In Australia, music that plays at restaurants, pubs, stores, clubs etc., is the same music that you would hear back in the states. I have noticed that places will play a lot of throwback hits from the 90s and early 2000s and also a lot of Justin Bieber. Once I was eating at an Indian restaurant and 'Baby' by Justin Bieber began to play and it just did not seem fitting. Another time I was at a night club and the DJ played the Hannah Montana theme song.
There is this song called 'Pump It Up' by a British producer named Endor and I have never heard this song before I came to Australia, but it plays, without a doubt, at every night club in Sydney. I personally strongly dislike the song but all my friends here love it. Curious if anyone has heard of this song. If you haven't, click here, take a listen.
There is music that is unique to Australia that is important to the Aboriginal people’s customs and daily lives. In their culture they use song and dance to perform ceremonies and tell stories. The main instruments played are the didgeridoo and clapsticks. A didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Aboriginal people of northern Australia. It is usually cylindrical and can be 1-3 meters long. Some other names for the didgeridoo is yiḏaki, mandapul, and mago etc. depending on the tribe. Clapsticks are usually made with eucalyptus which is native to Australia. During my orientation at UNSW, an Aboriginal dance company performed some ceremonial and storytelling songs and dance. Also, in Circular Quay there would sometimes be a didgeridoo street performer.
DecesendanceAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre performing at the UNSW orientation.
A didgeridoo player playing by the wharfs in Circular Quay.