The Guardian ·
John Farnham’s 20 best songs
From soaring ballads to a song that belongs on every road-trip playlist, these are the tracks that underscore why ‘the Voice’ is a national treasure
In the lead-up to a sold-out tribute concert in celebration of the British-born Australian singer’s music, which is being broadcast at Hoyts cinemas around Australia, we rank the songs that sing to Farnsey’s fans in Australia and around the world.
Bouncy and bright, this 1988 love song reached No 6 on the Aria charts, fuelled by an effortless lead vocal that takes off in the built-for-singalongs chorus. In the 2010s, John Farnham and his longtime pal Olivia Newton-John named their hit tour and subsequent live album after the song – their version reimagines the track as a playful duet between good friends.
This standout song from Farnham’s underrated 2000 album, 33 ⅓, sees the singer hit his soulful sweet spot. When performing it live, Farnham made a point of sharing the spotlight with his backing singer, Lindsay Field. Farnham’s generous relationships with longstanding members of the Farnham band always made his live shows feel like a family affair.
