Nature Enters Number One
Wendy – 30/11/01
New Zealand’s top 30 songs were announced recently at the 2001 APRA Silver Scroll Awards as part of a celebration to mark APRA’s 75th Anniversary. Established in 1926, APRA is a non profit organisation who administer copyrights and royalties of worldwide songwriters and publishers in Australia and New Zealand. Mike Chunn, director of New Zealand operations for APRA and original Split Enz bassist, said the song voted number one was a clear winner. More than 900 songs were nominated. Written by Wayne Mason in 1969, the winning song, Nature, reached number one on the charts in January 1970. Twenty-two years later the song became a hit again when it was recorded by New Zealand band the Muttonbirds. The top 30 songs are: 1. Nature, Wayne Mason (Fourmyula, 1969) 2. Don’t Dream It’s Over, Neil Finn (Crowded House, 1987) 3. Loyal, Dave Dobbyn (1988) 4. Counting The Beat, Phil Judd/Mark Hough/Wayne Stevens (The Swingers 1981) 5. Six Months In A Leaky Boat, Tim Finn (Split Enz, 1982) 6. Sway, Bic Runga (1997) 7. Slice Of Heaven, Dave Dobbyn (Dave Dobbyn with Herbs, 1986) 8. Victoria, Jordon Luck (Dance Exponents, 1982) 9. She Speeds, Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits, 1987) 10. April Sun In Cuba, Paul Hewson/Marc Hunter (Dragon, 1978) 11. I Got You, Neil Finn (Split Enz, 1980) 12. Whaling, Dave Dobbyn (DD Smash, 1984) 13. Not Given Lightly, Chris Knox (1990) 14. Pink Frost, Martin Phillips (The Chills, 1984) 15. Jesus I Was Evil, Darcy Clay (1997) 16. Weather With You,Tim Finn/Neil Finn (Crowded House, 1991) 17. Blue Smoke, RuruKaraitiana (Pixie Williams and the Ruru Karaitiana Quartet, 1949) 18. Dance All Around The World, Corben Simpson, Geoff Murphy (Blerta, 1972) 19. Lydia, Julia Deans (Fur Patrol, 2000) 20. Blue Lady, Graham Brazier (Hello Sailor, 1977) 21. Drive, Bic Runga (1996) 22. Chains, Che Fu/DLT/Angus McNaughton/Kevin Rangihuna (1996) 23. Dominion Road, Don McGlashan (Muttonbirds, 1993) 24. Glad I’m Not a Kennedy, Shona Laing (1986) 25. I Hope I Never, Tim Finn (Split Enz, 1979) 26. Tears, Fane Flaws/Arthur Baysting (Crocodiles, 1980) 27. Be Mine Tonight, Dave Dobbyn/Ian Morris (Th’Dudes, 1978) 28. I See Red, Tim Finn (Split Enz, 1979) 29. Beside You, Dave Dobbyn (1998) 30. Home Again, Karl Kippenberger/Tom Larkin/Phil Knight/Jon Toogood (Shihad, 1997)
