Songs of My Life #51 - Moving Pictures - What About Me - 1982

Songs of My Life #51 - Moving Pictures - What About Me - 1982

Still one of the finest Australian songs ever written. When this came out it was plastered over the radio and Countdown and any other show that would put music videos on. It captured the time, and sat perfectly between the Aussie Pub Rock culture and the New Romantic era that was being shepherded in.

Relying mostly on the piano, synthesiser, sax and heavy drum beat when required, this was so different from what was being done in music at the time. But the starring role in the whole song is Alex Smith's perfect vocals. Not just his range, but the perfect use of emotion at the right time to drive the song harder or bring it back to a melancholic tone. It's a roller coaster that still gives me goose bumps whenever I listen to it today.

This is one of the greats - that was very nearly destroyed when Australian Idol contestant Shannon Noll hijacked it and stripped it of its glory and replaced it with huge vile chunks of vomit. There is only one version of this song, and Moving PIctures are the sole owners of it. Enjoy.