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Despite the left’s constant attacks on Australia Day and their demand that we change the date, the overwhelming majority of Australians are going to be celebrating the day. In keeping with celebrating everything that is Australian on Australia Day many people are going to be enjoying their favourite Australian musicians and their songs at their Australia Day barbecues.

A special effort has been made to celebrate Australian music this year because of the ABC’s youth radio station Triple J choosing to move its annual Hottest 100 music countdown from Australia Day to be more culturally sensitive.

In response to Triple J’s decision other radio stations have attempted to fill the gap in the market for Australia Day music with Triple M deciding to hold its Ozzest 100 music countdown. Sydney radio station WSFM followed by asking its followers to vote for their favourite Australian tracks to play on Australia Day.

Now they have been joined by Australian Conservatives Leader Senator Cory Bernardi who created his own Australia music countdown playlist on Spotify as a way to encourage his supporters to celebrate Australia Day and vote for their favourite Australian tracks under the twitter hashtag #AC100.

As Bernardi is one of the most high profile conservative targets of the left it was inevitable the anti-Australia Day crowd would express their outrage. But what is most bizarre about their criticism of Bernardi’s music list is that because he is conservative he is not allowed to enjoy the music of Australian artists who have left wing political views. Even more ludicrous is that they have the perception of Bernadi as such as homophobe that they are shocked he likes the music of gay artists.

Apparently the fact that an Australian artist who has left wing political views has conservative fans is triggering for them. Darren Hayes who is gay and the lead singer of Savage Garden whose song ‘To The Moon and Back’ was included on the AC100 was so horrified that Bernardi is a fan that he threatened legal action

Can you actually sue someone for liking your music and encouraging other people to play it on Spotify which actually benefits you with additional music royalties?

Hayes would have been double triggered by being included since he also been on record supporting changing the date of Australia Day.

Hayes then called on other Australian musicians who were included on the list to be just as offended as he was:

Bernardi’s response was that everyone regardless of political views can enjoy whatever music they like:

The Hilltop Hoods were another band who were included on the playlist had an even more hostile response:

Surely Hayes and the Hilltop Hoods could have taken a left out of American rock star Bruce Springsteen who despite holding left wing political views was happy to have former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as a fan and they even appeared on stage together at a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Sandy in 2013.

Bernardi unlike those of the left is able to separate his political life from his music tastes. Last year when there was the controversy about Macklemore performing his song Same Love at the NRL Grand Final Bernardi stated he had no problem with the artist himself and also stated he enjoyed the music of American artist Pink despite her being a social justice advocate.

It is a sad state of affairs that everything is now seen through the prism of politics that now musicians are demanding they only want fans whose politics they agree with. Would these musicians prefer conservatives got together and burnt their CDs instead?

For those saying Bernardi was politicizing these songs is now celebrating Australia culture including music now considered a political act? Is Bernardi because he’s a politician now never allowed to express what things Australian he enjoys?

These musicians should instead be thankful that they have diverse range of fans that including people who differ from them on politics who wish to pay tribute to them in their own celebration of Australia culture.

Author Details
Tim Wilms is the Founder and Editor in Chief of https://theunshackled.net. the Host of Tim’s News Explosion, the WilmsFront interview program and The Theorists with Andy Nolch. He based in Melbourne, Australia where he also conducts field reports.
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Tim Wilms is the Founder and Editor in Chief of https://theunshackled.net. the Host of Tim’s News Explosion, the WilmsFront interview program and The Theorists with Andy Nolch. He based in Melbourne, Australia where he also conducts field reports.