Even though nothing compares
to the dizzying perfection of “Heavenly Pop Hit” (first time you hear it, you
think a sweeter melody cannot be written), for me the defining moment of New Zealand
music has always been that legendary church organ riff of “Tally Ho!”
I haven’t yet managed
to determine whether it is silly or brilliant, but that could be the whole
point. The Clean may have had better songs (“Anything Could Happen” defines
‘cool’), but “Tally Ho!” is melodic dementia at its best. Interestingly, it was Martin Phillipps who came up with the riff.
P.S. This current flag
business it total nonsense.
