One of Australia’s most successful and enduring music acts – no, not Human Nature – The Wiggles have finally scored top spot on the ARIA album charts with their remix double album, Rewiggled.
The band’s chart-topping success follows a recent popularity renaissance with Gen Y and Gen Z audiences, many of whom grew up with the children’s entertainment group and who voted for the band’s cover of Tame Impala’s “Elephant” to win this year’s triple j Hottest 100, which it did.
Side one of Rewiggled sees the band’s most popular hits, such as “Big Red Car” and “Hot Potato” covered by some of Australia’s most talented and rocking’ young artists, including The Chats, DZ Deathrays, Spacey Jane, San Cisco, Stella Donnelly, and Emily Wurramara, among others.
Side two features The Wiggles playing “Wigglified” versions of tracks by other celebrated artists, including AC/DC, Queen, Rihanna, and James Brown.
“If you’d said to me at the beginning of the year that The Wiggles would have a number one ARIA album, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said blue Wiggle, Anthony Field.
“It’s such an incredible feeling, and I want to thank everyone who has supported us on our 30-year journey. 2022 just keeps getting better; we’re back touring again; just last weekend, we were singing with 10,000 adult fans at the Rod Laver Arena… and now this – thank you!”
Purple Wiggle, Lachy Gillespie, who sang vocals on the Hottest-100-winning Like a Version cover of Tame Impala’s “Elephant”, commented, “Achieving a number one ARIA Album position is such an honour and is testament to The Wiggles’ enduring popularity with children and adults alike.
“I want to thank everyone who bought the album, all the amazing artists that covered our songs, and the artists that allowed us to add a little Wiggly flair to their songs.”
Original red Wiggle, Murray Cook added, “When we started The Wiggles more than 30 years ago, we simply wanted to make music that children would love. And that remains at the core of what The Wiggles do today. I never in a million years thought that we’d have the honour of topping the ARIA album charts.
“As The Wiggles continue to evolve, it’s so exciting to see audiences of all ages embrace us and continue to support us. It’s been so magical to see such joy in the audience on our OG Arena Tour as young adults relive their childhood and rock out to ‘Big Red Car’.”
The Wiggles will now be hitting the road for a huge national arena tour, featuring daytime shows with the newly expanded line-up for the kiddies, and nighttime shows with the “OG Wiggles” for big kids aged 15 and over.
