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Topp Twins


The Topp Twins, identical twin sisters Dame Julie "Jools" Topp DNZM and Dame Lynda Topp DNZM (born 14 May 1958), are entertainers performing as a comedy-music duo featuring satirical country and folk songs, , and character-based sketches.
Born in and raised on a dairy farm, the sisters began busking in the early 1980s before achieving television stardom and releasing albums such as Twinset & Pearls (1984).
They have incorporated political into their work, supporting anti-nuclear campaigns and openly identifying as lesbians to promote homosexual rights amid initial resistance in conservative rural audiences.
The duo received Damehoods in 2018 for services to and were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Early life

Upbringing and family background

Jools and Lynda Topp, identical twin sisters, were born on 14 May 1958 in Huntly, a town in the Waikato region of New Zealand. They were raised in a close-knit farming family on a dairy farm at Ruawaro, approximately 15 miles outside Huntly, where isolation from urban centers shaped their early experiences. Their parents, Jean and Peter Topp, managed the farm, instilling values of hard work and rural self-reliance in their children. The family included an older brother, Bruce, who introduced the twins to music by playing records and encouraging their performances. The Topp family's rural lifestyle involved daily farm chores, which the twins embraced as outdoor-oriented girls who assisted their father with and other tasks. This environment fostered a carefree yet disciplined childhood, marked by strong familial bonds and limited exposure to external , prompting the sisters to entertain themselves and relatives through impromptu singing and . Their mother's efforts to nurture musical interests included sending Lynda to practice away from the house to avoid disturbing the household. The farm's demands and the parents' supportive yet practical approach contributed to the twins' resilience and affinity for traditions.

Initial interests and influences

Jools and Lynda Topp, born on 14 May 1958, were raised on their family's dairy farm at Ruawaro near in the region of . Their rural upbringing immersed them in practical farm tasks alongside an early affinity for performance, where they entertained family members and even the farm animals with impromptu shows. This environment fostered their initial creative outlets, as they began singing into everyday objects like hairbrushes, mimicking performers they admired. From a young age, the twins displayed a strong interest in music, particularly country and folk styles, influenced by records played in the household featuring Australian and yodellers such as Tex Morton and . Their older brother Bruce introduced them to the guitar, sparking hands-on experimentation with songwriting and performance techniques like , which became hallmarks of their act. By age five, they had performed publicly at a cousin's birthday party, demonstrating precocious that continued into their school years at College, where they placed second in a talent quest. These early experiences on the farm and exposure to traditions shaped their comedic and musical sensibilities, blending rural authenticity with vocal harmonies and humorous personas derived from familial playacting rather than formal training. While not initially focused on , their foundational interests in self-expression through song laid the groundwork for later expansions into broader and .

Career

Formation and early performances

Jools and Lynda Topp, identical twin sisters born on 14 May 1958 in , began performing music together during their childhood on the family farm near Ruawaro in the region. They sang at home with family members and received their first instrument, a , at age five, which they used alongside improvised tools like tennis rackets for practice. After finishing school, the sisters joined the in 1976 and were stationed at Burnham Military Camp for six weeks, after which their parents encouraged them to explore opportunities beyond farming, leading them to . In , a hub for , they secured their first paid performance at a local , earning $5 each plus toasted sandwiches. At around age 17 (circa 1975), they performed original songs at The Victorian Coffee Lounge, where they connected with radical feminists and became involved in the . Influenced by local performer Nancy Kiel, described as the " of Christchurch," they began writing feminist-themed songs, including "" in 1978 for in and performances at events like the protest that year. They also appeared at the 1979 United Women's Convention in , singing "Paradise" to celebrate themes and "" as a feminist , though they noted limited representation for lesbians at the event. Transitioning to a more structured act, the sisters operated as the duo Homemade Jam, focusing on original feminist material for women's concerts, while performing at venues like in and La Cava coffee bar in without extensive rehearsal. By the late 1970s, they relocated to and started busking on Vulcan Lane, attracting large lunchtime crowds and media notice with their harmonies and , inspired by Australian performers like Shirley Thoms and Judy Holmes. In the early , they formalized their professional career as the Topp Twins, a country-and-western duo openly identifying as lesbians, blending music with subversive humor during a period of political protests; their track "Graffiti Raiders" appeared on the 1982 Out of the Corners.

Television and media work

The Topp Twins debuted on New Zealand television with a special in 1986, featuring their comedic sketches and musical performances. In the mid-1990s, they starred in their own series The Topp Twins - Do Not Adjust Your Twin-Set, which aired on TV3 starting in 1996 and showcased characters such as Camp Mother, Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies, and Ken and Ken interacting in real-world settings like beaches, agricultural shows, and cultural festivals. The first season comprised at least six episodes, including "Beach" (premiered 22 June 1996 at ), "Shears," "Waka," "A & P Show," "Polo," and "Scouts," blending satire, song, and public engagement. The format broke ground by embedding fictional personas into live events, earning awards in and screenings on Australian broadcaster . Topp Twins III, commencing in 2000 and produced by Diva Productions, extended this interactive style, with episodes revisiting themes like beach outings, shearing competitions, and waka ceremonies while involving audiences at sporting and cultural gatherings. In 2014, the twins hosted Topp Country, a factual series blending culinary road trips, music, and interviews with regional food producers and home cooks across ; three seasons were produced, praised for highlighting rural traditions and community stories. Their television output, spanning specials to ongoing series, has been preserved in and continues to air via platforms like and NZ On Screen.

Film and other media

The Topp Twins are the subjects of the 2009 New Zealand The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, directed by Leanne Pooley. The film combines biographical elements, archival footage, home movies, and live performances to detail the twins' upbringing on a dairy farm, their as lesbians, political activism, and rise as entertainers, including interviews with their comedy characters such as the Ken and Ken singing farmers and Dame Campbella. Released to coincide with their 50th birthday, it highlights Jools Topp's battle with diagnosed in 2005 and Lynda's supportive role during treatment. Premiering at the on 11 September 2009, the documentary won the Cadillac People's Choice Award (Midnight Madness) in the same year. It received positive for its blend of humor, , and personal insight, earning a 7.3/10 rating on from 384 user reviews and 90% approval on based on 30 reviews. The has been distributed internationally, including streaming on , and praised for showcasing the twins' contributions to culture and advocacy without overt sensationalism. Beyond this feature documentary, the Topp Twins have not starred in additional narrative or major theatrical films, with their media presence primarily through series, live tours, and music releases. Their work in other media formats, such as DVDs of concert specials and promotional trailers, extends their comedic and musical sketches but remains tied to their core performance style rather than standalone cinematic projects.

Publications and memoir

In 2003, Jools and Lynda Topp published The Topp Twins Book, a detailing their childhood on a family farm in , early entry into the music industry, development of signature comedic characters, experiences touring internationally, personal reflections on their identities, and relationships with their parents. The book, spanning 128 pages in its first edition, blends autobiographical narrative with humorous anecdotes drawn from their formative years and rising fame as entertainers. Their second major publication, Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins' Story, appeared in 2023 as a jointly authored recounting their transition from rural upbringing to national stardom through , sketches, and television appearances. The 400-page volume includes previously untold personal stories, emphasizing resilience amid challenges like homophobia and family dynamics, delivered via candid, anecdote-driven prose. It achieved commercial success, earning the Nielsen Bestselling New Zealand Title award at the 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards for highest sales volume. An edition, narrated by the twins, followed shortly after release.

Musical style and output

Genres, influences, and performance techniques

The Topp Twins' primary genres encompass country-influenced interwoven with vaudeville-style and , often addressing social issues through original songs like "Untouchable Girls" and "Calf Club Day." Their sound draws from rural traditions, featuring simple guitar accompaniment with a reggae-like strum learned from Māori schoolmates, eschewing drums or bass to emphasize vocals. Influences include early exposure to country standards via their mother's records and Australian yodellers Shirley Thoms and Judy Holmes, whose 78rpm tracks inspired Lynda Topp's practice on songs like June Holmes' "Pinto Pony," honed over five to six years. Additional inspirations stem from entertainers such as Nancy Kiel for stage presence, John Clarke for satire, for comedy, and Dalvanius Prime for cultural elements, alongside childhood busking that shaped their cheeky, audience-engaging approach. Performance techniques highlight spontaneous twin harmonies driven by emotional connection rather than technical precision, with Jools yodeling only in tandem with Lynda to achieve crossover effects. serves as a element, often infused with humor to subvert its traditional lonesome connotation, positioning as the "driving force" while comedy acts as interpretive "side roads." They integrate via recurring characters—such as Ken & Ken, Camp Mother & Gruff Dad, Raylene & Brenda, or the Sisters—to deliver political commentary, fostering audience rapport through introductory wit before subversive messages in live shows, tours, and television. This character-driven method, refined through decades of busking and performances, enables broad appeal across conservative and progressive crowds.

Discography overview

The Topp Twins have produced a discography encompassing studio albums, live recordings, and compilations primarily in country, folk, and satirical comedy styles, with releases dating from the early 1980s onward. Early works focused on vinyl formats through independent labels, reflecting their grassroots performance origins. Notable initial albums include Go Vinyl (1982), Twinset and Pearls (1984), Go Vinyl Plus (1986), and No Way in My Heart (), which blended original compositions with humorous covers of traditional songs. By the 1990s and 2000s, their output shifted toward CD releases via their own label, The Topp Twins Ltd., incorporating broader themes of and rural life. Key later studio albums comprise High Time (1992), Two Timing (1994), Grass Highway (2001), Flowergirls & Cowgirls (2005), and Honky Tonk Angel (2009), often featuring , harmonies, and narrative-driven tracks without significant commercial chart success but strong niche appeal in and folk circuits. Their catalog also includes children's music compilations and live albums capturing stage energy, totaling over a dozen full-length projects, though exact counts vary by inclusion of EPs and reissues. Releases emphasize self-produced content post-1990s, prioritizing artistic control over mainstream distribution.

Activism and politics

Advocacy for LGBT rights

The Topp Twins, Jools and Lynda Topp, have been openly since the and used their public platform to advocate for the in . They performed at key events supporting the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, introduced in 1985 by MP Fran Wilde, which aimed to repeal discriminatory laws criminalizing male homosexual acts. On May 21, 1985, they appeared at a rally in organized by the Gay Task Force, where they satirized opponents through their song "Normal's Jones," targeting conservative figures like MP Norman Jones who opposed the bill. The bill passed on July 9, 1986, setting a uniform at 16 and decriminalizing consensual same-sex acts, a the twins credited with advancing visibility and acceptance for lesbians and gay men. Their advocacy extended to cultural demonstrations of , including performances of songs like "Paradise" to normalize identity amid widespread . In the 1980s, they participated in broader protests aligning gay rights with other causes, such as land rights at , framing as a matter of personal freedom against conservative opposition. By publicly embracing their sexuality in country music performances—uncommon for the genre at the time—they challenged stereotypes and contributed to shifting public perceptions, as evidenced by their role in 1985's national gay day events. In later years, the twins supported marriage equality, with Lynda Topp arguing in 2013 that legalizing would affirm loving relationships without undermining traditional ones, ahead of New Zealand's 2013 legislation. They continued engaging in contemporary debates, such as commenting in 2018 on Auckland Pride Parade controversies over participation, emphasizing over exclusion. More recently, in February 2025, following disruptions by Destiny Church-linked protesters at a children's event, Jools Topp issued a public call for in the queer community, highlighting ongoing tensions with religious opposition groups. Their efforts have been recognized for elevating visibility in a conservative society, though they often tied advocacy to broader themes of anti-discrimination rather than alone.

Environmental and other causes

The Topp Twins have advocated for , particularly focusing on and in . In a 2018 stage production, they incorporated a political message addressing the deteriorating state of the country's waterways, highlighting concerns over agricultural runoff and freshwater degradation. By 2021, they developed a performance centered on the controversial of New Zealand's rivers, aiming to raise public awareness through humor and storytelling. Their reflects broader worries about air quality, water contamination, and waste, which they have described as pressing modern issues compared to earlier protests. In , the duo has long supported organizations like the SPCA, with Jools Topp publicly affirming her commitment to the national advocacy group in 2008 during a fundraising art initiative. They endorsed conservation efforts in 2011, using their platform to promote protection of New Zealand's endangered native bird species. More recently, in 2025, they urged public submissions to safeguard animal welfare standards, emphasizing heritage protections for livestock and enforcement against cruelty. Beyond environmental matters, the Topp Twins have championed land rights, performing at key protests such as the 1978 Bastion Point occupation to support indigenous claims against urban development. They actively backed New Zealand's nuclear-free policy in the 1980s, staging performances like the 1985 "Radiation" song at Parliament to protest nuclear armament and promote disarmament. Their involvement extended to anti-apartheid campaigns, including opposition to the 1981 Springbok tour, where they used music to rally against in .

Criticisms and controversies

The Topp Twins have faced prejudice and criticism primarily stemming from their open lesbian identities and outspoken activism during the early stages of their careers in the 1980s, a period when homosexuality was decriminalized in New Zealand only in 1986 amid significant societal opposition. By publicly identifying as s and incorporating themes of , , and Māori land rights into their performances, Jools and Lynda Topp encountered homophobic backlash, including verbal abuse and exclusion from conservative audiences, as they confronted the era's invisibility of lesbian visibility. This prejudice was compounded by their involvement in high-profile protests, such as the 1981 Tour opposition, which drew ire from pro-rugby and apartheid-supporting factions, though specific incidents of targeted against the duo remain anecdotal rather than documented scandals. A notable controversy arose in February 2020 during a protesting proposed changes to RNZ's FM programming, where the Topp Twins, serving as MCs, led the crowd in chanting "Fuck off ! We have the power!"—a direct attack on , a prominent conservative broadcaster critical of public media funding. Hosking responded on air, expressing confusion and irritation at the vulgarity and personalization, questioning its relevance to the event and defending his views on fiscal responsibility in broadcasting. The incident highlighted partisan divides in media discourse, with some viewing the chant as unprofessional celebrity partisanship, though it garnered support from left-leaning audiences and did not result in broader professional repercussions for the Twins. No major legal or ethical violations have been associated with their , and criticisms have largely been confined to ideological opponents rather than systemic controversies.

Personal lives

Relationships and family

The Topp Twins, Jools and Lynda Topp, were born on May 14, 1958, to parents Peter and Jean Topp on a dairy farm in , region, ; they have an older brother, Bruce. The family maintained close ties throughout their lives, with the sisters describing a deep emotional bond that led them to "pine" for each other during separations in adulthood. Peter Topp died in September 2019, marking the first without him for the family that year. Lynda Topp entered a with Donna Luxton, a preschool teacher, by 2009, when the couple had been together for four years and resided in South Canterbury with Luxton's two sons from a prior relationship. They married on March 9, 2013, in a garden ceremony at their Staveley home in the foothills, attended by friends, family, and locals; at the time, was not yet legalized in , making theirs a converted post-legislation. The pair later moved to Methven, , where they operated Topp Country Cafe from 2018 until its closure in April 2024, and sold a Staveley lifestyle block in 2019. Jools Topp has maintained long-term same-sex relationships, including with Mary Massara as of 2009. She owned a 6.9-hectare property in , north of , with a for many years before selling it in 2016 due to rising property costs. Neither sister has biological children, though Lynda participates in step-parenting roles through Luxton's . The twins have emphasized as a core influence, drawing from rural upbringing values in their comedy routines featuring characters like "Ken and Ken," parodies of rural New Zealand masculinity.

Health challenges and resilience

In December 2021, Lynda Topp was diagnosed with Grade 3 invasive , leading to a double followed by six months of intensive . She discontinued chemotherapy in mid-2022 after developing , a causing with symptoms including tingling, pain, numbness, and reduced balance in her feet; she has since pursued and plant-based remedies for management. Jools Topp faced breast cancer initially in 2006, undergoing mastectomy of her left breast and chemotherapy that induced remission. The cancer metastasized by 2022, revealing a tumor in her rib cage and eight additional tumors, prompting radiation therapy and, as of 2023, monthly Faslodex injections as her ongoing hormonal treatment, which she described as her final regimen. Despite these challenges, the sisters have demonstrated by publicly sharing their experiences to raise awareness, maintaining their performance schedule where possible, and drawing on mutual support and community encouragement; Lynda credited outdoor activities like for aiding her recovery and mental well-being amid earlier menopause-related issues. They emphasized in 2023 interviews a refusal to be defined solely by illness, continuing and creative output while adapting to physical limitations.

Recognition and legacy

Awards and honors

In the 2004 New Year's Honours, both Jools Topp and Lynda Topp were appointed Members of the (MNZM) for services to entertainment. This recognition preceded their elevation in the 2018 Queen's , where they were each appointed Companions of the (DNZM) for ongoing contributions to the entertainment industry, including live performances, television, and music that have entertained and united audiences domestically and internationally. The Topp Twins were inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in 2010, acknowledging their pioneering role in comedy-music and broad appeal across genres. Their The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls received the Best of Festival Award at the 2010 Brattleboro International and an Audience Award at the . In 2019, they jointly received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NEXT awards. Their memoir Untouchable Girls: The Topp Twins Story, published in 2023, won the Nielsen BookData NZ Award for the best-selling title and was named Book of the Year at the 2024 Aotearoa Book Industry Awards. Additional honors include Best Country Music Duo at the Country Music Awards in 2009 and 2011, reflecting their versatility in and comedic performances.

Cultural impact and reception

The Topp Twins have achieved a distinctive position in New Zealand's cultural landscape, bridging divides between urban activists and rural audiences such as sheep farmers through their blend of comedy, music, and satire. Their performances have popularized and parodies while embedding , fostering a sense of national pride and challenging stereotypes of identity. By introducing characters like Ken and Ken in the , they broadened public exposure to performance styles, influencing subsequent culture in the country. Critics and scholars have noted their role in unsettling norms around gender and sexuality via humor, promoting a "girls can do anything" ethos that resonates with New Zealanders' self-image of egalitarianism. Their work has been credited with normalizing lesbian visibility, as songs like "Paradise" demonstrated pride in such identities during a time of limited representation. This cultural embedding is evident in tributes like knitted dolls at Te Papa museum, symbolizing their status as Kiwiana icons. Reception in has been overwhelmingly positive, with audiences and media praising their boisterous energy, vocal prowess, and ability to convey political messages accessibly, leading to TV superstardom from street busking origins. The 2011 documentary The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls received acclaim for its intimate portrayal of their lives, described as a "rollicking, uproarious romp" that inspires audiences. However, some reviews highlight their style as potentially confronting for unprepared viewers, though their emotional depth and musicianship have earned admiration even from skeptics. Internationally, reception has been more varied, with outlets like finding the documentary less engaging despite its subjects' vitality.

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