January 26 (song)

"January 26" is a song by Australian hip hop duo A.B. Original featuring singer Dan Sultan and was released digitally on 19 August 2016, as the fifth and final single from A.B. Original's debut studio album Reclaim Australia. January 26 is the date of Australia Day, held on the anniversary of the date that the First Fleet arrived in Australia.[1][2]

"January 26"
Single by A.B. Original featuring Dan Sultan
from the album Reclam Australia
Released19 August 2016 (2016-08-19)
Length3:20
LabelGolden Era
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
A. B. Original singles chronology
"Take Me Home"
(2016)		 "January 26"
(2016)		 "Dumb Things"
(2017)
Dan Sultan singles chronology
"Dirty Ground"
(2014)		 "January 26"
(2016)		 "Magnetic"
(2016)
Music video
"January 26 " on YouTube

In December 2016, the song was the feature of a Facebook event, which encouraged people to vote for the song in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2016.[3] The song was placed at number 16 on the countdown that took place on 26 January 2017. The 2017 countdown was the last time the annual Triple J Hottest 100 countdown took place on 26 January due to opposition to Australia Day's celebratory commemoration of British settlement, which the song criticises.[4][5]

At the National Indigenous Music Awards of 2017, the song won Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year.[6] At the 2017 AIR independent Music Awards, the song won Best Independent single.[7]

At the 2017 South Australian Music Awards, the song won Best Song and Best Music video.[8]

Background and release

Adam Briggs from A.B. Original said "We don't want to piss on your nan's grave but that's what it means to us. Is a slap in the face. It's a hard thing for us to discuss. It's a difficult topic, when we're usually met with such resistance." Trials said: "We want to make people think from our perspective. Imagine if we had a holiday to piss on your nan's grave. We want people to take that and think 'yeah wow that's pretty disrespectful'. Now think about that as a whole, all your ancestors are having their deaths celebrated, then we can have a conversation."[1] In January 2017, the duo said "When we put it out we knew it was going to be a polarising subject." Trials added "Change doesn't really come from people being comfortable and complacent. If that means that we're the guys up there being a little uncomfortable by spreading and sharing this message, then we're prepared for that."[9]

Reception

Andrew Stafford from The Guardian said "In the tradition of all great protest songs, '[January 26]' was uncompromising, accessible and effective.". Stafford liked the song to Archie Roach's "Took the Children Away" in 1990.[10]

In January 2017, ABC said the song is the "most significant, topical, and potentially controversial song" on the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown is "about moving forward".[9]

Promotion

The music video premiered on YouTube on 7 September 2016 and was directed by Richard Coburn.[11]

Track listing
  • Digital download[12]
  1. "January 26" – 3:20

Release history
Country Date Format Label
Australia 19 August 2016
Golden Era

References
  1. "A B Original Powerful Rap January 26 Cracks Hottest 100". HuffPost. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  2. "We didn't expect to hit the main nerve: A.B. Original on music and activism". SBS. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. "Fans push to get A.B. Original's anti-Australia Day protest into Hottest 100". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  4. "Is This The Last Year We Hear The Hottest 100 On 26 January?". themusic.com.au. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  5. Steph Harmon (24 January 2017). "Change the Date: hip-hop artists collaborate on new Australia Day track". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  6. "2017 Winners". National Indigenous Music Awards. NIMA. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  7. "2017 AIR independent Music Awards". AIR. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  8. "2017 South Australian Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  9. "A.B. Original on the Hottest 100's most topical song 'It's about moving forward'". ABC. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  10. "'A mic drop on the nation': how AB Original's January 26 galvanised a movement". The Guardian. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  11. A.B. Original – January 26 (Official Video). 7 September 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2019 – via YouTube.
  12. "January 26 – Single". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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