THE RUNDOWN:
- The Hottest 100 of Australian Songs is a countdown hosted by Triple J, Double J, and Triple J Unearthed
- The countdown began on July 26 at 10 am AEST and is estimated to conclude around 8 pm AEST, when the winner will be announced.
- The countdown aims to establish the 100 greatest Australian songs of all time, as voted by listeners.
Triple J, Double J and Triple J Unearthed are officially counting down the “Hottest 100 of Australian Songs”, and, to the surprise of some, the competition has been wholeheartedly embraced, and most of our Instagram feeds are filling up with nostalgic tracks from our childhoods.
If you found yourself wondering what the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs even is (didn’t we just have the Hot 100 in January?), we’ll break it down. If you just want to know whether your favourite track won, we’re keeping tabs.
Who Won The Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs?
The Veronicas’ “Untouched” did not win best Australian song of all time, but in a win for the girlies, it did come in at number three. The top honour went to INXS “Never Tear Us Apart,” so your Gen X uncle should be happy.
The top ten in ascending order included:
- INXS, “Never Tear Us Apart”
- Hilltop Hoods, “Nosebleed Section”
- The Veronicas, “Untouched”
- Missy Higgins, “Scar”
- Crowded House, “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
- Powderfinger, “My Happiness”
- Cold Chisel, “Flame Trees”
- Cold Chisel, “Khe Sanh”
- Paul Kelly, “How to Make Gravy”
- Gotye, “Somebody That I Used To Know [Ft. Kimbra]”
What Is The Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs?
It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue the way The Hot 100 does, but essentially, to celebrate their 50th birthday, the triple J family are reinventing their Hottest 100 to encourage Australians to come out and cast a vote for the hottest Australian songs of all time. They’re celebrating the depth and diversity of Australia’s music scene and its influence on the broader culture. Arguably, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders would never have registered on the global radar without AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, and Kylie Minogue and her hot pants defined music for a generation of Gen Xers.
What Are The Rules Of The Hottest 100 Australian Songs?
- Before you ask, Lorde, Kimbra, Ladyhawke, Broods, Split Endz, Scribe, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (and The Mint Chicks), and more aren’t on the list because they are from New Zealand. Sorry!
- Eligible songs were released online or on-air before triple j’s 50th birthday on January 19, 2025.
- Like A Version tracks are not eligible.
- The song must feature at least 50% Australian artists.
ELLE Australia’s Hottest 100 Australian Songs:
If you’re short on ideas or Australian music trivia, here are some Australian songs close to the ELLE team’s heart.
Shivers, by Rowland S. Howard
Written when Howard was 16 and a member of Melbourne punk rock band Young Charlatans, Howard said Shivers was an ironic comment on the “incredibly insincere and blown out of proportion” high school romances he encountered as a teenager. The song, which features lyrics that go: “And my babies so vain, she is almost a mirror,” is best interpreted as a song about crushing on someone you don’t really like as a person. Howard was bitter that after the Boys Next Door recorded Shivers, the band he started with Nick Cave, Cave’s version was “interpreted completely differently in people’s minds.” Cave later acknowledged that he was “never able to do the song justice”, and Howard’s version shows the track at its scathing best.
Untouched, The Veronicas
Was there a single song The Veronica’s released in the 2000s that wasn’t an instant classic? No. But Untouched is, in our opinion, their best work. A frenetic ode to frustrated passion, Untouched captures the panicked energy of an early crush.
Thunderstruck, ACDC
This song made the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders famous, and while it’s not as satisfying to listen to if you can’t do a drop split, it’s still pretty good to play Guitar Hero to.
Under The Milky Way, The Church
This ethereal song was featured on the Donnie Darko soundtrack and won Single of the Year at the 2001 ARIA Awards, and has been covered by artists such as The Killers and Sia. Lead singer Steve Kilbey has expressed hatred for the song, which he co-wrote with his ex, Karin Jansson. In 2014, he complained that the song became so popular that it eclipsed the band. Later, he softened his attitude, admitting it had been a “nice earner” he’d be “happy to never play it again” and considered “selling to the bloody Liberal party as an Australian anthem.”
There is no exact finish time for the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, as it will depend on the length of each featured song. The countdown started around 10 am, and if we assume each song announced lasts roughly four minutes, plus time for the announcers to discuss the songs, interview artists, and check in with music fans around the country, we can estimate the process could take around 10 hours, bringing us to 8 pm.
INXS, Never Tear Us Apart was voted the best Australian song of all time.
No, INXS “Never Tear Us Apart” is often confused with 80s British post-punk band Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” but they bear no relation.
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