s tastes are growing on me every day. At this rate, maybe I’ll start loving vegemite?

About Lauren Hockenson

Lauren Hockenson (CAS/COM '11) is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Quad.

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