Sydney, AU (SONY BMG MUSIC Entertainment) -- INXS has topped the nation's favourite lyrics poll on VH1 with the 1988 classic tune 'Never Tear Us Apart'. Voted by thousands of music lovers, the tune has proved itself a treasured Aussie icon, beating top 20 finalists Jeff Buckley, AC/DC, Midnight Oil,
Pink Floyd and
Pearl Jam for the honour. "I, I was standing, you were there, two worlds collided, and they could never tear us apart."
When it comes to saying it the right way, it seems that Aussie rockers INXS have the words.
'Never Tear Us Apart' has been voted by thousands of music lovers as the nation's all-time favourite lyrics in the poll run by TV Channel VH1.
Released in 1988, the song reached #24 in the UK where it remained on the charts for 7 weeks, and also reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song has etched itself in the minds of the nation as the poignant tune that accompanied original lead singer Michael Hutchence's funeral and went on to make its mark on pop cult film 'Donnie Darko' (2001).
Legendary Aussie musician and host of "Nation's Favourite Lyric", Billy Thorpe attributes part of the song's popularity to the sad memory it holds:
"That song is particularly dear to most Australians so it's no surprise it has come out on top. It was a wonderful song before Michael's death but those lyrics became particularly sad and poignant after his death since it was the song they played at his funeral. It added a whole new meaning to the song after Michael's death and I think Australians remember him when they hear that song."
'Never Tear Us Apart' beat tunes about love, loss and hope to animals and even colours, and came out on top of second place holder Jess Buckley with 'Last Goodbye' and other top 20 finalists inlcuding Oasis with 'Wonderwall' (#5), Bob Dylan with 'The Times They Are A Changin' (#8), AC/DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long' (#9), Midnight Oil with 'Beds Are Burning' (at #13), Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall' (#15) and Pearl Jam's 'Black' (#19).
Midnight Oil also tied with U2 and Silverchair for the most nominated lyricists for their tunes 'The Power and the Passion', 'Beds are Burning', and 'Read About It', and Bob Dylan and Pete Murray took out the honour for oldest and newest song lyric entry respectively.
Check out all the winners below and tune into VH1 for the full Top 100 countdown screening from Tuesday, November 21st at 10am, Friday, November 24th at 12pm and Saturday, November 25th at 9am.
VH1's TOP 20 NATION'S FAVOURITE LYRIC
1. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
2. Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
3. James Blunt - You're Beautiful
4. Coldplay - Yellow
5. Oasis - Wonderwall
6. Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven
7. Kasey Chambers - The Captain
8. Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A Changin
9. AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
10. U2 - One
11. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
12. The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
13. Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
14. Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
15. Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
16. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
17. Coldplay - Fix You
18. Guns n Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine
19. Pearl Jam - Black
20. Cold Chisel - Khe Sahn
THE OLDEST ENTRY
1964 Bob Dylan's - The Times They Are A Changin'
THE YOUNGEST ENTRY
2006 - Pete Murray's - Opportunity
MOST NOMINATED BANDS
Midnight Oil - 3 nominations
The Power And The Passion
Beds are Burning
Read About It
Silverchair - 3 nominations
Greatest View
Ana's Song
Miss You Love
U2 - 3 nominations
One
Where the Streets Have No Name
Pride In the Name of Love
AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS LEAD THE WAY...
35 Australian Artists in the countdown
33 US Artists in the countdown
29 UK Artists in the countdown
2 NZ Artists in the countdown
1 Swedish Artist in the countdown
