Neighbours jukebox: The good, the bad and THE TWINS
Hard to believe it’s been thirty years today since Neighbours burst into our lives. That’s three decades of love stories, deaths, drama and comedy. Hasn’t time flown?
But while the residents of Ramsay Street have provided us with years of thrills and spills, many have also given us a welcome and sometimes not so welcome soundtrack to our lives. Here are our picks for the 10 best/worst/weirdest songs from Neighbours cast members:
Kylie Minogue
Well, this is the Sheila who started it all off. After a number one in Oz with Locomotion, Kylie, who played tomboy mechanic Charlene Mitchell, hit the UK, recorded I Should Be So Lucky with Stock Aitken Waterman, and a pop diva was born. Here, we present her joyous April 1989 No.1, Hand On Your Heart. Before the track was released, she kindly warned: ‘The video is going to shock people.’ And boy did it! Just check out those freaky frocks – our eyes!
Holly Valance
Who didn’t fall in love with gorgeous Holly’s Flick Scully? But once again, opportunity came a-knocking and it wasn’t long before this beaut was offered a record contract. First single Kiss Kiss – a cover of a Turkish pop anthem – was a global smash (thanks in part to the saucy flesh-flashing vid) and Holly fast became Kylie’s successor enjoying a handful of hits and two albums before taking part in Strictly and marrying ka-zillionaire Nick Candy! Check our Hols looking foxy in her supercool hit State Of Mind.
Jason Donovan
Ahhh, the sweet-smelling Scott and Charlene romance was the story that captured the hearts of a nation and had us all dreaming of finding a man like Jason. And with Kylie hitting it big in the charts it was a no-brainer that her onscreen (and secretly offscreen) boyfriend would follow. Teaming up, like Kyles, with SAW, Jase released two stonking albums and enjoyed a slew of chart hits including Too Many Broken Hearts and RSVP. Watch Jason look super cute in this clip for Every Day.Pop fact: the pair of legs you see at the end are KYLIE’s!
Stefan Dennis
When pop moguls offered Stefan a record contract, he knew he couldn’t go down the cheesy pop route of his younger co-stars. So the man we all know as Paul Robinson did the grown up thing instead and donned a leather jacket and swaggered through a dry ice-filled studio as he rocked out to the growly sounds of anthem Don’t It Make You Feel Good. Strangely, a lasting musical career did not follow.
Natalie Imbruglia
With Charlene long gone, Natalie Imbruglia’s Beth Brennan fast became the nation’s new sweetheart as she fell for the beefy charms of resident bo-hunk Brad Willis (Scott Michaelson). But it was three years after she quit Neighbours that Nat returned with a sassy crop and a catchy guitar pop tune called Torn that was the ultimate definition of radio friendly. Natalie released a string of critically acclaimed albums and is just this second launching another musical comeback (listen to her new single here – a cover of a Daft Punk hit, would you believe!)
Delta Goodrem
Unthreateningly pretty, Delta’s foray into pop very fruitful. Her first tune Born To Try was cleverly incorporated into her Neighbours storylines, giving the track a boost and ultimately ensuring the massive success of her album Innocent Eyes. But Delta was different to her previous Ramsay Street crooners – she was a signed recording artist before she joined Neighbours.
Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2
He might not have been as traditionally handsome as Jason, but curly Craig McLachlan’s cracking sense of humour and perfect pecs soon won us over. His brief time in music saw him team up with a band called Check 1-2 to produce catchy hillbilly sounding ditties like Mona.
Gayle and Gillian, aka The Twins
Gayle and Gillian (pronounced with a hard G) teamed up with SAW (just as their popularity was on the wane) to produce this rarely heard classic, All Mixed Up. Although a perfect slice of pop fluff, this catchy track failed to make the Top 75 here or in their home country. Not that that stopped them from releasing two more singles, Mad If Ya Don’t and a hiNRG version of Prince’s I Wanna Be Your Lover. Get your peepers around this very rare clip of All Mixed Up and weep at what could’ve been.
Bruce Samazan
Remember Mark Gottlieb? Course you do. He was the super cute guy who had a relationship with gorgeous Annalise Hartman and then, when dumped, decided to become a priest. As you do. The single One Of A Kind was his attempt at pop superstardom. Er… It didn’t work. Stick to the seminary, Bruce.
Stephanie McIntosh
Stephanie (aka Sky Mangel) launched here musical career in 2006, and while the music was far from cheesy and she even had her own reality show to promote it on, her foray into Avril-esque guitar pop lasted just one album. However, her debut single Mistake did make a memorable appearance in Summer Heights High, as private school girl Ja’mie uses it to convince her school on the importance of having a formal:
Angry Anderson
OK, baldy Angry wasn’t actually a cast member, but as his tune Suddenly was the heart-tugging soundtrack to Scott and Charlene’s, the track is so associated with the show. WARNING: There are a load of bald heads in this video. Might be better to check out the wedding clip instead:
Happy birthday Neighbours!