Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Pinterest
Flipboard
Email
Messenger
WhatsApp
The Surprise Elephant in Triple J’s Hottest 100 Room
In a shock result, iconic Australian children’s group The Wiggles has taken out the top spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown. The group’s rendition of Tame Impala’s Elephant received the most votes in this year’s poll, edging out front runner The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s smash Stay and global superstar Olivia Rodrigo. Best of all, the history-making honour marks the first time ever that a Like a Version release has claimed top spot in the much-loved countdown, not that it was on The Wiggles’ radar.
Speaking to Triple J hosts Ebony Boadu and Bryce Mills, blue Wiggle Anthony Field revealed that he only found out about the Hottest 100 last year. The founding member fondly remarked that he’d heard Triple J listeners were apparently hosting Wiggles themed countdown parties in preparation for the day.
“It’s pretty surreal, I’ve got to say,” Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie said. “Thanks to the fans, and for Kevin Parker for crafting such a great song,” Field added.
But for those who had been paying attention, the result wasn’t as surprising as first thought. When the children’s group hit the Triple J studios last year for their long-awaited Like a Version debut, the reveal of the Tame Impala take was met with widespread acclaim. The upbeat rendition, littered with memorable Wiggles nods sparked a wave of nostalgia across the country. Flash forward a few months and The Wiggles are taking home top honours in arguably the country’s most important song countdown, much to the delight of listeners. Even the Queensland Police got in on the act. “Investigations have commenced into how The Wiggles created such a banger,” the organisation wrote on Twitter.
There was more homegrown success to be enjoyed as well, with The Kid Laroi becoming the highest-ranking Indigenous artist ever, surpassing Thelma Plum’s number nine result back in 2020. Last year’s runner-up Spacey Jane came in at number three with Lots of Nothing, with other prominent Aussie acts Gang of Youths, Tame Impala and Genesis Owusu also featuring strongly. Even Formula 1 legend Daniel Ricciardo made an appearance after offering up some percussion on Gang of Youths’ song The Man Himself, which came in at number 57.
Naturally, a number of international acts also took hold. Rapper Lil Nas X, teen sensation Olivia Rodrigo, along with hip-hop stars Lizzo and Cardi B polled strongly, with Rodrigo scoring five appearances. The overnight star polled with four songs in the top 70, with her megahits Driver’s License coming in at 13, with Good 4 U taking out fourth place.
According to Triple J, this year’s countdown was the biggest in recent memory, attracting over 2.5 million votes. Further, 25 artists made their Hottest 100 debut, with a total of 102 f-bombs hitting airwaves, “as many as the last two countdowns combined”. But for all the swearing and teenage angst, no one could touch the much-loved children’s act. Suffice to say, there’s an elephant in the Triple J room and this year, it’s a colourful one.
Triple J’s Hottest 100 Results
- The Wiggles – Elephant (Like a Version)
- The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber – Stay
- Spacey Jane – Lots of Nothing
- Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
- Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
- Gang of Youths – The Angel of 8th Ave
- Doja Cat – Kiss Me More (feat. Sza)
- Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow – Industry Baby
- Rufus Du Sol – On My Knees
- Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
- Tom Cardy – H.Y.C.Y.BH
- Spacey Jane – Lunchtime
- Olivia Rodrigo – Drivers License
- Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba – Apple Crumble
- Vance Joy – Missing Piece
- Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
- Tom Cardy – Mixed Messages
- The Jungle Giants – Love Signs
- Rufus Du Sol – Alive
- Ocean Alley – Touch Back Down
- Ball Park Music – Sunscreen
- SZA – Good Days
- Glass Animals – I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)
- bbno$ – Edamame (feat. Rich Brian)
- Rufus Du Sol – Next To Me
- Lorde – Solar Power
- Dope Lemon – Rose Pink Cadillac
- Amyl and the Sniffers – Hertz
- Lil Nas X – That’s What I Want
- Spacey Jane – Here Comes the Sun (Like a Version)
- Doja Cat – Need To Know
- The Wombats – If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming With You
- Olivia Rodrigo – Deja Vu
- Doja Cat – Get Into It (Yuh)
- Peach PRC – Josh
- Willow – Transparent Soul (feat. Travis Barker)
- Doja Cat – Woman
- The Rubens – Masterpiece
- Middle Kids – Stacking Chairs
- Girl in Red – Serotonin
- Lime Cordiale and Idris Elba – What’s Not to Like
- Peking Duk – Chemicals
- Bring Me the Horizon – Die4U
- Kanye West – Hurricane
- Wet Leg – Chaise Longue
- King Stingray – Get Me Out
- Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open
- Acraze – Do It To It (feat. Cherish)
- Dune Rats – Up
- Kanye West – Jail
- The Rions – Night Light
- Cardi B – Up
- The Weeknd – Take My Breath
- Ocean Alley – Breathe/Comfortably Numb/Money (Like a Version)
- Skegss – Valhalla
- King Stingray – Milkumana
- Gang of Youths – The Man Himself
- Ruby Fields – Kitchen
- Machine Gun Kelly – Love Race (feat. Kellin Quinn)
- Olivia Rodrigo – Brutal
- Dom Dolla – Pump the Brakes
- Lorde – Mood Ring
- Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over the Country Club
- G Flip – Queen (feat. mxmtoon)
- Luude – Down Under (feat. Colin Hay)
- Tame Impala – A Girl Like You (Like a Version 2020)
- Olivia Rodrigo – Traitor
- The Jungle Giants – Treat You Right
- Sly Withers – Clarkson
- The Amity Affliction – Like Love
- Halsey – I am Not a Woman, I’m a God
- Vera Blue – Temper
- Lizzo – Rumors (feat. Cardi B)
- Tones and I – Cloudy Day
- Genesis Owusu – Gold Chains
- The Terrys – Our Paradise
- Tyler The Creator – Wusyaname (feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Ty Dolla $ign)
- Sza – I Hate U
- Dave – Clash (feat. Stormzy)
- Billie Eilish – Your Power
- Lorde – Stoned at the Nail Salon
- Kanye West – Praise God
- Doja Cat – You Right (feat. The Weeknd)
- Teenage Joans – Wine
- The Buoys – Lie To Me Again
- Fisher – Just Feels Tight
- Holy Holy – The Aftergone (feat. Clews)
- Baker Boy – My Mind (feat. G Flip)
- Jungle – Keep Moving
- Hayden James – Waiting For Nothing (feat. Yaeger)
- Telenova – Bones
- Slowly Slowly – Blueprint
- Baby Keem – Family Ties (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
- Tyne-James Organ – Sunday Suit
- Alt-J – U&ME
- Client Liaison – House of Holy
- Kanye West – Moon
- Adam Newling – Sweetness
- Ziggy Ramo – Little Things (feat. Paul Kelly)
- Holy Holy – How You Been
General FAQs
Who was the Hottest 100 winner for 2021?
The Triple J Hottest 100 winner for 2021 was The Wiggles for their Like a Version cover of the Tame Impala song Elephant.
Who had the most tracks in the Hottest 100 2021?
Olivia Rodrigo made the most appearances in the 2021 Hottest 100 with five. She had traitor at 67, brutal at 60, deja vu at 33 and driver’s license at 13. Good 4 U placed at four.
Nick Hall
Nick Hall is the Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many and an accomplished journalist. He completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries at the Queensland University of Technology, with a double major in Journalism and Music. Prior to working at Man of Many, Nick spent two years as a journalist with Inside Franchise Business, focusing on small business, finance and legal reporting. In 2021, Nick was named B&T's Best of the Best Journalist of the Year. With an extensive background in the media industry, Nick specialises in feature writing, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment content. A qualified barber and men's stylist, Nick also holds a Cert III in Barbering from the Queensland Hairdressing Academy.
