Australiana (song)

"Australiana" is a spoken-word comedy single by Austen Tayshus, written by Billy Birmingham and recorded live at The Comedy Store, Sydney, in 1983. It was only available on 12″. It is Australia's best-selling single ever[1] and was the No. 1 single in Australia in 1983 for eight weeks, seven of them consecutive.[2]

"Australiana"
Single by Austen Tayshus
A-side"Australiana"
B-side"The Comedy Commando"
ReleasedJune 1983
RecordedJanuary 1983
StudioThe Loony Bin and The Comedy Store
GenreComedy
Length4:23
LabelRegular Records
Songwriter(s)Billy Birmingham, Austen Tayshus
Producer(s)Billy Birmingham, Paul Goodwin
Austen Tayshus singles chronology
"Australiana"
(1983)		 "Phantom Shuffle"
(1984)

The single was banned in Victoria for a week, due to the B-side "The Comedy Commando". This led to a gap between the record's first number one placing (15 August) and its seven-week run at the number one spot (5 September – 17 October).

The single was rereleased on CD in 2003 (EMI 7243 5 52755 0 9), containing the A-side and the video for the A-side, but not the original B-side.[3]

Sketch structure

The sketch is built on extensive sets of equivocations that form puns relating to Australian place names and icons, for example:

My mate, Boomer, rang. Said he was having a few people around for a Barbie. Will Walla be there? Vegie might come. Let's go, Anna. Only if Din goes. Nulla bores me. Speak ill of Warra. Ayers rocks in. Alice springs into action. Thanks, Warra, ta. Has Eucum been in? Wait until Gum leaves. On the lawn, Ceston. Marie knows. Leave Jack around a party. Adel laid it on me. Do you wanna game of euchre, Lyptus? Can Wom bat? Can Tenta field? Dar wins every time. Is Bass straight? Swim in the River, Ina. I've got no cossie, Oscar. Without a thread, Bo. Perish the thought. No cooler bar maid. Where can Marsu pee, Al? You reek of Stockade. Cook a burra. A pair of queens land in. Crack on to Wumba. Try to mount Isa. Trying to plat her puss. Flash your wanger at her. What'll 'ey care? Seen a cock or two. Pack Bill a bong. Will a didgery do? Where's the Tally-ho, Bart? Great, Barry—a reefer, What is it mate? Noosa Heads of course. Blew Mountains away. Lord! How? Hey! Man! How much can a Koala bear? Lead you astray, Liana.

Track listing

Vinyl (RRT 606)

  • Side A "Australiana"
  • Side B "The Comedy Commando"

CD single (5527550)

  1. "Australiana" - 4:23
  2. "Australiana" (CD Rom) - 4:27

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1983) Position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[4] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1983) Position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[5] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6] 2× Platinum 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Fitzgerald, Ross (29 December 2012). "Austen Tayshus sends a postcard from the edge". The Australian. Retrieved 29 December 2012. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of Australia's best-selling single ever, 'Australiana'.
  2. David Kent (1993) Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W.. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. http://www.discogs.com/Austen-Tayshus-Australiana/release/752376
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 315. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 435. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "history of Austen Tayshus". austentayshus. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
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