If you've been feeling a bit strange and tingly lately, as if powerful vibrations have been buffeting your psyche, it's probably because Australia is passing through an epoch-making period in its history. Over the past week, we have been more different from the Americans that at any time this millennium. We often accuse ourselves of being a cultural colony of Hollywood - uncritical consumers of the latest US movies, TV shows, CDs and videos. But this week we can plead not guilty.
National individuality is triumphant.
A comparison with our top five reveals that the two nations' tastes overlap mainly with Friends. We had a flirtation last year with a local version of the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire , but when it reappeared last month, it ended up rating around No.10, suggesting that we have become a little less motivated by sadism and envy than the Americans. Beanie Sigel, by The Truth. A comparison with the Australian chart reveals that the two nations' tastes overlap mainly with Santana. A poll of pop experts in our office found that none of them had heard of a band called The Truth.