Each year, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s youth/alternative station Triple J hosts the Hottest 100 – a public poll for music listeners to determine the year’s best 100 songs. While big global hits do find themselves on the list, the Hottest 100 is a great opportunity for Australian indie artists to gain popularity, allowing the Australian public an opportunity to support their favorite local musicians. However, after staying up with a friend until 4 AM to tune into it last year (thanks, time zone differences), I was hooked. It was fascinating. Music polls exist in the U.S., but the government-funded Triple J Hottest 100 reaches audiences on a level that isn’t seen here for year-end song lists. There are award ceremonies, of course, but the nature of a list of a 100 songs listening event allows under-the-radar or emerging acts to feature, instead of having to take the top spot in a category to be noticed.
What’s more, Triple J teams up with charities and organizations to make the world a better place, often by donating all proceeds from merchandise to groups fighting for worthy causes. This year’s organization was Headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in Australia, which provides mental health services for young people all across Australia. I personally was more than happy to buy a shirt (only $9 shipping!) both because they look fantastic but also because it warms my heart to see music take on an even larger role in supporting people’s mental health.
With that said, let’s dig into the list.
Australian music, understandably, triumphed again this year, with 52 of the 100 songs coming from Australian artists. American music trailed at a respectable 29 songs, with British music at third with 20. However, save several mainstay/popular Australian artists like Troye Sivan, Dom Dolla, and the Rions, influential foreign artists tended to collect more awards than other Australian artists with entries. The three artists with four winning songs tied each at second place – Fred Again.., Olivia Rodrigo, and SZA – are all from outside of Australia. Moreover, only 5 of the top 15 songs were from Australian artists. This might show an increasing divide among Triple J’s demographic.
However, one artist to flip this trend on its head was Australian artist G Flip, who racked up a record seven entries in a single Hottest 100, including the #2 spot with their song “The Worst Person Alive.” This song, along with their “Be Your Man” and “Australia”, undoubtedly deserved to enter, and the other four were similarly strong. The album these songs came from, Drummer, also won Triple J’s Australian Album of the Year award from the separate J Awards. G Flip undoubtedly had a great year, and I am eager to see what they come up with next.
Another big winner this year was Doja Cat, whose song “Paint the Town Red” topped the list. It’s not such a shock: the global smash hit was undeniably popular with many, even though Doja Cat is not an Australian artist. Sometimes, the popularity contest really is exactly that. Doja also had her song “Agora Hills” place at a respectable #49, walking away as one of this year’s Hottest 100’s sensations.
However, not all of the best-placing songs merited it like “Paint the Town Red” did. The actively unlistenable “Lovin On Me” slunk its way up to #9, while the club songs “Rumble”, “Take It Off”, “Rich Baby Daddy”, and “Padam Padam” placed at #12, #23, #25, and #48 respectively. Injustice in the music industry is retreating as the drums of social progress continue to beat, but perhaps the one frontier that may never be conquered is bad taste. This isn’t to imply that all the danceable, club songs were bad though: the genre’s dominance took me by surprise, but it was a pleasure listening to songs like #3 “Saving Up”, #14 “Atmosphere”, and #35 “Baby again..”, and above all #8 “Rush” by Troye Sivan. “Rush” and Sivan’s other two hits, #31 “One Of Your Girls” and #33 “Got Me Started”, were among my favorites on the list. With his musicianship and Australian nationality, it’s no surprise Sivan did so well this year.
Overall, while I already liked many of the artists who placed well on the list like Olivia Rodrigo, Lana Del Rey, or Boygenius (much to my chagrin, Paramore had 2 songs only make the Top 200), I also greatly enjoyed discovering lots of new songs to listen to. I didn’t have as much experience with the Australian music scene before deciding to tune into the Hottest 100, and I’m glad to say I know at least a little bit more now. Some new songs I’ve found and loved include #39 “Green Honda” by BENEE (who admittedly is from New Zealand), #55 “We Don’t Talk About It” by Thelma Plum, and #67 “Letting Go” by Angie McMahon. I can proudly say that I’ll be listening to all of these and more after finding them through the Hottest 100, and I recommend that all music fans who are willing to explore should tune in as well. You never know what you might find.
