Well I guess the world was due for another shake up in the music scene this year, after all Billboard foolishly didn't allow several staples of the decade to chart due to it's outdated rules that they corrected this year.
This was the biggest album of the 90's in NZ as it was throughout the rest of the world, in fact there's little surprises to this albums success over there except that the two biggest hits over there were the third and fourth big hits the Shania had here in Australia as opposed the first and second.
Peak position #1x23
Hit singles
You're still the one #9
From this moment on #7
That don't impress me much #1
Man I feel like a woman #1
You've got a way #17
Don't be stupid #42
This proved to be even more of a success in NZ that it was here in Australia, even taking into account that it did much better on the AMR charts than on ARIA, the kiwis simply loved this third album from Radiohead more than we ever could.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Karma police #32
No surprises #23
This proved to be an even bigger success in NZ than it was here in Australia, I'm guessing because Britpop was taking over the NZ charts around this time but also because the kiwis didn't seem to have much tolerance for teen pop at the time like we Aussies did.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Bitter sweet symphony #15
The drugs don't work #10
Lucky man #38
Sonnet #43
While it obviously wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was in Australia, this debut album from Savage Garden managed to be a massive success over there likely due to how it was taking the Billboard charts by storm with its singles. The singles weren't massive here, but the album was, which as an inverse of the success of their next album over there.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I want you #13
To the moon and back #4
Truly madly deeply #12
Break me shake me #8
Universe #25
The Feelers were a NZ rock band who scored a huge breakthrough in their homeland with their debut album, I'm guessing this was a huge success due to it coming out at the height of the alternative rock scene which their music was a perfect fit for around this time.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Pressure man #29
Supersystem #15
Space cadet #8
Venus #4
Pull the strings #9
Unlike in Australia where this album managed to spawn two of Celine Dion's biggest hits, in NZ this album didn't spawn a hit for her despite it containing her Oscar winning ballad from Titanic as well as the album itself being a massive success for her over there. I guess the kiwis had also become victims of labels not issuing songs as singles and if they did, not telling them about their availability.
Peak position #1x11
Hit singles
My heart will go on #34
I guess the kiwis were more on board with this live album from the once in a lifetime concert the Brothers Gibb gave back in the day than us Aussies were initially as it had no problem finding success over there upon its initial release compared to here where it only became a success through word of mouth.
Peak position #1x11
Unlike in Australia where the lead single from this album needed to be pulled from shelves to encourage the sales of the album, in NZ "Barbie girl" only had a short shelf life before it was pulled from shelves which allowed this album to be a success upon its immediate release over there. It's also interesting that the album cycle is slightly different over there compared to what it was over here.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Barbie girl #1
Doctor Jones #2
Turn back time #2
My oh my #12
Lollipop #22
This was another album that had more of an immediate success in NZ than it did here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis didn't allow anyone to dictate to them what they could and couldn't like around this time which is why there's a healthier mix of what was popular over there on this list.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Everybody #6
As long as you love me #1
All I have to give #3
This was a surprise success for Boyzone in NZ, mainly because they had no such success earlier in the decade over there despite nearly topping the Australian charts with their cover of "Father and son" from 1996. This proved to be an even bigger success over there than in Australia where it only became a success when the second single unexpectedly became one of the biggest hits of the late 90's worldwide.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Baby can I hold you #11
No matter what #1
I love the way you love me #1
This was a massive success for Bic Runga in her homeland upon its initial release, so much so that the big hit from the album even managed to crossover to Australia a year after its initial release at the obvious expense of her being a one hit wonder here. It's a shame she is because she not only had a beautiful voice, but she would go on to massive success in NZ throughout the 00's.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Drive #10
Bursting through #33
Sway #7
Suddenly strange #26
Roll into one #48
It seems weirdly natural for this second album from Portishead to be more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, mainly because this is also true for the likes of the Chemical brothers and Massive attack who also saw more success over there despite the kiwis not being as into EDM as we Aussies were this decade.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
All mine #29
Only you #37
I guess this was another album that succeeded in NZ despite not having any of the songs released as singles over there, if nothing else I'm glad that denying physical releases of a song to encourage album sales is no longer a thing because I don't think this process has worked a single time when it was put into practice.
Peak position #3
It appears that these guys were seen as worthy rivals to the Backstreet boys in NZ just like they were here in Australia, in fact their debut album was so successful over there (likely due to having the correct release schedule for its singles) that there's a serious case to be made that they wound up winning the boy band wars over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Slam dunk #22
When the lights go out #20
Got the feeling #2
Everybody get up #1
Until the time is through #14
The Spice girls were on a roll when they released the soundtrack to their critically panned film Spiceworld, mainly because their fans didn't care that the film was an utter disaster (in fact it now has a cult following) so long as the music was still infectious to listen to.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Spice up your life #2
Too much #9
Stop #9
Viva forever #1
This was a very bittersweet success for the band in question as the lead singer had already died of a drug overdose by the time it was released over in NZ this year. I'm not sure why this wasn't released here in Australia as posthumous albums have always seen plenty of success down under throughout history, I'm guessing because they were usually from well established artists such as Roy Orbison or Jeff Buckley.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
What I got #34
Doing time #42
This was a massive comeback for Madonna in NZ given how her last two albums didn't make much of a splash over there like they did worldwide, at least she had some success so this being a massive success over there wasn't that shocking all things considered. This was her way of winning back her indie cred which she had lost as early as her second album fourteen years prior.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Frozen #5
Ray of light #9
Drowned world #21
The power of goodbye #25
Nothing really matters #7
I'm a bit shocked that these guys didn't have that inescapable hit with the lead single to their second album in NZ that they did here in Australia, it did chart over there meaning it was indeed released as a single, but it wasn't that huge hit for some reason. It didn't prevent the album from being a massive success for the duo, proving their brand of RNB did have an audience with the kiwis this year.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
High #8
Unlike in Australia, this album wasn't that big of a deal earlier in the decade when the Grease megamix became a success, although the kiwis still had nostalgia for the film this year given how this became a success due to the film being rereleased to theatres on its twentieth anniversary.
Peak position #3
I guess the kiwis weren't as in love with Titanic as the rest of the world, OK yes, they were but the Oscar winning ballad from the film wasn't a hit over there which I guess means this only became a success through James Horner's iconic score which likely is the reason why it wasn't quite as inescapable over there as it was here.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
My heart will go on #34
Unlike in Australia where this needed to win album of the year at the Grammys in order to become a success for Lauryn Hill, the kiwis were initially enamoured by this solo debut from the Fugees rapper as it was a success upon its initial release over there. It still saw a massive rebound on their charts once she swept the Grammys with it, however it didn't have that big hit on their singles charts like it did here.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Everything is everything #15
Well so much for this being one of the most pointless albums to come out of the decade (according to the A.V club) this was a massive success for Vonda Shephard who was previously a failed jazz performer from the 80's before finding massive success due to her role as the jazz performer within the show's universe. I guess the success of the show was able to help her translate that success to her own music career worldwide as this was also a success throughout Europe.
Peak position #1x2
It looks like the kiwis weren't quite as invested in this greatest hits album as we Aussies were, although they still made this a success given how U2 were even more successful over there than they were over here. They even allowed a previously unreleased track to become a hit over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
The sweetest thing #3
Well, we all know that cliche of making music made for coffee houses, Martin Winch took that cliche and actually made an album with the idea of it playing in coffee houses and marketed it as such which allowed it to become a massive success in his native NZ this year.
Peak position #1x3
It may not have had that runaway hit single in NZ like it did in Australia (seriously that baby still gives me nightmares to this day) however this album from Massive attack was still a massive success for them in NZ proving how much the kiwis were warming up to EDM (even if it's downtempo) around this time.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Tear drop #19
Inertia creeps #16
Angel #33
This was a success in NZ under similar circumstances to its success here in Australia, namely that George was worried his career was over when it was discovered he was a queer man (as if it wasn't already obvious) and releasing this album to find out if that was a deal breaker for fans. It wasn't, although he didn't have much success in NZ going into the new millennium.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Outside #11
As #21
Dean Martin had been dead for three years at this point, meaning that this greatest hits album was made three years too late given how most audiences even in the 90's likely didn't realise who he was at this point. Somehow none of this prevented the album from being a massive success for the crooner in NZ, likely due to the kiwis remembering him and that it was released as the twentieth century was coming to an end.
Peak position #1x2
Well, it's a good thing that the kiwis got on board with the Corrs from earlier in the decade otherwise this might have either been a flop for B*witched over there or the kiwi's introduction to the concept of mixing Celtic music with more contemporary music from the 90's. I like to think that this albums success in their native UK was what sparked the Brits into checking out the Corrs for the record.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
C'est la vie #1
Rollercoaster #1
To you I belong #5
Blame it on the weatherman #29
This was a huge success in NZ despite it lacking that inescapable hit that it had here in Australia, although I get the feeling that "Iris" was yet another victim of chart manipulation over there as there were a lot of songs in the upper echelons of the charts this year that I doubt had much of an impact even at the time.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
If god will send his angels #35
Iris #16
It appears the kiwis were also in love with the Adam Sandler flick the Wedding singer, either that or they already had nostalgia for the mid 80's as this soundtrack was a huge success over there regardless.
Peak position #2
This was an instant success in NZ for Garbage, certainly more so than it was here in Australia where it required one of its tracks to be featured in an (in my opinion) terrible Adam Sandler comedy the following year for it to be a success. Their popularity would continue well into the new millennium, especially with their third album which finally spawned them a genuine hit on the Australian charts.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Push it #15
I think I'm paranoid #19
When I grow up #24
This was another successful opera album from the 90's over in NZ, this time it's from the French soprano Emma Shapplin with this album that was a huge success over there despite it failing to chart here in Australia.
Peak position #9
Well, there was little chance this was going to fail in NZ considering how both girl groups and RNB were among the most popular trends of the late 90's over there, indeed this was a huge success for All Saints likely due to them being inescapable worldwide during the last stretch of the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
I know where it's at #8
Never ever #1
Under the bridge #4
Lady marmalade #4
There wasn't an EDM cover of the Beastie Boy's signature track to encourage the kiwis into checking out this album, instead it was a success over there due to the lead single being a genuine hit over there likely due to the crazy music video which played into the worlds increasing obsession with anime.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Intergalactic #4
Body moving #20
This was about as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia for Neil Finn, proving that we Aussies and kiwis wanted more material from the Split enz and Crowded house lead vocalist and were willing to take whatever he had to offer us back in the day. He would continue to release new music into the new millennium solo, with his older brother Tim and even after reforming Crowded house.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
She will have her way #19
It feels weird that this was a success in NZ considering how it barely charted here in Australia, I guess the kiwis love for EDM had finally overtaken our love for the genre by this point given how much of a crushing failure this and its singles was with us Aussies. Sash would be a one album wonder over there, although they would achieve a hit over here at the start of the 00's.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Ecuador #40
Stay #12
La primavera #29
While this wasn't as big a hit in NZ as it was here in Australia, at least the lead single proved to be Alanis's biggest hit over there which means that the kiwis were still in love with what she had to offer as the 90's was beginning to come to an end. Even so, it makes you wonder where all the love from her breakthrough album earlier in the decade went if there was still a massive fanbase willing to stick around for this follow up.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Thank u #2
Unsent #28
This was also a success for the Smashing pumpkins in NZ this year, they may have been unable to handle their fame like so many talented alt rock bands before and after them, but at least that didn't come across in their music.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Ava adore #5
Perfect #18
Much like in Australia, this was also the final album that Pearl Jam found any success over in NZ, I'm guessing it was because they turned their back on the band once they begun to sell out by the end of the decade.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Given to fly #12
This was released in NZ the same time it was here in Australia, although it didn't receive nearly as much success over there as it did over here likely due to the novelty of a Neighbours cast member dominating the music scene wearing off over there by the time it saw the light of day. Still, it did decently well given how the lead single was a genuine success with the kiwis.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Torn #5
Big mistake #19
Wishing I was there #40
Even though Phil Collins hadn't been on anyone's minds since his final album with Genesis from the start of the decade, it appears that people had enough fond memories of his back catalogue for this greatest hits package of his to be a massive success in NZ just like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #5
I wasn't expecting to feature a neo country album on this list given how much less popular country was in NZ even compared to Australia where it was fairly unpopular, I'm guessing this entry from the Mavericks appealed to the kiwis due to the success of Shania Twain's entry from the top of this list as a male counterpart.
Peak position #10
It appears the kiwis love for reggae was going strong even this close to the 21st century as Finley Quaye was able to score a massive sleeper hit over there this year with his debut album despite it being a massive flop even in his native UK. This just goes to show how much more lucrative reggae is over there compared to the rest of the English-speaking world.
Peak position #11
This was a huge hit for Marilyn Manson over in NZ, the only reason why it doesn't appear any higher on this list was due to it spending most of its time in the lower half of the album charts over there likely due to the kiwis considering him to be style over substance like we Aussies did.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The dope show #28
I don't like the drugs #35
From what I can gather, the Cherry poppin daddies (sorry but I can't even with these band names) were a swing revival band who sparked a lot of buzz throughout the 90's in their native America. This buzz crossed over to NZ where this greatest hits package became a huge success for the band over there this year.
Peak position #5
This was also a success in NZ like it was here in Australia, although it didn't last quite as long on their charts as it did on ours which is why it wasn't as successful over there as it was over here. In any case, this is proof that Dire straits was a band that would stand the test of time given how they hadn't released anything new since their final album from seven years prior.
Peak position #6
This was a Christmas album that Celine Dion released around this time, it was a massive hit in NZ and a moderate hit here in Australia as well despite the fact that it failed to rack up the points to appear on this side of my site.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
I'm your angel #5
We have more EDM to make it on this side of my site, this time it's the breakthrough album of British band Morcheeba who are best known for their hit single "Rome wasn't built in a day" off their next album from 2000. I guess calling this EDM is a bit of a stretch as this is similar to what Portishead and Massive attack from earlier on this list.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Let me see #46
There was a lot of hype going into this album given how popular Che fu was during his time with Supergroove from earlier in the decade, alas it was a bit of a disappointment considering how quickly it fell off their charts. That said, his second solo album would be far more lucrative both with its sales and its singles in the new millennium.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Chains #1
Scene III #4
Without a doubt #1
Machine talk #1
Waka #6
This was even more of a sleeper hit in NZ than it was here in Australia for Janet Jackson, I'm guessing because it only bounced up the charts whenever one of the singles was released over there as admittedly each single was more of a success barring the second single which was way less popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Got till it's gone #4
Together again #5
I get lonely #6
Go deep #13
This wasn't as inescapable in NZ as it was here in Australia, mainly because the singles didn't catch on over there like they did here likely due to them feeling out of place charting with all of the RNB and hip hop becoming popular at the time. It could be that or the kiwis were conflicted in having a then three-year-old album be a massive success at the time.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Who will save your soul #14
You were meant for me #22
Foolish games #23
Like in Australia, this album from the Corrs only achieved its bestselling status a year after its initial release due to the band releasing a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" that they would include on the one-year anniversary rerelease. Unlike in Australia, this album didn't have any songs to chart in NZ likely due to them not being released as singles over there.
Peak position #1x1
Well, none of the singles ended up being the biggest hit of the 90's in NZ like the second single was in Australia, however that didn't mean that the album itself wasn't a huge success over there or that the singles weren't among the most popular of their time.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Firestarter #3
Breathe #3
Smack my bitch up #8
Even though this guy would go on to have massive success in Australia throughout the 00's, he was virtually unheard of in the 90's despite A: Triple J promoting his music and B: him having massive success in NZ with his work including this breakthrough album which was a huge hit for him over there.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Faded #28
I guess the kiwis were equally as impressed with the soundtrack to Godzilla this year as we Aussies were, although this was likely more due to it being a collection of alternative rock rather than for support for the film given how it was a critical disaster despite bringing in strong box office numbers.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Come with me #3
Deeper underground #33
The best proof I have that this was only a success for Steps worldwide due to kids being forced to dance to the song in P.E was when this became a success in NZ almost a year after its initial release due to the success of the lead single as the album no doubt sat on shelves for months before the kiwis finally understood why it was a success in Australia initially.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
5 6 7 8 #2
Last thing on my mind #24
One for sorrow #13
Heartbeat #1
BB King was an influential guitarist who didn't see much success in his lifetime, this was the first hit he had in the southern hemisphere as this was a duets album with some of the biggest names in music throughout the twentieth century that was only a success in NZ and a huge flop here in Australia.
Peak position #9
For whatever reason, this second album from the Foo fighters wasn't as big in NZ as it was here in Australia (at least on the AMR charts as it was on the ARIA charts.) I guess this was more due to the stiff competition the band had to compete with during the peak of its popularity which resulted in its low placement on this list.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Everlong #31
Walking after you #48
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