Top Australian Songs of 1986 – A Year That Changed Everything

1986 stands as one of the most powerful years in Australian music history. This wasn’t just a year of hits — it was a year of defining moments. Australian artists weren’t only dominating locally; they were pushing into international consciousness with confidence, identity, and unmistakable sound.

At the top of the list sits John Farnham’s “You’re The Voice”, a song that changed the trajectory of Australian pop music. Released after Farnham had been largely written off by the industry, the track became a 26-week chart monster and a national anthem. Its blend of social awareness, emotional power, and mass appeal made it one of the most important songs ever produced in Australia.

Right behind it came Pseudo Echo’s synth-driven cover of “Funky Town”, which showed how Australian bands could reimagine international classics and turn them into chart-topping local hits. Their success in 1986 also extended to “Love An Adventure,” cementing them as one of the defining electronic pop acts of the era.

Bands like Wa Wa Nee broke ground with sleek, American-influenced funk pop. “Stimulation” wasn’t just a hit — it was a statement that slick production and international-sounding pop could be made right here in Australia. At the same time, INXS and Jimmy Barnes delivered “Good Times,” a collaboration that bridged mainstream rock and commercial pop with ease.

But 1986 wasn’t just about polish and gloss. Midnight Oil’s “The Dead Heart” brought Indigenous history and political reality into the mainstream charts, proving Australian music could be socially responsible and commercially successful. Hunters & Collectors’ “Say Goodbye” captured emotional weight and raw honesty that resonated deeply with Australian audiences.

Then there were the artists working in more personal, reflective spaces. Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” became one of the most internationally recognisable songs to come from Australia — a song that has never left rotation and still feels timeless decades later. Songs like Paul Kelly’s “Before Too Long” introduced a new kind of Australian storytelling — observational, gritty, and deeply real.

What makes 1986 so powerful in hindsight is its balance. You had stadium anthems, socially conscious rock, sophisticated pop, and emotionally raw ballads all coexisting in the same charts. It wasn’t a manufactured sound — it was a genuine reflection of Australian identity in music.

1986 wasn’t just a good year. It was a turning point.