Radio Australia Today Editorial

Leo Sayer becomes one of us

27 January 2009

I remember Leo Sayer from his extraordinary, slightly kooky songs from the 1970s, like You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and The Show Must Go On. He probably only dressed in a clown suit once, for the music video for one of the songs, but this is the Leo Sayer that is etched in my mind. Clown suit and a gargantuan of hair.

Leo Sayer moved to these fair shores four years ago, settling in Sydney. Hell, even Wikipedia describes him as an “English-born Australian singer-songwriter”.

Yesterday he made it official by becoming an Australian citizen. He did it in style too, travelling to Canberra to share the moment with 60 others and the governor-general  in the national capital. He was photographed with his arm around the prime minister Kevin Rudd (who just happened to be on hand) giving the big thumbs up to cameras. He was dressed in a typical Leo Sayeresque shirt of multi-coloured circles and yes, that same unruly hair.

Afterwards he pumped his fist into the air, proclaiming that his new citizenship was better than having a number one record.

Of course that would be minus the fame, the screaming hordes and the money that accompanies such a chart success.

You can understand his feeling of achievement though. It’s the culmination of a long journey for our Leo. He says he first wanted to be an Australian back in 1974 after a tour of Australia. He tells of finally making the decision to emigrate five years ago, and then stood in the queue at Australia House one cold London morning. He had to wait for hours, but he says it was worth it.

I think I did it easier by just getting born in Sydney.

Welcome to the horde Leo. And thanks mum.

                                                        – Phil