Crowded House classic named Australia's fifth hottest song of all time
The latest instalment of Australia's Hottest 100 spans decades, genres and emotions - and includes a track from Crowded House's 1986 debut album.
Crowded House - which formed in Melbourne in 1985 - squeezed into the top ten of triple J's Hottest 100 Songs on a "sweet technicality".
#10 Gotye — 'Somebody That I Used To Know' [Ft. Kimbra]
If you've opened any social media apps in the last six months, you would have heard this unmissable melody tinkling out over and over thanks to Doechii's heavy sampling on 'Anxiety'.
Released in 2011 and topping the Hottest 100 chart of that year, Gotye's duet with NZ artist Kimbra also hit the pointy end of the Hottest 100 of the past 20 Years in 2013 and again in the Hottest 100 of the 2010s list in 2020.
It's no surprise that it's made a return in this countdown of all time.
#9 Paul Kelly — 'How To Make Gravy'
An unofficial Christmas song (we'll fight you on this), Paul Kelly's letter home from prison is a perfect capture of Australian storytelling at its finest.
Inspiring a star-studded movie and countless covers in many a country pub, including a beloved Like A Version by Luca Brasi, the 1996 track makes its Hottest 100 debut after achieving a true cult-favourite status.
#8 Cold Chisel — 'Khe Sanh'
Chuck 'Khe Sanh' on at any party and you'll have people arm in arm, belting out the choruses (and mumbling through the verses).
This year finds Cold Chisel jumping off the train at the other end of the countdown after the 1978 track resided in the deep 90s in the 1989 and 1998 All Time lists.
#7 Cold Chisel — 'Flame Trees'
A rare back-to-back placement in the top end of the Hottest 100, Cold Chisel gives us a one-two punch with the light and shade of their extensive catalogue. Released in 1984, this heart-crushing ballad gives the Chisel another track in the rich archives of the Hottest 100.
#6 Powderfinger — 'My Happiness'
It wouldn't be a countdown of the best Australian songs without Powderfinger, would it?
Potentially self-sabotaged by split votes for an extensive and excellent catalogue, the seminal Brisbane band clocks into the top end of the list with 'My Happiness'.
After entering the annual countdown in 2000 at #1, this is the third time the track has made it into a special Hottest 100 following the 2009 All Time and 2013 20 Years polls.
#5 Crowded House — 'Don't Dream It's Over'
Coming in on a sweet technicality of having 50 percent or more Australian members, Crowded House meet us halfway to the crown with their 1986 belter, Don't Dream It's Over.
It's the third time the sing-along moment has charted, previously appearing in the 1996 and 2009 All Time countdowns at #76 and #50, respectively.
#4 Missy Higgins — 'Scar'
Undeniably one of the best songs of the 2000s, Missy Higgins leads us to the pointy end with her most successful song to date, 'Scar'.
As one of the winners of the earliest iterations of triple j Unearthed competitions, Missy has had a long history with the station.
Though 'Scar' narrowly came in second in the 2004 annual countdown, this marks her 13th appearance in a Hottest 100 (10 annuals, two specials).
#3 The Veronicas — 'Untouched'
Australia's unofficial national anthem, courtesy of The Veronicas.
Released in 2007 and finding a new fandom in the LGBTQIA+ community in 2019, the Brisbane duo make their own Hottest 100 debut with the second-fastest song in this special countdown.
#2 Hilltop Hoods — 'The Nosebleed Section'
Standing tall on the Hottest 100 podium is the Adelaide trio, Hilltop Hoods, with their 2003 party starter, 'The Nosebleed Section'. Sampling the late Melanie Safka's 'People in the Front Row', the hip hop stalwarts come in swinging into the top end of the countdown.
This is for the peeps and the freaks in the front row.
#1 INXS — 'Never Tear Us Apart'
The number one voted track in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs is this iconic ballad from Sydney's own INXS.
Showcasing the tender romantics of late frontman Michael Hutchence in his lyrics, 'Never Tear Us Apart' has stood the test of time since its release in 1988.
From soundtracking personal moments and film and TV to revving up fans at football games, the track's enduring legacy has cemented it as the highest-polling track in this momentous musical democracy.
Who could deny the sheer power of that sax solo?
