Triple J and 'January 26'
RESEARCH to answer the following questions...the answers are to be in paragraph form:
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1. What is Triple J?
2. What is the Triple J philosophy?
3. What is the Triple J Hottest 100?
4. How does the Hottest 100 work?
5. Which songs from the historical archive do you know? List them in order of favourite to least favourite.
6. When and how has Triple J been involved in politics and social movements?
MUSICAL HISTORY
The power of music to impart perspectives of life and make us feel denotes it as an integral component of our humanity. The Triple J Hottest 100, where the songs are decided by public vote, demonstrates the sacred relevance of music. Always evolving, always challenging, always influencing; music is important, music makes history, music sends a message.
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'January 26' is a Hottest 100 song that makes a point. Artists Briggs and Trials mean for this song to hit a nerve with people and educate our society to the truth of Australian history from their perspectives. Listen to the song and listen to them speak about it.
Briggs, Trials and Sultan sing, 'If you ain't having a conversation, well then we starting it'.
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Develop a short piece of writing to discuss what you understand Briggs, Trials and Sultan want to get us talking about. Explain in your own words the issues the song wants us to reflect on. Interpret the message/s A.B. Original want us to consider when we listen to their song. Outline what it is they are protesting about. Share the thoughts, feelings and opinions the song raises for you when you listen to it and review its lyrics. Discuss how you think the conversation this song is starting might influence people and impact Australian society in the future. How do you think people should respond to the issues and arguments this song puts forward?
'Took the Children Away' is a song in which Archie Roach records the experience of being taken away as a youngster. This autobiographical ballad informs its listeners of the pain of being taken from family and land. The strength of Aboriginal people to survive is noted in the final verses where Roach asserts, 'One sweet day all the children came back ... Yes I came back.' Taking up the legacy to promote the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people Briggs has produced a song in homage to Roach's ballad. 'The Children Came Back' is a 'sequel ... to champion black excellence and remind [people] of the amazing things achieved'. Roach says of Brigg's sequel:
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'I love Briggs' song. It's about our indigenous heroes. Using a part of my song where it says 'the children came back' is really what the song is about. I feel proud to be a part of what Briggs hopes to achieve and I really loved that he used young children to play the heroes because they are our future heroes.'
MY HOTTEST FIVE
Now, time for your own list. You are going to start by selecting your own hottest list of five songs that you like, that you see as powerful. For your 'My Hottest Five' presentation introduce the five songs and then select one to discuss in detail:
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Presentation introduction:
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In an opening comment for your presentation outline the five songs you have chosen as your hottest five. You can state who wrote and sings the songs, quote a favourite lyric from each of the songs, identify the music genre the song is from and feature a sentence about one of the ideas that stands out to you from each of the songs. Finish by stating the song that will be your 'feature song' in your presentation. You will conduct a close study and analysis of the feature song.
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Feature song close study and analysis points:
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Research the history and the history of the artists who perform your chosen song
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Tell the story of the song you have chosen in your own words and explain the messages you understand the musicians have for us
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Enhance your presentation by including headings, visuals and copies of your songs lyrics
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Prepare to share your hottest song presentation to an audience
# Remember to organise so you have a bibliography to reference your information and image sources
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Extending:
NB: Some students have chosen to structure this assignment so that they investigate more than one of their songs in detail. Some have even looked at each of their hottest five songs in depth. (If a students is able to do this they can choose to tailor their spoken presentation to focus on one song or the variety have studied closely).
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