Well, I've mentioned them thoroughly throughout my site, so I guess it's finally time to look at which songs were popular on the Billboard charts that were also big hits in the southern hemisphere throughout the 90's. For the sake of my sanity, I've decided to only include songs that have already appeared on this site given how I've already stretched myself thin in contextualising what was popular in Australia and NZ during a time where I was only an infant. That said I will be including fresh commentary for each entry on this list given how what I've said about them previously obviously will feel out of place on this list, I've also decided to rank this based on the top 500 that's on the website, meaning that this is by no means a comprehensive list of every song to make it big in America this decade.
Yes folks, Christina Aguilera makes an appearance on this list before Britney Spears, savour the moment because this is the only time in history where this will ever happen. Indeed, it appears her fellow Americans preferred her initially to her Disney rival as Britney really struggled to find an audience on Billboard after her debut single made such a splash over there.
It appears the Americans were intrigued with what this guy had to offer as he managed to score a massive success on Billboard almost a year after he did so internationally, although I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking he was an American artist given how this feels right at home with many other RNB entries on this list from American artists.
I think this was a chart topper for Glenn Medeiros on Billboard more for the presence of Bobby Brown than his own merit given how his big international hit "Nothing's gonna change my love for you" wasn't as such in his homeland as well as how inescapable Bobby was at the time of this song's release.
While they didn't have the overwhelming success in America they did internationally (being British and all at a time where Americans didn't like non-American media) the Spice girls regardless were able to achieve massive success on Billboard with their debut single due to how inescapable it was throughout the rest of the world months prior to its release over there.
Outside of Jon Bon's earlier entry on this list, this is the only appearance that Bon Jovi had on the 90’s-decade list on Billboard likely due to their popularity running out once the decade began in America. As such, this feels more like a late period hit for the band rather than a genuine comeback like it was here in Australia and throughout Europe.
This wasn't even Toni Braxton's debut single and yet it was the one that made her a household name in her native America, although it's worth noting that it wasn't until this nearly topped the British charts months after its initial release in her homeland that it found an audience with us Aussies despite already being a massive hit in NZ shortly after this was as such on Billboard.
Billy Idol was off to a fantastic start of the decade when he nearly topped the Billboard charts with this gem of his, alas his fortunes would run out in America just like it did internationally due to the times shifting against his favour by the time he released his next album.
Whereas we Aussies can say that MC Hammer had the first hip hop chart topper, and the kiwis can give that honour to Run DMC, the sad reality is that Vanilla ice has the distinction of having the first hip hop track to reach number one both on Billboard and in the UK with this number. Naturally it was a shoe in for this list given how popular it was at the start of the decade worldwide.
There's little surprise that this would be a chart topper for J-Lo in America given how it was as such throughout the rest of the world, although I get the feeling it was the case on Billboard specifically for her acting career as there was a ton of controversy that this song received in her native America that didn't translate internationally regarding her validity as a pop diva.
I'm not sure how America got a hold of this hip hop jam given how it wasn't that big in Snow's native Canada, however they did which resulted in its international success given how it was a massive chart topper on Billboard. The trade-off is that he scored several other hits in his homeland which naturally all failed to crossover throughout the rest of the world.
This was R Kelly's biggest hit in his homeland, admittedly I'm a bit surprised given how it was his highest charting single on Billboard (that honour goes to "Bump n grind" from 1994) however it makes sense that his biggest hit came from the Space jam soundtrack of all places. Contrary to popular belief, this song plays at the start of the film and again when Michael makes it to his baseball game towards the end of the film and not just over the closing credits.
Given how Eternal scored a minor hit in America with "Stay," this technically got the British trio out of the one hit wonder bin over there given how Monica took another of their tracks and made it her own which resulted in her second Billboard chart topper. She would have one more with "The first night" before she faded into obscurity right when the decade was coming to an end.
It only makes sense that this was a Billboard chart topper for Mark Wahlberg given how he was the younger brother of NKOTB singer Donnie Wahlberg, even so, it's amazing how both of them managed to successfully transition into acting careers in Hollywood given how lame their music was not long after this was a massive hit for the former.
This was the last time Heart troubled the charts on Billboard given how the rest of their catalogue throughout the 90's failed to make an impression over there, although this was also the case internationally as only Australia gave them one more hit after this with the minor success that "Will you be there" achieved in 1994 here.
This was the final hit that Janet Jackson had off her magnum opus Rhythm nation as it went to number one on Billboard following the surprise success that "Black cat" had over there like it did here in Australia. She took a break after this became a hit, returning two years later with her even bigger magnum opus Janet.
Well, it took us long enough, but we've finally arrived at Britney's only entry on this list which indeed was a massive chart topper for her on Billboard like it was throughout the rest of the world. Sadly, her other two big hits off her debut album weren't as such over there, this is despite Christina Aguilera scoring three chart toppers on Billboard off her debut album.
Even though this remix was a huge success in the UK, it proved to be even bigger in America for some reason as once again, this is a non-American act scoring a massive hit with an EDM track (even if it's a remix of an indie track.) This was the full extent of the duo's success over there, although they did score a few other minor hits in their native UK.
Given how Vanessa managed to achieve minor success of her first album in her homeland, it only makes sense that this only took off internationally thanks to it becoming a huge chart topper for her on Billboard even though it wasn't the lead single off her second album. She would have other hits throughout the decade in America, however none of them were as such internationally baring her Pocahontas theme.
Although this wasn't their first single in their catalogue, this did prove to be SWV's biggest hit in their homeland given how it was the only song of theirs to top the Billboard charts even if it's far from their most recognisable track. They had other hits throughout the decade which we’ll be revisiting as we go further down this list.
This was another massive hit in America that managed to see international success from the RNB genre, although I get the feeling it wouldn't have been as big as it was had it come out after the change in chart format which it came dangerously close to doing as that's when this song peaked on Billboard.
I'm not sure if this was a hit in America thanks to its involvement with the Pret a porter soundtrack or if it's due to the nostalgia bombing of "Land of 1000 dances" that plays throughout the track, either way it was a massive Billboard chart topper for Ini Kamoze even if he failed to score another hit with this track even in his native America.
I honestly would've been surprised if this was a flop for Bone thugs n harmony in America given how inescapably popular it was throughout the rest of the world following the success of "One sweet day" from earlier on this list. That said, this will be their only appearance on here as none of their other singles made Billboard's 90's list despite having several of them become as such in NZ back then.
There's no surprise this was a massive success in America given how big it was throughout the rest of the world (except for here in Australia funnily enough.) These girls were off to a great start which would continue with their second album as that spawned all of their notable hits in their catalogue.
All things considered, I'm actually surprised this was a hit in America given how much of a failure Bat out of hell was for Meat loaf on the Billboard charts throughout the 70's. I guess there was enough buzz from international audiences for the sequel to that album that his fellow Americans allowed this to be his one and only hit over there which resulted in it being a huge chart topper for him.
Again, I'm not sure if this was a hit due to it being attached to a popular film (in this case Phenomenon) or if the Americans wanted to give Eric Clapton one final hit before confiding him as a legacy act for the remainder of his career. Either way, this was a huge hit for the aging rock star at a time where people young enough to be his children were scoring massive success.
These guys had a ton of hits in their homeland throughout the decade given their similarities to Boyz II men, however even if I included songs that weren't hits in the southern hemisphere, this would be their only appearance as none of their other hits were big enough to make Billboard's 90's list.
While it didn't get to number one in American like it did here in Australia, this was nonetheless a massive hit for Sixpence none the richer (geez that name) likely due to its affiliation with Dawson's creek. They didn't have any further success after this which wasn't quite the case in NZ as they scored a second hit over there with their cover of the La's "There she goes."
This is an interesting entry as while it was a huge chart topper for Ricky Martin in America like it was in NZ, it was also his debut single over there despite him already having success here in Australia with the likes of "Maria" and "The cup of life." Even so, this was a shoe in for this list given how popular the Latin craze was on Billboard just as the decade was coming to an end.
This was the final hit that TLC had on Billboard as was the case throughout the rest of the world, at least it went to number one over there which means they ended things on a high note as opposed to it being a modest follow up to "No scrubs" from earlier on this list like it was everywhere else in the world.
Given how this was nominated for an Oscar due to its involvement with the film Poetic justice, it seems natural that this was a chart topper for Janet on Billboard even if it was the third single from her album Janet. She wouldn't return to number one in her homeland again until "Together again" from earlier on this list.
This was the final chart topper that Whitney Houston had in America throughout her career, it wasn't her final hit as that wouldn't come until the end of the decade, but it was the last time she was on top of the charts on Billboard. This was mainly due to it being the theme song to her second film Waiting to exhale which had a similar reception to her first film, namely that it was bad save for its soundtrack.
The more I think about this song, the more stunned I am this was a hit mainly through airplay given how the lyrics are explicitly about a drug addiction should you pay attention to them. This might be how it became a massive success for Third eye blind in their homeland as well as with us Aussies back in the day given how poorly it did with sales comparatively speaking.
This was the final chart topper that Prince had in America as the rest of his catalogue failed to get to number one on Billboard due to a shift in the charts format that took place shortly after this became a worldwide success for him. As such it's his highest placement on Billboard's 90's list, however it's far from the best charting even if it's the highest charting.
I'm a bit surprised this is the only appearance from the brotherly duo on Billboard's 90's list, although it's worth noting that they were members of Jodeci who scored several entries on that list that won't be appearing on here due to their failure internationally. Indeed, I'm shocked this was as big as it was here in Australia given how few other RNB ballads became this popular with us Aussies.
Even though this was a massive chart topper for Lisa Stansfield in her native UK just as the 80's were coming to an end, I'm still impressed how big this was on Billboard given how Americans were very hostile towards non-American artists following the end of the second British invasion in the 80's. This was her only hit over there, although I'm sure she would've had more were it not for the change in chart format.
I struggle to say this was a hit upon its initial release in America like it was in NZ, mainly because it was never released as a single over there for some reason as from what I can gather, the F.R.I.E.N.D.S soundtrack didn't receive much traction anywhere in the world back in the day. Naturally this makes the list due to its strong airplay stats which goes to show how much of an impact they had on American listeners in the 90's.
Given how popular Bell Biv and Deveo were at the start of the decade, it only makes sense that Ralph Tresvant would follow suit by releasing his own solo material to compete with New edition rival Bobby Brown who was also inescapable at the start of the decade. This was the only hit that the former main singer had anywhere in the world, proving once and for all he was the least loved member of the quintet.
There was little doubt that Roxette would score a Billboard chart topper with the title track to their third album, although this was the last chart topper they had over there even though "Fading like a flower" came very close to repeating its success shortly after its release. The duo would be yesterday's news in America within a year of scoring their final hit over there.
Although they scored one more hit in America with "Something to believe in," that won't be appearing on this list due to how much it was a failure for Poison throughout the rest of the world. That said, this is second only to "Every rose has its thorn" as their biggest hit on Billboard due to how much of an impact it made at the start of the decade.
Even though this was a chart topper for Taylor Dayne on Billboard, it's worth noting that it wasn't her biggest hit as that honour goes to "Don't trust me" from her first album even though that only went to number two in America. She has one more appearance on this list with "I'll be your shelter" before her fellow Americans casted her aside for fresh new talent.
Even in her homeland, this was the only hit that Jennifer Paige had, proving that she was a bit of a one trick pony even to her fellow Americans back in the day. That said, I would've been dumbfounded if this flopped on Billboard given how much of a success it was here in Australia and NZ for the singer/songwriter.
Much like the rest of the world, Bryan Adams was on a roll when he released his theme to the Johnny Depp flick Don Juan de Marco which allowed this to become his fourth and final chart topper on Billboard as well as his third to be affiliated with a film. This is his most recent entry on this list as his subsequent material didn't make much of a splash in America like it did here in Australia.
This is another song to make the list that wasn't released as a single in America back in the day, I guess this was to boost the sales of Smash mouth's debut album Fush yu mang which from what I can gather did said album no such favours (likely due to that ridiculous name the band gave it.) Even so, it was a massive hit on the radio to the point where it outranks many other entries that did chart on the main charts.
Another entry from Bryan Adams, this time he's joined by Sting and Rod Stewart as they team up for the theme to Disney's adaptation of the Three musketeers. Naturally it was this team up which allowed this to be a chart topper for the trio in America as I doubt many people realised this was attached to the Disney film even with the cover art showing that it was.
Unlike here in Australia where we Aussies needed to hear the (in my opinion) superior track from this group "Space jam" from the soundtrack of the same name in order to make this a hit, this was an instant hit for the trio in their native America likely due to their fellow Americans finding the sexual entendres on the track to be amusing.
Much like C+C music factory from earlier on this list, this too was originally a hit in the UK despite the band in question originally forming in America. The success it achieved throughout the rest of the world lead to their fellow Americans checking out what all the fuss was about which in turn allowed this to top the Billboard charts just like it did here in Australia.
Much like the rest of the world, Sheryl Crow's fellow Americans initially ignored her debut album until this became a surprise hit a year after its initial release. I'm not sure what changed her fortunes as from what I can gather, she was yet another female singer/songwriter making it big at a time where those were all the rage in her homeland. I guess my surprise was that this flopped to begin with rather than it catching on.
We have the final appearance of Color me badd on this site as well as the 90's list Billboard published on their site that I'm basing this list on. As I said earlier, this was technically their biggest hit if we're going by chart runs, however their other two entries had a huge disadvantage that Billboard recognised when constructing their list, resulting in their second chart topper appearing this list on the list.
From what I can gather, this was a hit in America and NZ thanks to its remix rather than the album version as both charts insist as such on their chart recaps. This was the prince of RNB's first Billboard chart topper given how his earlier entry on this list stalled at number two due to peaking at the height of Elton John's tribute to Diana from earlier on this list.
Although this wasn't the first hit that Boyz II men had in their native America (that honour goes to "Motownphilly" which appears higher on Billboard's 90's list) this was the first taste of success the quartet had outside of their homeland given how it was also a big hit in NZ, hence its eligibility for this list of mine.
This came so close to being a chart topper for Monica on Billboard as it got stuck behind TLC's "Waterfalls" during the height of its popularity, at least it was a bit enough hit to convince the kiwis to make her a household name which encouraged us Aussies to do the same six months after its success in her homeland. This success would continue to build until her collaboration with Brandy.
I'm not sure how this became Alanis's biggest hit in America, I'm guessing the Americans loved to take the mickey out of the lyrics even though the point of this song is that its entire existence is ironic. She has another entry to come on this list and would've had more if "You learn" had of been a hit internationally back in the day.
This was barely a hit in NZ, although that's all the justification I need to feature the third and final hit that Ace of base had in America on this list even if said justification is highly dubious. I think this was America’s introduction to the Tina Turner track given how Aswad’s cover from 1988 was a massive flop over there and that the original was never released as a single.
It may very well be the sleaziest track on this list, however there's no denying how popular this one and only hit from Wreckx n effect was in their homeland back in the day to the point where it was the rare hit from a new jack swing track here in Australia. Even back then, they were seen as a joke which is why they failed to score a second hit in their homeland.
They're often considered a one hit wonder in their homeland; however, Hanson did score at least one other hit on Billboard with "I will come to you" before their popularity died of as quickly as it came. Indeed, this was a huge chart topper for them over there like it was internationally, although they were seen as little more than a novelty unlike everywhere else where they were somewhat taken seriously.
If he had other hits outside of his native America, this would be the first of four entries for Biggie smalls as opposed to his sole entry which goes to show how popular he was in his homeland even if that popularity didn't translate anywhere else in the world. I think it was the Diana Ross sample on this track that finally endeared international audiences to his music.
It looks like Snap joins the ranks of Technotronic and Real McCoy as European EDM bands that managed to score a massive hit in America throughout the 90's, although they did so with their first entry which proves that the Americans were willing to let the genre rule the decade at least when it first began. They quickly changed their minds as hip hop and RNB won them over.
Given how this got the quartet out of the one hit wonder bin here in Australia, it makes sense that it was also a massive hit for them in their native America even if they're considered a one hit wonder nowadays given how "I swear" has overshadowed the rest of their catalogue.
I guess it was that cancer line that got Snap out of the one hit wonder bin in America as this managed to be equally as successful over there as their earlier entry on this list. I should point out that they continued to rack up the hits in the UK and throughout Europe even though this remains their most recent entry on my site.
We have another entry from Bryan Adams on this list, this time it's the second single from his album Waking up the neighbours which proved to be a massive success worldwide including in his native Canada where this became his second chart topper (his 80's material underperformed there for some reason.) Things would continue to look up for him as the rest of the decade unfolded.
How has it taken me this long to feature a song from the king of pop on this list? This was the first of two chart toppers he had in America in the 90's as this was the lead single to his (then) long awaited follow up to Bad, Dangerous. He has plenty of entries to come on here, but it feels weird it's taken this long for him to grace us with his presence.
I guess third time was the charm for Frank Farian as these guys proved to be far more popular in America than his previous project Milli Vanilli even at the height of their popularity. That said, this was the only big hit these guys had on Billboard as opposed to them scoring a second hit here in Australia as well as the album that spawned both hits being a massive success here.
Although this was a massive hit here in Australia (albeit six months after its initial release) I'm somewhat surprised this managed to be a huge success in America a year after its success down under given how niche it feels compared to everything else on this list. Sadly, she would be a one hit wonder over there as "Under the water" bombed on the Billboard charts.
Even if "Fly" was a hit in the southern hemisphere, it would still rank lower than this track from Sugar ray given how much more successful it was in their homeland compared to what many believe to be their signature track. This would be the final time the band troubled the Billboard charts as "When it's over" was a massive flop over there despite being a hit in NZ.
This song has the distinction of being at number one when Billboard decided to allow songs without a physical entry to appear on their main charts, this led to the song being released as a single to capitalise off that phenomenon which in turn led to it "jumping" of their charts as opposed to debuting at number one like it actually did.
I'm shocked this failed to get to number one on Billboard considering how huge it was throughout the rest of the world, however that doesn't mean it flopped as obviously it was a massive hit for Janet given its placement on this list. I'm guessing the success of this track led to her embarking on a spiritual journey for her next album the Velvet rope.
Although "Fly away" was a hit on Billboard by the end of the decade, that was mainly due to strong airplay which makes this the only hit that Lenny Kravitz had that his fellow Americans bought back in the day rather than listen to. That said, even airplay didn't do his album Are you gonna go my way any favours as the singles flopped on their airwaves despite how big they were internationally.
This will be one of two entries from LL Cool J on this list given how both hits he had in NZ were as such in America, he would've had three had "Around the way girl" been a hit over there as well but alas it wasn't a hit outside of Billboard. This has Boyz II men on the chorus, which no doubt is how it managed to find an international audience as well as it being his biggest hit as a lead artist in his homeland.
This will be R.E.M's only appearance on this list as none of their other singles managed to become a success in America like they were internationally, at least we get to feature one of their most instantly recognisable hits given how popular it remains in their catalogue to this day.
It looks like America was willing to let these guys stick around on the Billboard charts even though there were rumours that the duo was not giving proper credit to the female vocalists on each of their tracks. Those rumours proved to be true as Martha Walsh of the Weather girls revealed she was the one singing on these tracks which led to a messy legal battle between her and the duo.
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