Change My Mind: These Are Our Favourites To Win The Hottest 100

Ball Park Music - Cherub
Picked by: Daniel Cribb

How have Ball Park Music never topped the Hottest 100?

While it might not be the upbeat partystarter that the Brisbane rockers have become known for, Cherub is something special and provides a certain comfort, one that was sorely needed in 2020.

Frontman Sam Cromack described the song as “pure escapism” upon its release, elaborating that “it felt easy to imagine a character who runs away and rips a phone number from a flyer to start a new life”, something many have probably wanted to do throughout the COVID pandemic.

The band’s self-titled record (our Album Of The Week), which dropped in October, proved they still have an adoring fan base too, one that helped sell out a string of special hometown shows last year and no doubt championed them when it came to Hottest 100 voting (and its accompanying social media boasting).

As a random YouTube commenter put it, “[Cherub] reminds me of a feeling I have had my whole life that I still don’t understand.” We couldn’t agree more.

Machine Gun Kelly - forget me too feat. Halsey
Picked by: Neil Griffiths

Alright, fine, this might be more of a 'swing for the fences' guess but we can all agree this was one of the best songs to come out of 2020, can't we?

After engaging in one of the more public beefs in recent times with none other than Eminem, Machine Gun Kelly surprised most when he announced he'd be releasing a pop punk album and, guided by blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, Tickets To My Downfall proved to be one of last year's highlights. 

Peaking at #1 in the US and #2 here in Australia, the record is littered with hit tracks with some expected to rank in this weekend's Hottest 100, including concert for aliens and, of course, forget me too. Turns out Kelly + Barker + Halsey = a pretty killer combination. 

Some say it reminds them of a Paramore song, others say it reminds them of early '00s pop punk. Simply put, it is a brilliant track and you should expect to see it at the top end of the Hottest 100.

Cardi B - WAP feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Picked by: Jessica Dale

Look, us thinking that WAP will take out the Hottest 100 shouldn't come as a surprise to you - it was The Music writers favourite track of the year in our 2020 song of the year poll. 

While it might be an obvious choice, that's for a damn good reason; the song was everywhere in 2020, smashed a heap of records (including breaking the record for most weeks at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart for a female-led hip hop song - a title that was still held by Salt-N-Pepa's Let's Talk About Sex from their four weeks at #1 in 1992) and firmly planted Cardi B and collaborator Megan Thee Stallion at the top of the game. 

WAP might be the most controversial song of the year (looking at you Ben Shapiro and Snoop Dogg) but it's also one of the most subversive we've seen in years and it would be a huge win to see it at the top of the Hottest 100. 

Honourable Mentions
2020 turned out some huge tracks, here's who we're expecting to see in the top 20: 

Glass Animals - Heat Waves
Miiesha - Twisting Words
Mashd N Kutcher - Get On The Beers feat. Dan Andrews
Tame Impala - Lost In Yesterday
Tkay Maidza - Shook
Stace Cadet & KLP - Energy
Spacey Jane - Booster Seat
Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am
The Kid LAROI - Wrong feat. Lil Mosey 

The triple j Hottest 100 countdown kicks off at 12pm (AEST) this Saturday 23 January. Head here for more info.