This was the final year of the twentieth century, so what better way to send it off than with a collection of some of the biggest hits from the biggest artists of the moment? It's also the final year which the corporatisation of the music industry didn't have such a monopoly on the market as the rise of reality TV wouldn't take place until the following 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
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
Given how Robbie Williams was already one of the biggest names in music entering the 00's in NZ, it only makes sense that his third solo album would be an instant success over there as opposed to here where it needed the runaway success of one of its singles to become as such. His popularity over there would line up with how big it was over here with his subsequent material later in the decade.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Rock DJ #1
Kids #5
Better man #4
Supreme #3
Let love be your energy #11
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
This had more of an immediate success for Craig David in NZ than it did here in Australia, I'm guessing because the kiwis already went through an entire decade of RNB as opposed to us Aussies being more into EDM around the time this was initially released in the southern hemisphere. Of course, the album was a massive success in both countries thanks to how inescapable the singles were.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fill me in #11
7 days #6
Walking away #1
Rendezvous #31
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
Much like in Australia, this album from Limp Bizkit proved to be their magnum opus in NZ despite being panned by critics for its vulgar content (trust me, if you don't already know what the title is referring to, you're better off for not knowing.) Also like in Australia, their next album would be a huge commercial disappointment despite it containing their biggest hit with its lead single.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Take a look around #29
Rolling #14
My way #41
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
While this breakthrough album from Eminem proved to be equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, it appears to have come at the expense of hit spawning a hit over there like it did over here as none of the singles managed to catch on in their mainstream for some reason. He wouldn't have this conundrum with his next album which saw massive success with its singles in addition to it being a best seller.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
The real slim shady #15
Stan #14
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
Well at least the kiwis managed to make this album a success upon its initial release, although this seemed to come at the expense of the album spawning a hit for Nelly over there given how "Ride wit me" was released as a single several months prior to it ever being associated with Scary movie 2 like it was here in Australia. I'm guessing this is what led to him having more success here overall than he did over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Country grammar #42
Ride wit me #20
Normally it's us Aussies that are into EDM albums and the kiwis are the ones that overlook them; however, it appears that the opposite is the case with this entry as they quickly gravitated towards this album upon its initial release as opposed to us Aussies who only made it a minor sleeper hit about a year after its initial release over here.
Peak position #8
I guess the kiwis were finally willing to give these guys some well-deserved hits from this album as this managed to be the only album from the Corrs that managed to spawn hits for them over there despite their previous two albums being a massive success each for them throughout the 90's whilst failing to do so. This did lead to them scoring a hit off their greatest hits album over there that wasn't as such over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Radio #19
Breathless #3
Irresistible #8
Give me a reason #13
While this album did see some of its success the previous year here in Australia, it went largely ignored over in NZ until the lead single became a surprise hit in the early months of the year likely due to it being a chart topper here for the neo soul singer. At least it managed to spawn two hits for her over there given how it placed her in the one album wonder bin like it did everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #1x5
Hit singles
Do something #32
I try #1
Still #8
Why didn't you call me #35
This was a massive success for the Vengaboys over in NZ, likely because of the unwritten rule of allowing Dutch artists inescapable success being reinstated going into the new millennium which the band had some help in doing so with their debut from the previous year. Naturally they were all set up for massive success over there which they threw away by going their separate ways in 2002.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Shalala lala #1
Uncle John from Jamaica #5
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
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 Destiny's child achieved minor success in NZ with their first album and even the lead single to this album, it's likely this sophomore release from the group would've fallen into obscurity were it not for the controversy that happened with the rollout of its second single. Basically its success over there was likely the same as it was over here in that there was drama involving the members of the group.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Bills bills bills #12
Say my name #4
Jumping jumping #6
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
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
It does blow my mind that Celine Dion wasn't nearly as successful in NZ as she was everywhere else in the world, that said, she did achieve massive success entering the 00's with this greatest hits package/studio album hybrid which did spawn one of her bigger hits over there due to it sounding like something that would fit in with the teen pop of the era.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
That's the way it is #7
Unlike in Australia where Anastacia had plenty of success with her first three albums, in NZ she only had success with her debut off the strength of its lead single which sadly left her a one album wonder as the kiwis for some reason didn't bother checking out her subsequent follow ups like we Aussies did. At least this was still a massive success for her over there unlike in her native America where she went unnoticed.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
I'm outta love #1
Not that kind #22
Cowboys and kisses #46
Unlike in Australia where these guys had sound success throughout the 90's, it wasn't until the start of the decade where the kiwis paid any attention to their music which was likely due to how this album became a massive success down under thanks to the runaway success of one of its singles on MTV. Indeed, these guys didn't find much love over in NZ outside of this album save for a big hit later in the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
What's my age again #43
All the small things #10
Adam's song #39
This had the same level of success in NZ as it did here in Australia, proving once again that pulling a song from the shelves doesn't encourage any sales from the album in question as that's something that happened here in Australia with the title track and not over in NZ this year. This would be her last successful album over there until Circus from the other side of the decade.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Ooops I did it again #1
Lucky #4
Stronger #15
As per tradition, Simon and Garfunkel were able to enter a new decade with a highly successful greatest hits package over in NZ proving once more how much the kiwis loved their back catalogue from the 60's. Indeed, this was the duo's most successful album in this regard to the point where they didn't bother releasing another album over there once the 2010's had begun.
Peak position #5
It was a new century and yet classical music was still all the rage in NZ as Kiri Te Kanawa managed to score a massive success this decade with a classical album based on covers of popular music from NZ. This did lead to a rise in interest for both classical music and local artists throughout the decade for what it's worth.
Peak position #4
Nowadays most people think of the Russian producer whenever they hear the name Zed (even though his name is spelt as Zedd) back in the day however, that was the name of a NZ alternative rock band who scored massive success with their debut album given how they were able to score a string of hits (some bigger than others) off the album before fading into obscurity as the decade went on.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
I'm daisy #15
I'm cold #19
Glorafilla #9
Renegade fighter #4
Come on down #12
Driver's side #36
I guess the kiwis were more interested in listening to Eric Clapton collaborate with B.B King his year than we Aussies were as this proved to be far more successful over there than it was over here this year. It's partially a covers album given how the duo take their hand on some blues classics as well as some (at the time) never before seen tracks from King's vault.
Peak position #2
Given how he was responsible for so many hip hop classics throughout the 90's, you're probably stunned at how little representation that Dr Dre has had on my site even if he had a hit as a lead artist in NZ throughout the 90's. I guess the kiwis were hyped enough to allow his second solo album to be a success for him over there at the start of the decade, certainly more so than it was in his native America.
Peak position #11
Hit singles
Forgot about dre #26
I guess this was a success from Carl Doy due to the kiwi's feeling nostalgia for the once popular Piano by candlelight franchise he began in the late 80's, who'd thought 80's nostalgia would begin less than a decade after that decade came to an end?
Peak position #4
Given the success he had with his first album from two years prior, it makes sense that Martin Winch would make a follow up to his Espresso guitar album by turning it into a series that also saw massive success with its second instalment. The novelty must have worn off by the time he released the third instalment later in the decade as that was a massive flop for him.
Peak position #3
There haven't been many successful metal bands from NZ over the years, one of the lucky few to achieve success over there was Tadpole who scored a massive hit with their debut album from the start of the decade due to it being released at a time where all kinds of metal were able to find success worldwide effortlessly. Naturally they struggled to repeat this success later in their career due to how lucky they were with this album.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
For me #12
Backdoor #12
Alright #21
If you're wondering why this solo debut from Ronan Keating has a much lower placement on this list compared to how well it did on the Australian side of my site, that's because the deluxe edition of the album was a massive flop for it over there which means most of its success came from its initial release given how much hype that went into the album following his departure from Boyzone the previous year.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
When you say nothing at all #1
Life is a rollercoaster #2
The way you make me feel #8
Loving each day #9 (deluxe edition)
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
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
While this still took its sweet time in becoming a success in NZ like it did here in Australia, at least it managed to reach the upper echelons of their charts which is more than I can say for how it did down under given how it failed to crack our top twenty despite how inescapable the singles were over here. That said, Christina overall found less success with her albums over there despite how big her singles were.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Genie in a bottle #2
What a girl wants #1
I turn to you #11
Come on over baby #2
This was originally a mere modest success for Ben Harper the previous year given how popular he was over there throughout the 90's, it was given a massive boost in popularity this year due to it spawning a genuine hit for him over there which likely led to the success of his live album over in Australia of all places the following year.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Please bleed #41
Steal my kisses #2
It appears that even two decades after his death, Bob Marley could still find success with new material as his estate commissioned this duets album where some of the biggest fans of his music in the music industry made a virtual duet with him that became a success in NZ around the height of Y2K.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Turn your lights down low #1
While this wasn't as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, it appears that the kiwis enjoyed the second soundtrack from the Mission impossible franchise enough to make it the flagship of the franchise in their homeland much like we Aussies did down under. Again, I'm a fan of the franchise, so I can't say that I clamour for a new film once every few years like so many do.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Take a look around #29
This was released towards the end of the previous year to massive success, although it wasn't massive enough to appear on that year's list as it only became a best seller in Shihad's native NZ this year due to it sticking around the charts thanks to the moderate success of the singles it spawned over there. Naturally this sparked interest in the band from us Aussies which they achieved some degree of success throughout the decade here.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
My mind's sedate #6
The general's electric #22
Pacifier #48
This will be the only appearance of Marc Anthony on this site as a lead artist, he was a Latin crooner in a similar vein to Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias who never saw much success outside of his native America save for this album which became big in NZ likely due to the Latin craze being at the height of its popularity this year.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
I need to know #20
You sang to me #10
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
I'm a bit surprised this was less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia for P!nk given how her second album managed to be a huge mainstream success over there as opposed to a sleeper hit over here. This also goes for the singles as apart from the third single, they too weren't as inescapable over there as they were over here back in the day.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
There you go #6
Most girls #2
You make me sick #10
It appears that this second album from Five was only a sleeper hit in NZ as opposed to it being a mainstream success here in Australia for the boy band, although the trade-off is that three of the four singles found way more success over there than they did over here (relatively speaking that is due to the stiffer competition on the NZ charts.)
Peak position #16
Hit singles
If ya getting down #1
Keep on moving #7
Don't wanna let you go #5
We will rock you #29
I still don't know why Gabrielle didn't have any success in NZ with her debut album like she did internationally, however seven years later she did find massive success over there with her third album mainly due to the surprise hit it spawned over there with its title track. It recharted over there the following year when she released her greatest hits package following the success of her theme from Bridget Jones diary.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Rise #2
Even though this had a higher peak position in NZ than it did here in Australia, it appears this was only a success over there due to the novelty factor of its singles as it spent quite a lot of time on the lower half of their charts like it did on ours.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Blue #1
Move your body #6
Too much of heaven #49
This was even more of a sleeper hit over in NZ as it didn't even debut in the top ten like it did over here in Australia, although it was inevitable that it would be a success given how the singles were even bigger over there than they were over here for the boy band.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
Bye bye bye #1
It's gonna be me #7
This I promise you #32
Given how their previous album was a huge sleeper hit for Morcheeba in NZ, it makes sense that this album that spawned them a huge hit single would also be a sleeper hit for them with the kiwis. Again, this was a massive bomb here in Australia despite this coming from an EDM group that saw massive success throughout Europe.
Peak position #15
Hit singles
Rome wasn't built in a day #2
Be yourself #41
It appears these guys were originally destined to flop over in NZ given how this initially underperformed over there when it was released, however it was given somewhat of a second chance when it became a huge hit here in Australia for the Scottish band even if that only allowed it to become a sleeper hit for them over there.
Peak position #14
Hit singles
Why does it always rain on me #20
Turn #37
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
It was inevitable that this greatest hits package from Lenny Kravitz would be more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia given how he managed to somewhat retain his popularity throughout the 90's over there rather consistently, indeed the bonus track from the album became a massive hit for him over there as opposed to it merely being a sleeper hit at best over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Again #5
Much like the rest of the world, this greatest hits package from the Beatles was a massive success in NZ around the twentieth anniversary of John Lennon's tragic murder. I don't have much more to add to this entry as its success over there was for the exact same reason it was over here.
Peak position #1x9
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 think this was meant to be NZ's equivalent of the Main event concert that John Farnham, Olivia Newton John and Anthony Warlow gave back in 1998, I can't think of another reason why two 80's legends would collaborate with a (then) up and coming pop star if it wasn't for charity after all. Whatever the reason for this concert, it proved to be a massive success for the trio as did this live album.
Peak position #2
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
You have no idea how much love the kiwis have for UB40 over the years, heck I wouldn't be surprise if that love hasn't diminished given how they still occasionally chart over there with new material and the odd greatest hits package.
Peak position #4
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
It's a bit surprising to me that this album from U2 wasn't anywhere near as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia given how overplayed the lead single remains to this day throughout the world, indeed you'd think a band who saw so much more success in the 80's over there than they did over here would've thrived over there with this album given how people claim it's a return to their heyday in terms of its sound.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Beautiful day #7
Stuck in a moment you can't get out of #17
Elevation #35
We all know who the three tenors are by this point, so let's look at an Irish trio of opera singers who managed to score a massive breakthrough in NZ at the start of the decade with this album of theirs that failed everywhere else in the world. It appears this was a fluke for the three gentlemen in question as their subsequent follow ups failed to make it big over there as the decade went on.
Peak position #5
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
This was a moderate success in NZ like it was here in Australia, in fact I'm guessing it was largely pulled from shelves back in the day as this is technically a Christmas album even though it did chart well into the new year upon its initial release during the Christmas season albeit on the lower half of the charts worldwide.
Peak position #3
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