Scott Morrison responds to furore over his Spotify playlist

SCOTT Morrison faced a backlash from music fans last night after producing a Spotify playlist that snubbed Australian artists. Now he’s responded.

Scott Morrison's Australian Rock playlist. Pic: Spotify

SCOTT Morrison faced a backlash from music fans last night after producing a Spotify playlist that snubbed Australian artists.

The list, called Eighties Plus, featured 146 songs and only one of them — Stimulation by Wa Wa Nee — was Australian.

There was no sign of INXS, AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, Nick Cave, John Farnham or even Kylie Minogue.

I know. Outrageous.

Labor certainly thought so, as frontbencher Tony Burke leapt on the rather glaring omissions after the St George Shire Standard reported Mr Morrison’s omission.

And for those who were wondering, the one Australian song promoted by our PM wasn’t from Chisel, the Divinyls, Oils, I’m Talking or even Tina Arena. It was (and I’m not making this up) Stimulation by Wa Wa Nee.#auspol #music #saveozmusic #cantmakethisup

— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) November 5, 2018

His reputation as a fan of Australian music under threat, this morning the Prime Minister responded, sharing another playlist full of Aussie rock songs (and a handful of Kiwi ones).

Mr Morrison said he had used it during the three-hour drive between Sydney and Canberra for years.

You can check out and judge his song choices below.

If you’re after my Oz playlist, this is the one that has joined me on Syd-Canberra-Syd drives for years. (With a few Kiwis thrown in.)https://t.co/hwQid8G826

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 5, 2018

She isn’t part of the rock playlist, but in an interview with radio host Mike Crichton last month, Mr Morrison confirmed he was a massive fan of Tina Arena as well.

“My interest is bordering on unhealthy, but she’s great. I’ve met her quite a few times actually,” he said.

“I’ve seen heaps of her shows. I saw her at Evita in Sydney the other week and she’s stunning in that. She’s, you know, a great theatrical talent, not just obviously a performing artist from a singing point of view.”

Arena is aware Mr Morrison is her biggest fan in parliament.

“He’s a man, regardless of his job,” she said of the then-treasurer in 2015.

“He’s a husband, he’s a father and he enjoys my music, which is a beautiful compliment. He’s got a big gig. That’s a tough gig. I wouldn’t want that job.”

So there you go. Scott Morrison does like Australian music. I’m glad we cleared that up.

The PM’s Australian Rock playlist

The One Thing, INXS

To Look At You, INXS

Don’t Change, INXS

What You Need, INXS

Never Tear Us Apart, INXS

King Of The Mountain, Midnight Oil

Best Of Both Worlds, Midnight Oil

Icehouse, Flowers

Love In Motion, Flowers

Great Southern Land, ICEHOUSE

Take Me Back, Noiseworks

Too Many Times, Mental As Anything

The Nips Are Getting Bigger, Mental As Anything

Counting The Beat, The Swingers

Dirty Creature, Split Enz

One Step Ahead, Split Enz

I Hear Motion, Models

Rain, Dragon

April Sun In Cuba, Dragon

Wide Open Road, The Triffids

You’re Just Too Hip Baby, Dave Graney & The Coral Snakes

Night of the Wolverine 1, Dave Graney & The Coral Snakes

Cheap Wine, Cold Chisel

Take A Long Line, The Angels

The Honeymoon Is Over, The Cruel Sea

Black Stick, The Cruel Sea

Better Get A Lawyer, The Cruel Sea

Metropolis, The Church

Under The Milky Way, The Church

The Unguarded Moment, The Church

Almost With You, The Church

I Am An Island, Richard Clapton

Deep Water, Richard Clapton

When The River Runs Dry, Hunters & Collectors

Be Good Johnny, Men At Work

No Lies, Noiseworks

Errol, Australian Crawl

Turn Up Your Radio, The Master’s Apprentices

You Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC

The Boys Light Up, Australian Crawl

Don’t Dream It’s Over, Crowded House

Alone With You, Sunnyboys

Who Can It Be Now, Men At Work

Opportunity, Pete Murray

Better Be Home Soon, Crowded House

Throw Your Arms Around Me, Hunters & Collectors

It’s a Long Way to the Top, AC/DC

Living in the 70s, Skyhooks

Just Keep Walking, INXS

No Secrets, The Angels

Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool

Power And The Passion, Midnight Oil

Out Of Mind Out Of Sight, Models

Girls On The Avenue, Richard Clapton

Don’t Go Now, Ratcat

We Can Get Together, Flowers

Message To My Girl, Split Enz

Oh No Not You Again, Australian Crawl

Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Split Enz

Computer Games, Mi-Sex

Pressure Sway, Machinations

Short Note, Matt Finish

Happy Man, Sunnyboys

Send Me An Angel, Real Life

Blue Day, Mi-Sex

Weather With You, Crowded House

Four Seasons In One Day, Crowded House

No Say In It, Machinations

Hey Little Girl, ICEHOUSE

Chained To The Wheel, The Black Sorrows

I Send A Message, INXS

What About Me, Moving Pictures

Howzat, Sherbet

Shape I’m In, Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons

Summer of ’81, Mondo Rock

Don’t Tear It Down, V.SPY V.SPY

Echo Beach, Martha and the Muffins

No Time For Games, Midnight Oil

Hercules, Midnight Oil

Brave Faces, Midnight Oil

Distant Sun, Crowded House

Ain’t Gone And Open, You Am I

Mean To Me, Crowded House

Lines, Pete Murray

Fall Your Way, Pete Murray

Back In Black, AC/DC

Electrical Storm, Ed Kuepper

Shoot To Thrill, AC/DC

Originally published as Scott Morrison responds to furore over his Spotify playlist