Rap group Hilltop Hoods have featured twice, with 1955 featuring Montaigne and Tom Thum at 73 and Cosby Sweater at 64.
Ahead of the countdown, online bookies had Hilltop Hoods as the short favourite to come out on top with The Nosebleed Section. Also in the hunt is Powderfinger’s My Happiness, Untouched by The Veronicas, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS and Missy Higgins’ track, Scar.
According to Triple J, more than 2.65 million votes, were submitted during the voting period with the 18 to 29-year-old demographic submitting the most votes.
But the countdown has not been without controversy.
Earlier this month Australian artist Ben Lee told this masthead that, while a one-off countdown to promote Australian music was a positive step, Triple J should consider turning the annual Hottest 100 into a celebration of Australian only music.
“It’s a bit of a snooze-fest, if I’m honest,” he said.
“It’s not me, Missy Higgins and Powderfinger that need a leg-up at the moment. So it feels like an attempt to relive the glory days without addressing the issue.
“Triple J should give the Hottest 100 to Kyle and Jackie O, let commercial radio run it nationally as a pop mainstream phenomenon and Triple J’s business should be the Australian Hottest 100.”
The current crop of favourites reflect Triple J’s younger demographic with “classic” Australian anthems like John Farnham’s You’re The Voice and AC/DC’s Thunderstruck sitting outside the top 20 most likely tracks.
The Hilltop Hoods, Daniel Smith, Matthew Lambert and Barry Francis, are the bookies’ favourite. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
On Friday, Triple J revealed one song in the top 20 had never been in a Hottest 100 countdown before, and there were just 30 votes between the song ranked at 100 and the one that missed out, at 101.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.