This is where digital piracy really harmed the Australian music scene, although at least NZ changed up their charts to prevent this from happening over there. As such the selection of songs on this list will be a bit divisive but as promised, I'll do my best to be nice when talking about each and every entry on here.
One of the biggest names in NZ music this decade was Fat Freddy's Drop, a reggae band who took their local scene by storm thanks to their catchy reggae tunes connecting with the kiwis to the point where they naturally sparked international interest in their music. Sadly, they remain a cult favourite at best outside of their homeland, however they certainly had an impressive run in their local mainstream regardless.
Peak position #1x10
Hit singles
Wandering eye #6
Well at least the album proved to be equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia for James Blunt, although it's worth noting that the singles didn't bring in the numbers over there like they did over here which is strange considering how most albums we've looked at so far on these lists had singles that performed better over there than they did over there back in the day.
Peak position #1x12
Hit singles
You're beautiful #4
Goodbye my lover #19
Wisemen #21
It appears the kiwis were also interested in having Green day reinvent themselves from punk rockers singing about masturbation (among other things) to becoming politically active against the American government on this album, in fact I get the feeling this was more of a surprise comeback over there than it was here given how none of their albums since Dookie had any success whatsoever prior to this.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
American idiot #7
Boulevard of broken dreams #5
Holiday #13
Wake me up when September ends #10
Jesus of suburbia #26
Much like here in Australia, this sophomore album from Kelly Clarkson had a bit of a slow start to its success due to her being seen as little more than a reality show contestant upon its initial release in NZ, however it eventually won the kiwis over like it did for us Aussies which allowed it to be one of the biggest albums of the decade over there. Interestingly, this was their introduction to her music given how her debut or its singles didn't even chart over there.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Breakaway #12
Since u been gone #11
Behind these hazel eyes #7
Because of you #19
Walk away #19
Much like the rest of the world, the kiwis weren't interested in this debut album from Maroon 5 upon its initial release in 2002, however they changed their minds also like the rest of the world when the second single began making waves on the radio. While the band did have their naysayers back in the day, at least it was mainly from people who merely found them overrated as opposed to what everyone thinks of them now.
Peak position #1x6
Hit singles
Harder to breathe #33
This love #4
She will be loved #18
Sunday morning #21
Must get out #38
The parallels of BEP's success in NZ compared to what they achieved in Australia were identical as each of the songs on this second album with Fergie proved to be just as successful over there as they were over here in addition to the album also being as successful in both countries.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Don't phunk with my heart #1
Don't lie #5
My humps #1
Pump it #2
Well, this proved to be equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, in fact it was arguably more successful over there due to the singles performing much better than what they did over here (even if that was due to airplay being factored into the NZ charts.) I stand by that this album isn't as terrible as everyone makes it out to be, although it being one of the most popular of all time does warrant raised eyebrows.
Peak position #1x2
Hit singles
Photograph #4
Far away #2
Saving me #9
This third album from the Feelers was initially only a modest success upon its release in their homeland, I'm guessing because the kiwis felt that their time was up and wanted to move onto other local rock bands of the day such as Goldenhorse or Evermore. It was given a second chance a year after its initial release due to the surprise success of one of its singles which in turn made it a hugely successful album.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Larger than life #16
Weapons of war #34
The fear #13
Stand up #17
This was Jack Johnson's biggest album over in NZ, it's interesting given how his biggest album here in Australia was his sophomore effort from two years prior and this was merely his second biggest album over here for the folk singer. Naturally his popularity would decline moving forward in the decade, however he did retain most of it before the decade came to an end.
Peak position #1x8
Hit singles
Sitting waiting wishing #25
Good people #25
Much like everywhere else in the world, this had a bit of a slow rise to its popularity given how Gwen Stefani had attained a fanbase during her time with No Doubt who likely weren't ready to see her go in a pop friendly direction on her first album away from the group. Indeed, I don't think the kiwis were truly as on board with her change in direction as the rest of the world was, however that didn't prevent the album from being a success over there regardless.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
What you waiting for #3
Rich girl #3
Hollaback girl #3
Cool #9
Luxurious #17
This proved to be equally as successful for Coldplay in NZ as it was here in Australia, again this was a sign that the indie scene was rather strong in NZ throughout the decade given how this was back when Coldplay were considered a band in it for the art rather than for commercial appeal like they would become in the 2010's.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Speed of sound #13
Fix you #17
Talk #20
The hardest part #28
Much like in Australia, this remains the most successful album from the Foo Fighters in NZ given how it managed to spawn their biggest hit in their native America in the form of its lead single. I guess the kiwis weren't interested in giving the band a hit on the singles chart as unlike in Australia where it only failed to become as such due to digital piracy, it was a genuine flop for the band over there.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Best of you #38
DOA #34
Resolve #39
I guess the tradeoff for their debut album being much more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia was that their second album being slightly less successful there than it was here four years after the fact. Even so, this sophomore effort from the (literally) animated band proved to be quite popular with the kiwis this year thanks to their brand of hip hop and pop rock blending together nicely.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Feel good inc #2
Dare #5
While these guys didn't reach the dizzying heights of success in NZ that they had here in Australia, it was obvious that the kiwis had enough room for their brand of pop opera to share with the likes of Amici forever and Hayley Westenra.
Peak position #3
It may have been panned by critics and audiences alike, however that didn't prevent this album from Eminem being a massive success for him worldwide likely due to it having a trainwreck feel to it to the point where many people (me included) speculate that it was deliberately sabotaged in order to scare off people who considered him to be a martyr for their childhoods.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
Just lose it #1
Like toy soldiers #2
Mockingbird #8
Ass like that #9
Well, we just looked at the debut album from his protegee a moment ago, so now let's look at the second album from 50 cent which he released around the same time that somehow led to the two rappers having a falling out this year as there appears to be speculation that the success of this album hampered the success of the Game's album over in their native America for some reason.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Candy shop #2
Just a lil bit #8
Outta control #12
Although this didn't reach the dizzying heights of her earlier material, this was regardless a massive success for Bic Runga proving that she still had plenty of love from her fellow kiwis this far into the 21st century as opposed to her older sister who had already fallen into obscurity by this point in time. Sadly she would follow suit with her next album as that was a massive flop for her later in the decade.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Winning arrow #23
While this wasn't as inescapable a success for Haley Westenra as her earlier entries in her catalogue, it was nonetheless a huge success for her which is impressive given how most of the classical music to make it big this decade came from male artists. It does make you wonder why she was able to find success and not the likes of Sarah Brightman or Charlotte Church this decade.
Peak position #1x2
This felt like a good place for Eminem to call it quits in the hip hop game given how much of a critical disaster his previous album was, indeed, he was all set in this being the last album he released given how his next album came out of nowhere four years later and didn't see nearly the success that his previous work had. Naturally the kiwis were as on board with this career trajectory as the rest of the world was.
Peak position #1x4
Hit singles
When I'm gone #2
Whilst we Aussies weren't that interested in giving INXS another chance in the spotlight now that they had found a new lead vocalist for their band after toying with several other candidates such as Jon Stevens, the kiwis were much more open to this phase of their career given how this album with their new frontman was a massive success for them over there where it wasn't over here.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Pretty Vegas #7
This was more of a success for Akon in NZ than it was here in Australia, it's only fitting given how RNB was far more accessible over there than it was over here throughout music history. That said, Akon didn't have that much luck with the singles on here, presumably because the kiwis felt they were too gimmicky to become massive hits like they were internationally.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Lonely #1
Belly dancer #12
Following the slow but staggering success of their debut album from earlier in the decade, Goldenhorse released their second album which might not have reached the dizzying heights of their debut, however, was nonetheless able to keep their momentum going given how popular it was during the midpoint of the decade. Their third album on the other hand was a complete dud for them.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Out of the moon #21
It may surprise you to learn that despite spawning a few minor hits over in NZ, this wasn't the most successful album the Killers had over there as that honour goes to their second album from the following year despite only spawning the one hit for them worldwide. Still, this was a mammoth effort from the band even if it achieved most of its success on the lower half of their charts.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Somebody told me #13
Mr brightside #15
All these things that I've done #36
Given how immensely popular 50 cent was during the midpoint of the decade, it only makes sense that a protegee of his own would be able to follow in his footsteps and find success with their own album which is exactly what the Game achieved with his debut album in NZ and his native America. It's interested that he was the protegee of an east coast rapper considering he was from the west coast.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
How we do #3
Hate it or love it #3
Dreams #35
Given how Jack Johnson was one of the biggest names in music worldwide, it only makes sense that a contemporary of his would follow in his footsteps which is where this album from Donavon Frankenreiter comes in as it managed to do just that over in NZ for the folk singer. It was the only success he had anywhere in the world, likely due to audiences preferring Johnson's material.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
It don't matter #22
Whatcha know about #29
Well, these guys certainly like to that their sweet time in releasing new music, this was their second album and the only album they released this decade given how their first album came out in 1997 and their third (and to date final) album came out in 2014. I guess they really do live up to the laid-back persona that this album manages to convey which I'm guessing connected with fans of Jack Johnson over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
The otherside #10
Following the success of his breakthrough album from earlier in the decade in NZ, Russell Watson was able to find success with his follow up album over there largely thanks to him being well known along the other artists in the classical music genre on this list. His popularity would die out with his next album largely due to the classical music boom ending once it finally came out.
Peak position #2
Given that the Crazy frog was a genuine hitmaker over in NZ (no seriously, he was) it only makes sense that it's debut album would become a massive hit for the CGI amphibian over there which no doubt helped it gain infamy on the internet as it was naturally a huge success throughout Europe as well.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Axel f #1
Popcorn #1
Jingle bells #1
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia for System of a down as was the other album they released this year (stay tuned for it later down this list) this just goes to show how popular alt rock was during the midpoint of the decade worldwide even with all the reality show contestants clogging up our charts.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Lonely day #17
There was a reality show this year which tried to determine who the new lead singer for INXS would end up being given how the band were struggling to find a replacement for Michael Hutchence since his tragic passing back in 1997, the winner of the series was Canadian singer JD Fortune who would release an album with the band by the end of the year that was a massive success over in NZ.
Peak position #4
Naturally this was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia due to the lead singer being a kiwi himself, you'd think that these guys making it big in the southern hemisphere would've been enough of an encouragement to keep going as the decade went on especially due to the success of classical music this decade, but alas they called it quits due to their failure in their homeland.
Peak position #1x1
Now given how she had tons of more success in NZ throughout the 90's than she did here in Australia, you'd think that this comeback from Mariah Carey's alter ego Mimi would've been inescapable over there given how well it did over here and especially in her native America. Alas it was only a sleeper hit for her with the kiwis and also lacked that huge chart topper it spawned worldwide.
Peak position #12
Hit singles
It's like that #21
We belong together #2
Shake it off #5
Don't forget about us #12
Get your number #34
I guess the kiwis could expect Dave Dobbyn to have a random comeback once a decade given how this was the first successful album he had over there since his previous entry on this site from my 1995 list. Again, this was due to the lead single becoming a surprise hit for the 80's legend which no doubt led to his fellow kiwis checking out the album that spawned it to see what all the fuss was about.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Welcome home #10
Although that haven't had much popularity over in NZ since the turn of the century, that didn't prevent this greatest hits package from live from becoming a massive hit for them over there shortly after it was a modest success here in Australia for the band.
Peak position #1x2
Although there was a soundtrack to this year's remake of War of the world's, the kiwis felt that this concept album made about the 50's original was more worthwhile of their attention rather than the score made by John Williams.
Peak position #4
It had been a while since the Offspring troubled the NZ charts, so much so that it's a wonder that this greatest hits package from them was a success at all, let alone a chart topper for them this year. I guess the kiwis had enough love for their 90's material that they allowed this to be a success despite their recent failures over there.
Peak position #1x4
It makes sense that this was far more of a success for Destiny's child in NZ than it was here in Australia even if they found more success overall here than they did over here both with their singles and albums, of course the real success from this album came when the bonus track was chosen as the theme song for the Pink panther remake that happened to star Beyonce opposite Steve Martin.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Check on it #1
It appears this album wasn't as well received by the kiwis as it was by us Aussies, this is strange because both Split enz and especially Crowded house saw plenty of success over there back in the day as did the brothers respective solo careers. Heck they even had a (then) recent collaboration album which saw far more success over there than it did over here.
Peak position #4
This is another successful album to come from the pop opera sub-genre of music, as such it was a massive hit for Il Divo who were the latest in a number of artists from this genre to make it big worldwide.
Peak position #1x1
It had been a decade since the Exponents released a greatest hits package, although they hadn't achieved any success since they did which makes this albums success a bit confusing to me.
Peak position #7
Even though this was an instant chart topper for Audioslave in NZ, it appears that it was more of a sleeper hit over there given how quickly it fell to the lower half of their charts shortly after its release. That said, it stuck around for quite a while which is how it managed to make RIANZ's yearend list and thus make it on my list.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Be yourself #38
This was far less successful in NZ than it was here in Australia for Robbie Williams, in fact it only barely makes the cut thanks to it being a chart topper over there during the Christmas rush of this year and being released just in time for it to take advantage of the holiday season.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Tripping #20
Advertising space #32
This was a greatest hits compilation consisting not just of John Fogerty's solo work, but also his work with Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was a huge success in NZ but a massive flop here in Australia, likely due to the nostalgia bug kicking in over there much sooner than it did over here in our mainstream.
Peak position #7
This was a bit of a surprise success for David Gray given how he hadn't had a lot of success with his previous album from three years prior, however this managed to spawn a minor charting single in NZ which was enough encouragement for the kiwis to check out the parent album to see what all the fuss was about.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
The one I love #38
It makes sense this would also be a success in NZ just like it was here in Australia given how popular their world tour was this year; indeed, their next album would prove to be even bigger over there by the end of the decade which goes to show how much the kiwis loved these guys over us Aussies.
Peak position #5
Even though their album as Pacifier was a massive success, it appears that there wasn't much love for Shihad under that name which is perhaps why they reverted back to their original name with this release. It was barely a success for them hence why it appears on this list, although they would recover later in the decade with their next album.
Peak position #2
One of the more popular bands of the decade in NZ was the Black seeds, a reggae group that scored a massive hit with their debut album that had its success stretched out when one of the singles became an unexpected radio hit a year after its initial release. Their success would grow with their subsequent material later in the decade.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
So true #32
Here's the other big album that System of a down released this year, it was slightly more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia due to it also going to number one over there just like their earlier entry on this list.
Peak position #1x1
Hit singles
Lonely day #17
This was more of a sleeper hit for Simple plan in NZ than it was here in Australia, I guess the kiwis weren't as open to allowing these guys to crossover but briefly changed their minds when the lead single to their sophomore album became a massive hit for the Canadian band over there.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Welcome to my life #5
Shut up #11
Untitled #20
This was equally as popular in NZ as it was here in Australia for Enya, again I'm sure it would've lasted longer on our charts had it not been pulled from shelves due to it being a Christmas album.
Peak position #10
Before she became a mainstay for the controversial religious group Hillsong, Brooke Fraser was a popular folk singer/songwriter from NZ who scored a massive hit with her debut album at the tender age of twenty. While she never was able to crossover to Australia despite eventually joining the Australian religious group, I doubt she cared considering how inescapable she was in her homeland.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Better #3
Lifeline #7
Saving the world #15
Arithmetic #8
Without you #16
There was no shortage of classical music making it big in the NZ music scene this decade, here we have the debut album of Yulia Beredenko who was a Russian born teenage opera singer who won over her fellow kiwis with this album enough to make it among the most successful of the decade over there. She managed to have a second successful album later in the decade before she faded into obscurity.
Peak position #1x4
Naturally this would be more of a success in the homeland of the Finn brothers than it was here in Australia given how they've both retained their popularity years after the demise of both Split enz and Crowded house, it further benefitted from NZ Idol not dominating their mainstream like the Australian equivalent did, which means it had little competition from reality stars over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Won't give in #16
Nothing wrong with you #35
This greatest hits album became a hit multiple times in NZ this decade, this was the second time it was a success likely due to Rod's popularity being reignited with his Motown throwback albums he was releasing throughout the decade.
Peak position #4
This was a hit again during the midpoint of the decade in NZ, further proving how much the kiwis loved UB40 even going into the new millennium (or at least their back catalogue.)
Peak position #5
Not only was this predictably more of a success for Ray Charles in NZ given the kiwis fondness for RNB over us Aussies, but it also appears that it was an immediate success over there as well given how it appears on more than one of these lists which was the case for the Australian side of this site.
Peak position #3
It was obvious that this would also be a success in NZ like it was here in Australia, true it didn't reach the dizzying heights of success over there that it achieved over here, however these guys were one of the biggest bands of the 90's in the southern hemisphere which this album celebrates.
Peak position #3
Hip hop was certainly the genre of choice during the midpoint of the decade in NZ, as such we have this breakthrough album from P-Money who gathers some of the biggest names in his local music scene as well as some international artists as well (including Akon of all people) which became a predictable success for the producer thanks to the success of its lead single.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Stop the music #1
Keep on calling #23
This saw equal amounts of success in NZ as it did here in Australia, I guess it's fitting that the popularity of Bono and company had become more homogenised worldwide by this point in time given how they had become a legacy band by this point in their career despite still being able to compete with the hottest new names of the moment.
Peak position #1x3
Hit singles
Vertigo #5
Sometimes you can't make it on your own #12
I'm a bit surprised that the Ray Charles biopic wasn't more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia back int eh day, although I guess this was more of a Jamie Foxx album given how he had covered each of the tracks on this album for the film which naturally led to his academy award for his performance.
Peak position #3
This was released following the news that Creed was calling it quits, I guess the kiwis were a bit upset with this news given how big this was over there despite it being a massive flop here in Australia for the band. They would eventually reunite as the decade came to an end to very little fanfare.
Peak position #2
This was far less popular in NZ than it was here in Australia, although I'm not sure why as both Jay-Z and Linkin Park found more success over there than they did by this point in time as did anything related to MTV. I guess it was less popular due to it failing to spawn a hit with "Numb/Encore" like it did over here.
Peak position #4
There was a greatest hits package that Neil Diamond released in 1985 with this exact title that was a success over in NZ, that wound up being more successful over there than this was even though this was also a decent success around this time where it was a flop over here in Australia.
Peak position #9
While this wasn't anywhere near as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia, the fact that this second international album from Michael Bublé was nonetheless a massive success over there should speak volumes as to how well loved the Canadian crooner was during the midpoint of the decade with a wide variety of audiences.
Peak position #5
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