Special Sub-Topic: Triple J Hottest 100, 1989 Click Here To Play: Triple J Hottest 100, 1989

What was the inaugural number one for the countdown?

Joy Division - "Love Will Tear Us Apart". "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was released after singer Ian Curtis committed suicide and went on to be their biggest hit, reaching number one in New Zealand. The song went on to reach number one in the countdown again in 1990.

What was the first song ever played in the countdown, making number 100?

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "The Mercy Seat". "The Mercy Seat" was the first of two songs in the countdown by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Nick Cave was one of two artists to feature in the first six countdowns, with three songs making the top 20. The other artist was The Cure.

Which of these artists received the most entries in the countdown?

All of these are correct (The Smiths, Hunters & Collectors, The Cure). There were a total of four artists with four entries, with Elvis Costello being the other one. All four of these artists managed to make the top 20. Along with these entrants, there were also five artists who managed three entries.

Which artist managed to secure two top ten entries?

Hunters & Collectors. Hunters & Collectors just missed out on the top spot, making number two with "Throw Your Arms Around Me". In addition to this, they were the only artist to have two top ten entries, as "Talking to a Stranger" made number eight.

How many songs in the countdown were by Australian artists?

26. In addition to having the top two Australian entries, Hunters & Collectors also had the most entries for an Australian artist, with four. Also adding to the 26 entries were The Saints and The Go-Betweens, who both had three entries.

Which American song made the top ten?

Dead Kennedys - "Holiday in Cambodia". Even though about a quarter of the songs in the countdown were by American artists, "Holiday in Cambodia" was the only one to make the top ten, making number six. The only other American song in the top 20 was "Rock Lobster" by the B-52's, which made number 14.

Which artist was the closest to having consecutive entries, with only one place separating their two songs?

Elvis Costello. Elvis Costello's two lowest songs in the countdown, "Pump it Up" and "Watching the Detectives" made numbers 71 and 73 respectively. They were only separated by the number 72 song, "Bachelor Kisses" by The Go-Betweens.

How many entries did the number one artist receive?

One. Since Joy Division did not have any other entries, they didn't have their votes divided between different songs, which helped them reach number one. The only other song by Joy Division to make the countdown was "Atmosphere", which made number 84 in 1990.

Which song made the top ten in 1989, but failed to even make the countdown in 1991?

The Sugarcubes - "Birthday". While many of the top ten songs started to fall, "Birthday" was the only one which fell out completely. Only four of the original top ten songs stayed in the top ten, and only two of them improved on their position.

Whose cover of "All Along the Watchtower" made the countdown?

The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The cover made number 49, and made the next two countdowns as well. In the 1998 Hottest 100 of All Time, it was the second oldest song listed, behind "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles. The original version by Bob Dylan failed to make the countdown.