I was interested to read the list of this years additions to the National Film and Sound Archive’s sound registry. There are some great things on it but I believe that the most popular addition will be It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll) by AC/DC. (ABC news)
It is such an icon of Australian rock that the song, film clip, and the bagpipes riff are each worthy of individual fame!
AC/DC are beloved by Australians, so much so that Corporation Lane in Melbourne was officially renamed AC/DC lane some years ago.
The famous video clip for this song was filmed in Melbourne in February 1976, on the back of a moving flatbed truck. Very cool, and a great way of avoiding having to get the proper permits to film.
The line-up of the band has changed many times over the years and is one of the few I can think of who have gone on to massive successes despite the unexpected death of one of their main members. In 1980, lead singer Bon Scott (who sings in this clip) died after a night of drinking. He was replaced by the big-voiced Brian Johnson.
AC/DC have many iconic songs, and I couldn’t even narrow their song list down to my top 5 because I love so many of them. I think they should just submit their entire back catalogue to the archive, surely any official who rejected it would be required to hand in their Australian citizenship for such a crime!
Buried words and Bushwa. 
Gotta love ’em! Especially the Bon Scott era. It’s so cool that an honest, no frills rock band like them have become such a national treasure in Australia – it’s (still) such a great alternative to all the meaningless corporate pop that usually fills the charts.
That kind of rock just presses all of the right buttons, doesn’t it. 😀
I love ACDC also, particularly Bon, and would be hard pressed as well to choose a favourite song, Sadly I think the band is now part of the meaningless corporate music scene, they’ve lost that character and ‘style’ they had during Bon’s time (which so appealed to me) and were guided and managed into their cult status and worldwide following. Good business but not so great music.
They certainly have changed over the years, I think the natural environment of a band like that is a smoky pub, not a slickly produced film clip….
I saw that segment as well and my first thought was ‘what the?’. My second thought was ‘my how times change’. I remember ACDC when they were very not politically correct! Talk about bad boys of rock ‘n roll. I’m not sure if this inclusion is an honour or a recognition of the fact that they made an impact way back when but are now ‘establishment’. Still love the old songs though. 🙂
There are so many bits of AC/DC songs that are iconic aren’t there, the tolling and the guitar at the start of Hells Bells for example, we hear them and know immediately what is coming 🙂 I was more surprised that they weren’t already part of the sound registry than I was about them being included!
They are most definitely iconic. The only thing that surprises me is that they are so well known outside of oz as well. I guess that’s a bit of cultural cringe for you. 😦
It always surprises me when bands make it outside of Australia as I know it is such a difficult thing to do. Acca Dacca are just so good, how could the whole world not love them! 🙂
I know, I know! -puts self in corner for ever doubting-