This is another successful throwback album to a legend (or a group of legends in this case) to make it big in the southern hemisphere, this was a success in NZ the same reason it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 2007
From what I can gather, this album was released on the twentieth anniversary of its initial release in NZ where it became a hit for Dr Hook all over again, in fact it was able to match the success it achieved here in Australia twenty years prior by finally getting to number one over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2001
This will be the final appearance of Hayley Westenra on this site, rather coincidentally, it was the last album she released as a teenager as she would turn twenty shortly after its release, suggesting that her fans were only interested in her music while she was underage.
Peak position #1×5
POPULAR IN 2007
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
POPULAR IN 2000
Given how much the kiwis have loved U2 over the years (although not in the 00’s funnily enough) it only makes sense that this greatest hits package from them would be a massive hit even with the success of their previous two albums of this vein from within a decade of each other.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
The saints are coming #4
Windows in the skies #28
POPULAR IN 2006
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
POPULAR IN 2005
For the third time, a greatest hits package from Little River band with the exact same name managed to become a massive success over in NZ, I’d say this was a tradition that they would begin each new decade with this phenomenon, except there was no such album in the 2010’s to become a success over there.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 2002
Even though he only scored one hit in his entire career as well as tragically passing away three years after said hit (“E ipo” from 1982 if you didn’t know) Prince Tui Teka managed to achieve massive success posthumously with this greatest hits package going over most of his work that was overlooked during his lifetime in his homeland.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2002
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
POPULAR IN 2005
This was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis didn’t find Timbaland “presenting” these guys to be as gimmicky as we Aussies did (I still don’t get the point of that to this day.) Indeed, the band would overall find more success over there due to their second album spawning a huge hit for them over there that didn’t even chart over here.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Apologize #1
Stop and stare #11
POPULAR IN 2008
Unlike in Australia where this was an instant success for Nickelback, the kiwis needed a bit of incentive to make this a success over there which they eventually got once the lead single finally topped the Billboard charts months after it was a massive hit here in Australia. I guess they tried to reject the band like most of the world did, but they gave up by the time All the right reasons came out.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
How you remind me #4
POPULAR IN 2001
This was originally dead-on arrival for Eric Clapton and JJ Cale, perhaps because neither man had a hit in over a decade (three decades in the latter’s case) and that this was a blatant attempt to recapture their former glory in the 21st century. I guess the kiwis gave this a chance this year when they realised that the former covered the signature tune of the latter and thus liked the idea of them working together.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2006
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
POPULAR IN 2000
Unlike in Australia where this was quite popular this year due to the multiple singles it managed to spawn for Fergie worldwide, this solo outing from her only appeared to become a success due to the fourth single being a critical darling compared to the rest of the album which was considered to be too lowbrow to be taken seriously by audiences at the time.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
London bridge #1
Fergalicious #5
Glamorous #9
Big girls don’t cry #1
Clumsy #4
Here I come #39
POPULAR IN 2006
Although it was a commercial disappointment for her over there much more than it was over here, Avril’s second album was enough of a modest success that the kiwis no doubt would’ve been as perplexed with her selling out on her third album even if it managed to restore her popularity over there like it did everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Girlfriend #1
When you’re gone #26
Hot #30
POPULAR IN 2007
This is the only other appearance from Michael Bublé on this site of my site, I guess the kiwis really weren’t that impressed with his catalogue this decade as the rest of the world was given how this was more of a hit the following decade than it was during the final months of the 00’s. Heck it didn’t even spawn a hit for him like it did here in Australia and on the Billboard charts.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2009
Given how he was able to make it big in NZ without any hassles on if it was due to physical sales or digital, James Morrison was able to translate the success he achieved from his debut single to his debut album over there, making him the latest in a long line of British artists this decade to find more success over there than they did over here.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
You give me something #1
Wonderful world #16
POPULAR IN 2006
Given how this debut album from Mika only managed to spawn the one hit for him over in NZ, it only makes sense that it wasn’t as bit a hit over there as it was over here even if it has roughly the same placement on this list as it does on the Australian equivalent. This is because it bounced in and out of our top twenty down under as opposed to it sticking to the lower half of the NZ charts.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Grace Kelly #2
Love today #28
POPULAR IN 2007
These guys had a bit of a slow climb to their popularity throughout their career given how this was their third album overall and the first to find massive success in their homeland, their popularity would grow throughout the 2010’s despite being an alternative EDM band, or likely because of it as they did seem to fit in with the club boom of the day.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Dutchies #20
POPULAR IN 2009
There was no escaping the king of rock and roll this year anywhere in the world given how both Ocean’s eleven and Disney’s Lilo and Stitch managed to bring the legend back into the mainstream thanks to how much both films loved his catalogue, as such we have this greatest hits package becoming a massive hit in NZ like it was here in Australia.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
A little less conversation #1
POPULAR IN 2002
Whereas these guys were very unsuccessful here in Australia (likely due to there apparently being a third round of the boy band wars that we Aussies didn’t pay much mind towards) Westlife did quite well over in NZ which allowed their first greatest hits package to be a massive success for them over there.
Peak position #4
Hit singles
Unbreakable #44
POPULAR IN 2002
This is the album where it all began for Chris Brown, it was a massive success in NZ due to how popular the lead single was as well as RNB in general performing much better over there than it ever did over here. It was an album that promised him a fruitful career and excluding all of the controversies in his personal life, a fruitful career is what he ended up achieving.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
Run it #1
Yo #9
POPULAR IN 2006
Much like on the Australian side of this site, this is an album that would’ve appeared much higher on this list had I factored in an entries chart run during the lower half of the charts as this proved to be a huge sleeper hit in NZ like it was here in Australia for Panic! at the disco. At least the songs did much better over there due to the kiwis incorporating their digital sales onto their main charts.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
I write sins not tragedies #5
But it’s better if you do #10
Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off #33
POPULAR IN 2006
Just like here in Australia, this also managed to become a success all over again in NZ thanks to the success of Mamma Mia from earlier on this list, there’s honestly not much else I can say for this entry that wouldn’t come off as redundant, so I won’t.
Peak position #9
POPULAR IN 2008
I guess the kiwis weren’t as impressed with this second album from Lily Allen as we Aussies were, then again, her first album from three years prior was a minor success over there (too minor to appear on this site of mine) so perhaps this was more a disappointment to them as it failed to spawn a hit over there like her first album did.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
The fear #14
Not fair #20
22 #28
POPULAR IN 2009
Although this debut album from Katchafire appears quite low on this list, it was indeed one of the biggest hits of the decade in their native NZ albeit by charting for a considerable amount of time on the lower half of their charts, hence its low placement on this list. There’s still one more album to come from the band that will appear on this site even if this is their only album to spawn hits for them.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Giddy up #4
Who you with #10
Get away #8
POPULAR IN 2003
I guess the kiwis were more on board with this E.P than we Aussies were, after all, the first official single from the album was far more popular over there than it was over here suggesting the kiwis were willing to forgive her for the theatrical abomination we look at earlier on this list.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
The climb #12
Party in the USA #3
When I look at you #27
POPULAR IN 2009
Much like here in Australia, this was also one of the last successful albums that Andrea Bocelli had in NZ likely due to his popularity being taken away from him by the likes of Michael Bublé and other classical artists as the decade went on.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2001
One of the more popular shows to come out of NZ this decade was Outrageous fortune, a crime show about a family who decides to go straight after leading a life of crime with hijinks ensuing from there. I do remember this show being massively popular here in Australia back in the day, so it’s little wonder it was a critical darling in its homeland and that it spawned a hugely successful soundtrack as well.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2007
Apparently in Germany, this film is called Schokolade zum frühstück (chocolate for breakfast) which I feel is a strange title since I’ve seen this movie (and its sequel) several dozen times and can confirm that at no point does Bridget obsess over chocolate at any point during the day, let alone breakfast. I feel like bringing that up as there’s nothing more I can add about the success of its soundtrack that I haven’t already covered.
Peak position #1×4
Hit singles
It’s raining men #15
Out of reach #2
POPULAR IN 2001
There’s going to be a few entries on the next few lists of mine that feel like they belong on one of my lists from the twentieth century given audiences from that generation seems to be the target audience for many of these albums. Here’s one of these albums courtesy of Rod Stewart who decided to cover a bunch of songs from the twentieth century and make his own which the kiwis seemed to heavily appreciate from him.
Peak position #1×2
POPULAR IN 2006
This proved to be less successful a greatest hits package for the Corrs over in NZ, likely because they only started finding success with their singles over there with their (then) most recent album from earlier on this list, which made this album of theirs a tad redundant compared to here in Australia.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Would you be happier #10
POPULAR IN 2001
There was no escaping the High school musical phenomenon during the second half of the decade (trust me, I was there) so it makes sense that the third instalment managed to spawn a successful soundtrack worldwide given that it was released to theatres as opposed to the first two films being Disney channel originals. If you think Disney has only become corporate driven in recent years, I can assure you they’ve been like this for a while now.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2008
I’m not entirely sure why this second album managed to be a huge success for Evermore in their homeland considering how their first album failed to make it big over there earlier in the decade, you can’t even say it was because of its success here in Australia as its success over there came the exact same time it did over here.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Running #4
Light surrounding you #15
POPULAR IN 2006
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
POPULAR IN 2005
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
POPULAR IN 2000
I told you the kiwis were on board with this final album from the 12th man like we Aussies were, although it wasn’t an immediate success over there like it was over here, suggesting that he wasn’t exactly a mega superstar there like he was over here during this point in time.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 2006
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
POPULAR IN 2000
Much like here in Australia, this breakthrough album from Groove Armada wasn’t a hit upon its initial release over in NZ the previous year, it only becoming a success this year likely due to one of the songs becoming a runaway hit on the radio, although I don’t remember anything other than “I see you baby” being played on the radio which isn’t on the album. The main difference is that this was way more popular over there than it was over here.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Superstyling #43
My friend #21
POPULAR IN 2001
Given how immensely popular his debut album was in NZ back in the day, it only makes sense that the success his first two albums had over there would be the complete inverse of what they achieved here in Australia albeit if the less popular of the two albums was still a massive mainstream success.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
The horizon has been defeated #43
Taylor #33
POPULAR IN 2003
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)
POPULAR IN 2000
Unlike in Australia where this was an inescapable success for Robbie Williams, it was only a decent success in NZ likely due to his earlier catalogue already been discovered by the kiwis with his first greatest hits package from the start of the decade and this feeling a tad unnecessary given the success of his previous three albums over there.
Peak position #1×4
POPULAR IN 2004
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 #1×1
Hit singles
Lonely day #17
POPULAR IN 2005
It only makes sense that the kiwis would find more love for this breakthrough album for Gnarls Barkley than we Aussies did given how this combines all of the elements that the kiwis love the most when it comes to their music scene. As such, we have the only album anyone has ever cared about from the duo reappearing on this site, this unfortunately means their second album won’t be appearing on here at all.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
Crazy #1
POPULAR IN 2006
It looked like James Blunt saw equal success with his second album in NZ like he did here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis considered him to be an album artist even though the lead single from the album was more of a hit over there than it was over here likely due to the assistance of digital sales. His popularity would continue into the 2010’s over there like it did over here.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
1973 #9
POPULAR IN 2007
This is an album that would qualify for my comeback list had I based that list on comebacks over in NZ rather than Australia, after all, Britney has had a very rocky decade since her second album given how everything she released between Oops I did it again and this album was a massive failure for her over there save for “Toxic” and “Piece of me.” This winning streak sadly didn’t last for her going into the new decade.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Womanizer #9
Circus #4
If u seek Amy #17
POPULAR IN 2008
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
POPULAR IN 2005
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
POPULAR IN 2000
It appears the kiwis were much more willing to give Diana Krall a chance when she sparked international interest with this album as this managed to be a hit over there upon its initial release as opposed to here in Australia where it had to wait until the following year before it became a hit for her.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2001
You’d think this would’ve been even bigger in NZ than it was here in Australia given how this spawned a genuine hit for Santana over there that was only a sleeper hit over here, alas it only makes the cut due to it randomly rebounding on their charts this year likely due to the singles having enough airplay over there to chart where they didn’t over here.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
The game of love #7
Feels like fire #26
Why don’t you and I #21
POPULAR IN 2002
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
POPULAR IN 2000
It looked like RHCP were beginning to lose their mainstream popularity over in NZ as this was also less successful over there than it was over here back in the day, however their fortunes were restored later in the decade when Stadium arcadium became one of the biggest albums of the decade over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Fortune faded #37
POPULAR IN 2003
I guess pulling the lead single from this soundtrack from shelves here in Australia did benefit the success of the soundtrack here after all as it was far less successful over there than it was down under, however its success here could also be due to patriotism since the film was made here in Australia even though Baz Lurhman was already a household name in Hollywood when it was released this year.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Lady marmalade #1
POPULAR IN 2001
Much like here in Australia, this would be the final successful album that Ronan Keating had that wasn’t specifically catered to the mothers of our world, although it’s worth noting that he managed to have more success with this album over here (even though it appears slightly higher on this list due to a lack of competition over there) as well as its singles before finding equal amounts of success with his later material.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
If tomorrow never comes #3
We’ve got tonight #46
Love won’t work #23
The long goodbye #47
POPULAR IN 2002
You might think that this recharted on the tenth anniversary of its initial release over in NZ, however the real reason this became a success this year was because of a popular ad campaign for Cadbury chocolates where “In the air tonight” played over what was a gorilla playing drums which amused the kiwis enough to make the song a chart topper over there almost three decades after its release.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
In the air tonight #1
POPULAR IN 2008
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 #1×1
POPULAR IN 2005
This was a collaboration album between Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and unknown folk singer Alison Krauss that was originally released the previous year to deafening silence likely due to him being considered too old for the mainstream (despite massive success that the Eagles were receiving at the time) and her being a no name in the music industry. Naturally the kiwis eventually saw the brilliance of this album and made it a hit over there.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2007
It’s a bit of a surprise that this was a success over in NZ and not here in Australia given how immensely popular Bob Dylan was in both countries throughout the twentieth century, although admittedly his popularity was much bigger over there during the 80’s even though people consider that to be the dark ages in his catalogue.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2001
Much like here in Australia, this album went completely ignored for almost two years before it finally became a success for the Fray this year despite the singles already picking up steam when audiences decided to check out where they came from. It was noticeably less successful over there than it was here, likely due to its failure to compete with the nostalgia circuit that was popping up over there.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Over my head #25
How to save a life #7
POPULAR IN 2006
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 #1×3
Hit singles
Vertigo #5
Sometimes you can’t make it on your own #12
POPULAR IN 2004
I guess I’m not surprised that this debut album from Sean Kingston managed to be a success in NZ given how it spawned multiple hits for him over there, that said I’m also not surprised this was a flop for him here in Australia given how the lead single from this album became an instant meme back in the day due to how many times the word “suicidal” is repeated in what’s meant to be a love ballad.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Beautiful girls #1
Me love #3
There’s nothing #30
Take you there #6
POPULAR IN 2007
This was another successful rock album to make it big as the decade was coming to a close in NZ, it was the debut album for indie band Midnight youth who made a massive splash in their homeland thanks to how they managed to connect with their local alternative scene upon its release. This is another band I feel would’ve thrived in the 2010’s had rock not become so unpopular.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2009
While the popularity of Tool did die down in NZ like it did here in Australia, it obviously wasn’t to the same extent as this album managed to have a higher placement on this list despite charting lower over there than it did over here.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2001
There’s little surprise that this was more popular in NZ than it was here in Australia for Ben Harper, between the nostalgia bug kicking in much sooner over there than it did over here (given how he wanted to be the then modern Jimi Hendrix) as well as how much more popular he was over there overall.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
Better way #32
POPULAR IN 2006
Rod Stewart’s Motown albums this decade have had varying degrees of success throughout the world, the kiwis didn’t seem to be that impressed with any of them save for this album at the very end of the decade likely due to the nostalgia circuit still being in full swing as the 00’s became the 2010’s worldwide.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2009
This was initially a flop for Goodshirt upon its initial release the previous year, mainly because they were an indie band who didn’t have much buzz to them as opposed to many of their fellow kiwis from the start of the decade. Their fortunes changed when one of the songs from the album became a huge success this year which prompted the locals to check out the rest of the album and thus, make it a hit for them.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Place to be #50
Sophie #1
POPULAR IN 2001
This has the same circuitous route to its success in NZ as it did here in Australia in that it required the success of its second single a year after its initial release to make it big over there, the difference of course is that said single managed to become a much bigger hit over there than it was over here likely due to how much radio airplay it received back in the day and that factoring into the NZ charts.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
No such thing #14
Your body is a wonderland #9
Why Georgia #23
POPULAR IN 2002
This was slightly more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia, I’m guessing because the kiwis were bigger fans of the Foo fighters given how this had Dave Grohl as one of its members. Admittedly this likely would’ve been their introduction to Josh Homme given how little success his band Queens of the stone age had over there up until this point.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2009
Given how A: Norah Jones was experiencing way more success in NZ than she was in Australia and B: the NZ idol phenomenon didn’t come at the experience of what else was happening in the mainstream this year, it only seems natural that Katie Melua would find more success over there than she did over here with her breakthrough album.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2004
There were no signs of Westlife slowing down over in NZ as their third album managed to be a massive success for them over there like their first two albums were, granted it spent most of its time in the lower half of their charts which is why this doesn’t appear higher on this list, however there was no doubt that the kiwis didn’t care that the boy band wars were over at this point in time.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Uptown girl #4
Queen of my heart #4
World of our own #6
Bop bop baby #21
POPULAR IN 2001
This was far more successful in NZ than it was here in Australia for No doubt, I guess this was proof that the kiwis preferred Gwen’s career when she was part of the band rather than her solo outing giving that her two albums would be less popular over there than they were over here.
Peak position #8
Hit singles
It’s my life #8
POPULAR IN 2003
Much like here in Australia, it appears the debut album from Sophie Ellis Bextor only took off in NZ when its deluxe edition was released over there despite the lead single being somewhat of a success over there where it wasn’t over here. I guess the album was overall as successful there as it was over here provided, we redistribute the success each single it spawned received.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Take me home #18
Murder on the dancefloor #2
Get over you #3
Music gets the best of me #25
POPULAR IN 2002
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
POPULAR IN 2005
From what I can gather, Billy T James was a NZ comedian who had died in 1991 despite only releasing two albums in his catalogue throughout the 80’s. Apparently, there was a lot of nostalgia for his work during the last stretch of the 00’s as this greatest hits package containing his best work managed to become a massive hit for him posthumously.
Peak position #1×6
POPULAR IN 2008
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
POPULAR IN 2004
Even though their comeback album in Australia was a massive flop for them in NZ the previous year, this album proved to be a success for Westlife over there suggesting that the kiwis wanted to see what all the fuss was about now that they were reduced to a quartet and weren’t impressed with the album that had “You raise me up” on it.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2006
I guess the kiwis were a bit kinder to these guys going into the new millennium, as such it makes sense that this greatest hits package would be slightly more successful over there than it was over here given how much more popular the band was overall with the kiwis compared to us Aussies.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2003
This was a greatest hits package from the 60’s band the Hollies, it became a success in NZ this year likely due to the kiwis feeling nostalgia for their catalogue which is a bit odd considering they hadn’t had a hit over there since the launch of the RIANZ charts in 1975.
Peak position #1×1
POPULAR IN 2000
This was equally as successful in NZ as it was here in Australia for the TV show Glee, although it clearly came at the expense of the singles over there as the series never had a single hit over there like it did over here.
Peak position #9
Hit singles
Don’t stop believing #16
POPULAR IN 2009
This is one of two other album to come from Sony’s lucrative Essential series, we already looked at MJ’s entry on the Australian side of this site, so let’s look at the biggest hit from the franchise that came during an artist’s lifetime which I feel was the case for Neil Diamond due to it replacing his even more lucrative Hot august night album which I noticed was no longer charting in the 21st century anywhere in the world.
Peak position #5
POPULAR IN 2002
At least the soundtrack to the second Shrek film managed to be a success in NZ, I’m not sure why the first film’s soundtrack didn’t even chart over there as from what I can gather, the kiwis loved the franchise just as much as we Aussies did, and the soundtracks are a large reason as to why the franchise is so well beloved even to this day.
Peak position #2
Hit singles
Accidentally in love #39
POPULAR IN 2004
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 #1×2
Hit singles
Beautiful day #7
Stuck in a moment you can’t get out of #17
Elevation #35
POPULAR IN 2000
This is the only successful album that Smashproof managed to achieve in their career, although they did take their sweet time in following this up as their second album wouldn’t come out for another five years, by which point, NZ hip hop had fallen by the wayside in favour of the rise in EDM over there.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
Brother #1
It’s Friday #18
Ordinary life #7
POPULAR IN 2009
Korn had a pretty good run during the 90’s over in NZ, so it makes sense to me that this greatest hits package of theirs would be a success over there when it wasn’t over here in Australia even though they did have at least once successful album over here with Follow the leader.
Peak position #3
POPULAR IN 2004
This is another remix album to make it big in NZ this year, this time it’s for Linkin Park’s entry from earlier on this list which should make up for that failing to produce a huge hit over there like it did over here given how this album was a flop down under.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 2002
Although this album’s lower placement on this list was more due to it being a sleeper hit in NZ as it mostly confided itself in the lower half of their charts as opposed to here in Australia where it spent a healthy run on the upper echelons of our charts, it was still far less successful over there due to it not lasting nearly as long on their charts overall suggesting the kiwis were torn with her breaking away from Disney.
Peak position #5
Hit singles
Dirrty #20
Beautiful #1
Fighter #14
Can’t hold us down #2
The voice within #16
POPULAR IN 2003
By all accounts, this was Atomic Kitten’s biggest album in NZ given how it peaked during the Christmas period of this year as well as not requiring a deluxe edition to boost its sales like their debut from the previous year did. Indeed, this album’s success led to the trio sparking interest in America which resulted in them scrambling together an album that was a success in NZ the following year.
Peak position #3
Hit singles
It’s OK #16
The tide is high #1
The last goodbye #11
POPULAR IN 2002
It appears the kiwis were more interested in listening to the genuine hits from Johnny Cash rather than the renditions made by the star of his biopic Joaquin phoenix given how this was less popular than the country legend’s earlier entry on this list in NZ this year.
Peak position #6
POPULAR IN 2006
This was more of a success in NZ than it was here in Australia even if this too was a sleeper hit over there, I guess the trade-off for this was that the lead single wasn’t a huge chart topper over there like it was over here despite it having airplay on its side with the kiwis. These guys are a one album wonder over there just like they are throughout the rest of the world as their subsequent follow ups all bombed.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Hanging by a moment #6
Sick cycle carousel #47
POPULAR IN 2001
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
POPULAR IN 2005
Following the disappointment that was their 2005 effort Love is the new hate, Shihad went back to the drawing board for their next album which resulted in this effort which helped them regain some of the popularity they lost from their time as Pacifier from the start of the decade. It would be their final successful album as they would be unfortunate victims of the rock purge of the 2010’s.
Peak position #1×1
Hit singles
One will hear the other #21
Vampires #31
POPULAR IN 2008
It appears the kiwis weren’t as impressed with this second English album from Enrique Iglesias as we Aussies were given how it was merely a sleeper hit over there as opposed to a best seller over here. That said, the singles did fairly well even if the lead single had no appeal with the kiwis outside of its affiliation with 9/11.
Peak position #6
Hit singles
Hero #3
Escape #4
Don’t turn off the lights #6
Maybe #29
Love to see you cry #26
POPULAR IN 2001
You’d think this would be a massive success for Fur patrol given how it spawned one of the biggest hits of the decade as its lead single, alas it was only a sleeper hit for the band in their homeland as it stuck around due to it spawning a couple of other minor hits which stuck around on their charts due to strong airplay.
Peak position #7
Hit singles
Lydia #1
Andrew #24
Spinning a line #40
POPULAR IN 2000
The success of this album in NZ was exactly the same as it was here in Australia, namely that while his popularity was on the decline, Jack Johnson was still among the biggest names in the mainstream during the last stretch of the decade in both countries.
Peak position #1×3
Hit singles
If I had eyes #27
POPULAR IN 2008
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 #1×2
POPULAR IN 2005
Although the 12th man did find moderate success in NZ with his albums throughout the 90’s, it wasn’t until this album of his that the kiwis finally got on board with his brand of humour the same way we Aussies did during his heyday. This led to him having moderate success later in the decade with his final album Boned which will be reappearing on this side of my site.
Peak position #2
POPULAR IN 2002
This was another album whose success in NZ was inevitable given how Metallica had then recently joined the nostalgia circuit with their original material which made this albums success all the more exciting for long-time fans as they felt it was finally a return to form after nearly two decades of them experimenting with their sound.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
The day that never comes #14
POPULAR IN 2008
I guess the kiwis had enough nostalgia for Annie Lennox’s career by this point in time that this greatest hits package from her managed to become a massive hit over there when it was a major flop for her everywhere else in the world.
Peak position #4
POPULAR IN 2009
Much like in Australia, this was the only other album that Moby found success within NZ, likely because of the derogatory shoutout that Eminem gave him at the time on “Without me” which encouraged the rappers’ haters to check out what this guy had to offer to spite the rapper.
Peak position #1×2
Hit singles
We are all made of stars #37
POPULAR IN 2002
I would’ve thought this greatest hits package would’ve done much better in NZ than it did here in Australia given how much more the kiwis loved Elton John over the years than we Aussies did, alas their love for his work at this point in time was only equal to our love of his work hence why this didn’t do any better over there than it did over here.
Peak position #8
POPULAR IN 2002
