This is a small article that outlines the average length of the Hottest 100 countdowns, and informs as to which were the longest and shortest tracks that charted in each countdown. This list only concerns itself with tracks that are part of the first 100. For information relating to the track times of the songs that made the positions of #101-200 (starting from 2008), check the page relating to that particular list.
- Quick Links:
- Average Track Times Per Year
- Shotest Tracks
- Longest Tracks
Countdown Times
To date, the average length of a Hottest 100 track is 3:55 (3 minutes, 55 seconds). The 1998 and 2004 Hottest 100s have the shortest average, with an average track time of 3:40 (3 minutes, 40 seconds), while the longest Hottest 100 was the 1993 edition, with an average track time of 4:15 (4 minutes, 15 seconds). The average position for the shortest tracks is 46.3, while the average position for the longest tracks is 4.3 positions lower, with 42.
Countdown Times
Yearly List |
Ranked List |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Year | Average Track Time | # | Year | Average Track Time | |
1 | 1993 | 4:15 | 1 | 1998 | 3:40 | |
2 | 1994 | 4:03 | 2 | 2004 | 3:40 | |
3 | 1995 | 3:56 | 3 | 1999 | 3:46 | |
4 | 1996 | 3:57 | 4 | 2008 | 3:46 | |
5 | 1997 | 4:04 | 5 | 2017 | 3:47 | |
6 | 1998 | 3:40 | 6 | 2002 | 3:50 | |
7 | 1999 | 3:46 | 7 | 2006 | 3:51 | |
8 | 2000 | 3:57 | 8 | 2007 | 3:51 | |
9 | 2001 | 4:03 | 9 | 2009 | 3:51 | |
10 | 2002 | 3:50 | 10 | 2012 | 3:51 | |
11 | 2003 | 3:52 | 11 | 2003 | 3:52 | |
12 | 2004 | 3:40 | 12 | 2005 | 3:53 | |
13 | 2005 | 3:53 | 13 | 2016 | 3:55 | |
14 | 2006 | 3:51 | 14 | 1995 | 3:56 | |
15 | 2007 | 3:51 | 15 | 2015 | 3:56 | |
16 | 2008 | 3:46 | 16 | 1996 | 3:57 | |
17 | 2009 | 3:51 | 17 | 2000 | 3:57 | |
18 | 2010 | 3:59 | 18 | 2014 | 3:57 | |
19 | 2011 | 4:00 | 19 | 2010 | 3:59 | |
20 | 2012 | 3:51 | 20 | 2011 | 4:00 | |
21 | 2013 | 4:05 | 21 | 1994 | 4:03 | |
22 | 2014 | 3:57 | 22 | 2001 | 4:03 | |
23 | 2015 | 3:56 | 23 | 1997 | 4:04 | |
24 | 2016 | 3:55 | 24 | 2013 | 4:05 | |
25 | 2017 | 3:47 | 24 | 1993 | 4:15 |
Shortest Tracks
This is a list of the tracks which, out of the 100 tracks from each countdown, have been the shortest.
The average shortest time for a song is approximately 2:06 (2 minute, 06 seconds). To date, 11 of the shortest songs are shorter tham that time.
Frenzal Rhomb are the most featured artist, with 3 of their songs making the list of shortest songs.
It may or may not be worth noting that the three shortest songs to feature in the countdowns are all Australian.
Additionally, 2 positions are shared, with 2 tracks each charting at positions #67, and #71, while 4 positions are shared in the longest tracks list.
Shortest Tracks By Year
Year | # | Artist | Name | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | 17 | Cypress Hill | Hits From The Bong | 2:41 |
1994 | 56 | Frente! | Bizarre Love Triangle | 2:01 |
1995 | 12 | Mindless Drug Hoover | The Reefer Song | 1:51 |
1996 | 31 | Skin | The Muppet Song (Mah Nà Mah Nà) | 1:39 |
1997 | 23 | Spiderbait | Calypso | 1:51 |
1998 | 18 | Frenzal Rhomb | Mum Changed The Locks | 1:43 |
1999 | 99 | Eskimo Joe | Ruby Wednesday | 1:33 |
2000 | 71 | Frenzal Rhomb | Nothing's Wrong | 2:15 |
2001 | 63 | The White Stripes | Hotel Yorba | 2:10 |
2002 | 19 | The Vines | Highly Evolved | 1:34 |
2003 | 26 | Frenzal Rhomb | Russell Crowe's Band | 1:12 |
2004 | 71 | The Von Bondies | C'mon C'mon | 2:14 |
2005 | 69 | Butterfingers | Jesus I Was Evil | 1:47 |
2006 | 10 | The Grates | 19-20-20 | 2:05 |
2007 | 27 | Operator Please | Just A Song About Ping Pong | 2:18 |
2008 | 67 | Flight Of The Conchords | Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros | 2:09 |
2009 | 90 | Florence + The Machine | Kiss With A Fist | 2:04 |
2010 | 67 | Vampire Weekend | Holiday | 2:18 |
2011 | 7 | San Cisco | Awkward | 2:34 |
2012 | 4 | Flume | Holdin On | 2:32 |
2013 | 75 | Mikhael Paskalev | I Spy | 2:32 |
2014 | 51 | Courtney Barnett | Pickles From The Jar | 2:49 |
2015 | 94 | Halsey | Ghost | 2:34 |
2016 | 34 | Dune Rats | Scott Green | 2:11 |
2017 | 54 | Hockey Dad | Homely Feeling | 2:21 |
Shortest Tracks By Time
Year | # | Artist | Name | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | 26 | Frenzal Rhomb | Russell Crowe's Band | 1:12 |
1999 | 99 | Eskimo Joe | Ruby Wednesday | 1:33 |
2002 | 19 | The Vines | Highly Evolved | 1:34 |
1996 | 31 | Skin | The Muppet Song (Mah Nà Mah Nà) | 1:39 |
1998 | 18 | Frenzal Rhomb | Mum Changed The Locks | 1:43 |
2005 | 69 | Butterfingers | Jesus I Was Evil | 1:47 |
1995 | 12 | Mindless Drug Hoover | The Reefer Song | 1:51 |
1997 | 23 | Spiderbait | Calypso | 1:51 |
1994 | 56 | Frente! | Bizarre Love Triangle | 2:01 |
2009 | 90 | Florence + The Machine | Kiss With A Fist | 2:04 |
2006 | 10 | The Grates | 19-20-20 | 2:05 |
2008 | 67 | Flight Of The Conchords | Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros | 2:09 |
2001 | 63 | The White Stripes | Hotel Yorba | 2:10 |
2016 | 34 | Dune Rats | Scott Green | 2:11 |
2004 | 71 | The Von Bondies | C'mon C'mon | 2:14 |
2000 | 71 | Frenzal Rhomb | Nothing's Wrong | 2:15 |
2007 | 27 | Operator Please | Just A Song About Ping Pong | 2:18 |
2010 | 67 | Vampire Weekend | Holiday | 2:18 |
2017 | 54 | Hockey Dad | Homely Feeling | 2:21 |
2012 | 4 | Flume | Holdin On | 2:32 |
2013 | 75 | Mikhael Paskalev | I Spy | 2:32 |
2011 | 7 | San Cisco | Awkward | 2:34 |
2015 | 94 | Halsey | Ghost | 2:34 |
1993 | 17 | Cypress Hill | Hits From The Bong | 2:41 |
2014 | 51 | Courtney Barnett | Pickles From The Jar | 2:49 |
Longest Tracks
This is a list of the tracks which, out of the 100 tracks from each countdown, have been the longest.
The average longest time for a song is approximately 7:11 (7 minutes, 11 seconds). To date, only 10 of the longest songs exceed that time.
While only one artist appears twice in the list of shortest songs, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Muse and Flight Facilities all appear twice in the longest list, with each appearing for the second time 2 years after their first appearance in this list.
While in most Triple J countdowns, the station plays the album version of most tracks, in lieu of the single version, they occasionally choose to play the single version due to time constraints.
However, if the album versions of songs were always chosen, the longest track would be Sonic Youth's 'The Diamond Sea' from 1995, which has a total running time of 19:35 (19 minutes, 35 seconds), as opposed to the single version of 5:27 (5 minutes, 27 seconds).
Interestingly, in the Hottest 100 section of the Triple J website since 2011, it has been mentioned that the longest song of 2006 was The John Butler Trio, with 'Funky Tonight'. The website gives the length of the song as 11:53 (11 minutes, 53 seconds), which would make it the longest song to appear in any countdown. However, there are no recorded versions of that song which are that long. The charting version of the song was only 3:40 (3 minutes, 40 seconds) in length.
In a fashion similar to the list of shortest tracks, it may or may not be worth noting that the three longest songs to feature in the countdowns are all American.
Additionally, 4 positions are shared, with 2 tracks each charting at positions #16, #57, #61, and #84, while only 2 positions are shared in the shortest tracks list.
Longest Tracks By Year
Year | # | Artist | Name | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | 7 | U2 | Lemon | 6:58 |
1994 | 57 | The Cure | Burn | 6:40 |
1995 | 95 | Massive Attack | Protection | 7:52 |
1996 | 96 | Matt Trapnell & Trapazoid | Ella's Uncle | 5:56 |
1997 | 16 | Quindon Tarver/Lee Perry | Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) | 7:10 |
1998 | 63 | Fatboy Slim | The Rockafeller Skank | 6:53 |
1999 | 57 | Blur | Tender | 7:41 |
2000 | 43 | Fatboy Slim | Sunset (Bird Of Prey) | 6:50 |
2001 | 5 | The John Butler Trio | Betterman | 8:17 |
2002 | 85 | The Chemical Brothers | Star Guitar | 6:27 |
2003 | 61 | Metallica | St. Anger | 7:21 |
2004 | 65 | The Chemical Brothers | Galvanize | 6:34 |
2005 | 61 | Green Day | Jesus Of Suburbia | 9:08 |
2006 | 22 | Tool | Vicarious | 7:07 |
2007 | 1 | Muse | Knights Of Cydonia | 6:02 |
2008 | 36 | Death Cab For Cutie | I Will Possess Your Heart | 8:26 |
2009 | 84 | Muse | United States Of Eurasia/Collateral Damage | 5:48 |
2010 | 14 | Kanye West | Runaway (feat. Pusha T) | 9:08 |
2011 | 85 | Cosmo Jarvis | Gay Pirates | 5:53 |
2012 | 17 | Flight Facilities | Clair De Lune | 7:42 |
2013 | 16 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor | 7:34 |
2014 | 39 | Flight Facilities | Two Bodies (feat. Emma Louise) | 6:08 |
2015 | 5 | Tame Impala | Let It Happen | 7:47 |
2016 | 88 | Childish Gambino | Me And Your Mama | 6:19 |
2017 | 78 | Tash Sultana | Electric Feel | 8:35 |
Longest Tracks By Time
Year | # | Artist | Name | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 61 | Green Day | Jesus Of Suburbia | 9:08 |
2010 | 14 | Kanye West | Runaway (feat. Pusha T) | 9:08 |
2017 | 78 | Tash Sultana | Electric Feel | 8:35 |
2008 | 36 | Death Cab For Cutie | I Will Possess Your Heart | 8:26 |
2015 | 5 | Tame Impala | Let It Happen | 7:47 |
2001 | 5 | The John Butler Trio | Betterman | 8:17 |
1995 | 95 | Massive Attack | Protection | 7:52 |
2012 | 17 | Flight Facilities | Clair De Lune | 7:42 |
1999 | 57 | Blur | Tender | 7:41 |
2013 | 16 | Arcade Fire | Reflektor | 7:34 |
2003 | 61 | Metallica | St. Anger | 7:21 |
1997 | 16 | Quindon Tarver/Lee Perry | Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) | 7:10 |
2006 | 22 | Tool | Vicarious | 7:07 |
1993 | 7 | U2 | Lemon | 6:58 |
1998 | 63 | Fatboy Slim | The Rockafeller Skank | 6:53 |
2000 | 43 | Fatboy Slim | Sunset (Bird Of Prey) | 6:50 |
1994 | 57 | The Cure | Burn | 6:40 |
2004 | 65 | The Chemical Brothers | Galvanize | 6:34 |
2002 | 85 | The Chemical Brothers | Star Guitar | 6:27 |
2016 | 88 | Childish Gambino | Me And Your Mama | 6:19 |
2014 | 39 | Flight Facilities | Two Bodies (feat. Emma Louise) | 6:08 |
2007 | 1 | Muse | Knights Of Cydonia | 6:02 |
1996 | 96 | Matt Trapnell & Trapazoid | Ella's Uncle | 5:56 |
2011 | 85 | Cosmo Jarvis | Gay Pirates | 5:53 |
2009 | 84 | Muse | United States Of Eurasia/Collateral Damage | 5:48 |