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 2016.
Taking place on January 26th, 2017, and attracting over 2.2 million votes, the triple j Hottest of 2016 was the 24th annual countdown held by the station which limited votes to songs released in the last year.
After The Rubens topped the countdown in 2015 with their track ‘Hoops’, music fans were wondering if this amazing feat would repeat. Amazingly, not only did a third Unearthed track top the countdown, but in addition to achieving the first all-Australian top four, the top three acts were all Unearthed artists.
Topping the countdown was Flume, whose track ‘Never Be like You’ managed to beat out the likes of Amy Shark and Tash Sultana to take the top spot. Closely behind though was the Hilltop Hoods, who were one position away from achieving their fourth #3 position.
Check out Flume’s ‘Never Be Like You’:
In the lead-up to the countdown, much debate circulated in regards to the topic of triple j changing the date of the countdown. While the countdown somewhat traditionally took place on January 26th (though date changes have occurred throughout its history, the last of which in 2003), many people felt that the countdown should be moved so that it didn’t fall on Australia Day.
After weeks of debate, triple j released a statement regarding their decision to keep the countdown on January 26th for the 2016 countdown, but noting they would reconsider future events.
The following year, it was revealed that the countdown would take place on the fourth Saturday of January, which fell on January 27th for the 2017 countdown.
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Alongside this debate, A.B. Original’s ‘January 26’ managed to chart in the Hottest 100 for 2016, with many believing it had the power to top the countdown thanks to its message. Ultimately, the track hit #16, remaining a timely protest against the very day the countdown took place.
Check out A.B. Original’s ‘January 26’:
Meanwhile, a couple of other interesting moments occurred as well, including DMA’S cover of Cher’s ‘Believe’ making #6 the highest position for a Like A Version performance to date. The highest position for any cover wasn’t far off either, with that honour belonging to the #5 spot.
At #91, The Avalanches charted with ‘Subways’, their first song in a countdown since 2001. This saw the group break the record of the longest time between countdowns, with 15 years.
Later in the countdown, Paul Kelly appeared with A.B. Original on a cover of his own song, ‘Dumb Things’, leading many to state that Kelly was the new holder of this record, having not charted since 2000. However, the record still technically belongs to The Avalanches, as Paul Kelly appeared as a backing vocalist and harmonicist on Little Birdy’s ‘Brother’ back in 2009.
Check out The Avalanches’ ‘Subways’:
At the end of the day, triple j’s Hottest 100 for 2016 featured songs by 66 different artists from a total of 10 countries, including 66 from Australia, 16 from the USA, and 5 from England. Australia’s 66 entries is a record for the country that still stands, as is Wales’ three entries. England’s five tracks is the lowest result ever for the country.
Violent Soho was the best performing artist of the country, with five tracks, while Flume followed closely behind with four songs.
The Amity Affliction, The Avalanches, Catfish And The Bottlemen, Glass Animals, SAFIA, and Sticky Fingers all appeared three times, while a further 22 artists appeared twice.
Also, if you’re keen on some of the more obscure facts, the shortest track to appear in the countdown was Dune Rats’ ‘Scott Green’ at 2:11, while the longest was Childish Gambino’s ‘Me And Your Mama’ at 6:19.
Check out the full list of songs in the triple j Hottest 100 for 2016 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 2016
#1. ‘Never Be Like You (feat. Kai)’ – Flume
#2. ‘Adore’ – Amy Shark
#3. ‘Jungle’ – Tash Sultana
#4. ‘1955 (feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum)’ – Hilltop Hoods
#5. ‘Redbone’ – Childish Gambino
#6. ‘Believe’ – DMA’S
#7. ‘Papercuts (feat. Vera Blue)’ – Illy
#8. ‘Say It (feat. Tove Lo)’ – Flume
#9. ‘Stranger (feat. Elliphant)’ – Peking Duk
#10. ‘Starboy (feat. Daft Punk)’ – The Weeknd
#11. ‘Chameleon’ – Pnau
#12. ‘Cocoon’ – Milky Chance
#13. ‘Love$ick (feat. A$AP Rocky)’ – Mura Masa
#14. ‘Viceroy’ – Violent Soho
#15. ‘Genghis Khan’ – Miike Snow
#16. ‘January 26 (feat. Dan Sultan)’ – A.B. Original
#17. ‘The Opposite Of Us’ – Big Scary
#18. ‘All Night (feat. Knox Fortune)’ – Chance The Rapper
#19. ‘7’ – Catfish And The Bottlemen
#20. ‘On Hold’ – The xx
#21. ‘Death To The Lads’ – The Smith Street Band
#22. ‘Ultralight Beam (feat. Chance The Rapper, The-Dream, Kelly Price & Kirk Franklin)’ – Kanye West
#23. ‘Catch 22 (feat. Anne-Marie)’ – Illy
#24. ‘Come On Mess Me Up’ – Cub Sport
#25. ‘Because I Love You’ – Montaigne
#26. ‘Make Them Wheels Roll’ – SAFIA
#27. ‘Drive’ – Gretta Ray
#28. ‘Frankie Sinatra (Extended Mix)’ – The Avalanches
#29. ‘Our Town’ – Sticky Fingers
#30. ‘Innerbloom (What So Not Remix)’ – RÜFÜS
#31. ‘One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla)’ – Drake
#32. ‘Notion’ – Tash Sultana
#33. ‘Bullshit’ – Dune Rats
#34. ‘Scott Green’ – Dune Rats
#35. ‘World Of Our Love’ – Client Liaison
#36. ‘Sad Songs’ – Sticky Fingers
#37. ‘Smoke & Retribution (feat. Vince Staples & Kučka)’ – Flume
#38. ‘Youth’ – Glass Animals
#39. ‘Step Up The Morphine’ – DMA’S
#40. ‘Surfin’ (feat. Pharrell Williams) (Single Version)’ – Kid Cudi
#41. ‘I Feel It Coming (feat. Daft Punk)’ – The Weeknd
#42. ‘Heartlines’ – Broods
#43. ‘Final Song’ – MØ
#44. ‘Satan’ – D.D Dumbo
#45. ‘Dumb Things (feat. Paul Kelly & Dan Sultan)’ – A.B. Original
#46. ‘Dang! (feat. Anderson .Paak)’ – Mac Miller
#47. ‘Walrus’ – D.D Dumbo
#48. ‘Creepin’ – Kingswood
#49. ‘Higher (feat. James Chatburn)’ – Hilltop Hoods
#50. ‘Strange Diseases’ – Gang Of Youths
#51. ‘Outcast At Last’ – Sticky Fingers
#52. ‘Love Yourself’ – Halsey
#53. ‘Blanket’ – Violent Soho
#54. ‘Bored To Death’ – Blink-182
#55. ‘Say A Prayer For Me’ – RÜFÜS
#56. ‘Keeping Score (feat. Guy Sebastian)’ – Paces
#57. ‘Twice’ – Catfish And The Bottlemen
#58. ‘Girlie Bits’ – Ali Barter
#59. ‘Solo’ – Frank Ocean
#60. ‘Drinkee’ – Sofi Tukker
#61. ‘Gamma Knife’ – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
#62. ‘Marinade’ – DOPE LEMON
#63. ‘Life Itself’ – Glass Animals
#64. ‘Alaska’ – Maggie Rogers
#65. ‘All Fucked Up’ – The Amity Affliction
#66. ‘Hold Up’ – Beyoncé
#67. ‘I Bring The Weather With Me’ – The Amity Affliction
#68. ‘Next To You (feat. Savoi)’ – L D R U
#69. ‘So Sentimental’ – Violent Soho
#70. ‘Wolfie (feat. Julia Stone)’ – Golden Features
#71. ‘Free’ – Broods
#72. ‘Famous (feat. Rihanna)’ – Kanye West
#73. ‘No Shade’ – Violent Soho
#74. ‘Lost: Season One’ – Camp Cope
#75. ‘Because I’m Me’ – The Avalanches
#76. ‘This Could Be Heartbreak’ – The Amity Affliction
#77. ‘Soundcheck’ – Catfish And The Bottlemen
#78. ‘Settle’ – Vera Blue
#79. ‘Burn The Witch’ – Radiohead
#80. ‘Gemini Feed’ – Banks
#81. ‘Panda’ – Desiigner
#82. ‘Think About It (feat. Peta & The Wolves)’ – Thundamentals
#83. ‘Simulation’ – Tkay Maidza
#84. ‘Pink + White’ – Frank Ocean
#85. ‘My Love Is Gone’ – SAFIA
#86. ‘Dopamine (feat. Thief)’ – Bliss N Eso
#87. ‘Uptown Folks’ – DOPE LEMON
#88. ‘Me And Your Mama’ – Childish Gambino
#89. ‘Over You’ – SAFIA
#90. ‘Anything Near Conviction’ – Luca Brasi
#91. ‘Subways’ – The Avalanches
#92. ‘How To Taste’ – Violent Soho
#93. ‘High And Low’ – Empire Of The Sun
#94. ‘Fading’ – Vallis Alps
#95. ‘Lose It (feat. Vic Mensa)’ – Flume
#96. ‘Hanging By A Thread (feat. Natalie Foster)’ – Elk Road
#97. ‘You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me’ – Alex Lahey
#98. ‘Season 2 Episode 3’ – Glass Animals
#99. ‘Too Good (feat. Rihanna)’ – Drake
#100. ‘Brace’ – Birds Of Tokyo
triple j’s Hottest 200 of 2016
#101. ‘Chlorine’ – Trophy Eyes
#102. ’33 “GOD”’ – Bon Iver
#103. ‘People-Vultures’ – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
#104. ‘No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)’ – Chance The Rapper
#105. ‘Don Quixote (feat. Hilltop Hoods)’ – Drapht
#106. ‘Sides (feat. Nyne)’ – Allday
#107. ‘Glowed Up (feat. Anderson .Paak)’ – Kaytranada
#108. ‘Stop Me (Edit)’ – Nick Murphy
#109. ‘One By One’ – Sticky Fingers
#110. ‘Glad That You’re Gone’ – The Hard Aches
#111. ‘Surprise Yourself’ – Jack Garratt
#112. ‘The Boys’ – Lisa Mitchell
#113. ‘Ivy’ – Frank Ocean
#114. ‘Too Soon’ – DMA’S
#115. ‘Till It Kills Me’ – Montaigne
#116. ‘Real Friends (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)’ – Kanye West
#117. ‘Illuminate’ – Emma Louise
#118. ‘Life On Mars?’ – Sarah Blasko
#119. ‘You Don’t Get Me High Anymore’ – Phantogram
#120. ‘Bulls’ – The Cat Empire
#121. ‘SloMo’ – San Cisco
#122. ‘What If I Go? (feat. Bonzai)’ – Mura Masa
#123. ‘Welcome To Your Life’ – Grouplove
#124. ‘Off White Limousine’ – Client Liaison
#125. ‘Just A Lover’ – Hayden James
#126. ‘Done’ – Camp Cope
#127. ‘How To Make Gravy’ – Luca Brasi
#128. ‘Karate’ – BABYMETAL
#129. ‘Rolling Dice (feat. Ella Vos & Joey Chavez)’ – Just A Gent
#130. ‘RA’ – SLUMBERJACK
#131. ‘Man’ – Skepta
#132. ‘Knife Edge’ – Matt Corby
#133. ‘Run’ – Tourist
#134. ‘Brother’ – D.D Dumbo
#135. ‘Unwind’ – Gretta Ray
#136. ‘Quality Of Life’ – Hellions
#137. ‘Fall Together’ – The Temper Trap
#138. ‘Paranoia’ – A Day To Remember
#139. ‘Blood In The Cut’ – K.Flay
#140. ‘Healing (feat. J Angel)’ – Rudimental
#141. ‘Nihilist Party Anthem’ – Ball Park Music
#142. ‘Crave You/The Less I Know The Better (feat. Lisa Mitchell)’ – Elk Road
#143. ‘Whipping Boy’ – Ball Park Music
#144. ‘Higher’ – The Naked And Famous
#145. ‘Detroit Rock Ciggies’ – The Bennies
#146. ‘Native Tongue’ – Gang Of Youths
#147. ‘For You’ – Northeast Party House
#148. ‘Messiah’ – M-Phazes & Alison Wonderland
#149. ‘Brighter’ – RÜFÜS
#150. ‘Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Mane)’ – Rae Sremmurd
#151. ‘Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar)’ – Beyoncé
#152. ‘Ultralight Beam’ – Cub Sport
#153. ‘Thresher’ – Hellions
#154. ‘Someone That Loves You’ – HONNE & Izzy Bizu
#155. ‘Blood On My Leather’ – DZ Deathrays
#156. ‘Leef’ – Ball Park Music
#157. ‘I Remember’ – AlunaGeorge
#158. ‘Come Down’ – Anderson .Paak
#159. ‘Lone (feat. JOY.)’ – What So Not & GANZ
#160. ‘Thick As Thieves’ – The Temper Trap
#161. ‘Chains’ – Matt Corby
#162. ‘Numb & Getting Colder (feat. Kučka)’ – Flume
#163. ‘Shelter’ – Porter Robinson & Madeon
#164. ‘Colourblind’ – Hands Like Houses
#165. ‘Standing In The Rain’ – Action Bronson, Mark Ronson & Dan Auerbach
#166. ‘Lazarus’ – David Bowie
#167. ‘Waiting’ – RL Grime, What So Not & Skrillex
#168. ‘Never Say Never’ – Thundamentals
#169. ‘Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams’ – Camp Cope
#170. ‘Spring Has Sprung’ – Skegss
#171. ‘Be With You’ – RÜFÜS
#172. ‘2 Black 2 Strong’ – A.B. Original
#173. ‘Dog Years’ – Maggie Rogers
#174. ‘Refuge’ – Northlane & In Hearts Wake
#175. ‘Sooth Lady Wine’ – Matt Corby
#176. ‘Fake Love’ – Drake
#177. ‘Angel’ – Sticky Fingers
#178. ‘Stranger Things Theme’ – Luke Million
#179. ‘Breathe Life’ – Vera Blue
#180. ‘Flight 101’ – Sticky Fingers
#181. ‘Westway’ – Sticky Fingers
#182. ‘DVP’ – PUP
#183. ‘Something Strange (feat. Remi)’ – Sticky Fingers
#184. ‘A Night Out With’ – Hockey Dad
#185. ‘Mob Rule’ – Bad//Dreems
#186. ‘For Good (feat. Sampa The Great)’ – Remi
#187. ‘Devil’s Calling’ – Parkway Drive
#188. ‘goosebumps (feat. Kendrick Lamar)’ – Travis Scott
#189. ‘Sorry’ – Beyoncé
#190. ‘I Need A Forest Fire (feat. Bon Iver)’ – James Blake
#191. ‘BOSS’ – Disclosure
#192. ‘Conqueror’ – AURORA
#193. ‘Take A Chance (feat. Little Dragon)’ – Flume
#194. ‘I Thought We Knew Each Other’ – British India
#195. ‘Alarm’ – Anne-Marie
#196. ‘What You Mean To Me’ – Montaigne
#197. ‘Couldn’t Believe’ – Broods
#198. ‘Same Drugs’ – Chance The Rapper
#199. ‘Easier’ – Mansionair
#200. ‘Aubrey (feat. Ira Horace O-W)’ – Running Touch
Quick Facts:
Artists: 66
Most Successful Artist: Violent Soho (5 tracks)
Number Of Countries: 10
Top Three Countries: Australia (66 tracks), USA (16 tracks), England (5 tracks)
Shortest Song: ‘Scott Green’ – Dune Rats (2:11)
Longest Song: ‘Me And Your Mama’ – Childish Gambino (6:19)
