Take 5

Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to fill a dancefloor. Across 8 albums, and a double indemnity hit in "Murder on the Dancefloor", she's made a name for herself as a pop-disco queen. When she’s not on stage or in a recording studio, Sophie is throwing a kitchen disco, hosting her Spinning Plates podcast, and publishing books.

Sophie’s latest album Perimenopop takes stock of where she is today. The lessons learned, the way love evolves, and the place she finds herself. It's through-line is liberation, so I asked her to choose her favourite songs of freedom.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's song choices:

• Sylvester — 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'
• Madonna — 'Express Yourself'
• George Michael — 'Freedom 90'
• Sigrid — 'Mine Right Now'
• Prince & the Revolution — 'Let's Go Crazy'

00:34 Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Musical Journey

02:15 Making new music 25 years after debut

04:55 Disco escapism and the queer community support

09:23 Sylvester – 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'

06:23 Indie rock beginnings and Groovejet 

15:40 Obsession with Madonna and pleasure

13:39 Madonna – 'Express Yourself'

19:08 Is it better for women in pop music now?

22:37 Loving completely and opening for George Michael 

26:32 George Michael – 'Freedom! '90'

27:18 Writing new album and mid life

29:09 Sigrid – 'Mine Right Now'

29:50 Going through Murder on the Dancefloor resurgence 

34:06 The drama of Prince 

35:25 Prince & the Revolution – 'Let's Go Crazy'

38:11 Conclusion, Susan Rogers Prince story + next week's guest!

Show Notes

From bucket list guests to Australian rock royalty and a disco queen, find out who Zan will be Taking 5 with in 2026.

Zan lets you know what's in store for 2026...

It's been a stratospheric rise for comedian, Aaron Chen.

Getting his start in stand-up, he won a heap of fans starring in Fisk, and his charming stint on Taskmaster.

But at the top of his game, he left Australia to start again in New York City.

For his Take 5, Aaron shared one song from a pivotal time in his comedy career.

• Arcade Fire – 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/aaron-chen-take-5/105781008

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

If you grew up in Australia in the 1980s then you probably grew up with Young Talent Time.

It was a springboard for so much talent, and one of its biggest stars was Dannii Minogue.

For her Take 5, Dannii shared the one song she loves the most from her sister Kylie Minogue's epic catalogue.

• Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue – ‘Kids’

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/dannii-minogue-take-5-catalyst-songs/104419298

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

What do Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar have in common? 

Jack Antonoff.

The decorated producer has made a name for himself shaping some of the biggest albums in the world. 

For his Take 5, Jack Antonoff shared how he brings an artist's vision to life.

• Waterboys – The Whole Of The Moon

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/jack-antonoff-take-5-turning-points/103591368

Irish artist CMAT has got it all: the voice, the songwriting talent, the charm.

Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, (aka CMAT), has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and counts Elton John as a fan. 

Her Euro-Country songs capture heartbreak with a healthy dose of humour, which is why she gravitated towards country music in the first place. 

• Gary Stewart – 'She’s Actin' Single (I’m Drinkin' Doubles)'

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/cmat-take-5-suckerpunch-songs/104404882

Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes has lived quite the life.

Hitting Number 1 around the world in 1997 with their debut album, he recently shared what was going on behind the scenes at that time, in his beautiful and devastating memoir, Unlovable.

When he joined Zan Rowe to Take 5 back in 2024, he shared a whole new side of one of Australia's biggest stars.

• Peter Gabriel - 'Love To Be Loved'

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/darren-hayes-take-5-love-songs/104604586

Angie McMahon is the kind of songwriter who stops you in your tracks.

With two albums under her belt, her most recent record Light, Dark, Light Again is about cycles and the patterns that repeat and renew throughout life.

This concept of cycles inspired Angie's Take 5 theme of 'revolution songs' and she responded to it beautifully.

• Joni Mitchell - Circle Game (live at Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles 1974)

This is one of the Best Bits from Take 5. 

You can hear the full episode here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/angie-mcmahon-take-5-revolution-songs/103830806

It's not definitive, but here are some of the best moments from Take 5 this year:

The legendary Richard Fidler threw back to the early days of the Doug Anthony All Stars.

Gordi's brilliant third album Like Plasticine gave us an insight into her experience as a doctor on the frontline during the pandemic.

Comedians Matt Okine and Denise Scott celebrated Season 2 of their much-loved TV show Mother and Son.

Lorde made a triumphant return with her fourth album Virgin.

And best-selling author Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe, Gravity Let Me Go) blew up the Double J textline with his heartfelt stories and deep passion for music.

Best of 2025 song choices:

• Richard Fidler: Cocteau Twins – ‘Carolyn’s Fingers’
• Gordi: Missy Higgins – ‘Any Day Now’
• Matt Okine: Radiohead – ‘Paranoid Android’
• Lorde: Charli xcx – 'Girl, so confusing featuring lorde'
• Trent Dalton: Vera Lynn – '(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover'

00:00 Introduction and Show Highlights

00:47 Richard Fidler's Journey with Doug Anthony All Stars

03:33 The Magic of Elizabeth Fraser and Cocteau Twins

07:55 Witnessing the Fall of the Berlin Wall

14:00 Gordi's Personal and Musical Journey

17:50 Missy Higgins' Influence on Gordi

23:13 Comedians Share Unexpected Moments

26:10 Matt Okine's Musical Memories

27:35 A Sudden Change: Mum's Illness

28:32 A Life-Altering Event: Mum's Passing

29:42 Coping with Loss: A Birthday to Remember

30:10 Finding Light in Dark Moments

31:18 Music and Memories: Radiohead's Impact

32:22 Take Five: A Star-Studded Season on ABC TV and ABC iview

32:49 Lorde's Journey: Embracing the Mystery

34:41 The Power of Rhythm: Creating Music

35:27 A Special Remix: Girl, So Confusing with Charli xcx

38:15 Emotional Reactions: The Remix's Impact

46:10 Trent Dalton's Take Five: A Heartfelt Story

48:34 Honoring a Hero: Granddad's Legacy

54:37 Looking Ahead: New Seasons and Reflections

Listen to the full episodes here:

Richard Fidler: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/richard-fidler-take-5-history-songs/105441174

Gordi: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/gordi-take-5-transformation-songs/105598300

Matt Okine & Denise Scott: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/denise-scott-matt-okine-mother-and-son-mixtape-take-5/105932382

Lorde: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/lorde-take-5-songs-of-rebirth/105835080

Trent Dalton: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/trent-dalton-take-5-his-story/106038960

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview: