Triple M has begun its Essential Countdown of the 2005 best songs ‘ever written and recorded since the beginning of time’.

In what is a radical shift – at times – in the playlist, the countdown includes songs such as ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra, through to MC Hammer’s ‘U Can’t Touch This’ and ‘Born To Be Alive’ by ’70s cringer and one hit wonder, Patrick Hernandez.

Tracks even go back as far as Bill Haley and The Comets, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Beach Boys and Cream.

Other big names include Dire Straits, Queen, U2, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Eagles, Bee Gees, Creedence, Chicago, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen.

And, of course, there are still today’s big names like Powderfinger, 1200 techniques, Sheryl Crow, Limp Bizkit, Train, Creed, Moby, John Butler Trio, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte and Robbie Williams.

Triple M Music Director, Mickey Maher has told The Daily Telegraph’s Sydney Confidential the 2005 songs have been nominated in recent weeks by listeners.

“I’m surprised there are no Kylie tracks because I thought a lot of our male listeners would have nominated her just to spark visions of those hotpants.”

The songs are playing in order of popularity/how many votes they received via sms or on triplem.com.au

The Essential Countdown, which began on Boxing Day, runs until Australia Day.