The final year of the 90's, this year seemed more interested in celebrating the biggest hits of the century rather than promoting new music.
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
It appears the kiwis were massive fans of Robbie William's solo career, so much so that this greatest hits package which overlooks his two solo albums from the 90's was a huge success for him despite it being a massive failure here in Australia. It appears his popularity over there this decade was the inverse of what it was for his band Take that in that his solo career was inescapable while the band were nobodies.
Peak position #1x2
While their previous album was a huge hit in NZ like it was here in Australia, I'm sure the kiwis were happier than anyone else in the world for them to return to their original sound given how inescapably popular this album was for them over there. Also given how airplay was a factor on their singles charts when this came out, the singles proved to have much longer runs on the charts than their earlier hits.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Scar tissue #3
Around the world #35
Otherside #5
Califonication #8
Road tripping #44
The success of this album from Moby in NZ came about the same way it did internationally, that is, the singles were flogged on every commercial imaginable going into the new millennium which drove those who weren't a fan of the album insane back in the day. Still it did allow the techno musician to find success that had alluded him throughout the 90's.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Bodyrock #20
Why does my heart feel so bad #28
Porcelain #17
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
Even though his theme to the FIFA world cup never charted in NZ (although it may have been huge on their radio) this album from him was nonetheless more successful over there than it was here likely due to how much bigger the singles were there. I guess the kiwis were more into the Latin craze than we Aussies were.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Living la vida loca #1
She's all I ever had #8
Shake your bon bon #10
Private emotion #12
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
I'm not sure how this debut album from Creed managed to become a huge success for them in NZ as the decade was coming to an end, whatever the case it was a massive success over there which enabled their next album Human clay to be a massive success upon its initial release over there as opposed to it needing that Billboard chart topper in order to make it big everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #1x3
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
Her younger sister already saw massive success with her debut album earlier in the decade, so it makes sense that Boh Runga would follow in her footsteps with her band Stellar as they managed to close out the decade with their debut album which became a massive success for them. It remains their most successful album in their catalogue likely due to it seeming like a compilation album in retrospect.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
What you do #17
Part of me #4
Violent #11
Undone #13
Every girl #3
This was an instant success in NZ following the surprise success of Creed's debut album, although it did rebound on the charts a year after its release over there when they scored their Billboard chart topper which made them a household name everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
With arms wide open #10
For some reason, the lead single to this album didn't even chart in NZ despite it being one of the biggest hits in Australia, and by some reason I mean it was never released as a single in order to promote the album sales which is why the album wasn't as big over there as it was here as that's historically never worked in the music industry.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Why don't you get a job #4
The kids aren't alright #39
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 success of these guys really came out of nowhere over in NZ, heck they didn't even have a hit over there until "No matter what" from the previous year which allowed their final album to be a massive success. As such this greatest hits album was a massive success for the Irish boy band much more so than it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
You needed me #1
When you say nothing at all #1
Perhaps if the kiwis had included airplay on their charts sooner than they did then Fatboy slim would've had a hit single with one of the tracks on this album, as is it was a decently big album thanks to how hammered into the ground the songs were on the Australian radio (at least from my memory they were.) He remains a one album wonder with this album despite having success with his band Beats international.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
The rockafella skank #17
Gangster tripping #32
Praise you #11
Right here right now #25
Over two decades later and Britney Spears is still divisive among the music community, although at least she has more love and respect now than what she did back in the day given how inescapably popular her music was much to the chagrin of rock snobs everywhere.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Baby one more time #1
Sometimes #1
Crazy #5
From the bottom of my broken heart #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
So, there's an unwritten rule where Dutch artists automatically have massive success in NZ, it was temporarily abandoned throughout the 90's as there were plenty of Dutch groups who found success here in Australia and not in NZ, but it was reinstated when the Vengaboys became an overnight sensation worldwide as the decade was coming to an end.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Up and down #27
We like to party #9
Boom boom boom boom #1
We're going to Ibiza #6
Kiss #1
This was a more mainstream success for Cher in NZ given how it was merely a sleeper hit here in Australia for her, I'm guessing we Aussies didn't want to have the aging pop star close out the decade on top but changed our minds the more we got used to the title track and its egregious use of autotune. Regardless of how big this album was, it was her final successful album anywhere in the world.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Believe #1
Strong enough #6
All or nothing #28
This was a modest success over in Australia around the turn of the century, however it was a much bigger hit in NZ likely due to the kiwis love for the English duo's previous album which was a massive hit for them over there. They didn't have much success going into the 00's in either country, although they do occasionally pop up on the charts even to this day.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Hey boy hey girl #10
Let forever be #30
Out of control #26
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
This likely was the first time the kiwis knew about Sarah Brightman outside of her performance as Christine Daea from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the opera, heck we Aussies gave her a number one hit earlier in the decade with her duet with Jose Carreras for the Spanish Olympics. In any case, we have the first of two big albums from her this year which was a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Peak position #4
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
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
Andrea Bocelli had the same career trajectory in NZ as he did in Australia, namely that he had little trouble finding success over there once his greatest hits album from two years prior became a worldwide success for him.
Peak position #3
This was the final successful album these guys were able to achieve anywhere in the world, granted their fourth album did spawn a huge hit with "Shape of my heart," however their popularity quickly dwindled going into the new millennium due to that being the end of the boy band wars.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
I want it that way #1
Larger than life #11
Show me the meaning of being lonely #2
The one #15
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
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
If this was able to find success here in Australia, then you can rest assured it would be an even bigger success in NZ for the RNB trio given how well loved RNB and hip hop was throughout the 90's over there. Who knows how much longer these girls would've endured in the mainstream were they not forced to break up in 2002 due to Left Eye's tragic passing.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
No scrubs #1
Unpretty #3
Dear lie #10
Jewel's second album was equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia, I'd say her career trajectory was identical in both countries in the southern hemisphere except it took widely different paths in both countries going into the new millennium. All I'll say here is that her transition towards pop music was less of a surprise over there than it was over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Hands #19
Down so long #16
This is the part where I remind my audience that I'm ranking these albums based on how well they did in the upper echelons of the charts and not necessarily their overall success, I bring this up because this greatest hits album from Aandrea Bocelli was a massive hit in NZ even if most of its success came from the lower half of their charts as opposed to it being a mainstream success here in Australia.
Peak position #8
This was initially a failure for Billie Piper, mainly because the music scene was already clogged up with a bunch of teen pop from artists that time has since erased from existence. She got a massive push this year when the second single unexpectedly became a huge success in NZ which encouraged the kiwis to check out the rest of the album and indeed make the rest of the single's moderate successes for her.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Because we want to #9
Girlfriend #2
She wants you #4
Honey to the bee #5
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
This was set to be another flop for Robbie Williams in NZ, this is despite the fact that the lead single became a huge success for him over there upon its initial release the previous year. I don't know what happened, but the kiwis suddenly took a sharp interest in British pop music this year which allowed the album and the subsequent singles to become massive hits over there as the decade was coming to an end.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Millennium #3
No regrets #29
Strong #9
She's the one #3
Win some lose some #7
This was the other big hit that Sarah Brightman managed to score in NZ this year, I'm not sure why she had massive success in NZ for this year alone aside from maybe the kiwis feeling they needed to give her the respect she needed since her breakthrough role on Phantom of the opera from thirteen years prior.
Peak position #6
Given how their second album was a complete dud in NZ two years prior, this proved to be a bit of a comeback for Silverchair likely due to the lead single receiving strong airplay which allowed it to be a minor hit over there this year.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Anthem for the year 2000 #8
Ana's song #34
Miss you love #43
This was a massive success for Barry White this year in NZ, similar to how a slightly different greatest hits package would be a success for him here in Australia the following year. Barry wouldn't pass away until 2003, so I'm not entirely sure why there was a sudden rush to appreciate his music at the turn of the millennium in the southern hemisphere.
Peak position #2
While it didn't quite make it to the top of the charts in NZ, it was close enough that the album warranted such an arrogant title over there given how Van Morrison was still able to find success in certain parts of the world over thirty years into his career.
Peak position #5
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
It turns out there was a third volume to the Labour of love series that the kiwis made a success with for UB40, I guess there were far worse ways to close out the 90's than to give these guys further success with an album series most people likely don't even realise has more than two entries with.
Peak position #5
This seemed like a good year for some of the biggest names of the twentieth century to release one more greatest hits album to close out the old century by reminding their audiences of the good times they had in their prime, the Beach boys was just one of several legacy acts to have this thought process this year.
Peak position #6
It appears the kiwis were just as much fans of the Austin Powers franchise as we Aussies were given how this also managed to become a huge success over there like it did over here, I guess this was through a combination of their love of James Bond and the 60's as the franchise (well the first two films at least) pay loving tribute to both which helps it remain endearing to this day.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Beautiful stranger #5
American woman #12
It looks like the kiwis weren't big fans of the South park episodes that parodies Live aid given how much less successful the soundtrack tie in to that episode was over there, heck the standout track "Chocolate salty balls" didn't even chart over there like it did here and in the UK, suggesting the kiwis were a bit too chased to allow this to be a cultural phenomenon upon its initial release.
Peak position #10
Hit singles
Horny #2
This was the one and only album from the first winners of the reality series Popstars anywhere in the world, it still blows my mind that the idea of a singing competition for a reality series originated from NZ given how this would inspire Australia and the UK to follow suit which would inspire the American counterpart American idol.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Tonight #1
Number one #12
It appears the kiwis were not only bigger fans of S club 7 overall given how much more successful this album and its singles were over there compared to over here, but they were also instantly on board with Simon Fueller's second project following his dismissal from the Spice girls two years prior. As such, it was a huge success both at the end of the 90's and the start of the 00's over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Bring it all back #1
S club party #1
Two in a million #1
I guess I should've mentioned on the Australian side of my site that the soundtrack was well received for the Matrix film given how it was a massive success here upon its initial release, this was also the case in NZ where it proved to be equally as successful due to its ambience as well as the multiple alt rock tracks it contains.
Peak position #5
This was originally released in 1987 to deafening silence worldwide, I'm not sure why it bombed back then given how popular their (then) most recent album Get close was worldwide. It was given a second chance in NZ this year (unless there's a different greatest hits package with this title that I'm unaware of) likely due to the fond memories the kiwis had of their back catalogue.
Peak position #11
This had the same trajectory in NZ as it did here in Australia in that it was only a success when it managed to spawn a massive hit for Lenny Kravitz worldwide, he would retain his popularity going into the 21st century given how successful his greatest hits package was the following year over there.
Peak position #17
Hit singles
Fly away #8
American woman #12
I guess the kiwis weren't that into Dawson's creek back in the day given how this was barely a success over there as opposed to being a massive success over here, this also goes for the singles as it only spawned one hit which was much less of a hit compared to what it was over here.
Peak position #18
Hit singles
Kiss me #4
I did mention in my 1976 NZ album list that Santana never had much success over there save for their one appearance on that list, so here we are nearly a quarter of a century later with their big breakthrough album which came thanks to its lead single being inescapable everywhere in the world except over there funnily enough. This led to them having massive success throughout the decade and even scoring a hit off their next album.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Smooth #18
Maria Maria #49
Even though these guys had sound success here in Australia during their time as a boy band, they clearly weren't in the running for the boy band wars over here like they were in NZ and their native UK given how this is the first of three successful albums they had throughout the world before they reinvented themselves as pop crooners later in the 00's like their rivals Human Nature and Backstreet boys.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Swear it again #1
If I let you go #8
Flying without wings #6
I have a dream #10
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
It was a new decade and close to not only a new century but also new millennium, all of this to say that Tom Jones should've been yesterday's news by this point and yet here he is with arguably the biggest album of his career due to him taking a page out of Santana's book by releasing a duets album with some of the hottest names in music at the time.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Burning down the house #13
Mama told me not to come #45
Unlike in Australia where this second album was inescapable for Savage Garden, it needed to be a hit twice in NZ in order to qualify for this list given how it exited the charts entering the 00's only to come back later in the year when the duo embarked on their highly successful world tour. They would part ways once the tour was complete the following year much to the disdain of their fans.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The animal song #3
I knew I loved you #3
Affirmation #29
Crash and burn #19
Hold me #13
This had a similar trajectory towards success in NZ that it did here in Australia given how it was only a modest success upon its initial release over there and became a massive success a year after its release due to how big Limp Bizkit had become in the nu metal circuit.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Nookie #33
This was the second greatest hits package that Dave Dobbyn released throughout the 90's in his homeland, this one includes the material from his two albums he released since his previous entry from six years prior which I'm guessing was enough for his fellow kiwis to check out and make a success.
Peak position #4
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