Triple J Hottest 100, 1998


The 1998 Triple J Hottest 100, announced in January, 1999, was the sixth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, according to listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J. As in previous years, a CD featuring 36 of the songs was released. In August 1998 a Hottest 100 of All Time was conducted separate to normal countdown.
In February 2019, Triple J's sister station Double J conducted a 're-vote' of the 1998 top 10.

Full list

#SongArtistCountry of origin
1Pretty Fly The OffspringUS
2Cigarettes Will Kill YouBen LeeAUS
3Girls Like That CustardAUS
4Celebrity SkinHoleUS
5Got the LifeKornUS
6! RegurgitatorAUS
7HarpoonJebediahAUS
8The Day You ComePowderfingerAUS
9Heavy HeartYou Am IAUS
10Save the DayThe Living EndAUS
11Sweetest ThingU2IRE
12BrickBen Folds FiveUS
13Doctor WormThey Might Be GiantsUS
14JosieBlink-182US
15Second SolutionThe Living EndAUS
16Addicted to BassJosh Abrahams and Amiel DaemionAUS
17Tainted LoveThe Living EndAUS
18Just AceGrinspoonAUS
19BubblegooseWyclef JeanUS
20SimultaneousChefUS
21Sex and CandyMarcy PlaygroundUS
22Black FridayGrinspoonAUS
23TeardropMassive AttackUK
24Music Is CrapCustardAUS
25IntergalacticBeastie BoysUS
26Polyester GirlRegurgitatorAUS
27I Like Your Old Remix Better Than Your New RemixRegurgitatorAUS
28Don't You Know Who I Am?HappylandAUS
29Everybody Here Wants YouJeff BuckleyUS
30Never ThereCakeUS
31Throw Your Arms Around MePaul McDermottAUS
32Black BugsRegurgitatorAUS
33SweaterEskimo JoeAUS
34One WeekBarenaked LadiesCAN
35Flagpole SittaHarvey DangerUS
36Whatareya?TISMAUS
37Buy Now Pay Later The WhitlamsAUS
38The Impression That I GetThe Mighty Mighty BosstonesUS
39Somebody Kill MeAdam SandlerUS
40Song for the DumpedBen Folds FiveUS
41Pure MorningPlaceboUK
42TeflonJebediahAUS
43MelbourneThe WhitlamsAUS
44The Dope ShowMarilyn MansonUS
45Ava AdoreThe Smashing PumpkinsUS
46Don't Wanna Be Left OutPowderfingerAUS
47Do the EvolutionPearl JamUS
48Road RageCatatoniaUK
49MalibuHoleUS
50It's Like ThatRun–D.M.C. vs. Jason NevinsUS
51Given to FlyPearl JamUS
52The GrouchGreen DayUS
53Father of MineEverclearUS
54Mum Changed the LocksFrenzal RhombAUS
55No SurprisesRadioheadUK
56Charlie No. 3The WhitlamsAUS
57I Think I'm ParanoidGarbageUS
58I Don't Like ItPauline PantsdownAUS
59History RepeatingPropellerheads and Shirley BasseyUK
60Untouchable FaceAni DiFrancoUS
61CryThe Mavis'sAUS
62Gone AwayThe OffspringUS
63The Rockafeller SkankFatboy SlimUK
64Come On SpringAntennaAUS
65RumbleYou Am IAUS
66No ShelterRage Against the MachineUS
67The Unforgiven IIMetallicaUS
68Every Day Should Be a HolidayThe Dandy WarholsUS
69Cinnamon LipPollyannaAUS
70If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be NextManic Street PreachersUK
71HelloHappylandAUS
72Mr. CharismaFrenzal RhombAUS
73Music Sounds Better with YouStardustFRA
74My HeroFoo FightersUS
75DragulaRob ZombieUS
76Saint Joe on the School BusMarcy PlaygroundUS
77FuelMetallicaUS
78ShimmerFuelUS
79Don't Go AwayGrinspoonAUS
80Bad Old ManBabybirdUK
81Drinking in L.A.Bran Van 3000CAN
82El PresidentDrugstoreUK
83Now and ThenThe SuperjesusAUS
84Good Riddance Green DayUS
85HarpoonSomething for KateAUS
86Mama's Trippin'Ben HarperUS
87Push ItGarbageUS
88WishlistPearl JamUS
89SpecialGarbageUS
90No SubstituteChefUS
91BenedictJebediahAUS
92The Ballad of Tom JonesSpace with Cerys MatthewsUK
93UntitledSilverchairAUS
94PerfectThe Smashing PumpkinsUS
95TropicaliaBeckUS
96Redneck WonderlandMidnight OilAUS
97Black UmbrellaEvenAUS
98Baker StreetFoo FightersUS
99SaturationThe SuperjesusAUS
100Sich OffnenNot from ThereAUS

42 of the 100 songs were by Australian artists.

Artists with multiple entries

Six entries
Four entries
Three entries
Two entries
This was the last volume to be released on cassette.
A later release omits "Never There", "Got the Life", "Sweetest Thing", "Brick", "Don't You Know Who I Am", and "Everybody Here Wants You", while including "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" by Manic Street Preachers, "Untouchable Face" by Ani DiFranco, and Something for Kate's cover of "Harpoon".

2019 re-vote

After the year's Hottest 100 is played on Triple J, Double J plays the Hottest 100 from 20 years ago. In February 2019, after playing the Hottest 100 of 1998, Double J announced it would be giving listeners the chance to re-vote on "one of the most controversial Hottest 100 number ones ever".
Listeners were able to vote for a single song that was a part of the original 1998 Hottest 100, via a poll on the website. Over 66,000 votes were cast.
Notably, the original number one song retained its position, despite long-standing controversy, and only 2 songs of the original top 10 have made it into the new top 10.

New top 10

#SongArtistCountry of originPrevious position
1Pretty Fly The OffspringUS1
2! RegurgitatorAUS6
3DragulaRob ZombieUS75
4Whatareya?TISMAUS36
5I Think I'm ParanoidGarbageUS57
6The Unforgiven IIMetallicaUS67
7IntergalacticBeastie BoysUS25
8Addicted to BassJosh Abrahams & Amiel DaemionAUS16
9No ShelterRage Against the MachineUS66
10The Dope ShowMarilyn MansonUS44