Paul Kelly Marks Milestone Age with New Album
From St Kilda to Kings Cross, from the MCG hill to the vast outback, no artist has portrayed the essence of Australian life quite like Paul Kelly. Now, at 70, the beloved musician celebrates this milestone with his 30th studio album.
A Lifetime in Song
The album, fittingly titled 70, reflects decades of storytelling through music. Kelly shared that he's currently happier and more confident in his performances than ever before.
“You’ve got to live that long. Everything else after that is, you know, gravy,” he said.
He acknowledged that reaching such an age is itself a stroke of luck and a gift worth celebrating.
Words that Shape the Music
For Kelly, lyrics often emerge from snippets of language he encounters in everyday life—snatches of poetry, turns of phrase, or conversations that catch his ear.
“If I read something, I think ‘that’s a good line,’ or a line of poetry or something from a book, or just general conversation that’s got a good ring to it, I’ll write it down,” he explained.
One of his most recognizable songs, he noted, was sparked by an overheard remark at a familiar local spot.
“‘I’ve done all the dumb things’ was something I heard at a pub just down the road in Richmond – the Corner Hotel.”
New Release
Paul Kelly’s new album 70 will be released tomorrow, adding another chapter to an extraordinary career that continues to evolve with time.
Author’s Summary
At 70, Paul Kelly celebrates a lifetime of music with his 30th album, drawing lyrical inspiration from daily life and remaining a vital voice in Australian songwriting.