3 months ago
26
Well, the day is finally here: Triple J is set to announce the Hottest 100 Australian songs of all time.
Typically, the Hottest 100 is an annual countdown of the best songs of the year from all over the world. But to celebrate the youth station’s 50th anniversary, Triple J is staging a countdown of the greatest ever homegrown tracks.
The Hilltop Hoods, Daniel Smith, Matthew Lambert and Barry Francis, are the bookies’ favourite. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Audiences have been voting for months to unearth Australia’s favourite song.
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese got in on the act, nominating The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again and Cold Chisel’s Flame Trees in his list.
According to Triple J, more than 2.65 million votes, were submitted during the voting period with the 18 to 29-year-old demographic submitting the most votes.
Loading
But the countdown has not been without controversy.
Earlier this month Australian artist Ben Lee told this masthead that, while a one-off countdown to promote Australian music was a positive step, Triple J should consider turning the annual Hottest 100 into a celebration of Australian only music.
“It’s a bit of a snooze-fest, if I’m honest,” he said.
“It’s not me, Missy Higgins and Powderfinger that need a leg-up at the moment. So it feels like an attempt to relive the glory days without addressing the issue.
“Triple J should give the Hottest 100 to Kyle and Jackie O, let commercial radio run it nationally as a pop mainstream phenomenon and Triple J’s business should be the Australian Hottest 100.”
Ahead of the countdown, online bookies had Hilltop Hoods the short favourite to come out on top with The Nosebleed Section. Also in the hunt is Powderfinger’s My Happiness, Untouched by The Veronicas, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS and Missy Higgins’ track, Scar.
The current crop of favourites reflect Triple J’s younger demographic with historically ‘classic’ Australian anthems like John Farnham’s You’re The Voice and ACDC’s Thunderstruck sitting outside the top twenty most likely tracks.
On Friday, Triple J revealed one song in the top 20 had never been in a Hottest 100 countdown before, and there were just 30 votes between the song ranked at 100 and the one that missed out, at 101.
Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs broadcasts on Saturday from 10am.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in Culture
Loading
