Last week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ has unveiled its next annual special collector’s edition, celebrating 50 of the most iconic stars from across Australia and Aotearoa.
The magazine’s December-February ‘Icons Issue’, on newsstands and Coles now, looked at 50 living Icons across screen (TV and film), music and comedy, those who have broken boundaries, smashed ceilings and opened doors.
These 50 vivid images are etched in the cultural history books — here and abroad — and continue to inspire the next generation of images.
You can see the full list of icons here. Read our essay on an Icon, the legendary Australian singer John Farnham, below.
Thousands of people are screaming. In desperation. In desperation. In protest. But also in joy. In harmony. With the hope.
It’s Sunday, February 16, 2020, and Australia’s year has gotten off to a horrible start. It was, it turns out, a downward trajectory that would continue for weeks, months and years, with more natural disasters, a pandemic, lockdowns, economic uncertainty and a country torn apart by politics, policy and a prime minister on vacation. But we didn’t know that yet.
On this February 2020 National Fire Relief Australia Fire Concert, the devastating, seemingly endless bushfires are at the forefront of our minds and it seems inconceivable that anything worse could be around the corner.
The crowd of 75,000 does not know the fires, floods and fury that is to follow. Little do they know that COVID-19 will change the course of history. Or that this will be one of the last huge concerts in Australia before the country is plunged into lockdown after lockdown. (Indeed, just twenty-eight days later, New South Wales canceled all events of more than 500 people, and only four days after the international border was closed).
What they do know is this: Music and the arts are often one of the first industries to spring into action when disaster strikes. They pull out all the stops. I offer. Run for free. Bring people together. Celebrate and like.
They also know the power of John Farnham, as one of our greatest and most enduring live performers. And on this day in 2020, John did what he does best – sang his guts out and inspired people to stand up and do something.
It is the last of the relief show and follows acts such as Queen and Adam Lambert, kd lang, Delta Goodrem, Grinspoon, Alice Cooper, Amy Shark and Baker Boy.
He performs ‘Age of Reason’, ‘Pressure Down’, ‘Two Strong Hearts’, ‘That’s Freedom’ and, of course, the powerful (and political) ‘You’re the Voice’, alongside Indigenous performer Mitch Tambo.
It’s a unifying and uplifting moment as tens of thousands of people collectively declare that they’re not going to sit in silence, and they’re certainly not going to live in fear.
Such is the power of the image that is John Farnham.
In 2020, she can bring a sick Olivia Newton-John out of hiatus and onto the stage. He may, after decades in the business, still command the crowd and be the latest act on a bill already packed with talent both old and new. He may, thirty-three years after his release, still inspire a crowd with the iconic anthem ‘You’re the Voice’.
Now, just three and a half years later, almost everything has changed — except for its icon state.
Olivia Newton-John, his longtime collaborator and friend, died on Monday, August 8, 2022. Her duet with Farnham on stage at Fire Fight in 2020 was her last performance. Another constant in his life, talent manager, entrepreneur and friend, Glenn Wheatley also passed away in February 2022. That same year, John was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent a twelve-hour operation to remove a tumor from his mouth, while part of his jaw was also removed.
It has been, to put it mildly, a tremendous year for a man who has brought such joy and inspiration to so many.
Now in late 2023, John is in the headlines for two reasons — One is people looking for constant updates on his health and well-being. Will we see or hear from him again? Will he take the stage? What did he think of the record-breaking documentary? John Farnham: Finding the Voice?
John’s other exciting moment in 2023 was using his signature song in a last-minute push for YES in the (now defeated) Voice to Parliament referendum. Some people who did not support the ‘Yes’ movement felt betrayed. Here is a song they knew, loved, attached their own meaning to, being used for something they personally did not support. “You’re the Voice” became a political football, a morning TV debate topic, and in some cases, a reason people felt betrayed while others felt inspired.
Uluru Dialogue co-chair and one of the architects of The Voice, Professor Megan Davies, said before the referendum that ‘You’re the Voice’ was the nation’s unofficial anthem.
“I was in elementary school when it came out and, as a young girl, I immediately felt the power of its message about agency and walking together,” she said.
Tim Wheatley, son of the late Glenn, also noted the power of the song.
“You’re the Voice is not aligned with any political party. It is aligned with humanity. It’s a song for all Australians. Always has been, always will be,” he said.
“Win or lose this referendum, this song will forever remain on the right side of history.”
Such power and passion can ignite an icon like John. People want him fully recovered so they can hear him deliver his agenda-changing power ballad — but people across the political and social spectrum also feel they own and understand the meaning of the song.
But his sons are more focused on the positive — his success Finding the Voice documentary and discovering the extent of their father’s impact.
“I just enjoyed seeing how many people love dad. This blows my mind, and it’s just not an older generation. It’s every generation and it still takes me on a journey,” say Robert and James of the film’s success.
“Dad is a very genuine person in general. So for him, being approached to make a film about himself is probably his worst nightmare. He doesn’t see the big deal in himself. But it’s nice to see the doco represent that and be as real as it can be,” reveals Robert.
They won’t talk about him or reveal his future, but insist he’s back to normal and can still sing — which will be a relief for his fans.
One such fan is global superstar Celine Dion.
“I was there when [dad] I met Celine and it was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen,” recalls his son James. “We were in Canada getting on a plane to go somewhere and Celine Dion literally ran across the airport screaming ‘John! This is the first time they’ve met, and she’s running through the airport with her husband and she ran into our dad.”
Another is Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who met John when he gave (yet again) his time at a bushfire relief concert — In this case, 2009’s Sound Relief.
Chris says John is always generous with both his time and his voice.
“For the concert in Sydney he really came and gave us the best time. It was so much fun being his backing band, and him and the song [“You’re the Voice”] I felt big and resonant enough for the occasion in a way that maybe we didn’t. Offstage he was super sweet and I felt so grateful for him,” says Chris Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
Mega Australian export and fellow icon Keith Urban says there’s just something different about John.
“With that heavenly gift of the voice he was born with, he sings from a very human place,” says Keith Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “This might sound obvious to some people, but there are some singers with equally extraordinary voices, but you just don’t feel them the way you do John.”
Keith cites songs like ‘Playing to Win’, his cover of ‘Help’, ‘Age of Reason’ and ‘Please Don’t Ask Me’ as among his favourites, but says the emotion and phrasing of ‘ Burn For You” is it. certain piece over the line at point number one for him.
However, any time she gets to see John play live, it’s a good time.
“I feel like John has always been a great example of consistently making great music, working with great people, and bringing that spirit of hope, lightheartedness, humor, and passion not only to his records, but to audiences every time he hits. a scene,” he says.
Plus, Keith says, there’s something so “Australian” about “Our John” (even though, yes, he was born in Essex, England).
“For me, one of the enduring characteristics of Australians in general is our tenacity, determination and resilience. When you look at Giannis’ career — man, you definitely see that in sticks spanning decades,” he says.
“[Aussies love him] because he is so Australian. It’s a way of life, an attitude, a way of being with your priorities, your family, your friendships. I love him.”
Words: Vivienne Kelly
This John Farnham Icons essay is featured in the December-February ‘Icons Issue’ of Rolling Stone AU/NZ. If you want to get your hands on it, now is the time to sign up for a subscription.
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