VARIOUS

Australia was abuzz as the Hottest 100 Of All Time countdown kicked off this week. Hot debate ensued: which song would be crowned #1? triple j’s audience overwhelming voted for Seattle grunge pioneers Nirvana and their seminal anthem ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’; because of its energy and the way it captured youthful frustration and dissatisfaction.
But that’s only the pinnacle of the poll. During June over half a million votes were placed for 13,000 songs revealing the 100 most significant for young Australians. triple j carved a unique place for itself 20 years ago when we held the first Hottest 100 poll. The average age of voters in this year’s poll is 21, much the same as in 1989. But the current generation wasn’t old enough to vote in 1989, and a lot has developed in music since then. What hasn’t changed is our listeners’ passion for music and the songs that made a difference to their lives. The results are as diverse as the listening habits of our audience. There was representation across every genre, rock: Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, hip-hop: Beastie Boys, Hilltop Hoods, dance: Daft Punk, Underworld, electronic: New Order, Massive Attack, ‘80s indie: Stone Roses, The Pixies, metal: Metallica, Tool, punk: Green Day, The Clash, roots: Bob Marley, John Butler plus ‘60s legends: The
Beatles, Bob Dylan and ‘70s pioneers: Led Zeppelin/David Bowie, and not to forget Australian classics: Hunters & Collectors, You Am I and Powderfinger.

In summary: eight songs from the ‘60s, 11 in the ‘70s, 15 for the ‘80s, a healthy 44 in the ‘90s, plus 22 fresh tracks from this decade illustrates that triple j’s listeners are astute with contemporary releases as well as music history.
Radiohead and Jeff Buckley were the stand-out artists, scoring the most entries each with four apiece. Radiohead’s four entries were all ranked in the Top 30. Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was rating highly in the chart, but his death shortly before voting closed ensured ‘Billie Jean’ a place on the list. The newest artist to appear is Bon Iver, with 2008’s ‘Skinny Love’ at #92.
Several #1 songs in previous annual polls appeared in the Hottest 100 Of All Time: Kings Of Leon ‘Sex On Fire’ (2008), Muse ‘Knights Of Cydonia’ (2007), Augie March ‘One Crowded Hour’ (2006), Franz Ferdinand ‘Take Me Out’ (2004), Queens Of The Stone Age ‘No One Knows’ (2002), Powderfinger ‘My Happiness’ (2000) and ‘These Days’ (1999) and Oasis ‘Wonderwall’ (1995), affirming that triple j voters got it right the first time round. Eleven songs from the first Hottest 100 back in 1989 reappeared 20 years on: ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and ‘Imagine’ even strengthened their placing.
What is clear is that 18 years on from its release Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ captures a feeling that speaks to young music lovers as much now as when it was first released.

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