Tears shed as stars clean up at APRA Music Awards

Jimmy Barnes led an emotional tribute to the late great Michael Gudinski at the APRA Awards, as everyone from Rob Hirst to Tones and I took out gongs.

From veteran Midnight Oil anthem writer Rob Hirst to the global stream-slaying rookie The Kid Laroi, the architects of the Australian soundtrack have starred at the annual APRA Music Awards.

The Oil’s first new song in 17 years, Gadigal Land, penned by Hirst with Indigenous poet Joel Davison and musician elder Bunna Lawrie was named Song of the Year at the awards in Sydney on Wednesday.

The Kid Laroi, who recently inked a $5 million global contract for his songwriting at just 17, was named the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year having amassed more than one billion streams for hits including Without You and Go.

“This is crazy,” the teen rapper said via video from his Los Angeles, before going through the ubiquitous list of thank yous to industry executives. “And last but not least, my fans from Australia. I love you very, very much and can’t wait to come back. I’ll see you soon.”

The Kid Laroi, who recently inked a $5 million global contract for his songwriting at just 17, was named the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year at the APRA awards. Picture: Supplied

The first live Australian music awards ceremony since the pandemic shutdown the industry last year also saw Kevin Parker of Tame Impala recognised as Songwriter of The Year.

Parker made a dash from his Fremantle home to attend the APRA awards after the Perth three-day lockdown was lifted.

His good mate and collaborator, Uptown Funk superstar Mark Ronson, paid tribute to Parker’s songwriting brilliance.

“When you think of the music of Kevin Parker and Tame Impala it’s very easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and the sonics and the waviness of it all … but really what I love the most at the root of it is the songs,” Ronson said.

“The hooks, the melodies – and that can mean a great chorus or vocal line or the hookiest bass line you’ve ever heard. You think of The Less I Know the Better – it’s one of the most iconic basslines of the past 20 years. He really is such a fantastic songwriter. It’s great to see him getting the recognition he deserves tonight.”

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala was recognised as Songwriter of The Year. Picture: Getty Images

Tones And I won both Most Performed Pop Work and Most Performed Australian Work with her hit Never Seen the Rain. Picture: Getty Images

Tones and I, who won Song of the Year last year for Dance Monkey added another two APRA awards to her burgeoning trophy cabinet, winning both Most Performed Pop Work and Most Performed Australian Work with her hit Never Seen the Rain.

There were standing ovations when the late Helen Reddy and the revered country music queen Joy McKean were honoured with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

“My mother was very proud of being Australian and she was proud of using her voice, her success and her visibility to elevate others. In the final years of her life, she was incredibly optimistic and moved to see so many young women passionately carrying the torch. Thank you for honouring her legacy,” Reddy’s daughter Traci Donat said of Reddy’s honour.”

And tears were shed when Jimmy Barnes was joined by Josh Teskey to pay tribute to the late great Michael Gudinski in front of his family, wife Sue and children Matt and Kate.

Barnes and Teskey performed I Remember When I Was Young, written by Matt Taylor of Australian blues band Chain, a band Gudinski managed early in his luminous career.

Other category winners included Cold Chisel’s Don Walker for their song Getting The Band Back Together, The Teskey Brothers for Rain and The Rubens for Live in Life.

The APRAs are renowned for their innovative per

WINNERS OF THE 2021 APRA MUSIC AWARDS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Gadigal Land, Midnight Oil

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Parker, Tame Impala

BREAKTHROUGH SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Charlton Howard (professional known as) The Kid LAROI

2021 TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC

Joy McKean

2020 TED ALBERT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO AUSTRALIAN MUSIC

Helen Reddy

MOST PERFORMED AUSTRALIAN WORK

Never Seen The Rain, Tones And I

MOST PERFORMED ALTERNATIVE WORK

Live in Life, The Rubens

MOST PERFORMED BLUES & ROOTS WORK

Over Drinking Over You, Busby Marou

MOST PERFORMED COUNTRY WORK

Diamonds, Morgan Evans

MOST PERFORMED DANCE WORK

Rushing Back, Flume feat. Vera Blue

MOST PERFORMED HIP HOP / RAP WORK

Misunderstood, Youngn Lipz

MOST PERFORMED R & B / SOUL WORK

Rain, The Teskey Brothers

MOST PERFORMED POP WORK

Never Seen The Rain, Tones And I

MOST PERFORMED ROCK WORK

Getting The Band Back Together, Cold Chisel

MOST PERFORMED AUSTRALIAN WORK OVERSEAS

Be Alright, Dean Lewis

MOST PERFORMED INTERNATIONAL WORK

Don’t Start Now, Dua Lipa

Originally published as Tears shed as stars clean up at APRA Music Awards