Analysis: why The Veronicas Hottest 100 placement is a sign of hope for democracy 

Over the weekend Australia had its most important vote in years: The Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.

While INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart predictably won, in what will likely see the band’s 5018th attempt to reform for a comeback; much of the focus in debate has been the success of the Veronicas.

In a time of increasingly stale ‘safe’ votes from the Australian public, many pundits were predicting a larger swing to Daryl Braithwaite’s “The Horses” suggesting that the polls once again got it wrong.

While a choice like Braithwaite would have been much more popular decades ago, and some suggest that younger voters may just copy their parents’ votes, especially lower down the list, clearly there was a revolution by younger voters.

In a time of stagnation and depressing news, voters were able to stand up and support something different. Something better.

A grass roots push seen from nightclubs and playlists around the nation, one that the major players were not ready for.

There are still unknown variables about the vote that still complicate the result, like say whether a rank choice voting system could have led to Untouched and 4Ever ranking higher, with fans of The Veronicas having to split their vote between the two.

But in a time where Pauline Hanson still lingers around, it’s encouraging for Queensland to produce a success story that serves as an opposing swing against what led to the rise of One Nation.

When given a choice for the status quo of the same pub rock songs that normally arise in a vote like this (who still have a place in the make up of this country), it should inspire everyone that Australians came together for a more hopeful and energetic banger to take a seat at the table.