Since 2004, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation owned radio station, Triple J, has been hosting musicians in their studio every Friday morning at 8AM. Giving these artists a chance to play one of their original songs, as well as a song that they love by somebody else. They call the series, “Like a Version.”
The station, which appeals to the ears of alternative music listeners, has brought in various big name acts in the past, including Billie Eilish, Childish Gambino, Lorde, Arctic Monkeys, and HAIM among others.
Recently, the station has begun a fan-powered contest to determine Triple J’s Hottest 100 Like a Version’s of all time. The contest will conclude on Saturday July 15th, with the Hottest 100 countdown, when you’ll be able to listen to see if your picks made the cut.
It certainly wasn’t easy, but we put together a list of our Top 10 Triple J Like a Version covers, which you can check out below!
#10 – Elephant – The Wiggles
Yes, you read that right. The Wiggles. The Australian kid rock band took the internet by storm when they covered Tame Impala’s popular song, “Elephant” for the Like a Version series in March of 2021. In the middle of the song, they transition into their original track, “Fruit Salad.” Staying true to their playful image, bassist Anthony Field, even dawns an elephant head in the song.
#9 - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) — The Wombats
Last June, the Wombats stopped by the Triple J studio, and put their own twist on the song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by fellow British artist, Kate Bush. The song originally released in August of 1985, found recent success again, when featured in the popular Netflix series, Stranger Things.
#8 – Record Collection – Kaiser Chiefs
In 2011, Kaiser Chiefs, the Leeds based outfit, dropped in on Triple J and covered Mark Ronson & Business Intl.’s, “Record Collection.” Giving the hip hop style song a bit of a more alternative rock edge with the vocals of lead singer Ricky Wilson.
#7 - Read My Mind — Catfish and the Bottlemen
Van McCann, of Catfish and the Bottlemen, performed a cover of The Killer’s, “Read My Mind” in January of 2015, while promoting the release of the band’s debut album The Balcony.
Entering the second verse of the song, McCann begins to sing the wrong part of the song, and promptly letting out, “Oh, I sang the wrong verse, can I carry on? Does anyone mind me just carrying on like that? Live music, what the kids want? Okay, let's go!” It’s the imperfections that reflect the authenticity of this performance that make it one to remember!
#6 – Believe – DMA’S
DMA’S, from Sydney, Australia, took it old-school when they went into the studio to record their Like a Version session, opting to do a rendition of Cher’s iconic hit, “Believe.” DMA’S lead singer Tommy O’Dell leans into the track making you believe as if it’s their own.
#5 – Electric Feel – Tash Sultana
Rocking out the Triple J studio while barefoot and working an abundance of guitar pedals, Tash Sultana weaves her way through the melodic waves of MGMT’s hit track “Electric Feel.” Building the song using her signature looping strategy, Sultana builds the anticipation before ripping into the listener with her hypnotic vocals.
#4 – Delete – Sticky Fingers
The Australian natives, Sticky Fingers and Triple J have a rather tumultuous past working together. In June 2018 it was revealed that the station had unofficially blacklisted the band from being played on the station since April of 2018, following a controversial interview with frontman Dylan Frost. However, before the rocky patch in their relationship, the group graced the station with some of its best covers to date, this time taking on the DMA’S, “Delete.”
#3 – I Will Follow You into the Dark – YUNGBLUD & Halsey
YUNGBLUD and Halsey have both respectively had phenomenal careers up to this point. Both amassing large fan bases and selling out venues worldwide, and from 2018-2019 the two seemed to spark up a relationship. During which time, in February of 2019, they collaborated and turned Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You into the Dark” into a duet at the Triple J studio, making for a special and rather romantic performance.
#2 – Crazy – Glass Animals
Since the release of Glass Animals’ third album Dreamland, the group has enjoyed widespread success, even garnering more than 25-million monthly listeners on Spotify. However, before they were selling out arenas, they were doing media promotion tours, even making a stop in at Triple J to cover Gnarls Barkley’s, “Crazy.”
#1 – All My Friends – Gang of Youths
Finally, rounding off our list at #1, we have Like a Version veteran’s Gang of Youths, and their cover of LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends.” The two tracks couldn’t sound further apart, with the only clear resemblance being the lyrics of the song. Gang of Youths took “All My Friends” and put their own mark on it. I’d go as far as saying I enjoy Gang of Youths version of the song far more than the iconic LCD Soundsystem’s.
The track starts out with the isolated vocals and guitar of lead singer Dave Le'aupepe, playing in a crowded sound booth. As the song progresses it grows like an orchestra, piece by piece, instrument by instrument. Eventually amounting into a high-tempo crescendo. If you haven’t heard/seen it already, do yourself a favor and go check it out.