1998 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics
1998 music was a colorful mix of teen pop, Latin pop, alternative rock, adult contemporary, hip-hop, R&B, country-pop, dance music, and movie soundtrack favorites. Smash Mouth, Shania Twain, Ricky Martin, Santana, Cher, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, TLC, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan, Jay-Z, and Lenny Kravitz helped define a year when radio, CDs, MTV, and late-1990s pop culture were all moving fast toward the new millennium.
This PopCultureMadness guide starts with the Top 10 songs of 1998, then groups more 1998 music hits by style so you can browse the year by sound, mood, and memory. It was the era when Latin pop exploded, teen pop was about to take over everything, and All Star began its long journey from hit song to internet punchline royalty.
Quick Answer: What Music Was Popular in 1998?
Popular music in 1998 included alternative rock, teen pop, Latin pop, R&B, hip-hop, adult contemporary, country-pop, dance music, and movie soundtrack songs. Songs like All Star, Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, Mambo No. 5, Smooth, Believe, …Baby One More Time, No Scrubs, and I Want It That Way helped define the late-1990s sound.
Top 10 Songs of 1998
All Star – Smash Mouth
Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain
Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
I Need to Know – Marc Anthony
Smooth – Santana featuring Rob Thomas
Livin’ la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Canned Heat – Jamiroquai
Believe – Cher
Summer Girls – LFO
We Like to Party! – Vengaboys
More 1998 Music Hits by Style
Beyond the Top 10, 1998 music gets more useful when grouped by style. The year had pop-rock anthems, Latin crossover hits, country-pop giants, R&B smashes, hip-hop radio favorites, dance-club tracks, soundtrack songs, and the first wave of teen-pop dominance that would define the end of the decade.
1998 Pop, Teen Pop, and Big Radio Hits
Pop music in 1998 was moving toward the huge teen-pop explosion of 1999 and 2000. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, LFO, Jessica Simpson, B*Witched, and Jennifer Lopez helped shape a bright, image-driven sound that fit perfectly on MTV and radio. This was pop with choreography, glossy hooks, and enough late-1990s styling to fog up a mall photo booth.
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys Larger Than Life – Backstreet Boys All I Have to Give – Backstreet Boys Summer Girls – LFO Girl on TV – LFO Music of My Heart – *NSYNC with Gloria Estefan (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You – *NSYNC I Wanna Love You Forever – Jessica Simpson C’est la Vie – B*Witched Rollercoaster – B*Witched If You Had My Love – Jennifer Lopez Waiting for Tonight – Jennifer Lopez Sometimes – Britney Spears (You Drive Me) Crazy – Britney Spears
1998 Latin Pop, Dance, and Global Hits
Latin pop had a major mainstream breakthrough around 1998 and 1999. Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Santana, Elvis Crespo, and Jennifer Lopez helped bring Latin rhythms and bilingual pop energy into American radio. The sound was confident, danceable, and very ready for award-show stages with wind machines.
Livin’ la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin Shake Your Bon-Bon – Ricky Martin She’s All I Ever Had – Ricky Martin I Need to Know – Marc Anthony Suavemente – Elvis Crespo Bailamos – Enrique Iglesias Smooth – Santana featuring Rob Thomas If You Had My Love – Jennifer Lopez Waiting for Tonight – Jennifer Lopez
1998 R&B, Soul-Pop, and Vocal Ballads
R&B had a strong late-1990s presence, with Brandy, Monica, TLC, Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, 112, Destiny’s Child, Monica, and Lauryn Hill shaping the smooth side of radio. The year had dramatic duets, girl-group confidence, slow jams, and big vocal moments. This was the kind of R&B where the harmonies did not just arrive — they made an entrance.
Have You Ever? – Brandy No Scrubs – TLC Unpretty – TLC Back at One – Brian McKnight When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston Angel of Mine – Monica Anywhere – 112 featuring Lil’ Zane Bills, Bills, Bills – Destiny’s Child I Do (Cherish You) – 98 Degrees Heartbreaker – Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z I Still Believe – Mariah Carey Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill Sweet Lady – Tyrese Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here – Deborah Cox
1998 Hip-Hop, Rap, and Pop-Rap Favorites
Hip-hop and pop-rap were firmly part of mainstream radio by 1998. Jay-Z, Eminem, Will Smith, 2Pac, Juvenile, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Q-Tip, Ja Rule, Lil’ Troy, and The Notorious B.I.G. helped shape a year that moved from party rap to harder-edged singles to crossover smashes. The era had shiny videos, huge hooks, and enough featured artists to make the CD booklet work overtime.
Changes – 2Pac My Name Is – Eminem Miami – Will Smith Back That Azz Up – Juvenile featuring Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne Got Your Money – Ol’ Dirty Bastard featuring Kelis Vivrant Thing – Q-Tip Can I Get A… – Jay-Z featuring Amil & Ja Rule Holla Holla – Ja Rule Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Jay-Z Wild Wild West – Will Smith featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee Wanna Be a Baller – Lil’ Troy Rosa Parks – OutKast
1998 Alternative Rock, Pop-Rock, and Modern Rock Hits
Alternative rock and pop-rock were still major forces in 1998. Smash Mouth, Goo Goo Dolls, Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Sugar Ray, Lit, Fastball, Matchbox Twenty, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everlast, Lenny Kravitz, Garbage, and Limp Bizkit helped give the year a guitar-driven edge. The sound ranged from sunny pop-rock to post-grunge to nu-metal chaos, because the late 1990s enjoyed variety and questionable pants.
All Star – Smash Mouth Crush – Dave Matthews Band Last Kiss – Pearl Jam What’s My Age Again? – Blink-182 All the Small Things – Blink-182 Someday – Sugar Ray Why Don’t You Get a Job? – The Offspring Slide – Goo Goo Dolls My Own Worst Enemy – Lit Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) – The Offspring Out of My Head – Fastball Back 2 Good – Matchbox Twenty Scar Tissue – Red Hot Chili Peppers You Get What You Give – New Radicals What It’s Like – Everlast Jumper – Third Eye Blind American Woman – Lenny Kravitz Special – Garbage Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz Every Morning – Sugar Ray Nookie – Limp Bizkit Closing Time – Semisonic Sweetest Thing – U2
1998 Country and Country-Pop Hits
Country-pop was a huge part of late-1990s music, led by Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, and Phil Collins-adjacent adult contemporary crossover from soundtrack culture. Twain in particular helped bring country-pop into full mainstream visibility. Country did not just cross over; it brought a big chorus and made itself comfortable.
Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain Come On Over – Shania Twain She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney Looking Through Your Eyes – LeAnn Rimes You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins
1998 Dance, Club, and Electronic Hits
Dance music had a strong late-1990s run, with Cher, Vengaboys, Jamiroquai, Eiffel 65, Madonna, Fatboy Slim, and Baz Luhrmann showing how electronic and club sounds could move into pop culture. Believe was especially important for its vocal effect and polished dance-pop sound. The beat was mechanical, the hooks were huge, and the dance floor had no plans to clock out.
Believe – Cher We Like to Party! – Vengaboys Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! – Vengaboys Canned Heat – Jamiroquai Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65 Waiting for Tonight – Jennifer Lopez Ray of Light – Madonna Beautiful Stranger – Madonna Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) – Baz Luhrmann The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
1998 Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriter, and Big Ballads
Adult contemporary and singer-songwriter pop were everywhere in 1998. Sarah McLachlan, Edwin McCain, Shawn Mullins, Sixpence None the Richer, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, and Savage Garden helped give the year a softer radio lane. This was the soundtrack for weddings, graduation montages, movie trailers, and people staring thoughtfully out of car windows.
I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan Angel – Sarah McLachlan I Could Not Ask for More – Edwin McCain Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer Steal My Sunshine – Len Lullaby – Shawn Mullins Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry There She Goes – Sixpence None the Richer Unsent – Alanis Morissette I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow
1998 Movie, TV, and Soundtrack Favorites
Soundtracks had real power in 1998 and 1999. You’ll Be in My Heart came from Disney’s Tarzan, Music of My Heart was tied to the film of the same name, Beautiful Stranger came from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Wild Wild West brought movie-theme rap into heavy rotation. Movie tie-ins were still a major pop engine, right before the internet started changing the machine.
You’ll Be in My Heart – Phil Collins Music of My Heart – *NSYNC with Gloria Estefan Beautiful Stranger – Madonna Wild Wild West – Will Smith featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston
1998 MTV, TRL, and Late-1990s Pop Culture Favorites
MTV and early TRL culture shaped how late-1990s songs were remembered. Teen pop, Latin pop, pop-rock, hip-hop, and dance music all became more visual, more personality-driven, and more repeatable. In 1998, a hit did not just need a hook; it needed a look, a video, and possibly a very shiny shirt.
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys Livin’ la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin No Scrubs – TLC All Star – Smash Mouth Believe – Cher My Name Is – Eminem Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain
How PopCultureMadness Looks at 1998 Music
PopCultureMadness looks at 1998 music through chart activity, radio presence, CD sales, MTV visibility, soundtrack importance, cultural memory, and long-term trivia value. Some songs were official chart leaders, some were soundtrack giants, some belonged to the teen-pop wave, and some captured the exact sound of the late 1990s getting louder, glossier, and a little stranger before Y2K arrived.
1998 Music Hits Chart
All Star – Smash Mouth
Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain
Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
I Need to Know – Marc Anthony
Smooth – Santana featuring Rob Thomas
Livin’ la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Canned Heat – Jamiroquai
Believe – Cher
Summer Girls – LFO
We Like to Party! – Vengaboys
Crush – Dave Matthews Band
Last Kiss – Pearl Jam
What’s My Age Again? – Blink-182
Changes – 2Pac
My Name Is – Eminem
The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
All the Small Things – Blink-182
I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan
Someday – Sugar Ray
Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera
Why Don’t You Get a Job? – The Offspring
Miami – Will Smith
Have You Ever? – Brandy
Shake Your Bon-Bon – Ricky Martin
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! – Vengaboys
That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain
Back at One – Brian McKnight
(You Drive Me) Crazy – Britney Spears
No Scrubs – TLC
Slide – Goo Goo Dolls
Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65
Bailamos – Enrique Iglesias
Angel – Sarah McLachlan
My Own Worst Enemy – Lit
Back That Azz Up – Juvenile featuring Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne
Larger Than Life – Backstreet Boys
Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) – The Offspring
Out of My Head – Fastball
I Knew I Loved You – Savage Garden
Bills, Bills, Bills – Destiny’s Child
Closing Time – Semisonic
She’s All I Ever Had – Ricky Martin
Cowboy – Kid Rock
Sweetest Thing – U2
Got Your Money – Ol’ Dirty Bastard featuring Kelis
