Joe Dolce’s quirky 1980s anthem “Shaddap You Face” and Missy Higgins’ definitive 2004 hit “Scar” are among the latest treasures added to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) of Australia. These tracks join a prestigious list of recordings officially inducted into the Sounds of Australia 2026 collection.
A total of nine works were selected for this year’s capsule, a curation designed to preserve audio that ranges from the deeply personal to the culturally unforgettable. The archive serves as a permanent record of the sounds that have shaped the Australian identity over the decades.
“Shaddap You Face” was an improbable global phenomenon upon its release in 1980. Performed by Dolce as a humorous character study, the song’s infectious hook helped it climb charts worldwide. It spent three weeks at the summit in the United Kingdom and dominated the Australian charts for eight weeks, eventually becoming the highest-selling 7-inch single in the nation’s history.
The NFSA noted that the track remains a premier example of how performance-led comedy can resonate far beyond its original context, maintaining its cultural footprint more than forty years later.
Also entering the vault is Missy Higgins’ “Scar,” the breakout single from her multi-platinum debut album, The Sound of White. The NFSA credited the song with spearheading a significant shift in the Australian music landscape during the early 2000s, ushering in a new era of introspective, piano-driven pop. Higgins, who was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2024, remains one of the country’s most celebrated storytellers.
The disco era is also represented this year by Marcia Hines’ 1977 classic, “You.” Written by American songwriter Tom Snow, the track was released at a time when the domestic pop scene was still carving out its mainstream identity. According to the NFSA, Hines’ powerful vocal delivery not only solidified her status as a premier national artist but also elevated the visibility of Australian recording standards on the global stage.
Broadening the archive’s regional scope is “Tabaran,” the title track of the 1990 ARIA-nominated album by David Bridie’s band, Not Drowning, Waving. The project was a landmark collaboration featuring musicians from Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, led by the legendary George Telek. The archive recognizes “Tabaran” as a crucial milestone in regional partnership, blending diverse languages and musical traditions from across the Asia–Pacific.
Beyond musical achievements, the 2026 induction includes several iconic spoken-word entries. These include the 1981 “Slip! Slop! Slap!” sun safety advertisement, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s 2012 “Misogyny Speech,” and the infamous 1991 arrest of Jack Karlson—famed for his “Democracy Manifest” and “succulent Chinese meal” remarks—which has since become a cornerstone of Australian internet culture.
Selected by a panel of NFSA specialists and industry experts, the sounds are culled from public nominations of recordings at least ten years old. The collection now features over 200 items that reflect the rich tapestry of Australian life.
“We prioritize recordings with significant cultural, historical, or aesthetic weight,” said NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter. “This year’s additions highlight the incredible diversity of sound that exists within our shared history.”
