"Paper Giants" Soundtrack Lyrics

“Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo — Music from the ABC TV Series (2011)” – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What should a soundtrack for a magazine revolution sound like? Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo answers with a jukebox of late-60s/early-70s Australian hits, British-invasion sparkle, and needle-drops that thrum with printing presses and office adrenaline. It’s heritage pop used as propulsion — the rise of CLEO told in riffs and choruses.

The compilation leans on home-grown classics — The Loved Ones, Sherbet, Russell Morris, The Masters Apprentices, The Easybeats — with a few trans-Pacific staples. Between songs, the series folds in a lean, contemporary score that never breaks the illusion of period texture. That blend makes each montage feel like flipping a stack of glossy proofs: bang, bang, bang — next idea, next cover, next fight.

Genre phases track the arc of the magazine: stomping R&B and garage (arrival), psych-pop sparkle and AM-radio swagger (adaptation), glam-edged party cuts when taboos get poked (rebellion), then a confident, arms-wide finale as the first issues hit kiosks (collapse → acceptance). According to Australian TV coverage at the time, the music was a huge part of the show’s immediate pull — a time capsule that moves.

How It Was Made

Score & songs. The miniseries uses an original score by Stephen Rae tucked around an album of licensed songs. Rae’s music landed a nomination for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie at the Screen Music Awards — a tidy nod to how deftly the underscore supports those big, era-true drops.

The album. ABC Music/UMe issued Paper Giants — Music from the ABC TV Series soon after broadcast in May–June 2011. As per retailer notes, it’s a single-disc, various-artists set aimed squarely at the show’s core vibe: Australian radio gold from the CLEO launch years, sequenced like one big, exhilarating montage.

Tracks & Scenes

“The Loved One” — The Loved Ones
Where it plays: Early-episode energy burst as Ita’s team starts sketching the new magazine’s voice; phones ring, layouts slide, an idea lands and sticks.
Why it matters: Crunchy R&B as mission statement — swagger for a startup on the 11th floor.

“Slipstream” — Sherbet
Where it plays: Fashion-shoot montage: locations swap fast — Bondi sun, studio strobes, a smirk to camera as the team chases an image that feels brand-new.
Why it matters: Slick pop sheen to match CLEO’s visual polish; momentum, momentum, momentum.

“The Real Thing” — Russell Morris
Where it plays: The first truly provocative editorial decision — a psychedelic swell over boardroom nerves and a cool, quiet “let’s run it.”
Why it matters: Psychedelic grandeur = cultural risk. The song makes the choice feel historic, not just clever.

“Turn Up Your Radio” — The Masters Apprentices
Where it plays: Street-team blitz and newsagents cracking open bundles; the chorus syncs with the clatter of the printing floor.
Why it matters: A TV-perfect “go live” anthem — sound as ink on hands.

“Women (Make You Feel Alright)” — The Easybeats
Where it plays: Cheeky cover-line brainstorm — the camera trades winks between writers while the bassline struts.
Why it matters: A knowingly retrograde title flips into CLEO’s punchy, modern voice.

“Hi Honey Ho” — Daddy Cool
Where it plays: After-hours office party — copy tacked, proofs stacked, someone dancing on a chair. It’s 2 a.m., and they’re still laughing.
Why it matters: A sticky groove for that thin line between grind and glee.

Score cues — Stephen Rae
Where they play: Close-miked cues under Ita/Kerry chess matches; a spare motif for late-night doubt; bright stingers for wins.
Why they matter: The glue between the big songs — respectful of period color, quietly modern in shape.

Notes & Trivia

• Two-night event: The miniseries aired on ABC1 over two nights in April 2011, tracing CLEO’s 1972 launch.
• Album timing: The official various-artists CD landed within weeks of broadcast to meet demand.
• Aussie heavy: The compilation leans proudly local — a postcard of Australian radio circa 1966–73.
• Score spotlight: Stephen Rae’s work earned a Screen Music Award nomination the same year.

Music–Story Links

When the newsroom moves fast, the show picks songs with attack — tight drums and big hooks — so every cut feels like a decision made on deadline. Psychedelic flourish marks moments when CLEO risks the establishment. And whenever Ita is alone with a problem, Rae’s cues narrow the frame: fewer instruments, more breath, a pulse that says “think.” The interplay is the point — hits to celebrate, score to interrogate.

Reception & Quotes

The series drew strong ratings and warm reviews; the soundtrack drew instant “time-capsule” praise from local TV writers. Even skeptical takes conceded that the needle-drops were irresistible scene-engines.

“A glossy rush — Sherbet here, Morris there — and suddenly you’re back in ’72.” — TV coverage round-ups

“Rae’s cues keep the bravado honest.” — music award notes

Interesting Facts

• The CD is songs-only: Rae’s underscore was not on the retail album; fans chased it via the broadcast.
• Label lineage: Issued via ABC Music/UMe; some retailers list Universal catalogue details alongside ABC branding.
• Fan playlists: Viewers built YouTube playlists matching the broadcast sequence shortly after air.
• Sequel vibe: 2013’s Paper Giants: Magazine Wars continued the “radio gold + lean score” template.
• Office acoustics: Several big montages cut tightly to downbeats — editing that makes the songs feel diegetic, even when they aren’t.

Technical Info

• Title: Paper Giants — Music from the ABC TV Series (various artists)
• Year: 2011 (series aired April 17–18, 2011)
• Type: Television miniseries soundtrack (VA), plus original score in-series
• Composer (score): Stephen Rae (Screen Music Awards nominee, 2011)
• Label/issue: ABC Music / Universal (CD release circa May–June 2011; AU retail)
• Selected placements: “The Loved One” • “Slipstream” • “The Real Thing” • “Turn Up Your Radio” • “Women (Make You Feel Alright)” • “Hi Honey Ho.”
• Trailer Video ID: coYY2Fr8lSs (ABC TV trailer)

Questions & Answers

Who composed the original score?

Stephen Rae, whose understated cues frame the newsroom drama between the big period songs.

Is the score on the official CD?

No — the retail album is a songs-only compilation; Rae’s music lives in the broadcast mix.

Was there really an official soundtrack release?

Yes. ABC Music/UMe issued a single-disc compilation in 2011 for Australian retail.

What kind of songs did the series use?

Australian radio staples from the late ’60s/early ’70s (Loved Ones, Sherbet, Russell Morris, The Masters Apprentices, The Easybeats), plus a few era-aligned imports.

Where can I see the trailer referenced here?

It’s the ABC TV promo; the YouTube Video ID is coYY2Fr8lSs.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: ABC program page & trailer; Screen Music Awards (APRA/AGSC) nominees; Australian retail listings for the 2011 soundtrack CD; TV press notes citing specific song choices; IMDb soundtrack/credits snapshots.

November, 18th 2025