This is where the world divided itself in the music scene, Australia was all about EDM, NZ was jamming to rnb and hip hop, the UK fawned over britpop and Canada couldn't get enough of rock n roll
This was another inevitable reappearance for this site of mine, naturally the singles from Mariah's third album were much bigger over in NZ given how much the kiwis had embraced both RNB and diva ballads by this point in time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Dreamlover #2
Hero #2
Without you #1
Anytime you need a friend #5
It may shock you to learn that Celine Dion wasn't as inescapably successful in NZ as she was throughout the rest of the world, mainly because she never quite had a number one hit over there likely due to being overshadowed by the likes of Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton. That said she was still one of the biggest names of the 90's there both with her singles and especially her albums.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
When I fall in love #22
The power of love #7
Misled #31
Think twice #20
It looks like the kiwis were also intrigued with what U2 wanted to do with their sound throughout the decade, indeed their venture towards industrial music paid off for them as it was also a huge success over there as it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Numb #13
Lemon #4
Stay #6
Just like in Australia, this was the biggest album in Pearl Jam's career in NZ following the huge success of their debut album from two years prior. Unlike in Australia, this managed to spawn a huge hit for them over there as did their next album which made them more of a singles band as far as the kiwis were concerned.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Go #2
Daughter #11
Animal #7
Even before the film swept the academy awards, Forrest Gump was a cultural landmark upon its initial release which allowed it and its soundtrack to become a massive success back in the day. Nowadays its legacy has been diminished partly due to bad faith criticisms of it glorifying ableism but mostly for it winning over the likes of Pulp fiction and the Shawshank redemption.
Peak position #1x10
This might be a shock to my readers, but Rage against the machine would up having one of the biggest albums of the decade in NZ with their debut largely because it spawned multiple hits over there (albeit minor hits save for the lead single.) They even had massive success with their second album later in the decade, making them the Faith no more equivalent of an American band who scored more success outside of their native America in NZ.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Killing in the name #8
Bombtrack #11
Freedom #17
Bullet in the head #19
This was more of a success for the Smashing pumpkins in NZ than it was here in Australia, mainly due to the singles being able to chart over there which they didn't over here (save for "Disarm" which was the reason the album became a success in Australia.) Their next album would be even bigger due to the singles again being more successful over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Cherub rock #16
Today #27
Disarm #29
Rocket #26
This proved to be even more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia, proving that even in the end the kiwis loved anything that Pink Floyd had to offer which makes the A.V club's claim that this album's existence was pointless all the more confusing in retrospect.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Take it back #7
Like in Australia, things could've been better for Bryan Adams by this point in his career, although unlike in Australia this was as good as things would get for him as his popularity would begin to dwindle over there after this greatest hits album.
Peak position #1x13
Hit singles
Please forgive me #7
These guys were on a roll with this album as it proved to be a huge success for them in NZ despite it only being a modest success here in Australia and throughout most parts of the world. Then again, they did begin the decade with the mammoth success of their second Labour of love album without any input of how the Americans would react to the album from earlier in the decade.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Falling in love with you #1
Higher ground #8
Bring me your cup #7
C'est la vie #7
Reggae music #48
At least this debut album from Pearl jam was more of an immediate success in NZ than it was in Australia, although like Australia it was a hit several times throughout the decade due to how the band's popularity grew with each subsequent album in the 90's.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Alive #20
Even flow #20
Jeremy #34
Oceans #16
It appears the kiwis were more in love with Ace of Base then us Aussies back in the day, although the reason should be obvious as they incorporated reggae into their sound which was inescapable on the NZ charts from around this time. At least we Aussies kept them around for their second album due to our love of EDM, NZ on the other hand quickly discarded them the following year.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
All that she wants #3
Happy nation #22
The sign #1
Don't turn around #8
This is a remix album of Deep Forest's debut album, an album that was a flop for the French duo in NZ which makes this albums success over there somewhat confusing as this was a dance remix of their new age material. This was a minor success here in Australia because of our love for EDM at the time, however it appears the kiwis were the ones who really wanted to boogie with this album.
Peak position #4
I guess it was inevitable that there would be a NZ equivalent of the Red-hot chili peppers this decade, indeed there was as this debut album from Supergroove was a massive success for them likely due to how popular their Californian equivalent was worldwide. It could also be due to all of the hits that it managed to spawn over there making them prime for a crossover in Australia that never ended up happening.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
You gotta know #4
Scorpio girls #3
Can't get enough #1
Sitting inside my head #6
Given how Seal was already one of the biggest names in music in NZ from earlier in the decade, it makes sense that his second self-titled album would be a huge success over there upon its immediate release even with him changing from EDM to RNB on the album. Of course, it rebounded on their charts when the second single was chosen as the main theme for the Batman forever film a year after its release.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Prayer for the dying #13
Kiss from a rose #24
Newborn friend #24
Kiss from a rose (rerelease) #16
It was the sequel to the 1977 classic no one was asking for, but everyone was nonetheless grateful for when it came out due to it somehow recapturing the magic from the original fifteen years after its initial release. It was a massive success in NZ as it was everywhere else in the world proving that rock operas from the 70's had held up remarkably well even during the age of RNB and EDM.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
I'd do anything for love #1
Rock and roll dreams come through #6
Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are #32
This albums success in NZ was inevitable given the circumstances of when it was released, in fact I'm a bit surprised it wasn't even more of a success over there given how much bigger Nirvana was in NZ compared to Australia.
Peak position #1x1
This was back in the day where they house of mouse could do no wrong in the eyes of the general public (how the times have changed) so naturally the soundtrack to their most lucrative 2d film would be a huge success for them even though Elton John's popularity was quickly dying out throughout the world.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Can you feel the love tonight #7
Circle of life #13
Well Sade had plenty more success over in NZ throughout the 80's than they did in Australia, so it's little wonder that M People would follow suit with this trend as they also managed to be even bigger over there than they were over here. Interestingly the songs that charted over there apart from the lead single were also different to the ones that charted over here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Moving on up #4
Don't look any further #4
Renaissance #27
There were no signs of R.E.M slowing down anywhere in the world except for their native America when they released their third album of the 90's, in fact they were more popular in the UK by this point as they had struggled to find any success on the Billboard charts with this album as did everyone at the time who wasn't signed to a major label.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
What's the frequency Kenneth #4
Bang and blame #17
Well, I guess you can't talk about Deep Forest without mentioning their German counterparts, so here's the second album from Enigma which managed to be an even bigger success in NZ due to it spawning a hit single over there much like their first album from earlier in the decade. Their popularity would fade after this as did most new age artists due to the trends turning against them.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Return to innocence #5
The eyes of truth #12
Just a fair warning that when it comes to the east coast/west coast rivalry in the 90's, the kiwis are on the firm side of the west coast as just about every west coast rapper had some degree of success over there back in the day. One of the earliest success stories was Cypress hill who admittedly needed a push for success which came this year when they scored a massive hit with one of the songs from their second album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Insane in the brain #12
I ain't going out like that #6
When the shit goes down #5
You knew there'd be a NZ equivalent of the Jesus Christ superstar at some point in time, well here's the soundtrack to that show which was a massive success over there despite it lacking that his single that the Australian show produced two years prior.
Peak position #8
This was a massive hit for the Crash test dummies over in NZ, more so than it was in Australia despite their big crossover hit not being as big over there as it was over here. Indeed, the singles were less successful overall due to their only other charting hit failing to become a success over there like it was in their native Canada.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Mmm mmm mmm mmm #4
Afternoons and coffeespoons #41
One of the most critically acclaimed films of the 90's was Once were warriors, a NZ film that portrays domestic violence in a way that had rarely been done prior to its release, that is with dignity and respect. It was a massive hit in its homeland and in Australia, although the soundtrack didn't really crossover here due to the singles not charting like they did in its homeland.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
What's the time Mr. wolf #3
Tahi #9
Given how inescapable these guys were in NZ for their first album, you'd think this would've been a success over there upon its initial release from the previous year. You'd be wrong as much like here in Australia, this needed the assistance of Four weddings and a funeral of all things in order for it to become a success over there.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Love is all around #1
This was an even bigger success in NZ for Crowded house, suggesting that the kiwis preferred these guys the less they sounded like Split Enz (that or they just found their full niche over there in the 90's rather than the 80's.) It really does make you wonder why they decided to call it quits later in the decade considering how well they were doing in both countries in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Distant sun #5
Nails in my feet #11
Together alone #37
Pineapple head #50
Well, this album had little issues with being a success for Toni Braxton upon its initial release in NZ, mainly because she didn't need to wait for her big hit from the album to become as such in the UK before it crossed over there like it did here in Australia. With that said, her popularity over there dwindled rather quickly as her second album didn't see the same level of success as it did here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Another sad love song #44
Breathe again #2
You mean the world to me #32
Here's a repeat entry from the soundtrack to that long-forgotten Uma Thurman film that KD Lang provided, like Australia it was this soundtrack that catapulted her success in NZ she had with her earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #10
Although this didn't chart as high in NZ as it did here in Australia, the trade-off was that this lasted much longer on their charts due to it spawning several minor hits over there in addition to their one inescapable hit they had around this time. Nowadays it's only known for two reasons, it being the launching pad for frontwoman Linda Perry's career as a songwriter and for how hated the lead single remains to this day.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
What's up #2
Spaceman #23
Dear Mr president #40
This had the same approach to its success in NZ as it did in Australia, namely it was released two years prior to deafening silence likely due to audiences being initially put off by her coming out as a lesbian (the 90's were different people) before getting a second chance this year due to the success of a long-forgotten Uma Thurman film she provided the soundtrack to.
Peak position #1x1
I'm shocked that Tom Petty never had much success here in Australia given how heartland rock was always one of the more popular genres here back in the day, fortunately he was much more popular in NZ which is why this greatest hits package from him and his band was such a huge success over there this year.
Peak position #2
This was only a success in NZ this year, not even us Aussies were interested in revisiting the classics from Pat Benatar which should give you an idea of how underrated she was back in the day as she has since found her discography on the oldie's stations here.
Peak position #2
One of the funniest films to come out of the 90's was Cool Runnings, a Disney flick that tells a fictional story about the first Jamaican bob sledge team that remains heartwarming to this day (as inaccurate as the story is to real life.) The kiwis certainly loved this movie back in the day, so much so that the soundtrack and its lead single were both massive hits over there.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I can see clearly now #1
This wasn't as big a hit for Boyz II Men in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis were more interested in making the singles a success over there given how the singles were indeed more popular there than they were here back in the day. It could also be a sense of overexposure as the band would start to see diminishing returns over there as the decade went on.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
I'll make love to you #1
On bended knee #4
Thank you #17
Water runs dry #19
While the kiwis weren't as impressed that hell froze over to allow the Eagles to reunite for their Hell freezes over tour (I still can't believe that was how it was described in the press back then) they obviously had nostalgia for the back catalogue from the band which is why this greatest hits package was a success over there. I guess this also wasn't bigger because their last best of album was a hit a mere three years prior.
Peak position #3
This proved to be more of a success for Eric Clapton in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing the kiwis were more willing to keep him around following the success of his appearance on MTV two years prior even if his popularity came to an end once his final hit "Change the world" dropped off the charts worldwide.
Peak position #2
It appears the kiwis weren't as into the soundtrack for this film as we Aussies were given how much less successful it was over there compared to here, although it might also be due to the success of its theme song being transferred to Wet wet wet's earlier entry on this list over there given how much more popular that was over there compared to over here.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Love is all around #1
Given how "Black hole sun" wasn't a hit over there for Soundgarden like it was here in Australia, this breakthrough album from the band didn't wind up being as popular in NZ as it was here down under which is why it's much lower on this list. Still, they did manage to have a massive hit with their next album two years later over there that they certainly didn't have over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Spoonman #10
Black hole sun #22
My wave #46
This proved to be more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because it's technically a NZ film as well as an Australian production and this was back when the kiwis really did look out for their own when it came to their entertainment industry. Aside from that, the trajectory this soundtrack had over there was the same as it skyrocketed in popularity when the film swept the Oscars.
Peak position #3
This was the second greatest hits package to be released from the Police since their breakup in 1984, I guess it became a success this year in NZ to mark the tenth anniversary where the trio had called it quits even though this was released two years prior from their label.
Peak position #1x1
This is another entry that should be higher on the list as it was a bigger success over in NZ than some of the entries that outrank it, but its success was in the lower half of the charts for the most part. It was the second album from the Mutton birds which kept rebounding on the charts whenever a new song was released from the album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The heater #1
In my room #14
Anchor me #10
Ngaire #19
Given how A: RNB was far more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia and B: this album spawned multiple hits for All 4 one, it makes sense that it was more of a success over there than it was over here back in the day. That said, outside of scoring a huge hit from their second album the following year, this was the full extent of their popularity outside of their native America.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
So much in love #3
I swear #1
Something about you #20
Skillz #3
Well, I guess the kiwis had grown tired of Bon Jovi by this point as this greatest hits album wasn't nearly as successful over there as it was over here. Then again, their previous album Keep the faith was a complete failure over there despite it being a massive success here in Australia, so perhaps this greatest hits album was in fact the comeback that the band needed from being left behind in the 80's over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Always #4
Someday I'll be Saturday night #45
It appears that even monks were able to find success in the mainstream in NZ back in the day, to think that a bunch of priests who called themselves the Priests made headline news in the late 00's when they scored a top ten album in 2008 when this was one of the bigger albums of the year back in its day.
Peak position #4
This was also a modest success in NZ this year as it was here in Australia, although considering the kiwis love for classical music, I'm a bit disappointed that this wasn't an even bigger success over there than it was here.
Peak position #1x1
This really did struggle to make a reappearance on this side of my site given how unpopular Michael Bolton was with the kiwis throughout his career, however this did last long enough on the lower half of their charts to qualify here likely due to how popular this was here in Australia and his native America.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Said I loved you but I lied #13
Lean on me #36
This was the second greatest hits package from Bread to be a success in NZ despite the band never having that much success with their singles during their heyday over there, I'm guessing the Listener charts were unreliable if they were able to achieve this much success through the nostalgia network.
Peak position #3
Even though this was a sleeper hit in NZ just like it was here in Australia, it's worth noting that it failed to spawn a hit for Counting crows like it did here as the lead single barely charted over there. Also, like Australia, these guys wouldn't be heard from again over there until almost a decade later with their controversial cover of a Joni Mitchell classic.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Mr. Jones #49
Given how popular their earlier entry was on this list, it only makes sense that Enigma's debut album would become a minor success in NZ this year which likely lead to their overexposure and their eventual backlash over there.
Peak position #25
Unlike in Australia where this was an instant inescapable classic for MJ, it appears the kiwis were prepared to write this off as a mere moderate success for him until "Give in to me" became one of the biggest hits of the decade which allowed this album to rebound on the charts over there and become a best seller.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Black or white #1
Remember the time #1
In the closet #5
Jam #2
Who is it #16
Heal the world #3
Give in to me #1
Will you be there #2
Gone too soon #6
Billy Joel had been struggling to retain his popularity over in NZ for almost a decade at this point, however he managed to score a massive comeback over there when this album became a surprise hit for him due to the title track being one of his biggest hits of his catalogue. Who knows if this comeback would've remained as he never released another album after this.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
The river of dreams #1
All about soul #22
Lullaby #43
This was also a success in NZ back in the day, further adding insult to injury that the title track was never released as a single in America given how it seemed on only harm the albums sales over there. I don't think it really matters as Billboard seemed more interested in breaking chart records throughout the 90's than promoting the type of rock and roll to be found on this album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Are you gonna go my way #2
Believe #5
Heaven help #21
Is there any love in your heart #50
Rather than having the first two volumes of the greatest hits anthology from Queen consistently rechart throughout the decade, their label decided to bundle them together with this release which became a massive success in NZ despite it being a massive flop here in Australia upon its initial release.
Peak position #2
It may have failed to produce that big hit over in NZ like it did here in Australia, however this debut album from Joshua Kadison was nonetheless a huge success over there likely due to its surprise popularity down under given how "Beautiful in my eyes" was such a huge hit for him over here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Jessie #15
Beautiful in my eyes #23
This was initially a minor success for Stone temple pilots in NZ, I guess the kiwis felt there were too many alternative bands to choose from at the time and passed this up for the likes of Smashing pumpkins and R.E.M. They were won over by the album eventually likely due to how popular it was here in Australia and also due to the lack of competition it had in their alternative scene.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Vasoline #28
Insterstate love song #47
Big empty #47
It appears the kiwis were also on board with having Frank Sinatra find success with this duets album he released less than five years prior to his untimely death as we Aussies were, I guess there was a bit of a nostalgic factor to this albums success given how he hadn't found any success in either country since the 60's which coincidentally was a duet with his daughter about their (platonic) love for each other.
Peak position #3
It had been a while since Dave Dobbyn last troubled the charts in his homeland, however that didn't prevent this greatest hits album from being a success over there which likely encouraged his comeback shortly after its release given how he scored a big hit over there following its success.
Peak position #4
Sting was on a roll this decade given the success of his (then) most recent album which included the track this greatest hits album was named after, as such he found massive success with this album over there even though it was a massive flop for him here in Australia.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
When we dance #50
This was far more of a success over in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess the kiwis were more interested in this project than we Aussies were given how classical music had more overall success over there than it did over here back in the day.
Peak position #6
This seemed like a good time to release a greatest hits package for Sade given how popular their (then) most recent album was worldwide, naturally it was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia as we Aussies at least seemed to have a limit on how many of these albums would be a success back in the day compared to the kiwis.
Peak position #5
This was also a bit of a minor comeback for the Rolling stones in NZ like it was here in Australia, although it was a fluke over there like it was over here as none of their subsequent follow ups managed to recreate this level of success never mind what their classic albums achieved throughout the century.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Love is strong #12
Out of tears #36
It appears the kiwis were also impressed with the soundtrack to Philadelphia, a film that was among the first to depict the LGBT community in a positive light this decade which also includes the likes of Priscilla queen of the desert, To Wong foo and the Birdcage which were all critical and commercial successes back then, proving that audiences were willing to accept this community into the mainstream.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Streets of Philadelphia #3
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