Nothing makes ABC listeners “feel good” more than Beethoven’s Ode To Joy, which has has topped ABC Classic’s 2024 Classic 100: Feel Good survey.

Gustav Holst’s The Planets and Georges Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers secured second and third place, respectively, but it was Beethoven’s enduring masterpiece that ultimately won the hearts and minds of music enthusiasts across the country.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor – famous for its finale Ode To Joy – has now topped the annual ABC Classic 100 countdown for a fourth time.

“We know that ‘feel good’ means different things for everyone and that was reflected through voters’ music choices,” said ABC Classic Manager Kat McGuffie.

Darwin Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in 2023. Photo © Paz Tassone

Demonstrating a shift from previous countdowns, 25 of the pieces chosen were composed for the screen. This is the highest number from any countdown that wasn’t focused on music from film, TV or video games.

The music of Star Wars by composer John Williams featured strongly, as did Joe Hisaishi’s scores for the Studio Ghibli films. The themes for Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli also made an appearance, with Joff...