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Posted on Nov 5, 2013

15 Australian Pop Songs You've Totally Forgotten

Mainly because the bands in question fall under the "one-hit wonder" tag

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Jackson Mendoza consisted of sisters Natalie and Rebecca Jackson Mendoza. Their debut single Venus or Mars spent 10 weeks in the ARIA singles charts then promptly disappeared. But not from our memories, it will forever live on in our hearts (and after watching the video, the back of your head for the next week). — Jackson Mendoza consisted of sisters Natalie and Rebecca Jackson Mendoza. Their debut single Venus or Mars spent 10 weeks in the ARIA singles charts then promptly disappeared. But not from our memories, it will forever live on in our hearts (and after watching the video, the back of your head for the next week).

Jackson Mendoza consisted of sisters Natalie and Rebecca Jackson Mendoza. Their debut single Venus or Mars spent 10 weeks in the ARIA singles charts then promptly disappeared. But not from our memories, it will forever live on in our hearts (and after watching the video, the back of your head for the next week).

Mercury4 were (or potentially still are, according to their Wikipedia entry) a Melbourne-based Australian boy band. They never did rise to the heady heights of Human Nature's fame though, did they.
Since 2000 members have auditioned for various talent shows and never made it through to the final batch. Be comforted in the knowledge that this song charted at number 5 at its height.

Mercury4 were (or potentially still are, according to their Wikipedia entry) a Melbourne-based Australian boy band. They never did rise to the heady heights of Human Nature's fame though, did they.
Since 2000 members have auditioned for various talent shows and never made it through to the final batch. Be comforted in the knowledge that this song charted at number 5 at its height.

I won't have a bad word against Shakaya. This Cairns based duo of Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong brought the autotuned magic of early noughties r'n'b to our shores, and you just know the majority of Australian teens danced to this at the school disco.
The band disbanded in 2006, Naomi is now a member of The Last Kinection and Simone auditioned for The Voice, even getting Seal as her coach. From strength to strength ladies. — I won't have a bad word against Shakaya. This Cairns based duo of Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong brought the autotuned magic of early noughties r'n'b to our shores, and you just know the majority of Australian teens danced to this at the school disco.
The band disbanded in 2006, Naomi is now a member of The Last Kinection and Simone auditioned for The Voice, even getting Seal as her coach. From strength to strength ladies.

I won't have a bad word against Shakaya. This Cairns based duo of Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong brought the autotuned magic of early noughties r'n'b to our shores, and you just know the majority of Australian teens danced to this at the school disco.
The band disbanded in 2006, Naomi is now a member of The Last Kinection and Simone auditioned for The Voice, even getting Seal as her coach. From strength to strength ladies.

I'm never going to figure out if this band was called S2S or Sister2Sister. They already had a song called Sister too, why complicate the simplicity of pop music?
This song was pre-Veronicas friendly sister glory. Christine and Sharon Muscat went platinum with it and then ended up being VJs on MTV. I remember this because I clearly had no life in the early 2000s. — I'm never going to figure out if this band was called S2S or Sister2Sister. They already had a song called Sister too, why complicate the simplicity of pop music?
This song was pre-Veronicas friendly sister glory. Christine and Sharon Muscat went platinum with it and then ended up being VJs on MTV. I remember this because I clearly had no life in the early 2000s.

I'm never going to figure out if this band was called S2S or Sister2Sister. They already had a song called Sister too, why complicate the simplicity of pop music?
This song was pre-Veronicas friendly sister glory. Christine and Sharon Muscat went platinum with it and then ended up being VJs on MTV. I remember this because I clearly had no life in the early 2000s.

This song is amazing for two reasons: firstly, it features Katie Underwood, formerly of Bardot aka the first winners of Popstars, that nightmare of pre-Idol reality entertainment that involved Jackie O as a judge or a host or something. I don't actually want to type her name into a search engine to find out.
Secondly, this song peaked at 9 on the ARIA charts in 2002 and it's entire video consists of Katie standing in different corridors, winding her hands around herself and making lots of beautiful eye contact with the camera. Have a think about that nation. Think about what you've done. — This song is amazing for two reasons: firstly, it features Katie Underwood, formerly of Bardot aka the first winners of Popstars, that nightmare of pre-Idol reality entertainment that involved Jackie O as a judge or a host or something. I don't actually want to type her name into a search engine to find out.
Secondly, this song peaked at 9 on the ARIA charts in 2002 and it's entire video consists of Katie standing in different corridors, winding her hands around herself and making lots of beautiful eye contact with the camera. Have a think about that nation. Think about what you've done.

This song is amazing for two reasons: firstly, it features Katie Underwood, formerly of Bardot aka the first winners of Popstars, that nightmare of pre-Idol reality entertainment that involved Jackie O as a judge or a host or something. I don't actually want to type her name into a search engine to find out.
Secondly, this song peaked at 9 on the ARIA charts in 2002 and it's entire video consists of Katie standing in different corridors, winding her hands around herself and making lots of beautiful eye contact with the camera. Have a think about that nation. Think about what you've done.

From first series Popstars winners to the next. The wayward apostrophe in their band name already makes me want to dry heave, and the 2001 CGI in the video for their number one debut single Me, Myself & I only causes that urge to strengthen.
Their second single bombed and they promptly disappeared from the music industry. Except plucky Tamara Jaber, who ended up marrying Kyle Sandilands, proving that there's no limits to some people's hunger for fame. — youtube.com

From first series Popstars winners to the next. The wayward apostrophe in their band name already makes me want to dry heave, and the 2001 CGI in the video for their number one debut single Me, Myself & I only causes that urge to strengthen.
Their second single bombed and they promptly disappeared from the music industry. Except plucky Tamara Jaber, who ended up marrying Kyle Sandilands, proving that there's no limits to some people's hunger for fame.

youtube.com

From first series Popstars winners to the next. The wayward apostrophe in their band name already makes me want to dry heave, and the 2001 CGI in the video for their number one debut single Me, Myself & I only causes that urge to strengthen.
Their second single bombed and they promptly disappeared from the music industry. Except plucky Tamara Jaber, who ended up marrying Kyle Sandilands, proving that there's no limits to some people's hunger for fame.

This song came in number 12 on the overall ARIA charts that year (not to mention it reached number 1 on original release). It's meant to be a bogan parody of Meredith Brooks' Bitch. Explain yourselves, music buying public of 2000. — This song came in number 12 on the overall ARIA charts that year (not to mention it reached number 1 on original release). It's meant to be a bogan parody of Meredith Brooks' Bitch. Explain yourselves, music buying public of 2000.

This song came in number 12 on the overall ARIA charts that year (not to mention it reached number 1 on original release). It's meant to be a bogan parody of Meredith Brooks' Bitch. Explain yourselves, music buying public of 2000.

Leah Haywood was probably one of the blandest pop artists of 2001, and this song is so effortlessly forgettable, one should be rewarded for remembering it.
Although not much is heard of her these days, she's actually relocated to LA with her producer husband, and they run Dreamlab, a production and songwriting company. They've written and produced songs for the entire Disney crew - Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato... and Nicki Minaj. — youtube.com

Leah Haywood was probably one of the blandest pop artists of 2001, and this song is so effortlessly forgettable, one should be rewarded for remembering it.
Although not much is heard of her these days, she's actually relocated to LA with her producer husband, and they run Dreamlab, a production and songwriting company. They've written and produced songs for the entire Disney crew - Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato... and Nicki Minaj.

youtube.com

Leah Haywood was probably one of the blandest pop artists of 2001, and this song is so effortlessly forgettable, one should be rewarded for remembering it.
Although not much is heard of her these days, she's actually relocated to LA with her producer husband, and they run Dreamlab, a production and songwriting company. They've written and produced songs for the entire Disney crew - Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato... and Nicki Minaj.

Bachelor Girl still get loads of airplay on the Music Max channel, but outside of that you're bound to hear Buses and Trains at least once a day on any radio station that touts "hits of the 80s, 90s and now."
It was a hit in 1999, not only in Australia but also charting in New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Their third single Lucky Me reached the top 20 on the Finnish charts. The band split in 2003 and there's apparently a third studio album that never got released. There is a greatest hits compilation though, so. There you go. — Bachelor Girl still get loads of airplay on the Music Max channel, but outside of that you're bound to hear Buses and Trains at least once a day on any radio station that touts "hits of the 80s, 90s and now."
It was a hit in 1999, not only in Australia but also charting in New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Their third single Lucky Me reached the top 20 on the Finnish charts. The band split in 2003 and there's apparently a third studio album that never got released. There is a greatest hits compilation though, so. There you go.

Bachelor Girl still get loads of airplay on the Music Max channel, but outside of that you're bound to hear Buses and Trains at least once a day on any radio station that touts "hits of the 80s, 90s and now."
It was a hit in 1999, not only in Australia but also charting in New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Their third single Lucky Me reached the top 20 on the Finnish charts. The band split in 2003 and there's apparently a third studio album that never got released. There is a greatest hits compilation though, so. There you go.

I'm just going to assume everyone's collective memory of this song is singing along to the lyrics from a copy of Smash Hits, despite the fact that the only memorable part is the repeated chorus line of "Jack-Jack-JACKIIEEEEEEEEEE."
This was the highest selling single in Australia in 1999. According to Wikipedia, Joanne performs weekly on a Sunday afternoon at the George Hotel in Melbourne, with group Ilanda - who some may remember from the super euphemistic song, Tasty. — I'm just going to assume everyone's collective memory of this song is singing along to the lyrics from a copy of Smash Hits, despite the fact that the only memorable part is the repeated chorus line of "Jack-Jack-JACKIIEEEEEEEEEE."
This was the highest selling single in Australia in 1999. According to Wikipedia, Joanne performs weekly on a Sunday afternoon at the George Hotel in Melbourne, with group Ilanda - who some may remember from the super euphemistic song, Tasty.

I'm just going to assume everyone's collective memory of this song is singing along to the lyrics from a copy of Smash Hits, despite the fact that the only memorable part is the repeated chorus line of "Jack-Jack-JACKIIEEEEEEEEEE."
This was the highest selling single in Australia in 1999. According to Wikipedia, Joanne performs weekly on a Sunday afternoon at the George Hotel in Melbourne, with group Ilanda - who some may remember from the super euphemistic song, Tasty.

Most would associate this song with 1999 film Election, and Taxiride really delivered the pub/alt rock vibe on that soundtrack. They've released a slew of albums since then, but they've never really matched the success of Get Set. The band went on hiatus earlier this year, according to their official website, "we're all busy with our own projects but who knows what's install (sic) for 2014?"
Mark those calendars kids. — Most would associate this song with 1999 film Election, and Taxiride really delivered the pub/alt rock vibe on that soundtrack. They've released a slew of albums since then, but they've never really matched the success of Get Set. The band went on hiatus earlier this year, according to their official website, "we're all busy with our own projects but who knows what's install (sic) for 2014?"
Mark those calendars kids.

Most would associate this song with 1999 film Election, and Taxiride really delivered the pub/alt rock vibe on that soundtrack. They've released a slew of albums since then, but they've never really matched the success of Get Set. The band went on hiatus earlier this year, according to their official website, "we're all busy with our own projects but who knows what's install (sic) for 2014?"
Mark those calendars kids.

Another Australian pop band that is out to destroy the traditional use of possessive apostrophes, The Mavis's Cry was a crossover hit; big on Triple J and the mainstream charts simultaneously. It's a slice of 1998 synth-pop joy with a strong dose of 90s "dressing for the future" fashion. There's footage of them performing it on Recovery, which is potentially the most nostalgic sentence written in this list so far.
N.B: According to their Wiki, "the band also performed the song on Hey Hey It's Saturday." Shed a tear for the 90s guys. — Another Australian pop band that is out to destroy the traditional use of possessive apostrophes, The Mavis's Cry was a crossover hit; big on Triple J and the mainstream charts simultaneously. It's a slice of 1998 synth-pop joy with a strong dose of 90s "dressing for the future" fashion. There's footage of them performing it on Recovery, which is potentially the most nostalgic sentence written in this list so far.
N.B: According to their Wiki, "the band also performed the song on Hey Hey It's Saturday." Shed a tear for the 90s guys.

Another Australian pop band that is out to destroy the traditional use of possessive apostrophes, The Mavis's Cry was a crossover hit; big on Triple J and the mainstream charts simultaneously. It's a slice of 1998 synth-pop joy with a strong dose of 90s "dressing for the future" fashion. There's footage of them performing it on Recovery, which is potentially the most nostalgic sentence written in this list so far.
N.B: According to their Wiki, "the band also performed the song on Hey Hey It's Saturday." Shed a tear for the 90s guys.

This song still gets played at nightclubs in Australia. That is the power of being addicted to bass.
Amiel went on to release a successful solo album in 2003 that got her nominated for five ARIA Awards. But really, Addicted To Bass should be the crowning jewel in her discography. — This song still gets played at nightclubs in Australia. That is the power of being addicted to bass.
Amiel went on to release a successful solo album in 2003 that got her nominated for five ARIA Awards. But really, Addicted To Bass should be the crowning jewel in her discography.

This song still gets played at nightclubs in Australia. That is the power of being addicted to bass.
Amiel went on to release a successful solo album in 2003 that got her nominated for five ARIA Awards. But really, Addicted To Bass should be the crowning jewel in her discography.

Another Popstars alum, this time from season two, Selwyn was a contestant but never made it through to the final lineup.
He released two albums between 2001 and 2004, spawning five singles that all charted in the top 50. He then promptly disappeared. But we'll all have the memories of grinding to his songs at school formals. — Another Popstars alum, this time from season two, Selwyn was a contestant but never made it through to the final lineup.
He released two albums between 2001 and 2004, spawning five singles that all charted in the top 50. He then promptly disappeared. But we'll all have the memories of grinding to his songs at school formals.

Another Popstars alum, this time from season two, Selwyn was a contestant but never made it through to the final lineup.
He released two albums between 2001 and 2004, spawning five singles that all charted in the top 50. He then promptly disappeared. But we'll all have the memories of grinding to his songs at school formals.

The worst part of this is that the woman being satirised is still considered to be a somewhat popular and respected politician in Australia. The best part is everything else.
Fun fact, Pauline Pantsdown is actually Simon Hunt, Australian Senate candidate and son of retired Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, David Hunt.

The worst part of this is that the woman being satirised is still considered to be a somewhat popular and respected politician in Australia. The best part is everything else.
Fun fact, Pauline Pantsdown is actually Simon Hunt, Australian Senate candidate and son of retired Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, David Hunt.

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