PREDICTABLY The Wiggles finishing first in the triple j Hottest 100 this year for their Like A Version cover of Tame Impala's Elephant sparked a torrid of outrage about the national youth broadcaster and the state of music.
What's even less surprising is The Wiggles quickly identified the success of Elephant as a prime marketing opportunity. Whatever you wanna to say about those big red car-driving children's entertainers, you can't deny they know marketing.
So along comes the double album, ReWiggled. The first half features modern Australian acts like Spacey Jane, San Cisco, Stella Donnelly and The Chats performing Wiggles covers, while on side two The Wiggles re-imagine rock'n'roll classics like Shipping Up To Boston (Dropkick Murphys), Thunderstruck (AC/DC) and Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen).
There's an obvious nostalgia attached to The Wiggles, with current triple j listeners being the first generation of young adults who would have listened to Anthony, Greg, Jeff and Murray from birth. Many of the musicians featured on side one, fit into that category and their respect and love is apparent.
Polish Club turn Apples & Bananas into a rocking polka, while San Cisco's makeover of H.O.L.I.D.A.Y re-creates a simple children's song into a sunny disco track. Emily Wurramara's voice is fragile as glass on her stirring folk version of Dressing Up.
Not every cover is so respectfully recorded. The Chats' version of Can You (Point Your Fingers and Do the Twist?) sounds like a garage piss-take, as does the simplistic Hot Potato by DZ Deathrays.
The most intriguing song on part two is hearing The Wiggles turn AC/DC's Thunderstruck into a Scottish ballad full of droning bagpipes and twinkling piano. New yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins shows of her pipes on Rihanna's Umbrella and again on The White Stripes' We're Going To Be Friends, which could have easily been a Wiggles song.
ReWiggled is plenty of fun, which can be enjoyed by both parents and their kids. Don't be surprised if a few tracks end up in the 2022 Hottest 100. We know how the kids love their childhood nostalgia.
3 stars
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
