Like a Version

''Like a Version'' is a long-running weekly segment on Australian youth radio station Triple J. It involves musicians playing two songs live in the Triple J studio, one of their own songs and then a cover version.

The series was created by presenter Mel Bampton in 2004 as part of the ''Mel in the Morning'' program. The title is wordplay on the song " Like a Virgin" by Madonna. Early performances were more intimate, with most covers in the first years featuring only acoustic instruments, but as the segment has evolved, recordings have moved into larger studios to accommodate full bands.

The segment has grown in popularity over the years, leading to the release of compilation CDs featuring the covers. All ''Like a Version'' performances are filmed by Triple J and are made available on their YouTube channel. Some particularly well-received covers have made it into the Triple J Hottest 100– In the 2021 countdown, the Wiggles made history as their cover of Tame Impala's "Elephant" became the first ''Like a Version'' to take out the number one spot. In 2023, Triple J celebrated 20 years of the segment with a one-off Triple J Hottest 100 of ''Like a Version''. The top spot was taken out by the DMA's cover of Cher's " Believe".

''Like a Version'' is comparable in concept to BBC Radio 1's '' Live Lounge'' and Irish Today FM's '' Even Better Than the Real Thing''.

Volume One (2005)

23-track compilation CD released in 2005 by ABC Music.

Track listing:
# Grinspoon – "The Drugs Don't Work" ( Richard Ashcroft)
# The Pictures – "Milkshake" (Pharrell Williams/ Chad Hugo)
# Jebediah – " Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
# Salmonella Dub – " Get Up, Stand Up" (Bob Marley/Peter Tosh)
# Speedstar – " There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" ( Steven Morrissey/Johnny Marr)
# Little Birdy – " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" ( Lee Hazlewood)
# The Cat Empire – " Hotel California" ( Don Felder/Don Henley/Glenn Frey)
# End of Fashion – " Quicksand" (David Bowie)
# Bertie Blackman – " Tyrone" ( Erica Wright/N. Hurt)
# Goodshirt – " Gouge Away" (The Pixies)
# Love Outside Andromeda – "Andy Warhol" (David Bowie)
# Darren Hanlon – " Don't Stop" (Christine McVie)
# Damien Rice – " When Doves Cry"* (Prince)
# John Butler Trio – " Message in a Bottle" ( Sting)
# Gorgeous – " Little Suicides" ( Anton Fier/Lori Carson)
# Lazy Susan – " Are You Old Enough" ( Paul Hewson)
# Betchadupa – " Sweet Dreams" ( Philip Judd)
# Starky – "Show a Sign of Life" ( Josh Malerman/Mark Owen)
# Serena Ryder – " Illegal Smile" ( John Prine)
# Missy Higgins – "Moses" ( Patty Griffin)
# Big Heavy Stuff – " Hyperballad" (Björk)
# Donavon Frankenreiter – " Stay Young" ( Graham Lyle/Benny Gallagher)
# Clare Bowditch – " Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)

Track 13 by Damien Rice contains a portion of Led Zeppelin's " Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" ( Anne Bredon/Jimmy Page & Robert Plant)

Volume Two (2006)

22-track compilation CD released in 2006 by ABC Music.

Track listing:
# Gyroscope – "Monument" (Jebediah)
# The Herd – " I Was Only 19" ( Redgum)
# Eels – " I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (Prince)
# Sophie Koh – " Creep" (Radiohead)
# Spoon – "Upwards at 45 Degrees" (Julian Cope)
# Sarah Blasko – "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (Elton John)
# The Drones – "Words from a Woman to Her Man" ( Beasts of Bourbon)
# Lior – " The Needle and the Damage Done" (Neil Young)
# Holidays on Ice – "The Holiday Song" (The Pixies)
# Crooked Fingers – " Long Black Veil" (Lefty Frizzell/Johnny Cash)
# Tegan and Sara – " Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen)
# Evermore – "Relapse" ( Little Birdy)
# Holly Throsby – "Mistress" ( Red House Painters)
# 67 Special – "Scar" ( Missy Higgins)
# Live@Subs – "Rolled Up" ( Long Beach Dub Allstars)
# Mia Dyson – " Can't Let Go" (Lucinda Williams)
# The Panda Band – " My Mistake" ( Split Enz)
# The Mountain Goats – "Wild World" ( The Birthday Party)
# Kate Miller-Heidke – "Little Water Song" ( Ute Lemper/Nick Cave/Bruno Pisek)
# The Tea Party – "The Maker" (Daniel Lanois)
# New Buffalo – " Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Nina Simone)
# Willy Mason – " The Way I Am" ( Merle Haggard)

Volume Three (2007)

20-track compilation CD and 10 video DVD released in 2007 by ABC Music

Track listing – CD:
# Ben Folds – " Such Great Heights" (The Postal Service)
# Sharon Jones – " This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie)
# Eskimo Joe – "Hey" ( Pixies)
# Josh Pyke – " House at Pooh Corner" (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
# The Magic Numbers – " Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé)
# Bob Evans – " Beautiful to Me" ( Little Birdy)
# Mattafix – " Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (Green Day)
# The Bellrays – " Highway to Hell" (AC/DC)
# Shout Out Louds – "Streams of Whiskey" (The Pogues)
# Pivot – "Woman" (Wolfmother)
# Custom Kings – " The Boys of Summer" ( Don Henley)
# SubAudible Hum – "Africa" ( Toto)
# Gomez – "Breakfast in America" ( Supertramp)
# Blue King Brown – " You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" ( Dawn Penn)
# The Kill Devil Hills – "Look at Miss Ohio" ( Gillian Welch)
# The Zutons – " Runaway" (Del Shannon)
# Macromantics – " Jump" ( Kris Kross)
# Broken Social Scene – "Kennel District" ( Pavement)
# Angus & Julia Stone – " Tubthumping" ( Chumbawamba)
# Something for Kate – " Rock the Casbah" (The Clash)

Track listing – DVD:
# Ben Folds – " Such Great Heights" (The Postal Service)
# Eskimo Joe – "Hey" ( Pixies)
# Bob Evans – " Beautiful to Me" ( Little Birdy)
# The Bellrays – " Highway to Hell" (AC/DC)
# Custom Kings – " The Boys of Summer" ( Don Henley)
# Gomez – "Breakfast in America" ( Supertramp)
# Blue King Brown – "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" ( Dawn Penn)
# The Kill Devil Hills – "Look at Miss Ohio" ( Gillian Welch)
# Macromantics – "Jump" ( Kris Kross)
# Something for Kate – " Rock the Casbah" (The Clash)

Volume Four (2008)

19-track compilation CD and 14 video DVD released in 2008 by ABC Music.

Track listing – CD:
# Regina Spektor – " Real Love" (John Lennon)
# Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – " Hang Me Up to Dry" ( Cold War Kids)
# The Panics – " Wide Open Road" ( The Triffids)
# C. W. Stoneking – " Seven Nation Army" (The White Stripes)
# British India – " And I Was A Boy From School" ( Hot Chip)
# Plan B – " Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" (The Smiths)
# Crowded House – " Everybody's Talkin''" (Harry Nilsson)
# Saosin – " Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper)
# Lou Rhodes – "Satellite" ( Elliott Smith)
# Dappled Cities – " More Than a Woman" (Bee Gees)
# Bit by Bats – " Orinoco Flow" (Enya)
# After The Fall – " Only the Good Die Young" (Billy Joel)
# Paul Kelly – " Rehab" (Amy Winehouse)
# Snowman – "Strange Fruit" (Billie Holiday)
# The Veils – "State Trooper" (Bruce Springsteen)
# Nouvelle Vague – " Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" (Buzzcocks)
# Jamie T – "Hoover Street" ( Rancid)
# Little Barrie – " White Light/White Heat" (The Velvet Underground)
# Émilie Simon – " I Wanna Be Your Dog" (The Stooges)

Track listing – DVD:
# Regina Spektor – " Real Love" (John Lennon)
# Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – "Hang Me Up To Dry" ( Cold War Kids)
# The Panics – "Wide Open Road" ( The Triffids)
# British India – "And I Was A Boy From School" ( Hot Chip)
# Plan B – "Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before" (The Smiths)
# Crowded House – "Everybody's Talkin’" (Harry Nilsson)
# Saosin – "Time After Time" (Cyndi Lauper)
# Lou Rhodes – "Satellite" ( Elliott Smith)
# Dappled Cities – "More Than A Woman" (Bee Gees)
# After The Fall – "Only The Good Die Young" (Billy Joel)
# Tilly and the Wall – "Kiss Off" ( Violent Femmes)
# C. W. Stoneking – "Seven Nation Army" (The White Stripes)
# Snowman – "Strange Fruit" (Billie Holiday)
# Nouvelle Vague – "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" (Buzzcocks)

Volume Five (2009)

20-track compilation CD and 14-track DVD released in November 2009 by ABC Music.

Track listing – CD:
# The Kooks – " Kids" (MGMT)
# Bob Evans – " Not Fair" (Lily Allen)
# Ben Harper & Relentless7 – " Under Pressure" (Queen and David Bowie)
# Lisa Mitchell – "Romeo and Juliet" (Dire Straits)
# Sparkadia – " This Boy's in Love" (The Presets)
# Urthboy – " London Calling" (The Clash)
# Philadelphia Grand Jury – "99 Problems" (Jay-Z)
# Little Birdy – " Do Right Woman" (Aretha Franklin)
# Whitley – " Dancing Queen" (ABBA)
# TZU – " Heavy Heart" (You Am I)
# The Drones – " Suicide Is Painless" (Johnny Mandel – theme from '' M*A*S*H'')
# The Wombats – " There She Goes" ( The La's)
# Tiki Taane – " Use Somebody" (Kings of Leon)
# Liam Finn & EJ Barnes – " Old Man" (Neil Young)
# Bertie Blackman – "In the Air Tonight" (Phil Collins)
# Bluejuice – " Every Little Step" (Bobby Brown)
# Kisschasy – "Alex Chilton" ( The Replacements)
# Mat McHugh & The Blackbird – " Only You" ( Yazoo)
# Hermitude – " Joga" (Björk)
# Holly Throsby – " Berlin Chair" (You Am I)

Track listing – DVD:
# Bob Evans – "Not Fair" – (Lily Allen)
# Little Birdy – "Do Right Woman" (Aretha Franklin)
# The Cat Empire – " Sunny Afternoon" (The Kinks)
# Dananananaykroyd – " Whip It" (Devo)
# Holly Throsby – " Berlin Chair" (You Am I)
# The Kooks – " Kids" (MGMT)
# Mia Dyson – " This Magic Moment" (Lou Reed)
# Liam Finn & EJ Barnes – "Old Man" (Neil Young)
# Ben Harper & Relentless7 – " Under Pressure" (Queen and David Bowie)
# Tiki Taane – " Use Somebody" (Kings Of Leon)
# Lisa Mitchell – " Romeo & Juliet" (Dire Straits)
# Sparkadia – " This Boy's in Love" (The Presets)
# Urthboy – " London Calling" (The Clash)
# Philadelphia Grand Jury – "99 Problems" (Jay-Z)

Weekly charts

Volume Six (2010)

21-track compilation CD and 16-track DVD released in October 2010 by ABC Music

Track listing – CD:
# The Temper Trap – " Dancing In The Dark" (Bruce Springsteen)
# Basement Birds – " My People" (The Presets)
# Grizzly Bear – " Boy from School" ( Hot Chip)
# Washington – " Santeria" ( Sublime)
# Mumford & Sons – " Unfinished Business" ( White Lies)
# The Last Kinection – " Rhythm Is a Dancer" (Snap!)
# John Butler Trio – " I Want You Back" (The Jackson 5)
# Yves Klein Blue – " Walk On The Wild Side" (Lou Reed)
# Jonathan Boulet – "Colour Television" ( Eddy Current Suppression Ring)
# Old Man River – " Clap Your Hands" ( Sia)
# Jen Cloher & Jordie Lane – " Electric Feel" (MGMT)
# Darren Hanlon – " Together in Electric Dreams" ( Philip Oakey)
# Band of Skulls – " Strict Machine" ( Goldfrapp)
# Space Invadas – " Sweet Disposition" (The Temper Trap)
# OK Go – " Wave of Mutilation" (The Pixies)
# Alexisonfire – " (I'm) Stranded" ( The Saints)
# Cloud Control – " Pursuit Of Happiness" (Kid Cudi)
# The Boat People – " Bulletproof" ( La Roux)
# Grinspoon – " When You Were Mine" (Prince)
# Miami Horror – "The Logical Song" ( Supertramp)
# Regina Spektor – " No Surprises" (Radiohead)

Track listing – DVD:
# Basement Birds – " My People" (The Presets)
# Yves Klein Blue – " Walk On The Wild Side" (Lou Reed)
# Jonathan Boulet – "Colour Television" ( Eddy Current Suppression Ring)
# Old Man River – " Clap Your Hands" ( Sia)
# Jen Cloher & Jordie Lane – " Electric Feel" (MGMT)
# Darren Hanlon – " Together in Electric Dreams" ( Philip Oakey)
# Band of Skulls – " Strict Machine" ( Goldfrapp)
# Space Invadas – " Sweet Disposition" (The Temper Trap)
# OK Go – " Wave of Mutilation" (The Pixies)
# Alexisonfire – " (I'm) Stranded" ( The Saints)
# Cloud Control – " Pursuit Of Happiness" (Kid Cudi)
# The Boat People – " Bulletproof" ( La Roux)
# Miami Horror – "The Logical Song" ( Supertramp)
# Regina Spektor – " No Surprises" (Radiohead)
# Ernest Ellis – "New York, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down" (LCD Soundsystem)
# The Soft Pack – "Hang Fire" (The Rolling Stones)

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Volume Seven (2011)

23-track compilation CD and 15-track DVD released in November 2011 by ABC Music.

Track listing – CD:
# Owl Eyes – " Pumped Up Kicks" ( Foster the People)
# Plan B – " Runaway" (Kanye West)
# Art vs. Science – " Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (Daft Punk)
# Andy Bull – " Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (Tears for Fears)
# Busby Marou – " Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper)
# Sarah Blasko – " Hey Ya!" (OutKast)
# Dialectrix – " Buy My A Pony" ( Spiderbait)
# Kaiser Chiefs – "Record Collection" ( Mark Ronson & the Business Intl.)
# Stonefield – " Magic Carpet Ride" ( Steppenwolf)
# Angus & Julia Stone – " Say It Right" (Nelly Furtado)
# Eskimo Joe – "Somebody That I Used to Know" (Gotye & Kimbra)
# Children Collide – " Reckless" (Australian Crawl)
# Adalita – " Burning Up" (Madonna)
# The Vines – "Clint Eastwood" (Gorillaz)
# Eagle and the Worm – "Tightrope" (Janelle Monáe & Big Boi)
# The Kills – "One Silver Dollar" (Marilyn Monroe)
# Oh Mercy – " Evil Woman" (Electric Light Orchestra)
# Gossling – " Dance the Way I Feel" ( Ou Est le Swimming Pool)
# Paul Dempsey – " Daniel" ( Bat For Lashes)
# Calling All Cars – " Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" (Arctic Monkeys)
# The Beards – " Sharp Dressed Man" (ZZ Top)
# Sally Seltmann – "You're So Vain" (Carly Simon)
# The Seabellies – " Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?" ( The Angels)

Track listing – DVD:
# Owl Eyes – " Pumped Up Kicks" ( Foster the People)
# Plan B – " Runaway" (Kanye West)
# Art vs. Science – " Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" (Daft Punk)
# Andy Bull – " Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (Tears for Fears)
# Sarah Blasko – " Hey Ya!" (OutKast)
# Dialectrix – " Buy Me A Pony" ( Spiderbait)
# Stonefield – " Magic Carpet Ride" ( Steppenwolf)
# Angus & Julia Stone – " Say It Right" (Nelly Furtado)
# Eskimo Joe – "Somebody That I Used To Know" (Gotye & Kimbra)
# Children Collide – " Reckless" (Australian Crawl)
# Adalita – " Burning Up" (Madonna)
# The Vines – "Clint Eastwood" (Gorillaz)
# Oh Mercy – " Evil Woman" (Electric Light Orchestra)
# Paul Dempsey – " Daniel" ( Bat for Lashes)
# Sally Seltmann – "You're So Vain" (Carly Simon)

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Volume Eight (2012)

21-track compilation CD and 14-track DVD released in October 2012 by ABC Music.

Track listing – CD:
# Bluejuice – "Video Games" (Lana Del Rey)
# Hilltop Hoods – " So What'cha Want" (Beastie Boys)
# Boy & Bear – " Walking on a Dream" ( Empire of the Sun)
# City and Colour – " Settle Down" (Kimbra)
# Missy Higgins – " Hearts a Mess" (Gotye)
# Electric Guest – " Ritual Union" ( Little Dragon)
# Austra – "None Of Dem" (Robyn)
# Husky – " Need You Tonight" (INXS)
# Jinja Safari – " Ignition (Remix)" ( R. Kelly)
# Josh Pyke – "Endless Summer" ( The Jezabels)
# The Herd feat. Radical Son, Nooky & Sky'High – " A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
# Matt Corby – " Lonely Boy" (The Black Keys)
# Julia Stone – "Feeding Line" ( Boy & Bear)
# Deep Sea Arcade – " Let Forever Be" (The Chemical Brothers)
# Jebediah – "Apartment" (Custard)
# Ladyhawke – "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane)
# Bon Iver – "Coming Down" (Anaïs Mitchell