As the announcement of the triple j Hottest 100 on Australia Day draws near, two A.B. Original tracks have been recognised in APRA AMCOS’ own top songs list, the shortlist for the esteemed APRA Song of the Year.
The tracks about the often dismissed side of Australia Day (‘January 26’) and the celebration of strength (‘2 Black 2 Strong’) – both from ARIA top ten-charting album Reclaim Australia – were voted in by APRA AMCOS songwriter and publisher members.
The Top 20 sees the collaborative project between NIMA Award-winner Briggs and ARIA Award-winning producer Trials (Drapht, Illy, Hilltop Hoods) lead the shortlist alongside Flume, whose two songs ‘Never Be Like You’ and ‘Say It’ also make the list.
Shortlist newcomers Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, D.D Dumbo and Julia Jacklin continue what was a banner year for each in 2016, while previous Song of the Year winners Sia, Missy Higgins, Daniel Johns and Julian Hamilton are also among the nominees.
The full list of nominated songs is:
‘1955’ (Hilltop Hoods Feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum)
– Andrew Burford, Barry Francis, Matthew Lambert And Daniel Smith
‘2 Black 2 Strong’ (A.B. Original)
– Adam Briggs, Daniel Rankine And Darren Reutens
‘Adore’ (Amy Shark)
– Amy Shark
‘Cheap Thrills’ (Sia)
– Sia Furler And Greg Kurstin
‘Come Home Cardinal Pell’ (Tim Minchin)
– Tim Minchin
‘Gamma Knife’ (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
– Stuart Mackenzie
‘It’s Not Too Late’ (Archie Roach)
– Archie Roach And Craig Pilkington
‘January 26’ (A.B. Original Feat. Dan Sultan)
– Adam Briggs, Daniel Rankine And Dan Sultan
‘Jungle’ (Tash Sultana)
– Tash Sultana
‘Never Be Like You’ (Flume)
– Harley Streten AKA Flume, Kai And Geoffrey Earley
‘Oh Canada’ (Missy Higgins)
– Missy Higgins
‘Pool Party’ (Julia Jacklin)
– Julia Jacklin
‘Satan’ (D.D Dumbo)
– Oliver Perry
‘Say It’ (Flume)
– Harley Streten AKA Flume, Julian Hamilton, Daniel Johns And Tove Lo
‘Set In Stone’ (Guy Sebastian)
– Guy Sebastian, Stuart Crichton And Taylor Parks
‘Skeleton Tree’ (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds)
– Nick Cave And Warren Ellis
‘Sooth Lady Wine’ (Matt Corby)
– Matt Corby And John Henriksson
‘Sound Of Silence’ (Dami Im)
– Anthony Egizii And David Musumeci
‘To Think That I Once Loved You’ (The Drones)
– Gareth Liddiard
‘Viceroy’ (Violent Soho)
– Luke Boerdam, Luke Henery, Michael Richards And James Tidswell
The 25th annual APRA Song of the Year will be announced at the APRA Music Awards. Now in their 35th year, the awards take place on Monday April 3 at Sydney’s International Convention Centre Ballroom.
