Cover Songs

A cover song is any previously performed song that has been either performed by an artist different to the original. Since the Hottest 100 started back in 1989, close to every countdown has featured a cover song.

Since 2005, more songs have started to feature from Triple J's 'Like A Version' sessions; a segment where an artist performs an original and a cover song in the Triple J studio, usually to much acclaim. (Tracks from the Like A Version sessions started to feature in 2005 and are written in bold.)

The highest position a cover song has reached so far, is #5, with it happening in 1995, 2004 and 2010.

Yearly Countdowns

This list addresses the cover songs featured in the yearly countdowns from 1993 to present.

Every countdown to date has featured a cover song, except for 2008 (however, a cover song did feature at #161 that year). Whereas the most covers featured in a countdown was in 1996, when 8 covers featured.

Yearly Countdowns

1993
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
62
 Easy Faith No More The Commodores 1977
79
 Mrs. Robinson The Lemonheads Simon & Garfunkel 1968
83
 Go West Pet Shop Boys The Village People 1979
100
 Gloria Van Morrison & John Lee Hooker Them 1964

Notes

  • It could be disputed as to whether or not Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker's version of 'Gloria' is indeed a cover, due to it being written by Morrison. Originally performed by Morrison's band Them in 1964, this version is listed as a cover due to the exclusion of other members of Them and the inclusion of John Lee Hooker.
1994
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
9
 If I Only Knew Tom Jones Rise Robots Rise 1992
56
 Bizarre Love Triangle Frente! New Order 1986
75
 You Got Me Floatin' PM Dawn The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967
90
 Dancing In The Moonlight The Smashing Pumpkins Thin Lizzy 1977
88
 Purple Haze The Cure The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967

Notes

  • New Order's original version of 'Bizarre Love Triangle' charted in the 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1998 All Time countdowns, reaching #67, #21, #24 & #60 respectively.

  • The Smashing Pumpkins' cover is a slightly re-named cover of Thin Lizzy's 'Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In The Spotlight)'.

  • The Jimi Hendrix Experience's original version of 'Purple Haze' charted in the 1991 All Time countdown, reaching #199.
1995
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
5
 It's Oh So Quiet Björk Betty Hutton 1951
36
 Black Steel Tricky Public Enemy 1988
47
 My Island Home Christine Anu Warumpi Band 1987
63
 Smash It Up The Offspring The Damned 1979
64
 Stayin' Alive N-Trance Bee Gees 1977
69
 (Let's Go) Smoke Some Pot Dash Rip Rock Danny & The Juniors 1957
87
 Jailbreak Yothu Yindi AC/DC 1976

Notes

  • 'It's Oh So Quiet, covered by Björk in 1995, is a cover of a song of the same name by Betty Hutton, recorded in 1951. The Betty Hutton song is itself a cover of a German song named 'Und Jetzt Ist Es Still' (German for 'And Now It Is Still'), performed by Horst Winter in 1948.

  • 'Black Steel', covered by Tricky, is a renamed cover of the song 'Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos' by Public Enemy.

  • The Warumpi Band's original version of 'My Island Home' charted in the 1989 All Time countdown, reaching #79.

  • The Damned's original version of 'Smash It Up' charted in the 1989 All Time countdown, reaching #44.

  • While Dash Rip Rock's '(Let's Go) Smoke Some Pot' is technically a parody of the song 'At The Hop', by Danny & The Juniors, it is musically a cover song, and is therefore included on this list.
1996
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
21
 Down In The Park Foo Fighters Gary Numan & Tubeway Army 1979
31
 The Muppet Song (Mah Nà Mah Nà) Skin Piero Umiliani 1968
35
 Killing Me Softly The Fugees Roberta Flack 1973
68
 Theme From Mission: Impossible Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Lalo Schifrin 1967
77
 Gold Dust Woman Hole Fleetwood Mac 1977
74
 Lay, Lady, Lay Ministry Bob Dylan 1969
90
 Leaving Here Pearl Jam Eddie Holland 1963
95
 Creep Frank Bennett Radiohead 1993

Notes

  • Radiohead's original version of 'Creep' charted in the 1993 countdown, reaching #2.
1997
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
20
 I Will Survive Cake Gloria Gaynor 1978
55
 Love Rollercoaster Red Hot Chili Peppers The Ohio Players 1975
60
 New York City They Might Be Giants Cub 1995
65
 The Outdoor Type The Lemonheads Smudge 1993
74
 The Ghost Of Tom Joad Rage Against The Machine Bruce Springsteen 1995
78
 Degenerate Boy The Mark Of Cain X 1985
1998
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
17
 Tainted Love The Living End Gloria Jones 1965
29
 Throw Your Arms Around Me Paul McDermott Hunters & Collectors 1984
86
 Harpoon Something For Kate Jebediah 1998

Notes

  • Hunters & Collector's original version of 'Throw Your Arms Around Me' charted in the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998 and 2009 All Time countdowns, reaching #2, #2, #4, #2 & #23 respectively.

  • Jebediah's original version of 'Harpoon' also charted in the 1998 countdown, reaching #7.
1999
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
9
 Last Kiss Pearl Jam Wayne Cochran 1961
36
 Hazy Shade Of Winter Bodyjar Simon & Garfunkel 1966
86
 Blue Monday Orgy New Order 1983
90
 Stripped Rammstein Depeche Mode 1986
91
 Down Under Pennywise Men At Work 1981

Notes

  • New Order's original version of 'Blue Monday' charted in the 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998 and 2009 All Time countdowns, reaching #5, #5, #10, #30 & #32 respectively.
2000
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
95
 Renegades Of Funk Rage Against The Machine Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force 1983

Notes

  • Rage Against The Machine's cover of 'Renegades Of Funk' charted in both 2000 and 2001.
2001
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
6
 Smooth Criminal Alien Ant Farm Michael Jackson 1987
18
 Renegades Of Funk Rage Against The Machine Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force 1983
22
 The Drugs Don't Work Ben Harper The Verve 1997
39
 Cocaine The Cruel Sea Dillinger 1976
45
 Strange Little Girl Tori Amos The Stranglers 1982

Notes

  • Rage Against The Machine's cover of 'Renegades Of Funk' charted in both 2000 and 2001.

  • The Verve's original version of 'The Drugs Don't Work' charted in the 1997 countdown, also reaching #22.

  • The Cruel Sea's cover of 'Cocaine' is a renamed cover of 'Cokane In My Brain', by the Jamaican reggae artist Dillinger.
2002
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
30
 Ms. Jackson The Vines Outkast 2000
82
 Strawberry Fields Forever Ben Harper The Beatles 1967
2003
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
72
 Running Up That Hill Placebo Kate Bush 1985
75
 The Seed (2.0) The Roots (feat. Cody ChesnuTT) Cody ChesnuTT 2002
93
 I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself The White Stripes Dusty Springfield 1964
2004
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
5
 Black Betty Spiderbait Ram Jam 1977
10
 Jolene The White Stripes Dolly Parton 1973
21
 Common People William Shatner Pulp 1995
44
 Take Me Out Scissor Sisters Franz Ferdinand 2004
88
 Imagine A Perfect Circle John Lennon 1971
92
 Comfortably Numb Scissor Sisters Pink Floyd 1979

Notes

  • 'Black Betty', which was covered by Spiderbait in 2004, is an old American folk song dating back to the early 1900's, most famously credited to Lead Belly, though the earliest recording is by James Baker in 1933. However, it is generally accepted they covered Ram Jam's version from 1977, which is the version listed here.

  • Pulp's original version of 'Common People' charted in the 1995 countdown and the 2009 All Time countdown, reaching #38 and #81 respectively.
    It also marks the first time in a yearly countdown that a cover performed better than the original.

  • Franz Ferdinand's original version of 'Take Me Out' also charted in the 2004 countdown, reaching #1.

  • John Lennon's original version of 'Imagine' charted in the 1989, 1990, 1991 and 2009 All Time countdowns, reaching #31, #66, #121 & #11 respectively.

  • Pink Floyd's original version of 'Comfortably Numb' charted in the 1989, 1990, 1991 and 2009 All Time countdowns, reaching #95, #73, #90 & #53 respectively.
2005
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
15
 Flame Trees Sarah Blasko Cold Chisel 1984
18
 I Was Only 19 The Herd Redgum 1983
47
 Stuff And Nonsense Missy Higgins Split Enz 1979
69
 Jesus I Was Evil Butterfingers Darcy Clay 1997
96
 Six Months In A Leaky Boat Little Birdy Split Enz 1982
99
 Evie, Pt. 1 (Let Your Hair Hang Down) The Wrights Stevie Wright 1974
2006
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
21
 Forever Young Youth Group Alphaville 1984
70
 Such Great Heights Ben Folds The Postal Service 2003
81
 Gone Daddy Gone Gnarls Barkley Violent Femmes 1983
2007
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
29
 Real Love Regina Spektor John Lennon 1980
2008
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
161
 Kids The Kooks MGMT 2008

Notes

  • MGMT's original version of 'Kids' also charted in the 2008 countdown, reaching #5.
2009
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
72
 You've Changed Sia Lauren Flax 2009
78
 Remember Me Tame Impala Blue Boy 1997
116
 Romeo And Juliet Lisa Mitchell Dire Straits 1981
139
 Sex From The Bong Something With Numbers Kings Of Leon/Cypress Hill 2008/1993
149
 Under Pressure Ben Harper & Relentless7 Queen & David Bowie 1981
191
 You've Got The Love Florence & The Machine The Source & Candi Station 1986
194
 Sunny Afternoon The Cat Empire The Kinks 1966

Notes

  • Sia's version of 'You've Changed' is a semi-cover, since the single was originally released in 2009 by DJ Lauren Flax, with Sia performing vocals. However, Sia released her own version of the song later in the year, which is the version that charted here.

  • Blue Boy's original version of 'Remember Me' charted in the 1997 countdown, reaching #91.

  • Something With Numbers' 'Sex From The Bong' was a mashup of Kings Of Leon's 'Sex On Fire' (of which the original version of 'Sex On Fire' charted in the 2008 countdown, reaching #1), and Cypress Hill's 'Hits From The Bong' (which originally charted in the 1993 countdown, reaching #17.)
2010
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
5
 Fall At Your Feet Boy & Bear Crowded House 1991
26
 Not In Love Crystal Castles (feat. Roert Smith) Platinum Blonde 1984
27
 You Got The Dirtee Love Florence & The Machine & Dizzee Rascal The Source & Candi Staton 1986
131
 Hey Ya! Sarah Blasko Outkast 2003
139
 Four Seasons In One Day Paul Kelly & Angus Stone Crowded House 1992
171
 Peek-A-Boo Bertie Blackman Siouxsie And The Banshees 1988
178
 No Surprises Regina Spektor Radiohead 1997

Notes

  • Florence & The Machine & Dizee Rascal's 'You Got The Dirtee Love' is a mashup of two songs. Florence & The Machine's original cover version of The Source & Candi Staton's 'You've Got The Love' charted in the 2009 countdown, reaching #191. It also incorporatees elements of Dizzee Rascal's 'Dirtee Cash', which charted in the 2009 countdown, reaching #157.

  • Outkast's original version of 'Hey Ya!' charted in the 2003 countdown, reaching #2.

  • Radiohead's original version of 'No Surprises' charted in the 1998 countdown, reaching #55.
2011
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
28
 Pumped Up Kicks Owl Eyes Foster The People 2010
92
 The Wilhelm Scream James Blake James Litherland 1994
100
 The Suburbs Mr. Little Jeans Arcade Fire 2010
114
 Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Art vs. Science Daft Punk 2001
141
 Everybody Wants To Rule The World Andy Bull Tears For Fears 1985
155
 Girls Just Want To Have Fun Busby Marou Cyndi Lauper 1983
193
 Runaway Plan B Kanye West 2010

Notes

  • Foster The People's original version of 'Pumped Up Kicks' charted in the 2010 countdown, reaching #32.

  • 'The Wilhelm Scream', covered by James Blake, is a renamed cover of the song 'Where To Turn' by his father, James Litherland.

  • Arcade Fire's original version of 'The Suburbs' charted in the 2010 countdown, reaching #58.

  • Daft Punk's original version of 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' charted in the 2007 countdown as a live version, reaching #7.
    It also featured again in the same countdown, remixed into Kanye West's 'Stronger' at #20.

  • Kanye West's original version of 'Runaway' charted in the 2010 countdown, reaching #14.
2012
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
49
 Brother Thundamentals Matt Corby 2011
97
 I'm Shakin' Jack White Little Willie John 1960
69
 Lonely Boy Matt Corby The Black Keys 2011
139
 Hearts A Mess Missy Higgins Gotye 2006
176
 Video Games Bluejuice Lana Del Rey 2011

Notes

  • Matt Corby's original version of 'Brother' charted in the 2011 countdown, reaching #3.

  • The Black Keys' original version of 'Lonely Boy' charted in the 2011 countdown, reaching #2.

  • Gotye's original version of 'Hearts A Mess' charted in the 2006 countdown, reaching #8.

  • Lana Del Rey's original version of 'Video Games' charted in the 2011 countdown, reaching #6.
2013
#
 Song Charting Artist Original Artist Year
39
 Get Lucky San Cisco Daft Punk 2013
40
 Born To Die The Amity Affliction Lana Del Rey 2012
68
 Sweet Nothing Something For Kate Calvin Harris 2002

Notes

  • Daft Punk's original version of 'Get Lucky' also charted in the 2013 countdown, reaching #3.

  • Lana Del Rey's original version of 'Born To Die' charted in the 2012 countdown, reaching #34.

  • Calvin Harris' original version of 'Sweet Nothing' charted in the 2012 countdown, reaching #11.

All Time Countdowns

This list goes over all the cover songs featured in the All Time Countdowns for 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2009 and 2013.
Since 1989, Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower' has featured in every All Time countdown that it has been eligible for.

All Time Countdowns
1989
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
15
 Song To The Siren This Mortal Coil 1983 Tim Buckley 1970
21
 Respect Aretha Franklin 1967 Otis Redding 1965
24
 Kiss Art Of Noise 1988 Prince And The Revolution 1986
49
 All Along The Watchtower The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Bob Dylan 1967
91
 Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley 1969 Mark James 1968
92
 I Say A Little Prayer Aretha Franklin 1968 Dionne Warwick 1967

Notes

  • Prince's original version of 'Kiss' charted in the 1989, 1990 and 1991 All Time countdowns, reaching #34, #39 & #132 respectively.
1990
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
31
 Song To The Siren This Mortal Coil 1983 Tim Buckley 1970
38
 Tainted Love Soft Cell 1981 Gloria Jones 1965
42
 Respect Aretha Franklin 1967 Otis Redding 1965
69
 Nothing Compares 2 U Sinead O'Connor 1990 The Family 1985
83
 All Along The Watchtower The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Bob Dylan 1967
1991
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
50
 Song To The Siren This Mortal Coil 1983 Tim Buckley 1970
54
 Tainted Love Soft Cell 1981 Gloria Jones 1965
61
 All Along The Watchtower The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Bob Dylan 1967
116
 Always On My Mind Pet Shop Boys 1987 Brenda Lee 1972
165
 Nothing Compares 2 U Sinead O'Connor 1990 The Family 1985
195
 Higher Ground Red Hot Chili Peppers 1989 Stevie Wonder 1973
196
 Tomorrow, Wendy Concrete Blonde 1990 Andy Prieboy 1990

Notes

  • In a rare occurence, Concrete Blonde's cover of Andy Prieboy's 'Tomorrow, Wendy' was actually released approximately 2 months prior to Prieboy's original.
1998
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
25
 Tainted Love Soft Cell 1981 Gloria Jones 1965
64
 I Will Survive Cake 1996 Gloria Gaynor 1978
70
 All Along The Watchtower The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Bob Dylan 1967
79
 Video Killed The Radio Star The Buggles 1979 Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club 1979
2009
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
3
 Hallelujah Jeff Buckley 1994 Leonard Cohen 1984
30
 All Along The Watchtower The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968 Bob Dylan 1967
60
 Hurt Johnny Cash 2002 Nine Inch Nails 1994
2013 - Twenty Years Of Triple J's Hottest 100
#
 Song Charting Artist Year Original Artist Year
36
 Hallelujah Jeff Buckley 1994 Leonard Cohen 1984

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