Music As A Bogan Cultural Element
| Pronunciation | /ˈboʊ.ɡən/ (ボウガン) |
|---|---|
| Part of Speech | noun |
| English Definition |
Explores bogan music culture’s canonical pub-rock soundtrack (AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Rose Tattoo) and the paradox that much bogan music is internationally influential and musically sophisticated rather than lowbrow. |
| Japanese Translation |
音楽―ボーガン文化の心臓部 |
| Japanese Explanation |
AC/DCやCold Chisel、Midnight Oilなど、ボーガン文化の定番サウンドトラックを紹介し、「ボーガン音楽」が実は国際的に評価の高い、洗練された音楽であるという逆説について論じる。 |
Origin
Part of the Bogue series on kangaeroo.com, an ongoing cultural examination of Australian bogan culture.
Related Words

Bogan culture has an extremely strong musical component.
The canonical soundtrack includes:
- AC/DC
- Cold Chisel
- Rose Tattoo
- Midnight Oil
- Jimmy Barnes
- Australian pub rock
- heavy metal
- hard rock
- country
- country-rock
- Australian punk
And here we encounter another great paradox.
Some music associated with bogan culture is highly sophisticated musically and enormously influential internationally. AC/DC, for example, isn’t culturally insignificant because bogans love them. Quite the opposite. The music becomes part of a national mythology. Triple J even held a National Bogan Day in 2002, celebrating the stereotype with music including Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Rose Tattoo and AC/DC.
So “bogan music” isn’t necessarily bad music. It is music that has become culturally associated with unpretentious Australian masculinity and working-class authenticity.
