Australia is responsible for some of the most recognisable music on the planet, so making a National Songbook of just 10 songs is borderline impossible, right?

Well, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) and the Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS) have given it their best shot, compiling what they believe to be the definitive Aussie soundtrack.

Featuring iconic bush ballads, protest songs and indie darlings, the first 10 tunes of The National Songbook, with more on the way, are now locked in. So what made the list?

First 10 songs in The National Songbook:

1. Waltzing Matilda (1927), lyrics by Andrew ‘’Banjo’’ Paterson, melody by Christina Macpherson
2. Friday On My Mind (1966), written by Harry Vanda and George Young
3. I Am Woman (1971), written by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton
4. Beds Are Burning (1987), written by Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie
5. My Island Home (1987), written by Neil Murray
6. Down City Streets (1990), written by Ruby Hunter
7. Earth Cry (1990), composed by Peter Sculthorpe
8. Treaty (1991), written by Dr M. Yunupingu, Stuart Kellaway, Witiyana Marika, M. Mununggurr, Cal Williams, G. Yunupingu, Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly
9. The Boys soundtrack (1998), written by The Necks’ Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck and Lloyd Swanton
10. My People (2007), written by The Presets ’ Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes.

To be eligible for inclusion in The National Songbook, songs must be written or co-written by an Australian APRA member, must have been released at least 10 years before consideration, and must demonstrate significant cultural impact in Australia.

This year’s inaugural inductees were chosen by a panel of 10 industry experts from across the musical spectrum, including songwriters, composers, broadcasters, journalists and historians, led by APRA Chair Jenny Morris MNZM OAM and NFSA chair Annette Shun Wah.

The inaugural inductees for The National Songbook. Photo: NFSA.

APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said the first 10 songs could never tell Australia’s full story, but they provided a good summary of the country’s musical history.

“Together, these inaugural inductees help us understand, as a nation, where we’ve come from, who we are and the values we’ve carried through generations,” he said.

“As APRA celebrates 100 years of championing songwriters, composers and music publishers, we welcome these debut entries into The National Songbook as songs that have helped become part of our shared cultural story, reflecting the extraordinary breadth, diversity and richness of Australian songwriting and composing.”

NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said having a songbook was important to preserving Australia’s audiovisual stories.

“The National Songbook reflects the remarkable breadth of Australian songwriting and composition, from songs of protest, belonging and identity to works that have become woven into our national story and our DNA,” she said.

“As Australia’s audiovisual archive, the NFSA will ensure these songs and stories are preserved in our national collection of works of significant cultural heritage, heft and heart, providing a new way for Australians now and into the future to engage with the songs and songwriters who have shaped us.”

For more information and to view the full collection, visit the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia website.