Colin Hay shares hilarious tales from the Sydney Olympics at APRA Music Awards
The former frontman of Men At Work has received a prestigious award at the APRA Music Awards. See which other artists have taken home a gong.
Someone needs to give Colin Hay his own stand-up comedy television special.
The Men at Work frontman and solo troubadour proved he is as supremely talented as a comedian as he is as a gifted songwriter when he shared hilarious tales of his experience at the Sydney Olympics and a peculiar hobby at the APRA Music Awards in Sydney on Thursday.
The Down Under superstar entertained the audience which included Jimmy and Jane Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Ruel, Budjerah, Sheppard, King Stingray, Xavier Rudd and arts ministers Tony Burke and John Graham with how the Men At Work members had to sprint across the Stadium Australia field at the closing ceremony when officials forgot to escort them to the stage.
He also shared how despite the band’s global fame, a driver taking them to the secret hangar for the closing ceremony rehearsals who professed to being a big fan didn’t actually know their name.
“He’s driving along and he’s going ‘I love you blokes, yeah, I don’t like this new stuff, but I love you blokes’,” Hay said.
“And he gets to the gate of this big hangar we were rehearsing in for three or four days and the guy with the clipboard at the gate says ‘Who you got there, mate?’
“He goes ‘Ah, Men from Down Under … The Workmen … ah, Men At Work!’”
Hay shared how he left Australia for America in the 80s to kerb his drinking problem. And the particular cooking challenge he now pursues when not writing, recording or touring.
“The rest of the time I’m at home, perfecting my recipe for seared brussels sprouts, a much maligned vegetable, which has seen, perhaps like myself, a welcome renaissance and popularity in recent times,” he said.
The Beatles legend Ringo Starr and Hollywood star Zach Braff, alongside Hay’s friend of 51 years, Australian comedy genius Kim Gyngell whose Colin Carpenter character was inspired by his music mate, paid tribute to the Aussie legend at the annual APRA Music Awards celebrating our songwriters.
Hay was greeted with two standing ovations when accepting the Ted Albert award – the de facto APRA Hall of Fame – at the ceremony in Sydney, alongside trailblazing promoter Colleen Ironside, who died last year in Thailand.
Starr, who enlisted Hay for his All-Starr Band 20 years ago paid tribute to Hay’s services to “Australian music, and American music, and British music”, reflecting the Men at Work and solo superstar’s global success.
“Colin, you deserve it and I love you and you are a great member of the Ringo and the All-Starr Band and it’s always my pleasure being on stage with you. Peace and Love, Ringo,” he said from Los Angeles.
Braff and Hay have been mates for more than two decades with the Hollywood filmmaker casting him in his hit comedy series Scrubs, and boosting the Australian musician’s solo career in the US when he included his song I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You in his 2004 cult indie film Garden State.
“Your music has meant so much to me at many different phases of my life. When I was young, I listened to Men at Work. And then when I was fresh out of college, your solo music really was transformational for me,” Braff said from the US.
“I just saw you when you played in Los Angeles. And one thing I love about your shows is it’s also like going to a stand up comedy show. Not only is your voice just as insane as it’s always been, but you had me rolling with your anecdotes and stories.”
The APRAs winners list this year was dominated by Australian artists and writers who have enjoyed global success over the past few years and are mostly based overseas.
Grammy winning electronic stars Jon George, James Hunt and Tyrone Lindqvist of Rufus Du Sol, who are currently touring in Mexico, were named the Songwriters of the Year and also won Most Performed Performed Dance/Electronic Work for their hit On My Knees.
“We feel really blessed and grateful we can get the nod from the room and everyone in Australia. There’s so much talent coming out of Australia and there has been for as long as music’s been around … But seeing the list of artists that have received this award before, it is really surreal to put our name next to those artists,” the band said from Mexico.
Another dance superstar Flume, and LA-based hitmaker to the stars Sarah Aarons, won the APRA Song of the Year with their smash Say Nothing (featuring MAY-A) which also topped the Hottest 100 this year.
The staying power of The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s Stay – three billion streams and counting – translated to two big wins, Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work. But Tones and I pipped them for the Most Performed Australian Work Overseas with the irrepressible Dance Monkey winning for the second year running.
This year’s Breakthrough Songwriter was Zambian artist Sampa The Great led a strong contingent of first-time APRA winners including soul/r&b artist Miiesha, country favourite Casey Barnes, blues and roots star Xavier Rudd and punk rock heroes The Chats.
THE 2023 APRA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Song of the Year
Say Nothing (featuring MAY-A) – Flume and Sarah Aarons
Songwriter of the Year
Rufus Du Sol – Jon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist
Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year
Sampa the Great
Most Performed Australian Work
Stay -The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber and more
Most Performed Alternative Work
Hurtless – Dean Lewis, Jon Hume
Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work
On My Knees – Rufus Du Sol, Jon George, James Hunt, Tyrone Lindqvist, Jason Evigan
Most Performed International Work
As It Was – Harry Styles, Thomas Hull, Tyler Johnson
Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work
Let’s Trot! – Brothers and Joel Fletcher
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
We Deserve To Dream – Xavier Rudd
Most Performed R&B/Soul Work
Still Dream – Miiesha, Lucy Blomkamp, Stephen Collins
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas
Dance Monkey – Tones And I
Most Performed Pop Work
Stay – The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber and more
Most Performed Rock Work
Struck By Lightning – The Chats, Matthew Boggis, Joshua Hardy, Eamon Sandwith
Most Performed Country Work
God Took His Time On You – Casey Barnes, Kaci Brown, Samuel Gray
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