How well do you remember you listening habits from 20 years ago?
Well, as we prepare to relive the Hottest 100 of 2003, combing back over the full list has made us realise that we're a little foggy on some of the tunes.
Despite all earning the majority of the voting public's attention back in the day, we're not so sure the following songs have maintained high rotation in the two decades since.
But hey, who doesn't love having their nostalgia bone tickled?
Join us in counting down the full Hottest 100 of 2003 on Saturday 3 February (one week after triple j's Hottest 100 of 2023).
Cody ChesnuTT – 'Look Good In Leather'
Cody Chesnutt was hot 'One To Watch' property in 2003 after his song 'The Seed' was reworked by The Roots to become of their most well-recognised and loved hits: a big, strutting slice of soulful rap that earned the hip hop group's sole Hottest 100 entry, in 2003.
However, you'd be forgiven for not remembering that Chestnutt actually charted one spot higher that same countdown, landing at #74 with a cut from his 2022 debut The Headphone Masterpiece – a 36-track double disc recorded DIY in his bedroom.
His career never quite hit the same highs, following a string of albums that dried up in 2017, but 'Look Good In Leather' still holds up today as a funky, feel-good number. – AN
The Bens – 'Just Pretend'
This short-lived supergroup, consisting of Ben Folds, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee, was bolstered by a standalone EP and a 2003 Australian tour. Think of it as boygenius for meek, middle-class white guys.
If you're a diehard of any of The Bens' individual songwriters, you're probably lamenting that it was the studio version rather than a superior live recording that gate-crashed triple j's Hottest 100. For everybody else, it's probably just an interesting piece of trivia.
Sure, 'Just Pretend' is a pleasant little ditty with some gorgeous vocal harmonies but with the benefit of hindsight, we can probably all agree that it's not the most significant work from anyone involved. Besides, any self-respecting fan should know that 'Bruised' is the better song. Don't @ me. – AN
Amiel – 'Lovesong'
You'll definitely remember Amiel Daemion from 'Addicted To Bass' – her late '90s hit with Josh Abrahams (credited to Puretone overseas). It's a classic of the era. So, it was surprising when Amiel pivoted to a singer-songwriter sound for 2003 solo album Audio Out.
Sassy lead single 'Lovesong' shades the whole dating game with biting lyrics and a textbook example of how to effectively spice up a memorable chorus with a well-placed F-bomb. The song was successful, earning Amiel multiple ARIAs but lost out to Delta Goodrem and overshadowed by contemporaries like Missy Higgins and The Waifs.
Twenty years on, it's still an underrated gem, with one writer hailing it as "The greatest Australian pop song of the 21st century." Okay, steady on! But they do make a good argument for how the track's cynical take on dating has gained even greater significance in the fractured romantic worlds of 2023. – AN
Epicure – 'Armies Against Me'
Look, maybe you do remember this song. What you probably don't remember is just how high it landed in the 2003 Hottest 100.
At number 21, Epicure's 'Armies Against Me' beat out the likes of The Living End's 'Who's Gonna Save Us?', Electric Six's 'Danger! High Voltage', The Cat Empire's 'Days Like These' and Missy Elliott's 'Work It'.
That might seem wild now, but when you hear the song it's easy to understand how it ranked so highly. Its straightforward pop-rock form was a perfect fit alongside acts like Powderfinger, Little Birdy, Pete Murray, and Something For Kate, who were all enjoying big success.
What's particularly impressive is that the band scored two spots in the countdown that year, meaning they were basically competing against themselves. Had the votes not been split, maybe they would have cracked the top 20!
Alban is still making music, he released this new tune a couple of months back. – DC
Love Outside Andromeda – 'Something White and Sigmund'
Technically this band was called Andromeda when they made the Hottest 100 in 2003, but who cares what they were called, all that matters is that you rediscover this hidden gem of the 2003 countdown.
'Something White and Sigmund' is a jangly piece of indie rock that takes off in all manner of directions once it gets going. While it often feels like a significant nod to PJ Harvey, the band retains their own unique character thanks largely to Sianna Lee's glorious and unexpected vocal acrobatics and the unpredictable nature of the whole arrangement.
Good news to fans of the band, both old and new. They are back together, have played a couple of recent shows, and will reportedly have a new record out in the coming months. – DC
Offcutts – 'Break It (Down James Brown)'
One of the homegrown iterations of the many, MANY rock revival duos that blossomed in the wake of The White Stripes, Offcutts also peppered a little soul and hip hop swagger into their sound.
Their big breakthrough was this catchy, no-nonsense jam, which was rinsed on triple j and – if Wikipedia is to be believed – soundtracked a Super Bowl ad.
Offcutts wouldn't last the decade, calling it quits in 2008 with just two albums to their name. However, drummer-vocalist Tommy Spender is still in the game, as a solo artist and one half of Double J favourites Mama Kin Spender. The more you know! – AN
Gus and Frank – 'So Entertaining'
This one really had me stumped. I kept looking at the band name and the song title and just came up completely blank. No recollection whatsoever.
After hitting play, I still couldn't tell you anything about Gus & Frank, but I was singing along by the time its excellent chorus ended. How could I have forgotten this song? It was absolutely rinsed in the early 2000s, becoming a Net 50 (RIP) favourite and even landing the band a slot on The Panel.
'So Entertaining' has a clear Violent Femmes influence thanks largely to Frank's lovesick, Gordon Gano-esque vocal, the band's acoustic instrumentation, and their generally playful take on pop-rock. It's clearly that chorus that really helped it catch our attention, I've been unable to dislodge it from my brain for days.
Hottest 100 voters love a song that doesn't take itself too seriously, so we're not at all surprised that this tune found its way into the 2003 countdown. – DC
Hear the Hottest 100 of 2003 on Double J from 10am on Saturday 3 February. Tune in right here.