Shoulda Been Higher

The Hottest 100 is a national institution.

Every year since 1993, Australia’s national youth broadcaster triple j has held annual countdown of listeners’ 100 favourite songs of the year, as voted by the public. It’s as iconic of modern Australiana as sausage sizzles and leadership spills. It has become so much more than music. It’s beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. It’s joy and despair, drama and debate, friendship and community.

This book is a fun retrospective- an insightful, light-hearted and deeply respectful celebration of the colourful history of ‘the world’s greatest musical democracy’. Taking account of the thirty annual countdowns, the book traces the social, musical and cultural impacts of the Hottest 100 over the decades. Its jam packed with stats, stories, little-known facts, and the kinds of fiery debate-starting questions that make the Hottest 100 what it is.

This is the definitive account of the Hottest 100, a chronicle and a love letter – it’s the complete picture from Augie March to Ziggy Alberts, ‘Amazing’ to ‘Zombie’.

Author Biography

Tom W Clarke is an Australian writer, comedian and podcaster. He is an obsessive music and sport nerd – he settled for writing about them once he realised that he possessed no relevant talent whatsoever. He hosts the podcast Spinning Around- 100 SongsThat Shaped The Australian Sound, writes the Australian music blog Fresh Local Produce, and is a regular contributor to The Roar.

He has performed stand-up comedy around Australia, including a run of sold-out solo shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Tom lives in Melbourne with his brilliant wife and sparkly young son. He can be found watching footy on the Fitzroy hill, espousing the superiority of instant black coffee, and walking until he finds inspiration (or a good sandwich shop, whichever comes first).