There was a bit more of a general consensus as to what was popular worldwide this year, Australians were more familiar with rnb and hip hop whilst the kiwis were more familiar with EDM.
This was an even bigger success in NZ than it was in Australia, possibly due to Smashing pumpkins already being mainstream by the time their third album was released over there which also explains how the album managed to spawn several minor hits for them where it only had the one down under.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Bullet with butterfly wings #41
1979 #9
Tonight tonight #2
Zero #3
Thirty three #7
She may not have ever had that chart topper in NZ with any of her singles, however at least Celine Dion was able to find plenty of success with her albums back in the day given how this Grammy award winning album was indeed one of the biggest hits of the decade over there.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Falling into you #21
Because you loved me #3
It's all coming back to me now #8
All by myself #21
Alanis Morrissette really struck a chord with listeners back in the day when she released her first album outside of her native Canada, although it's worth noting that the singles on this album weren't as inescapable in NZ as they were over here save perhaps for the second single which wasn't that big over here.
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
You oughta know #25
Hand in my pocket #7
Ironic #3
You learn #13
Head over feet #27
It appears the kiwis were too much in love with MJ to allow this greatest hits/studio album hybrid to be a flop this decade much like us Aussies were, regardless of how you feel about his personal antics you can't deny he was an immense talent whose music still manages to resonate with audiences to this day.
Peak position #1x7
Hit singles
Scream #1
You are not alone #1
Earth song #4
They don't care about us #9
Stranger in Moscow #6
This was a huge success for Oasis over in NZ, so much so that it allowed their debut album to finally became a success there too which is something that wasn't able to happen here in Australia. I guess this means the kiwis were bigger fans of the Gallagher's than we Aussies could ever hope to be.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
Roll with it #17
Morning glory #29
Wonderwall #1
Don't look back in anger #20
Champagne supernova #16
These guys had a similar rise to success over in NZ as they did in Australia, although I guess it took slightly longer as they didn't have a Triple J equivalent to crown the lead single of their second album as the best song of 1994 and needed to wait for the song to be a massive chart topper here before it crossed over there.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Zombie #5
Ode to my family #8
I can't be with you #25
Ridiculous thoughts #43
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
Well, I supposed this albums placement on this list would seem more reasonable compared to its placement on the Australian side of my site, indeed this album was as inescapable over in NZ as it was in the band's native America even if it lacked that huge hit there that it had here.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Hold my hand #37
Let her cry #19
Only wanna be with you #17
Time #35
Unlike in Australia where this had to work its way up to success, the debut album from the Spice girls was an instant success in NZ likely due to the second single being released on schedule over there as opposed to it being delayed here for reasons I can't seem to fathom.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Wannabe #1
Say you'll be there #2
2 become 1 #3
Who do you think you are #6
This wasn't as inescapable over in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because there wasn't a farewell concert that the trio performed for the kiwis shortly before its release like the one they gave at the Sydney opera house around this time. Still, it was a massive success over there given how much more popular the trio was there than they were here throughout the decade.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
Instinct #17
Not the girl you think you are #41
I'm guessing this was a hit over in NZ due to how inescapable it was in Australia, after all the album didn't have a single song from it to chart over there and its success was half of what it was here. That said it was still a massive success given how half of its success here in Australia is still twice as successful as what most albums can only dream of achieving.
Peak position #1x3
This was POT USA's only successful album in NZ, I'm guessing because they kiwis only fell in love with their sense of humour for one album before getting bored with it for their next album. At least the songs were slightly bigger hits over there compared to how they did here which technically makes this more successful over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Lump #8
Peaches #9
Kitty #30
There were no signs of Mariah Carey slowing down in the industry worldwide, in fact the success of this album was inevitable even before the second single became the longest running Billboard chart topper in existence (at least for the next quarter of a century) given how inexplicably popular she was throughout the 90's.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Fantasy #1
One sweet day #1
Always be my baby #5
Open arms #8
Forever #40
The last time Tracy Chapman troubled the charts anywhere in the world was with her second album from the start of the decade, so to see her back in the mainstream with her fourth album was a bit of a heartwarming success for her given how she would've been deemed as yesterday's news by this point in time. It didn't have that inescapable hit in NZ like it did here in Australia, but otherwise it was just as successful over there.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Give me one reason #16
Unlike in Australia where this needed the runaway success of the third single for the album to be a success, No doubt had initial success in NZ due to the buzz the lead single created over there. Although once that third single did become a worldwide success, the album was a massive hit over there as well.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Just a girl #9
Spiderwebs #30
Don't speak #1
Excuse me Mr. #11
Sunday morning #42
Well, this proved to be even more of a success for the Fugees in NZ than it was here in Australia, although the fact that this spawned a huge hit worldwide was bound to make it a success everywhere that allowed for hip hop to make it in the mainstream. Who knows if the trio would be able to continue their popularity if they made another album together.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Fugalee #11
Killing me softly #1
Ready or not #8
No woman no cry #1
Rumble in the jungle #13
Well given how this orchestral album based on renditions of Split Enz's back catalogue was a massive success for the supergroup Enzso here in Australia, it only makes sense that this would be at least somewhat more successful in NZ for the group in their homeland thanks to the star power of the performers on the album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Poor boy #29
This album sat on shelves for over a year ignored in NZ just like it did everywhere else in the world, in fact the only difference between its fate over there from its fate here in Australia is that it wasn't quite as successful over there likely due to the kiwis not being that impressed with the singles like we Aussies were.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
All I wanna do #4
Strong enough #42
I guess the kiwis were a bit intrigued with these guys earlier in the decade given how their debut album did create some buzz for them over in NZ that certainly didn't happen here in Australia. I'm not sure why this album in particular took off over there given how the kiwis seemed to have a vibrant indie scene, I guess they took a look at the Triple J year end list for 1996 and noticed their presence on there which convinced them to give the band a second chance.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Cosmic girl #29
I get the feeling this was a success in Australia and NZ due to the success of the spin off band of these guys Green jelly from earlier in the decade, yeah it turns out Maynard James Keenan had multiple projects throughout his career including these two bands and A perfect circle in the new millennium.
Peak position #1x1
Vanessa Mae was a Singaporean born British violinist who scored massive worldwide success with this album of hers, it was particularly successful in NZ for her likely due to that being where classical music was at its most popular this decade.
Peak position #2
This took a while to take off in NZ likely due to the album failing to produce a hit single over there as well as the kiwis lacking a Triple J equivalent to promote it, however once it did, it became a huge success for Garbage likely due to the unique vocals of Shirley Manson which helped add a female touch to the industrial rock crowd.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Vow #41
Queer #37
Stupid girl #32
Only happy when it rains #38
Milk #50
Unlike in Australia where these guys had some buzz thanks to Triple J heavily promoting them back in the day, they only managed to crossover to NZ purely thanks to them having a surprise hit over in America with "Glycerine" which incidentally was the only song of theirs to chart in NZ back in the day. I think the kiwis know these guys best nowadays for Gavin Rossdale who married Gwen Stefani shortly after this time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Glycerine #31
Although "Creep" remains a classic to this day from the band (despite how much they hate that song) it didn't lead to much success for their debut album Pablo honey anywhere in the world. Fortunately for them, their second album was much better received as they moved away from grunge and more towards Britpop which proved to be a big success for the band in NZ and their native UK.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
High and dry #22
Fake plastic trees #22
This was a huge success for George Michael in NZ, I should note that these albums are ranked the same way as I rank the singles which is that I prioritize entries the longer they remained in the upper echelons of the charts rather than their overall success. I bring this up because though it left the upper echelons of the charts quickly in NZ, it stuck around for a fairly long time in the lower half of the charts due to the success of the singles.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Jesus to a child #5
Fastlove #5
The spinning wheel #17
This was the first successful album that Ben Harper had anywhere in the world, I'm guessing it was a success due to him becoming the new (then) modern Jimi Hendrix as much like Lenny Kravitz, he two was a musician of colour who was from the hard rock scene from the 90's.
Peak position #7
These guys might have appeared on the Australian side of my site with "Shine," however they only became a household name in their native America with this album that became a huge success in NZ a year after its initial release for some reason. I guess these guys weren't too well loved on Triple J which is why this didn't do so well here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
December #34
The world I know #25
This was a massive hit for the band as opposed to it being a mere modest success here in Australia, again likely due to how much stronger the kiwi's alternative scene was in the 90's than it was for us. Despite this being a massive success overall, it was the band's final album for a while as they would break up after this in order to pursue other projects, most notably Audioslave for Chris Cornell.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Pretty noose #18
There was little doubt this was going to be a success for Simply red in NZ given how it was a massive hit for them here in Australia, although like Australia they didn't find much success over there after this album despite it spawning a hit with one of its bonus tracks.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Angel #11
Although Elton's popularity in NZ wasn't as big as it was over here in Australia by this point in his career, he did nonetheless score massive success with this love themed greatest hits package due to how much nostalgia the kiwis had for his ballads throughout his career.
Peak position #1x3
This was also Simply red's final successful album in NZ, although I would've thought these guys would retain their popularity going towards the new millennium given how this was a hit upon its immediate release over there as opposed to it needing to rebound on the charts here in Australia.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Fairground #6
Remembering the first time #30
This was an inevitable success for Janet Jackson in NZ given how much more popular she was over there compared to Australia, heck her popularity was still stronger over there after this came out as her next album would spawn more hits there than it did here much like the rest of her catalogue.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Runaway #3
Twenty foreplay #38
This was also the last time Michael Bolton bothered the NZ charts like he did here in Australia, although it didn't last as long over there as it did over here likely due to his popularity never being that big over there throughout the decade.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Can I touch you there #22
This was more of a success in NZ this year, I'm guessing because the kiwis didn't feel that the band had lost their magic like most of the world did or simply didn't care that they had changed their sound on this album. These excuses didn't carry over to their next album which was a flop regardless of where in the world you're from.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Salvation #7
Free to decide #19
When you're gone #23
Well, this album being a success in NZ was to be expected given how the lead single was arguably the biggest hit of the decade over there, although it did rebound on the charts once it was released in the UK likely because the Brits had a different album cycle for him over there which resulted in him having different hits throughout Europe that saw minor crossover success in NZ.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Mysterious girl #1
Get down on it #1
I feel you #40
Only one #5
Flava #8
While it failed to spawn a charting single in NZ like it did here in Australia (likely because the kiwis didn't know who Underworld were) this soundtrack to Trainspotting was nonetheless a success over there likely due to the success of the film which was one of the surprising number of non-Hollywood films to make it big worldwide throughout the 90's.
Peak position #3
These guys were fairly successful during both phases of their career at this point, as such it makes sense that this greatest hits package they released around this time would be a huge success for them. They didn't find any further success after this as was the case for most older bands and artists in the 90's.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
La la lulu #13
This was a minor success for Oasis in NZ when it came out two years prior, it was given a second chance this year following the success of their earlier entry which resulted in the album finally rising up to the ranks of some of the band's contemporaries at the time of its release. This is essentially what happened here in Australia; however, the kiwis were much kinder to the album hence its higher placement on this list.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Supersonic #28
Live forever #43
This was so much less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, in fact after Shepherd moons, Enya's popularity over there was close to non-existent as this only qualified for this list due to it having a rebound early in the year which allowed it to rack up enough points to make it on this list.
Peak position #3
I guess the kiwis weren't as big of fans of Dangerous minds as we Aussies were given how the soundtrack wasn't quite as popular over there as it was over here, this is surprising given how Coolio was already an established rapper by the time his signature track came out from the film in NZ.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Gangsta's paradise #1
Feel the funk #41
Curiosity #40
Evidently the lead singer of Bread had a solo career even though it didn't appeal to anyone (at least from what I can gather) that didn't prevent him from finding success with this greatest hits album with his former band members even after the success of the band's greatest hits album two years prior over in NZ.
Peak position #9
This was more of a success over in NZ likely due to how much more popular rock and alternative music was over there than it was over here, I'm not sure how this even happened unless the kiwis had their own equivalent of Triple J which helped them discover these types of artists like we Aussies did.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
E bow the letter #32
This was originally released the previous year following the finale of season one for the popular TV show Friends (which I regret to inform the internet the I'm a huge fan of even though I personally prefer Frasier when it comes to 90's sitcoms.) I guess this picked up steam in NZ this year due to the show having several of these tracks play over that season which the kiwis appreciated enough to check out this album.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
I'll be there for you #3
Carl Doy was still able to find success in his homeland this far into the 90's, not bad for a guy first made it big at the end of the previous decade by stealing the success that Richard Clayderman had over there.
Peak position #5
Jimmy Barnes had decent success in the 90's over in NZ, as such it makes sense that this greatest hits package of his would do fairly well over there similar to how it did over here to commemorate the twelfth anniversary he broke apart from Cold chisel to embark on his solo career.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Lover lover #13
I bet you were beginning to think I forgot all about these guys on my site, it turns out that Weezer really struggled for mainstream success even in the southern hemisphere where the alternative scene was far stronger than that in their native America back in the day. Indeed, I'm not even entirely sure why this was a hit in NZ, let alone why it needed two attempts to connect with the kiwis.
Peak position #6
Well, this albums success in NZ was inevitable, fans weren't ready to say goodbye to Freddie Mercury from earlier in the decade and posthumous albums have always statistically done well in the mainstream over the years.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Heaven for everyone #25
This wasn't quite as successful in NZ for Bjork as it was here in Australia, mainly because it didn't spawn that runaway hit for her over there like it did over here which meant that it didn't last as long into the new year when "It's oh so quiet" was taking the alternative scene by storm worldwide. It did rebound a little over there, however it quickly fell off the charts when the song failed to catch on.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Army of me #26
Isobel #47
It's oh so quiet #28
This was a moderate success for Metallica in NZ, mainly for the good will they achieved earlier in the decade with the black album as the singles over there were noticeably less successful than they were here in Australia. People will complain that they sold out here, however it's more their songs were more radio friendly than them selling out entirely.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Until it sleeps #11
Hero of the day #21
This was another album to find more success in NZ than it did here in Australia from an alternative band this year, although it was still a bit of a disappointment over there compared to the band's previous effort likely due to the fact that what they had to say wasn't as compelling on here as what it was on their earlier effort.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Bulls on parade #22
I think this was one of the earliest signs that the kiwis were ready to incorporate EDM into their mainstream given how it charted higher over there than it did over here back in the day for Robert Miles, true it wasn't quite as big there as it was here, but it was a sign of good things to come for the genre over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Children #4
Fable #20
It appears this was what killed the winning streak that UB40 had with their original albums in NZ given how none of them managed to find success after Promises and lies from two years prior, although this was the second edition of an album that came out in 1987 that did gang busters for the band over there that year.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Until my dying day #37
Roxette really struggled to transition from the 80's to the 90's in NZ which wasn't the case here in Australia, that said, their greatest hits package was a more immediate success over there than it was over here which is why it appears on more than one of these lists despite it being more popular over here in the long run.
Peak position #8
Their popularity was on the decline in NZ the same as it was here in Australia, although Pearl jam were still able to find success with their albums over there until the end of the decade, just like they were over here.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Who you are #17
If you thought it was confusing that this album became popular here in Australia the following year, apparently the same thing happened over in NZ this year for what I can only imagine to be similar reasons.
Peak position #3
This was the last time Bryan Adams troubled the NZ album charts given how his popularity had dwindled over there to the point where this feels more like a last hurrah for him than anything else. As least he had some better success with his singles right till the end of the decade, although those were pitiful compared to what he achieved down under.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
Have you ever really loved a woman #9
The only thing that looks good on me is you #37
Let's make a night to remember #17
This was equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia for Michael Flateley, I'm slightly confused why though given how the riverdance craze was more of a thing here in Australia than it was over there.
Peak position #6
I wasn't expecting to feature this album on my site, mainly because I didn't think there was any love for Rod Stewart's material between his appearance on MTV unplugged and his Motown albums from the 00's. It appears the kiwis had some love for this album from him this year even if no one else in the world did.
Peak position #11
It only seems natural that this would be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia for the Foo fighters, after all, Nirvana saw plenty more success over there than they did over here throughout the decade as did most alternative bands now that I think about it.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
This is a call #11
Following the success of their previous album Broadcast, the Strawpeople were able to continue their dominance in their local music scene with this album that sadly didn't receive any love from Triple J like their previous album did which is why it remains in obscurity outside of their native NZ.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Taller than god #19
Boxers #44
Spoiler #47
This was the last successful album that Tina Turner had in NZ, admittedly it's with an album I'm sure most of her fans outside of NZ wouldn't even realise existed given how little remembered this album is in recent memory. In fact, it was a success mainly due to a successful tour she had with the album which boosted its sales over there.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Whatever you want #16
In your wildest dreams #22
Much like it waws here in Australia, this was only barely a success for Enigma in NZ, again likely due to the controversy that their previous album sparked with its big hit "Return to innocence" two years prior.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Beyond the invisible #45
This was originally a flop for Tiny Tina in NZ upon its initial release, in fact I'm not sure if it was the original version or the international release that became a sleeper hit this year for her over there given how this only took off when "Show me heaven" became a massive hit throughout Europe for her (which interestingly wasn't on the original release.) Sadly, this was the full extent of her success with the kiwis.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Chains #7
Sorrento moon #16
Heaven help my heart #33
Show me heaven #33
This is a bit odd to talk about, mainly because the kiwis were well ahead of the curve when it came to making Korn a household name worldwide given how their debut album was a massive hit over there this year even if it was two years after its initial release. This means that their later entries found less success over there than they did internationally as the kiwis likely found them to be sellouts compared to this.
Peak position #10
Given how this was the biggest EDM album of the decade in America, I can only assume that its success on Billboard encouraged the kiwis to check out what all of the fuss was about despite it being the only one of these albums that failed to spawn a single hit over there this decade. At least the likes of Culture Beat and Corona scored a few minor hits over there in exchange for those albums underperforming.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Falling in love #33
Be my lover #44
Sweet dreams #34
This was initially a huge flop for Bone thugs n harmony the previous year in NZ despite the lead single becoming a huge hit for them over there, naturally it reached its peak in popularity this year when the third single became a huge worldwide success for the hip hop quartet as it boosted its sales over there.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
1st of tha month #7
East 1999 #15
Tha crossroads #1
Even though it took a while for this album to chart in NZ, it at least was more of a success over there than it was over here even if I don't exactly know why that was the case. I'm guessing it was due to how many American artists found success over there compared to over here where it was rare outside of the indie scene.
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Jealousy #40
It appears that in exchange for the lead single not being a massive success in NZ, Joan Osbourne managed to find more success with the album that spawned her one and only hit worldwide as the kiwis were interested in what else she had to offer compared to us Aussies. It's hard to say why her subsequent follow ups failed to find an audience given how much of a splash this made for her.
Peak position #13
Hit singles
One of us #11
St Teresa #38
I guess the kiwis weren't as excited for this album which contained (at the time) never before seen songs from the fab four that John Lennon gave the other members his blessing for releasing months before his death fifteen years prior.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Free as a bird #26
This is the only album to come from Emma Paki, it's a bit strange as while it was far from the most successful of its time, it did put her on the map with her fellow kiwis thanks to the success of its advanced single from two years prior.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Greenstone #9
Don't give it up #33
Phenomenon is a movie I've seen several times and yet struggle to remember whenever I'm not watching it, all I remember is that it stars John Travolta as a man who gains telekinetic powers with chaos ensuring from there. I also remember the score being very good, which is perhaps why the soundtrack was a massive success in certain parts of the world including NZ back in the day.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Change the world #3
It looks like the kiwis weren't too interested in having Madonna release a greatest hits album that's themed around her ballads, admittedly it's not hard to see why given how only three of the tracks on here managed to appear on this side of my site as opposed to seven on the Australian side.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
You'll see #17
Even though this has a low placement on this side of my site, I should point out that this was more of a sleeper hit for Stone temple pilots in NZ despite entering their charts very high upon its initial release. They didn't find any further success over there which was the same career trajectory they had over here.
Peak position #4
Given how these guys found success in NZ this year, this meant that their second album which only made the cut for the Australian side of my site due to its refusal to die on our charts was able to become an instant success over there, basically confirming the nu metal band as the real deal two years prior to when we Aussies and their fellow Americans did so with their third album.
Peak position #1x1
I'm a bit confused as to why this was a success in NZ, mainly because the only time Van Halen troubled the charts over there was with their magnum opus 1984 from err....... 1984. Heck the Sammy Hager outlet was a complete bust over there as opposed to being merely polarising over here, further adding to the confusion of this album's success.
Peak position #2
It appears the kiwis were also massive fans of the first Mortal Kombat film as its soundtrack managed to find success over there just like it did over here, again it wasn't particularly well received back in the day by critics, however audiences (particularly fans of the games) enjoyed it, and it still has a cult following to this day.
Peak position #6
We have another NZ indie band to appear on one of these lists of mine, this time we have an entry from Garageland who briefly made a splash with their debut album only to fizzle out later in the decade as their subsequent follow ups failed to repeat the moderate success of their debut.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Come back #21
Fingerpops #29
Beelines to heaven #27
I'm looking for what I can't get #37
This charted five different times over the years in NZ, however it was only this year that it became a success even though it came close three years prior when it cracked their top ten in 1993. I don't know what to make of this as I would've thought this album would be an instant success upon its release in 1987 due to how influential Split Enz was in their homeland.
Peak position #9
Much like Australia, this was the only success that Everclear had in NZ even if it was only a sleeper hit over there as opposed to a mainstream success over here. I'm not sure why that's the case considering how much more robust the alternative scene was over there; I'm guessing it's success here was due to heavy promotion from Triple J.
Peak position #20
Hit singles
Santa Monica #27
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