One of the big moments in the lead-up to the triple j Hottest 100 this year was the campaign to get people to vote for A.B. Original‘s confirmed banger January 26, a politically-charged tune which strikes out at the date of Australia Day.
Well, it didn’t crack the top 10 as many thought it might – but it did end up landing at a very respectable #16. Cheers lads.
#16 @ABOriginalBAM – ‘January 26’ {Ft. @dansultan} #Hottest100pic.twitter.com/0O5qVXwK3i
— triple j (@triplej) January 26, 2017
Talking to triple j after the song played through, Briggs conveyed his feelings on Australia Day and the song, saying that change has never come from people being complacent, and acknowledging that they knew the track would ruffle feathers:
Australia Day is a very apprehensive day – and thats putting it mildly – for the Indigenous people of the country […] The main objective and what we’re striving for regardless of our point of view is to move forward, and move forward in a way that’s respectful.
Simon Bags, one of the organisers of the Facebook event which got the message to vote forJanuary 26 out there, spoke to PEDESTRIAN.TV about the result:
I don’t consider myself the founder, that was Briggs and Trials. I’m just a whitefella who wanted to help get the word out. But I’m really happy and proud to have contributed to it. Having a message this powerful backed by this many Australians and beamed to hundreds of thousands of people on the most important day for it sends a message triple j, and the Australian public, can’t ignore.
The guys also scored #45 on the list with their cover of Dumb Things featuring Paul Kelly.
A.B. Original are currently emceeing at Laneway in Brisbane – which they’ll be doing for the who leg of the tour. Got any footage of ’em for us? Fang it through to editor@pedestriangroup.com.au. Cheers for it.
Source: triple j.
Photo: A.B. Original.
