NEWS: Silver Scroll Awards 2010 Finalists

APRA (the Australasian Performing Right Association) are proud to announce the top five songs (from a list of 20 songs released earlier this month) up for New Zealand's premier songwriting award - and two newcomers join past finalists on the list.

The Neilson brothers of the mint chicks and Anika Moa both sit in the top 5 for the third time for 'Say Goodbye' and 'Running Through The Fire (Storm)'. Julia Deans, who's song Holy off Fur Patrol landed in the top 5 back in 2000, has a different song 'A New Dialogue' scoring her a spot on the the finalists list.

However, none of these artists have actually won the top prize before. Moa was nominated for Stolen Hill in 2006 and Dream In My Head in 2008, and Kody and Ruban Nielson got the nod for Opium of the People in 2005, with Ruban writing Crazy?Yes!Dumb?No! which was a contender in 2007.

Meanwhile, new kids on the block, The Naked and Famous are up for 'Young Blood', which recently spent two weeks at No. 1. Finally young Auckland quartet Artisan Guns and their song 'Autumn' make five. 

Anthony Healey, Director of NZ Operations for APRA, says “The world changes rapidly but the one thing that is constant is a great song. It all starts with the song. Lyrics and melodies that stay etched in your mind. These five songs are wonderful examples of this.”

As previously mentioned, The five songs were chosen by the members of APRA - made up of more than 7000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Not only are the finalists chosen by their peers, but come awards night, their works will be performed by their peers (another band or artist) who will interpret the song however they like.

Unique renditions of each of the songs below will be performed at the invite only APRA Silver Scroll Awards on Wednesday 8 September at the Auckland Town Hall where the winner will be announced.

Young Blood By The Naked and Famous

What: Epic electro pop anthem that went straight to No.1.

Written by: Aaron Short, Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers

Released as: A single in May, and on forthcoming debut album, Passive Me, Aggressive You, in September.

First line: "We're only young and naive still, we require certain skills"

Sample lyric: "Fall back in love eventually, yeah yeah yeah yeah"

Who would you like to cover your song?: Frightened Rabbit [rock band from Scotland]

Say Goodbye By The Mint Chicks

What: Not so jumped-up, and more like a 60s girl group-meets-bratty 90s Brit pop

Written by: Kody and Ruban Nielson

Released on: The Bad Buzz EP, February, 2010

First line: "It's the end of what I thought we'd be ..."

Sample lyric: "I could throw stones at your window/Close the curtains/Find the words to say/Say goodbye"

Who would you like to cover your song?: Bic and Boh Runga

A New Dialogue By Julia Deans

What: A lovely meandering tune with a strong and cutting refrain

Written by: Julia Deans

Released as: A single last November, and on album, Modern Fables, out now

First line: "Why won't you take me out I am more than willing to leave."

Sample lyric: "Don't talk to me like I'm one of your cynical peers, talk to me like a lover."

Who would you like to cover your song?: Chris Knox? Anika Moa? Chris Matthews [Headless Chickens]? Fat Freddys? No, Ladi6

Running through the Fire (Storm) By Anika Moa

What: The 80s pop influence takes hold and Moa is like a modern day Sharon O'Neill or Pat Benatar

Written by: Anika Moa

Released as: A single in March, and on album Love In Motion

First line: "Running through the fire, running through the sand."

Sample lyric: "These are the days when love is unkind ..."

Who would you like to cover your song?: Shihad

Autumn By Artisan Guns

What: It starts quietly, begins to smoulder, and then escalates into something big, loud, and beautiful

Written by: Matthew Hope, Jonathan Pearce, Reuben Stephens, and Alexander Freer

Released on: Bird & Bone EP, October, 2009.

First line: "The naked autumn trees, loom closer with the breeze ..."

Sample lyric: "They [the stars] stay neighbours to the moon, and that old familiar tune, of the insects and the cats that had gone astray."

Who would you like to cover your song?: Burt Bacharach