The leaderboard has gone dark on Guardian Australia’s Songs of Brisbane poll, with the Go-Betweens in the lead for their song Streets of Your Town – but there are still five days to knock them off the top spot.
Close to 10,000 people have cast votes for their all-time favourite Brisbane song, with the Saints in the second spot for Stranded, and the Go-Betweens in third for Cattle and Cane.
Cub Sport is the newest band in the top 10, with Come On Mess Me Up at No 9 but, of the 166 songs nominated, it’s the 90s band Regurgitator who have the most in the running, with seven.
The #SongsofBNE leaderboard as of 9.30am today, but it's about to go dark. Voting closes Tuesday, the winner is announced Thursday, and without wanting to bias the vote THERE'S STILL TIME FOR 192020 BY THE GRATES TO WIN. pic.twitter.com/tNT7HP9Erc
— steph harmon (@stephharmon) September 13, 2018
I haven’t lived in Brisbane, but I think @SavageGarden / @darrenhayes’ I Want You is a strong contender for #SongsOfBne https://t.co/a9x8vc45Mp
— Carly Findlay (@carlyfindlay) September 4, 2018
Songs of Brisbane: I voted for the song Streets of Your Town by The Go-Betweens #SongsofBNE https://t.co/rile4hZ46Y
— AnnastaciaPalaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 3, 2018
On Friday, Powderfinger were coming fourth with These Days, and their drummer Jon Coghill issued a last-minute plea to readers, who have until 5pm Tuesday to cast their votes.
“Your songs of choice are soo alternative, soo punk, soo obscure,” Coghill wrote in a deliciously savage letter to the editor. “What happened to Savage Garden? Kate Miller-Heidke? The Veronicas? The Bee Gees? And what about Powderfinger?”
This poll is a sham! Songs of Brisbane poll: 10 reasons why @powderfinger_au should beat the Go-Betweens https://t.co/GhiQkqkdPv
— Jon Coghill (@jonacoghill) September 13, 2018
Songs of Brisbane is the first in what will be a series engaging with music towns and cities around Australia. Through the first half of September, Benjamin Law, Nick Earls, Katie Noonan, Washington and Regurgitator have nominated songs, and 150 Guardian readers have written in to “adopt” or champion their favourite tune.
Meanwhile, Guardian Australia has spotlighted the legacy and future of Brisbane music with articles, video, galleries and playlists – with a look at the rise and fall of the iconic venue Cloudland; a piece from the Go-Betweens’ drummer Lindy Morrison about her anarchist feminist punk band Zero; and a snapshot of the music coming out of a thriving new scene (which comes with a moreish playlist).
The #SongsofBNE winner will be announced on Thursday 20 September, when Guardian Australia will unveil the ultimate Brisbane playlist.
