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Aussie Writer Makes Bold Claim That Darryl Braithwaite's The Horses Is Overrated

Aussie Writer Makes Bold Claim That Darryl Braithwaite's The Horses Is Overrated

"There’s nothing particularly interesting about the song, lyrically or musically."

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

When it comes to the Aussie music scene, there are loads of icons to pick from.

If you're into the pop scene, look no further than Kylie Minogue, The Veronicas, Sia or Jessica Mauboy. If rock is more your style then you've got legends like INXS, AC/DC, John Farnham or Crowded House. If you prefer rap then you've got Briggs, Baker Boy, Hilltop Hoods and Bliss n Eso to keep you happy.

Simply put, we've got some bloody good music to be proud about.

In that incredible anthology of hits, there are a bunch of songs that reign supreme at every party, BBQ and car trip. One of those songs is the legendary 'The Horses' by Darryl Braithwaite.

When someone puts this song on, it's like a rallying call to the dance floor, where people will immediately stop what they're doing, stick their hands to the sky and scream the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Something about this song lights a fire in the bellies of many Australians.

But apparently, it's not all that, according to one writer.

The Daily Telegraph's David Mills reckons Darryl's iconic song is overrated and shouldn't be everyone's go-to song when they're looking for a banger.

Mills wrote: "Not that I've got anything against Daryl Braithwaite. His band Sherbet's place in the pantheon of Australian rock is well-deserved; 1976's Howzat is a bona fide classic, and his 1988 single One Summer is pretty good too.

"My pet theory is that people don't actually love 'The Horses'; they just love how they feel when they're singing it, as if they too are in on the joke.

via GIPHY

"Braithwaite may have a fine, distinctively dry singing voice, but there's nothing particularly interesting about the song, lyrically or musically. It's easy listening, middle-of-the-road radio fodder."

That is a BIG call.

He has a point in the sense that the song makes us all feel amazing and brings people together in a way that few tracks can. But we hardly reckon that people are doing it ironically or for a joke.

But Mills can't argue with the idea that it's a bonafide classic.

Interestingly, it wasn't written by Braitwaite and is instead a cover of Rickie Lee Jones' single, released in 1989. It spent 23 weeks in the Australian top 50 and has gone platinum six times since Darryl released it nearly three decades ago.

While there might be some people who don't like it, like David Mills, you can't deny that it brings us together in a brilliant way.

Featured Image Credit: Daryl Braithwaite

Topics: Music, Australia