Triple J’s Australian Countdown Draws National Attention
Australians are casting their votes ahead of triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs, airing Saturday, 26 July. Voting closes 5pm AEST Thursday. The countdown will run across triple j, Double J and triple j Unearthed.
The event has inspired responses from high-profile Australians across entertainment, music and sport. Each shared a personal favourite and its meaning.
Prime Minister Joins In With Classic Picks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese submitted his votes early, showcasing a collection of iconic Australian songs. Government agencies also contributed. The CSIRO participated, while the Australian Sports Commission voted for Paul Kelly’s “Bradman” over “Shane Warne”.
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Andy Lee Chooses Powderfinger’s Sentimental Hit
Andy Lee selected Powderfinger’s Whatever Makes You Happy, sharing its personal significance. “Hamish and I went straight to Vegas after finishing our radio show,” he recalled. “Hame said, ‘I just wanna show you something,’ and played a DVD of our journey.” The clip featured the Powderfinger song. “That one certainly would be almost #1 for me,” he added, although he doubts it will crack the public’s top 1,000.
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Sia Earns Hilltop Hoods’ Admiration
Hilltop Hoods chose Chandelier by Sia. “She is a bloody Australian legend and icon,” they said. They recalled seeing her perform with the acid jazz band Crisp. “This is probably the perfect pop song,” they added. “10 out of 10. I did it. I wrote the perfect pop song.”
Flume Brings Back Memories For Conor Watson
NRL player Conor Watson chose Flume’s Holdin’ On. “I remember this song from house parties,” he said. “It is such a great track that brought back so many memories.” He recently listened to it again and praised its timeless appeal.
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G Flip Pays Tribute To Nostalgic Childhood Tune
G Flip selected BZ’s Jackie featuring Joanne. “It just reminds me of my mum,” they said. “I remember it being blasted everywhere.” The song played during car rides to school and instantly sparked nostalgia. “I had to include it,” G Flip said.
Amy Shark Revisits Teen Emotions With Silverchair
Amy Shark picked Miss You Love by Silverchair. “I could pick every song,” she said. “I’m such a massive Silverchair fan.” She recalled a friend who wanted to get married to the track. “It’s about not being in love,” Amy noted. “But it is the best love song ever.”
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Alex Pearce Relives Falls Festival With Violent Soho
AFL player Alex Pearce named Violent Soho’s Covered In Chrome as his top pick. “Lots of memories of listening to these guys,” he said. “At Falls Festival, Violent Soho brought in the New Year.” He described being beneath triple speaker stacks with friends during the performance. “This song is easy to get lost in when that chorus hits.”
Missy Higgins Honours Chrissy Amphlett
Missy Higgins picked Divinyls’ Back To The Wall. “Chrissy Amphlett was a bit of a hero of mine,” she said. “It was so cool to see a really strong woman out the front of a rock band.” She said Amphlett inspired her to be an individual on stage.
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Bernard Fanning Supports Angie McMahon’s Release Anthem
Bernard Fanning chose Angie McMahon’s Letting Go. “I get massive goosebumps when it goes to this outro,” he said. “Her voice just goes into the stratosphere.” He described the song as a moving piece of art. “It’s very difficult to let go of all the tension that’s around,” he added.
Veronicas Name John Farnham Their Icon
The Veronicas selected You’re The Voice by John Farnham. “He’s the eighth wonder of the world,” they said. “We saw him in Jesus Christ Superstar and thought he might actually be Jesus.” They credited his concerts as a major influence on their musical journey.
Emily Wurramara Embraces Island Memories
Emily Wurramara chose Warumpi Band’s My Island Home. “This song takes me back to my country,” she said. “It brings back memories of sitting in the Troopy with my family and going fishing.” The song represents connection and belonging for her.
Rufus Du Sol Finds Depth In Electronic Ambience
Rufus Du Sol voted for Flight Facilities’ Clair De Lune. “It’s so spacious,” they said. “The kick is subdued and quiet, just to keep your attention.” They described it as a beautiful headphone listen. “When you see the song live, it’s absolute euphoria.”
Gordi Salutes Tina Arena’s Melodic Emotion
Gordi picked Tina Arena’s Sorrento Moon. “I have always been a Sorrento Moon girly,” she said. “I love the melody, the harmonics, the emotion.” She added, “We can’t talk about the best songs in Australian music without mentioning the queen, Tina Arena.”
Voting Closes Thursday
The Hottest 100 countdown for Australian songs airs on triple j, Double J and triple j Unearthed on Saturday, 26 July. Listeners can vote until 5pm AEST Thursday.
