A grassroots Twitter campaign to have Taylor Swift included in the Triple J Hottest 100 gathered (dare we say it) swift momentum this week with the hashtag #Tay4Hottest100.

The campaign is much to the chagrin of music lovers who think Triple J should be almost exclusively alternative.

But it is a delight to Swift fans who have taken up the #Tay4Hottest100 hashtag with aplomb.

First of all, I can't deny I think Shake It Off is an incredibly catchy song that I will happily tap my foot along to. 

The "Swift debate" is purely entertaining for me because I like the song. If it One Direction or some other band I loathed, there would be a bit more frustration in this column.

But it wouldn't change the fact I think any song that gets enough votes should be included in the Hottest 100.

So should we be for or against something poppy like Shake It Off emerging into the Hottest 100? Let's take a look at both sides of the argument.

There's no reason Swift needs the Hottest 100 "crown". She is already a super-successful artist who is also very generous with her fans (hence the passion in the campaign).

Triple J has developed a great habit and talent for turning alternative "up-and-comers" into commercial successes (think Vance Joy, Gotye, Lorde and Chet Faker). 

This is both largely to loyal listeners as well as Triple J's Unearthed competitions that grant valuable airplay to finalists.

Then there is the argument that Taylor Swift hasn't had any of her songs played on Triple J this year.

That's not against the rules and it's not unheard of. 

Alanis Morrisette had three songs (You Oughta Know, Hand in My Pocket and All I Really Want) featured in the 1995 countdown. Only You Oughta Know featured on air during the year.

Green Day’s Good Riddance and U2’s Elevation also had no airplay before featuring in the countdown.

Swift's music certainly doesn't fit in with Triple J's usual style but remember Triple J was founded as a youth station, not an alternative station.

And if the "youth of today" want Swift in the Australia Day countdown, why shouldn't they?

Triple J also lists the Hottest 100 as the "world's biggest music democracy.

One of the Hottest 100 rules (listed below) says Triple J reserves the "right to remove artists from the list who have benefited from competitions or commercial campaigns".

I've read articles that say Taylor Swift songs are benefiting from being a commercial campaign. One person has even started a campaign against the singer's song's being included.

Does it extend to hashtags created by passionate fans? Probably not.

But if Triple J excluded any Taylor Swift votes, it makes a mockery of the Hottest 100 being a "music democracy". If the people vote for a song, it should be included.

A few music lovers may remember Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against the Machine taking out the UK Christmas number one slot in 2009. It was a campaign much like the current Taylor Swift one.

Sick of pop stars and television talent shows taking out the award a radio DJ launched the successful campaign resulting in more than 500,000 people buying Killing In The Name Of and securing the number one position by Christmas.

The #Tay4Hottest100 campaign is no different to that. The only difference is this is a pop star trying to infiltrate an "alternative" countdown.

And don't forget a the songs that were surprises features in the Hottest 100 then and now. 

I don't think I have fully recovered from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Thrift Shop taking out the title in 2012.

I'm sure a few people haven't forgotten Asshole by Denis Leary finishing in top spot in 1993.

Plus, despite it's massive popularity, Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) by The Offspring made it to number one in 1998.

Then there was Chumbawamba's Tumbthumping (number 3 in 1997) and Pauline Pantsdown's Back Door Man (number 7 in 1997).

Arguably, Shake It Off is a better track than all of these high performers.

Finally, the one piece of irony can't be ignored.

Swift supports great music and covered Triple J Hottest 100 winner Vance Joy during a performance in England.

And her song Shake It Off (the catchy one most likely to appear in the countdown) was covered by Milky Chance late last year.

But it really comes down to one simple thing.

If you like the song vote for it. If not leave it off your list.

Rules for voting in the Hottest 100:

1. Voting is open until midnight on Sunday January 18, 2015.

2. Songs must have had their initial release between 1 December 2013 and 30 November 2014.

3. You can vote for 10 tracks at most.

4. You can only vote once. If you vote multiple times, the system will only register your first 10 selections.

5. You cannot vote for the same song more than once.

6. You can vote for tracks that do not appear in the Hottest voting 100 lists.

7. Album tracks and singles are eligible.

8. Covers are eligible (including Like A Versions).

9. Play fair! triple j reserves the right to remove artists from the list who have benefited from competitions or commercial campaigns that incentivise fans to vote for them.