With the 2021 Hottest 100 set to take place on January 22nd, 2022, we here at Tone Deaf have decided to take a stroll down memory lane, recapping the countdowns of yesteryear in the lead-up to the latest edition of musical democracy. Today, we’re taking a look back at the Hottest 100 of 2008.
Taking place on January 26th, 2009, and attracting over 800,000 votes, the triple j Hottest of 2008 was the 16th annual countdown held by the station which limited votes to songs released in the last year.
Following Muse pipping Silverchair at the post back in 2007, fans were yet again hoping that this year would be something of a regular countdown, with no huge moments of controversy to keep them on their seat.
Thankfully, this year ended up with a relatively conventional finish, with Kings Of Leon taking out the top spot with ‘Sex On Fire’. This feat made them the first band since The Cranberries back in 1994 to go from a #3 spot the year previously, to topping the countdown the next year.
Incidentally, the top five ended up showing the least variety to date, with a record two bands scoring two tracks in the top five. While Kings Of Leon topped the countdown with ‘Sex On Fire’, ‘Use Somebody’ hit #3, making them the first band since Powderfinger to score two tracks in the top three.
While MGMT’s ‘Electric Feel’ and ‘Kids’ reached #2 and #5, Empire Of The Sun were the sole combo breakers, reaching #4 with ‘Walking On A Dream’. Their placing at #4 however made this countdown the first since 1995 not to feature an Australian act in the top three.
Check out Kings Of Leon’s ‘Sex On Fire’:
A few other notable incidents happened in the 2008 countdown, with Muscles’ ‘Ice Cream’ charting for the second year in a row, this time as a live acoustic version recorded in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Bliss N Eso’s ‘Eye Of The Storm’ used parts of Angus & Julia Stone’s ‘Paper Aeroplane’, which had charted in 2006.
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Lily Allen also managed to chart at #90 with her song ‘Fuck You’. At the time of its charting, the song hadn’t been officially released on an album or single, and had only appeared on Lily Allen’s MySpace account. As a result, the track was known as ‘Guess Who Batman’ when it charted, with its official name of ‘Fuck You’ being released just weeks later.
The 2008 countdown was also notable for being the first time since 1991 that triple j released the full list of tracks that didn’t make the countdown, with the #101-200 positions being released online shortly after.
This ended up kicking off something of a tradition, with the station releasing these tracks online for a few years, before beginning to play through the Hottest 200 the day after the countdown. (You can check out the full list of 200 songs below).
Check out Dukes Of Windsor’s ‘It’s A War’:
At the end of the day, triple j’s Hottest 100 for 2008 featured songs by 70 different artists from a total of 8 countries, including 48 from Australia, 29 from the USA, and 13 from England. New Zealand’s five tracks served as a record for the country which is yet to be broken.
Kings Of Leon, Vampire Weekend, and Nick Littlemore (of Empire Of The Sun and Pnau) were the best performing acts of the countdown, scoring four tracks each.
Meanwhile, Birds Of Tokyo, Bliss N Eso, Flight Of The Conchords, The Grates, MGMT, and The Presets appeared three times, as did Ladyhawke (who appeared as a solo act and with Pnau) and Lily Allen (who appeared as a solo act and with the Kaiser Chiefs).
A further eleven acts appeared twice, including Laura Marling, who appeared with Mystery Jets in addition to her track as a solo act.
Also, if you’re keen on some of the more obscure facts, the shortest track to appear in the countdown was Flight Of The Conchords’ ‘Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros’ at 2:09, while the longest was Death Cab For Cutie’s ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ at 8:26.
Check out the full list of songs in the triple j Hottest 100 for 2008 below. If you’re keen to learn more, head over to the Hottest 100 Database, and check out the Hottest 100 songs that didn’t make the Hottest 100.
triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2008
#1. ‘Sex On Fire’ – Kings Of Leon
#2. ‘Electric Feel’ – MGMT
#3. ‘Use Somebody’ – Kings Of Leon
#4. ‘Walking On A Dream’ – Empire Of The Sun
#5. ‘Kids’ – MGMT
#6. ‘Talk Like That’ – The Presets
#7. ‘The Festival Song (feat. 360 & Hailey Cramer)’ – Pez
#8. ‘This Boy’s In Love’ – The Presets
#9. ‘That’s Not My Name’ – The Ting Tings
#10. ‘Jimmy Recard’ – Drapht
#11. ‘My Delirium’ – Ladyhawke
#12. ‘Embrace’ – Pnau
#13. ‘The King Is Dead’ – The Herd
#14. ‘No Sex For Ben’ – The Rapture
#15. ‘Lights & Music’ – Cut Copy
#16. ‘You Don’t Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)’ – Ben Folds
#17. ‘Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome)’ – Dizzee Rascal
#18. ‘Nine In The Afternoon’ – Panic At The Disco
#19. ‘Time To Pretend’ – MGMT
#20. ‘Business Time’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#21. ‘Broken Bones’ – Birds Of Tokyo
#22. ‘Skinny Love’ – Bon Iver
#23. ‘Silhouettic’ – Birds Of Tokyo
#24. ‘White Noise’ – The Living End
#25. ‘Closer’ – Kings Of Leon
#26. ‘Never Miss A Beat’ – Kaiser Chiefs
#27. ‘Paris Is Burning’ – Ladyhawke
#28. ‘The Lighthouse Song’ – Josh Pyke
#29. ‘That Beep’ – Architecture In Helsinki
#30. ‘Make You Happy’ – Josh Pyke
#31. ‘Oxford Comma’ – Vampire Weekend
#32. ‘Bird Of Feather’ – Cog
#33. ‘A-Punk’ – Vampire Weekend
#34. ‘Always Where I Need To Be’ – The Kooks
#35. ‘Burn Bridges’ – The Grates
#36. ‘Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!’ – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
#37. ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ – Death Cab For Cutie
#38. ‘I Said I’m Sorry’ – British India
#39. ‘Something Is Not Right With Me’ – Cold War Kids
#40. ‘I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked’ – Ida Maria
#41. ‘Eye Of The Storm’ – Bliss N Eso
#42. ‘I Will Never Love You More’ – Soko
#43. ‘Jungle Drum’ – Emilíana Torrini
#44. ‘Ghosts’ – Laura Marling
#45. ‘Flippers’ – Art vs. Science
#46. ‘Ice Cream (Triple J Live Acoustic Version)’ – Muscles
#47. ‘The Fear’ – Lily Allen
#48. ‘Coca Cola’ – Little Red
#49. ‘Stay With Me Bright Eyes’ – Something With Numbers
#50. ‘Young Love (feat. Laura Marling)’ – Mystery Jets
#51. ‘Breakout’ – Ash Grunwald
#52. ‘Wild Eyed Boy’ – Birds Of Tokyo
#53. ‘Human ‘ – The Killers
#54. ‘Window And The Watcher’ – The Butterfly Effect
#55. ‘Baby’ – Pnau
#56. ‘Your Party’ – Ween
#57. ‘Yippiyo-Ay’ – The Presets
#58. ‘L.E.S. Artistes’ – Santigold
#59. ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ – Vampire Weekend
#60. ‘Where The City Meets The Sea’ – The Getaway Plan
#61. ‘The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#62. ‘The Sea Is Rising’ – Bliss N Eso
#63. ‘Sleepwalking’ – Faker
#64. ‘2020’ – The Herd
#65. ‘Dawn Of The Dead’ – Does It Offend You, Yeah?
#66. ‘White Winter Hymnal’ – Fleet Foxes
#67. ‘Farewell Rocketship’ – Children Collide
#68. ‘Hiphopoptamus vs. Rhymenoceros (feat. Rhymenoceros And The Hiphopopotamus)’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#69. ‘We Are The People’ – Empire Of The Sun
#70. ‘Ready For The Floor’ – Hot Chip
#71. ‘Crawl’ – Kings Of Leon
#72. ‘One (Blake’s Got A New Face)’ – Vampire Weekend
#73. ‘No One’s Gonna Love You’ – Band Of Horses
#74. ‘Spaceman’ – The Killers
#75. ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’ – Black Kids
#76. ‘Half Full Glass Of Wine’ – Tame Impala
#77. ‘Polka’ – Yves Klein Blue
#78. ‘Falling’ – Drapht
#79. ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go’ – The Ting Tings
#80. ‘Jealousy’ – Sparkadia
#81. ‘Aw Yeah’ – The Grates
#82. ‘Pork And Beans’ – Weezer
#83. ‘Ulysses’ – Franz Ferdinand
#84. ‘Carve Your Name’ – The Grates
#85. ‘Re-Education (Through Labor)’ – Rise Against
#86. ‘1981’ – Gyroscope
#87. ‘Beautiful Ugly (feat. Jess Harlen)’ – Muph & Plutonic
#88. ‘Another Way To Die’ – Jack White & Alicia Keys
#89. ‘The Day That Never Comes’ – Metallica
#90. ‘Love Lockdown’ – Kanye West
#91. ‘Fuck You’ – Lily Allen
#92. ‘Neopolitan Dreams’ – Lisa Mitchell
#93. ‘Propane Nightmares’ – Pendulum
#94. ‘Gobbledigook’ – Sigur Rós
#95. ‘Woodstock 2008’ – Bliss N Eso
#96. ‘Wearing My Rolex’ – Wiley
#97. ‘Flex (Dave Spoon Reflex)’ – Dizzee Rascal
#98. ‘Are You Interested?’ – Cog
#99. ‘I Like It, I Love It’ – Lyrics Born
#100. ‘Don’t Worry About Nothin’ (feat. Jess Harlen)’ – Muph & Plutonic
triple j’s Hottest 200 of 2008
#101. ‘It’s A War’ – Dukes Of Windsor
#102. ‘All Alone’ – Jackson Jackson
#103. ‘Sweet Disposition’ – The Temper Trap
#104. ‘Everyone’s At It’ – Lily Allen
#105. ‘Social Currency’ – Children Collide
#106. ‘Inner City Pressure’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#107. ‘Wannabe In L.A.’ – Eagles Of Death Metal
#108. ‘Computer Love’ – TZU
#109. ‘Pennywhistle’ – Augie March
#110. ‘Changes’ – Van She
#111. ‘Mercury’ – Bloc Party
#112. ‘Too Much To Do’ – Sparkadia
#113. ‘Halo’ – Bloc Party
#114. ‘Weekend Wars’ – MGMT
#115. ‘More News From Nowhere’ – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
#116. ‘Rainbow Kraut’ – The John Steel Singers
#117. ‘Revelry’ – Kings Of Leon
#118. ‘Great DJ’ – The Ting Tings
#119. ‘Det Snurrar I Min Skalle’ – Familjen
#120. ‘Leeds United’ – Amanda Palmer
#121. ‘Dusk Til Dawn’ – Ladyhawke
#122. ‘Next In Line’ – Dead Letter Circus
#123. ‘Happiness’ – Goldfrapp
#124. ‘Gamma Ray’ – Beck
#125. ‘Discipline’ – Nine Inch Nails
#126. ‘Invaders Must Die’ – The Prodigy
#127. ‘Talons’ – Bloc Party
#128. ‘Night Reconnaissance’ – The Dresden Dolls
#129. ‘We Walk’ – The Ting Tings
#130. ‘Golden Age’ – TV On The Radio
#131. ‘Lost In The Post’ – The Wombats
#132. ‘Pumpkin Soup’ – Kate Nash
#133. ‘Let Me See You’ – Girl Talk
#134. ‘Daddy’s Gone’ – Glasvegas
#135. ‘Smash The Piñata’ – Mammal
#136. ‘Happy In My Hoody (feat. Hyjak & Phrase)’ – Bliss N Eso
#137. ‘Skeleton Dance’ – Children Collide
#138. ‘Kicking & Screaming’ – The Presets
#139. ‘Backfire At The Disco’ – The Wombats
#140. ‘Reaction’ – Dead Letter Circus
#141. ‘Cult Romance’ – Tom Ugly
#142. ‘Big Jumps’ – Emilíana Torrini
#143. ‘Desire Be, Desire Go’ – Tame Impala
#144. ‘Black Sally (feat. Maurice Greer)’ – Funkoars
#145. ‘If I Know You’ – The Presets
#146. ‘Little Bit’ – Lykke Li
#147. ‘M79’ – Vampire Weekend
#148. ‘Your Call (feat. Urthboy & Elana Stone) ‘ – Hermitude
#149. ‘Out There On The Ice’ – Cut Copy
#150. ‘Clockwork’ – Phrase
#151. ‘Final Conversation’ – The Butterfly Effect
#152. ‘Far Away’ – Cut Copy
#153. ‘Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)’ – Ben Folds
#154. ‘How Do We Know?’ – The Living End
#155. ‘White Witch’ – Birds Of Tokyo
#156. ‘Manhattan’ – Kings Of Leon
#157. ‘Dark Shades Of Blue’ – Xavier Rudd
#158. ‘Two Doors Down’ – Mystery Jets
#159. ‘The Youth’ – MGMT
#160. ‘The Devil Called Me A Liar’ – Ash Grunwald
#161. ‘Kids’ – The Kooks
#162. ‘Many Shades Of Black’ – The Raconteurs
#163. ‘Say Your Last Goodbye’ – Cog
#164. ‘He Doesn’t Know Why’ – Fleet Foxes
#165. ‘Violet Hill’ – Coldplay
#166. ‘Which Way To Go’ – Eddy Current Suppression Ring
#167. ‘Lucid Dreams’ – Franz Ferdinand
#168. ‘Colour Day Tours’ – Trial Kennedy
#169. ‘He’s A Rocker’ – The Vines
#170. ‘This Dance Is Loaded’ – British India
#171. ‘5 Years Time’ – Noah And The Whale
#172. ‘Bowie’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#173. ‘Mouthwash’ – Kate Nash
#174. ‘Milk Eyes’ – The Grates
#175. ‘Shadows’ – The Getaway Plan
#176. ‘The Love Me Or Die’ – C.W. Stoneking
#177. ‘You Will Die And I Will Take Over’ – British India
#178. ‘Got To Do’ – TZU
#179. ‘Strange Times’ – The Black Keys
#180. ‘Ode To LRC’ – Band Of Horses
#181. ‘I Want You’ – Kings Of Leon
#182. ‘Turbo Love’ – Bag Raiders
#183. ‘Strangers’ – Van She
#184. ‘Fussy’ – End Of Fashion
#185. ‘It’s Alright’ – Little Red
#186. ‘Polite Dance Song’ – The Bird And The Bee
#187. ‘Zug Zug’ – The Herd
#188. ‘I’m Good, I’m Gone’ – Lykke Li
#189. ‘In Step’ – Girl Talk
#190. ‘Half Mast’ – Empire Of The Sun
#191. ‘Geraldine’ – Glasvegas
#192. ‘Lights Out’ – Santigold
#193. ‘Moment Of Truth’ – Blue King Brown
#194. ‘Something Good ’08 (VanShe Tech Mix)’ – Utah Saints
#195. ‘Mistress Mabel’ – The Fratellis
#196. ‘All In On One’ – Gyroscope
#197. ‘Strength In Numbers’ – The Music
#198. ‘In These Hands’ – The Butterfly Effect
#199. ‘Ladies Of The World’ – Flight Of The Conchords
#200. ‘Awkward Orchid Orchard’ – The Boat People
Quick Facts:
Artists: 70
Most Successful Artists: Kings Of Leon, Vampire Weekend, and Nick Littlemore (of Empire Of The Sun and Pnau) (4 tracks)
Number Of Countries: 8
Top Three Countries: Australia (48 tracks), USA (29 tracks), England (13 tracks)
Shortest Song: ‘Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros’ – Flight Of The Conchords (2:09)
Longest Song: ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ – Death Cab For Cutie (8:26)
