Broadcast 2025-11-10

I had to smile when I heard the opening of this song.

Neil Finn released this song in 1984, the year my son Matt was born, and I remember it well.

The song has a history and it has longevity. 

This century it was still being nominated for awards, in 2001 the Australian Performing Rights Association members voted it 36th for best New Zealand song of the 20th century.

With that heritage, and with Neil Finn leaning over your shoulder, taking it on was a ballsy move.

It would be easy to do this review by bouncing back and forth between the two versions, but that would not be fair to either.

This is a minimalist version, with a light instrumental and a single clear voice enhanced with occasional harmony.

The opening guitar introduces it, and I can hear a bit of George Harrison in the tone.

There are light flourishes from the violin, which also takes on an instrumental bridge as do the other stringed instruments.

Some might contest the description as country, it equally could be folk, a trivial argument.

The essential verdict on this, is excellent. 

Angus has taken ‘Message to My Girl’ and made his own unique version.

This is not a cover, it is an excellent reworking of that classic song.


Angus Gill - Message To My Girl - Tempo Review

Weekly uploads of reviews and interviews from the program, "Tempo". "Tempo" is a weekly radio program presented by John Lamp, highlighting a wide range of music and music reviews on 94.7 the Pulse in Geelong, Wadawurrung country. John has been involved in community radio since 1976, initially with a music program "Parcel of Rogues" on 7CAE-FM in Hobart, Tasmania. After moving to Geelong, he joined 94.7 the Pulse on the program "Folks Alive", which morphed into "~meanderings~." John then spent a decade on the station Boards of Management before returning to the air in 2022 with his new program "Tempo." Full programs can be accessed at the link below.

Angus Gill - Message To My Girl - Tempo Review

Tempo on the Pulse