Most Popular Australian Artists and Bands of All Time

What do you think when you hear the word, “Australia”? Usually, people might say kangaroos, koalas, or snakes, and Outback Steakhouse with Rupert Murdoch, with their unique slang Aussie terms and accents. Because of all these preconceptions, they make Australia sound like an amazing place.

And because of the musical legacy of the country, it seems sure that it may be one of the greatest countries that ever existed to contribute the musical history. The land down below is famous for its artistic talent to have dawned on the stage. In this list, you will see a variety of entertainers who made it big and became among the most successful artists and bands of all time, making them legendary and famous across generations.

AC/DC

It was 1973, and Australian brothers Malcolm and Angus Young had just founded this impressive Australian rock band, known at the time for its pumping-loud lead yet simple sound with sexual innuendos in tow. Even Rolling Stone had to salute AC/DC or Acca Dacca as Aussies call them as among the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

For first-timers to AC/DC, their first questions usually involve how the band got their name. It was when the two brothers saw those same initials on a sewing machine, that then led to the belief that because of this electricity-affiliated abbreviation, it perfectly captured the power that they wanted to invoke in their electrifying performances. Since then, the band landed more than two dozen singles on the rock charts, with three tunes on the pop chart as well, which was the US Billboard Hot 100.

For over four decades, the band has met several challenges along the way from drug and legal problems to the death of one of the AC/DC members, illness, retirement, and the accident with the fans dying at one of their concerts. It does not mean that hitting the US Billboard Hot 100 with songs such as “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Back in Black” and “Moneytalks”, the band would be impervious to struggles. However, because of their suffering, aside from hard rock, they are considered among the best Australian pop music stars of all time.

Sia

You can tap anyone on the back and ask if they have heard of Sia, and probably, they will say yes because even if you were not a fan, you would probably recognize the music and her trademark appearance. This Australian artist craves privacy, but as her particular fame has grown, it has proven difficult to keep her private lifestyle. Whether in videos or on stage, she usually conceals her face from viewers and audience members.

Sia is known to be a prolific songwriter with over 70 songs under her belt. This singer-songwriter has authored songs for other popular artists including Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, Kylie Minogue, Eminem, Rita Ora, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, and others.

Several songs Sia sang were placed in the Top 10 US Billboard Hot 100, which includes “Titanium”, “Chandelier”, “Wild Ones”, and “Cheap Thrills”.

Bee Gees

If you think of Australia, you would also probably think of the Bee Gees because what would the 1970s be without this trio of Australian brothers that sang at the edge of their vocal register with quivering whispers? The Bee Gees are among the best-selling musical artists of all time, and they comprised Maurice, Robin, and Barry Gibb. They were all born in England except they moved to Australia when they were just children.

Forming the Bee Gees in 1958, the band of brothers wrote all their hits, recognized for their tight harmonies together. They recorded mainly rock and disco songs, and 15 of their hits got into the US Billboard Hot 100 from “Jive Talkin” to “Stayin’ Alive”.

The Gibb brothers have been an inspiration to other singers as at least more than 2,500 singers have recorded their songs. With their phenomenal success, the Bee Gees have been recognized and celebrated worldwide in a variety of ways. One involves that they have received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

They were even given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This tribute just shows how much the Bee Gees means to people across the globe and how they became legends in music history.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban is New Zealand-born but he was raised in Australia. Urban is a country music legend in both countries including the United States, and he is a very productive musician because from 1999 to 2019, Urban was able to release over four dozen singles that got into the Top 40 of the country US Billboard charts. Also, over 20 of his hits during that time made it into the mainstream pop chart.

Conclusion

From AC/DC to the Bee Gees, this small list included the most popular artists of our time that anyone can recognize. Even if you do not know some of them, you might have had a glimpse of their name somewhere in translation.