Weekend Rewind: 1981's lost Silver Scroll award

The five contenders for the best song of 1981 Silver Scroll. Photos / NZ On Screen

Opinion

On Thursday night at APRA’s 50th Silver Scroll Awards, an extra award will be presented for the best song from 1981. NZ On Screen’s Nicky Harrop looks back at the music videos for the five contenders.

No-one seems to know just exactly why there was no Silver Scroll awarded in 1981, but looking back, it was a particularly strong year for New Zealand songwriting.

In fact 1981 was a big year for New Zealand in general. The Springbok tour loomed large, prompting many Kiwis to find their political voice. Things were heating up musically too. Flying Nun took its first steps, Split Enz were one of the first bands played on America's newly launched MTV, and the influence of punk and new wave began to be seen in the New Zealand music charts.

Blam Blam Blam's There is No Depression in New Zealand reflected the mood of the times for many, despite lyrics that were written ahead of the unrest by poet and playwright Richard Von Sturmer. Co-writer Don McGlashan has described the song as being about "how New Zealanders try to build myths around themselves," nicely referenced in the dancing Marmite and Vegemite jars that appear in the music video.

Watch Blam Blam Blam There is No Depression in New Zealand here:

One Step Ahead saw Split Enz also in a sombre mood, despite having recently achieved international success. The video fittingly keeps it understated, though keen-eyed viewers may spot Eddie Rayner attempting an early moonwalk prototype at one point (a good two years before Michael Jackson would introduce it to the world).

Watch Split Enz One Step Ahead here:

The Swingers burned bright in 1981, opening the year with the infectious Counting the Beat. The song was a juggernaut, taking them to number one in both New Zealand and Australia, and dominating the Top 10 for months (and advertising soundtracks long after). Sadly the group would disband the following year.

Watch The Swingers Counting the Beat here:

Part of a "North Shore Invasion" seen long before 2015 Scroll finalist Lorde, The Screaming Meemees were also teenagers when fame first beckoned. See Me Go was the first single to enter the NZ Top 20 at number one, quickly taking the Meemees from high school to sold-out venues across the country.

Watch The Screaming Meemees See Me Go here:

One of the very first Flying Nun releases, Tally Ho! marked the arrival of The Clean in a big way. A Top 20 debut put both the band and their label on the map, while the video also marks the directorial debut of Chris Knox. A great account from David Kilgour on the story of the song can be found here.

Watch The Clean Tally Ho! here:

The APRA Silver Scroll Awards will be held on Thursday September 17 at Auckland's Vector Arena.