JANUARY 1 means many things to many people. A time for reflection of the year that’s passed. Or a time to look ahead to the year to come. For some, however, January means only one thing. Time to start planning their top songs for Triple J Hottest 100.
The results of the annual music poll run by radio station Triple J are released on Australia Day, and for many Australians it would be inconceivable to imagine celebrating the day without the Countdown providing the background soundtrack. The top ten is heavily anticipated, and is often songs that for most listeners define the mood and memories of the year just gone.
Started by Triple J in 1989, the poll now attracts over a million votes. A compilation CD of the station’s favoured selection is released a few months after the list is revealed, and inclusion guarantees artists an increased level of recognition amongst Australian listeners.
It is restricted to songs that are released in the year of the poll, after Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” topped the poll in both 1989 and 1990 and looked set to top it again in 1992. As a result the poll was suspended in 1992 and returned in 1993 with the amended rule.
The first Australian act to reach number 1 in the Hottest 100 was Spiderbait in the 1996 poll. By 1999 Australia surged ahead as it took out the majority of places in the poll and since then, Aussie acts have made up the majority of each year’s countdown. In last year’s poll Australian artists took out 44 of the top spots. To date, Powderfinger is the only Australian artist to reach #1 twice.
Last year’s winner — Gotye featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” was the first time a collaboration won the Triple J Hottest 100.
For the full list of 2011 winners see Triple J Hottest 100 2011 – the full list
Gotye votes:
In 2009 Triple J held a Hottest 100 Of All Time, 20 years after the first Hottest 100 first hit the airwaves. Unlike the usual Hottest 100’s which are broadcast on Australia Day, the All Time list was broadcast from 7 July to 12 July 2009. Taking out the top spot was Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, which had first won the spot in the 1991 list. Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” was fourth.
Voting is now available for 2012’s Hottest 100 online. You can either refer to Triple J’s voting lists, by artist or by track, or vote for any song you know of that has been released in 2012.
To help jolt your memory before putting pen to paper, Triple J has helpfully summed up the year in music. Read Two Thousand and TWELVE: A Year in Review to help narrow your list.
Once you’re ready, click Vote Now and you’re off!