Country music has always held a strong sway in Australia’s music scene. The genre did begin in America and was exported to Australia. But it has enjoyed immense popularity in Australia, and has taken a different life here with bush music and incredible country music shows. Australia has moulded and shaped country music as a genre, to suit the country, its people and its history. In fact, country music stories have been ingrained in Australia’s history, and if it weren’t for these stories, our biggest music stars of today and their country music shows wouldn’t even have the platform they do now. So let’s take some time to talk about the influence of Bush songs and music on the genre.
What’s The Meaning of Bush Music?
The songs, lyrics and music that came from the experience of people living and surviving in the Bush has become ‘bush music’. These are songs about the people that got shipped to the colonies, and the sufferings they went through. It is also about their spirit, their humour and how they overcame all these sufferings. In a way, these are the country music stories the Bush people have recorded, enshrining their experiences of war, unions, and more. One of the most popular Bush songs is the Waltzing Matilda (we’re sure you’ve heard it- if you have not, you should go listen to it now, and it will definitely change your life).
How Has Bush Music Grown?
Bush music has collected the voices of people, overlanders such as stockmen, drovers, and more. These songs were folkish and were passed on as oral history. In the last 19th century, there was a revival of the genre through Australian writers. There was another revival in 1950s, when John Meredith recorded songs written in early 1800s and played them in country music shows. Since then, prolific Bush singers such as ‘Dougie Young’ and the Bushwhackers have made the genre more popular. Go give it a listen now- and try to understand the country music stories hidden behind each word!
For more information, visit the most trusted source of country music in Australia - Total Country today!
