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1998 Music Hits: Pop Rock, Teen Pop, Hip-Hop, Swing Revival, Dance Hits, Alternative Rock, Soundtrack Ballads, and Late-1990s Favorites

1998 music had one foot in alternative rock and the other already stepping into the teen-pop explosion. Pop rock was everywhere, hip-hop crossover was huge, swing revival briefly made horn sections cool again, and movie soundtrack ballads could still dominate radio for months. It was also a major year for TRL-era pop culture, in which radio, MTV, CDs, and music videos all helped shape what people remembered.

The biggest 1998 music hits included I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, My Heart Will Go On, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), I Want You Back, The Cup of Life, Too Close, Suavemente, Torn, Iris, and Jump, Jive an’ Wail. It was a year of emotional ballads, pop-rock hooks, late-’90s dance energy, hip-hop personality, and swing-dance nostalgia that arrived wearing a very loud suit.

These 1998 music hits are not meant to be a Billboard reprint. The focus is recognizability, lasting radio appeal, pop-culture staying power, sing-along strength, dance and party value, soundtrack impact, and songs people still connect with 1998.

How People Heard 1998 Music

In 1998, CDs were still the main way many people bought albums, while radio and MTV remained powerful discovery tools. Music videos mattered, especially for teen pop, hip-hop, alternative rock, and dance-friendly hits. The internet was growing, but the file-sharing boom had not yet fully changed the music business.

Listeners heard songs on Top 40 radio, alternative stations, hip-hop and R&B radio, VH1, MTV, movie soundtracks, mall speakers, school dances, and mix CDs. This was the era when a song could become unavoidable through radio rotation, a memorable video, a movie connection, or a chorus that got stuck in your head before lunch.

1998’s Biggest Artists and Songs

1998’s Grammy and pop-chart stories reflected a music world split between singer-songwriters, rock veterans, soundtrack ballads, alternative radio, teen pop, and hip-hop crossover.

  • Paula Cole won Best New Artist for the 1997 Grammy year, presented in 1998. Her success reflected the late-1990s strength of adult alternative and singer-songwriter pop.
  • Shawn Colvin won Record of the Year for Sunny Came Home, a major adult-alternative hit with strong storytelling and radio staying power.
  • Bob Dylan won Album of the Year for Time Out of Mind, one of the major late-career comeback albums in rock history.
  • Aerosmith had one of the year’s biggest songs with I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, tied to the film *Armageddon*.
  • Celine Dion dominated pop radio with My Heart Will Go On, the signature song from *Titanic*.
  • Backstreet Boys and NSYNC helped set up the late-1990s teen-pop explosion.
  • Lauryn Hill emerged as one of the year’s most important artists with Doo Wop (That Thing) and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
  • Will Smith continued his pop-rap success with Gettin’ Jiggy wit It.

New Artists and Breakthrough Acts in the 1998 Pop Charts

Several artists broke through or became much more visible in 1998. Some became major pop and rock names, while others became unmistakable late-’90s favorites.

  • Natalie Imbruglia became one of the year’s most recognizable new pop voices with Torn.
  • Smash Mouth brought sunny, retro-flavored pop rock into heavy rotation on radio.
  • Ben Folds Five gave piano-based alternative rock a sharp, witty place on the charts.
  • Fastball scored one of the year’s most memorable story-song hits with The Way.
  • Eve 6 brought youthful alternative-rock energy to radio with Inside Out.
  • Creed became one of the biggest post-grunge bands of the late 1990s.
  • Lee Ann Womack emerged as one of country music’s important new voices.
  • Blink-182 began moving toward the pop-punk mainstream that would explode in 1999 and the early 2000s.
  • Kenny Chesney continued building toward long-term country superstardom.

1998’s Retro Top 10 Hits

These 1998 retro hits capture the year’s mix of adult pop, hip-hop, alternative rock, swing revival, soundtrack rock, dance-pop, and smooth R&B. Some were huge right away, while others became late-’90s playlist essentials.

  1. Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
  2. Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
  3. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  4. Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
  5. Crush – Jennifer Paige
  6. Walkin’ on the Sun – Smash Mouth
  7. This Is How We Party – S.O.A.P.
  8. All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
  9. The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
  10. I’ll Be – Edwin McCain

1998’s One-Hit Wonders

1998 had one-hit wonders and near one-hit wonders in alternative rock, Britpop, dance-pop, teen-friendly pop, the swing revival, and modern rock. Some had short chart lives, but the songs still get instant recognition from late-’90s listeners.

  1. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
  2. Never Ever – All Saints
  3. Inside Out – Eve 6
  4. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
  5. This Is How We Party – S.O.A.P.
  6. Closing Time – Semisonic
  7. Daydreamin’ – Tatyana Ali
  8. Celebrity Skin – Hole
  9. Hey Now Now – Swirl 360
  10. Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger

More 1998 One-Hit Wonder and Near-One-Hit Favorites

  • 32 Flavors – Alana Davis
  • Brick – Ben Folds Five

1998 Dance Top 10 Hit List

Dance music in 1998 pulled from R&B, Latin pop, swing revival, club pop, hip-hop crossover, and big-beat electronic music. It was a year when a school dance could move from Too Close to Zoot Suit Riot without warning, which says a lot about 1998.

  1. Too Close – Next
  2. Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
  3. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo
  4. Jump, Jive an’ Wail – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
  5. Luv Me, Luv Me – Shaggy featuring Janet Jackson
  6. Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
  7. This Is How We Party – S.O.A.P.
  8. The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
  9. Ray of Light – Madonna
  10. One More Night – Amber

1998 Hip-Hop and Rap Top 10 Hit List

Hip-hop in 1998 was commercially huge, with pop-rap, East Coast hits, soundtrack tracks, shiny-suit production, and crossover singles all reaching mainstream listeners.

  1. Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
  2. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) – Pras featuring Mýa & Ol’ Dirty Bastard
  3. Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
  4. Been Around the World – Puff Daddy & The Family featuring The Notorious B.I.G. & Mase
  5. Can I Get A… – Jay-Z featuring Amil & Ja Rule
  6. Dangerous – Busta Rhymes
  7. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Jay-Z
  8. Do for Love – 2Pac featuring Eric Williams
  9. The Party Continues – Jermaine Dupri featuring Da Brat & Usher
  10. Come with Me – Puff Daddy featuring Jimmy Page

1998 Bubblegum Pop Music Top 10

Bubblegum pop in 1998 was getting ready for the boy-band and teen-pop boom that would define the next few years. The hooks were big, the videos mattered, and the choreography budget was clearly no longer optional.

  1. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
  2. I Want You Back – NSYNC
  3. Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
  4. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) – Pras featuring Mýa & Ol’ Dirty Bastard
  5. The Way – Fastball
  6. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
  7. Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
  8. Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
  9. When the Lights Go Out – Five
  10. Lollipop (Candyman) – Aqua

1998 Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List

Pop rock in 1998 had alternative leftovers, post-grunge, power pop, soundtrack ballads, and radio-friendly modern rock. These songs were built for car radios, CD players, and late-’90s playlists that were probably burned onto a disc a year or two later.

  1. Inside Out – Eve 6
  2. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
  3. Father of Mine – Everclear
  4. The Way – Fastball
  5. Can’t Get Enough of You Baby – Smash Mouth
  6. Dammit (Growing Up) – Blink-182
  7. Walkin’ on the Sun – Smash Mouth
  8. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
  9. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  10. Closing Time – Semisonic

1998 Alternative Top 10 Hit List

Alternative music in 1998 was broad, covering Britpop, piano rock, swing revival, electronic big beat, post-grunge, college-rock holdovers, and darker industrial-influenced sounds.

  1. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
  2. Brick – Ben Folds Five
  3. Jump, Jive an’ Wail – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
  4. Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger
  5. Spark – Tori Amos
  6. Clumsy – Our Lady Peace
  7. Karma Police – Radiohead
  8. I Think I’m Paranoid – Garbage
  9. The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
  10. Smack My B*tch Up – The Prodigy

1998 Album Rock Top 10 Hit List

Album rock in 1998 had post-grunge, hard rock, classic-rock veterans, soundtrack rock, and modern-rock crossover. Creed, Aerosmith, Everclear, Metallica, Foo Fighters, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd all helped keep guitars strong on radio.

  1. My Own Prison – Creed
  2. Heroes – The Wallflowers
  3. Pink – Aerosmith
  4. I Will Buy You a New Life – Everclear
  5. Shimmer – Fuel
  6. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
  7. Celebrity Skin – Hole
  8. The Unforgiven II – Metallica
  9. My Hero – Foo Fighters
  10. Blue on Black – Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

Soundtrack Ballads and Movie-Driven 1998 Hits

Movie soundtracks were a major part of 1998 music. Titanic, *Armageddon*, *City of Angels*, and other films helped turn songs into full pop-culture events.

  • My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
  • I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
  • Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  • Uninvited – Alanis Morissette
  • Come with Me – Puff Daddy featuring Jimmy Page
  • The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin

Swing Revival and Retro Party Songs

For a brief moment in the late 1990s, swing revival was everywhere. Horns, suits, dance lessons, retro style, and jump-blues energy all came roaring back into pop culture.

  • Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
  • Jump, Jive an’ Wail – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
  • Hell – Squirrel Nut Zippers
  • You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby) – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Latin Pop and Global Dance Energy

1998 also helped set the stage for the Latin pop boom that became even bigger in 1999. Ricky Martin and Elvis Crespo brought major Spanish-language and Latin dance energy into mainstream pop awareness.

  • The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
  • Suavemente – Elvis Crespo
  • La Bomba – Ricky Martin
  • Oye – Gloria Estefan

Country and Adult-Pop Crossover in 1998

Country and adult-pop crossover remained strong in 1998. Big ballads and polished production helped country artists reach listeners well beyond country radio.

  • From This Moment On – Shania Twain
  • You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
  • I Do (Cherish You) – Mark Wills
  • Amazed – Lonestar
  • I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
  • How Forever Feels – Kenny Chesney

I Hope You Dance and Amazed became bigger in the 1999/2000 window, but they fit the broader late-1990s country-pop crossover story connected to artists breaking through around this time.

Artist Spotlight: Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill’s Doo Wop (That Thing) was one of 1998’s defining records. It blended hip-hop, soul, R&B, social commentary, and vintage musical feel into a song that sounded both modern and rooted.

Her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill became one of the most important releases of the late 1990s. It proved that personal songwriting, rap, soul, and sharp cultural observation could all live in the same album without losing focus.

Artist Spotlight: Backstreet Boys and NSYNC

Backstreet Boys and NSYNC helped set up the teen-pop explosion that would dominate the end of the decade. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) and I Want You Back gave pop radio big choruses, clean harmonies, and video-ready choreography.

By 1998, the boy-band wave was clearly building. The matching outfits were not always subtle, but the hooks did their job.

Artist Spotlight: Aerosmith

Aerosmith scored one of the biggest hits of their career with I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing. The song’s connection to *Armageddon* gave it massive soundtrack power, and the ballad introduced the band to some younger listeners who knew them more from MTV than classic rock radio.

It was a late-career pop moment that became one of their most recognizable songs. Not every hard-rock band gets a blockbuster ballad this big.

Artist Spotlight: Celine Dion

Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On became inseparable from *Titanic*. The song dominated 1998 radio and became one of the most recognizable movie ballads of the decade.

It was dramatic, emotional, and almost impossible to avoid. If you lived through 1998, that flute intro probably still knows where you live.

Artist Spotlight: Goo Goo Dolls

Goo Goo Dolls reached a major pop-rock peak with Iris. Tied to the film *City of Angels*, the song became one of the late 1990s’ most durable rock ballads.

Iris helped move the band from alternative rock into broader pop-radio territory. The song’s emotional build and instantly recognizable guitar tuning helped it stay on playlists long after 1998.

Artist Spotlight: Fatboy Slim

Fatboy Slim helped bring big beat and electronic music closer to mainstream listeners with The Rockafeller Skank. The song’s sample-driven energy, repetition, and playful production made it stand out from standard pop and rock radio.

It sounded like a record store, a dance floor, and a prank call all agreeing on a beat.

PCM’s 1998 Top 10 Hit List

These 1998 songs best represent the year’s lasting appeal, soundtrack power, party value, pop-rock strength, teen-pop rise, dance energy, and late-1990s identity.

  1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
  2. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
  3. Jump, Jive an’ Wail – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
  4. I Want You Back – NSYNC
  5. The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
  6. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
  7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
  8. From This Moment On – Shania Twain
  9. Too Close – Next
  10. Suavemente – Elvis Crespo

More Must-Have 1998 Songs

These additional 1998 songs help round out the year’s pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, country crossover, dance, alternative, swing revival, and soundtrack identity. Some were massive hits, some became radio staples, and some simply sound like 1998 loading in a CD changer.

  • Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
  • Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill
  • Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
  • Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
  • Closing Time – Semisonic
  • The Way – Fastball
  • One Week – Barenaked Ladies
  • Crush – Jennifer Paige
  • Never Ever – All Saints
  • Ray of Light – Madonna
  • Frozen – Madonna
  • Adia – Sarah McLachlan
  • Angel – Sarah McLachlan
  • Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry
  • Sweetest Thing – U2
  • Can’t Get Enough of You Baby – Smash Mouth
  • My Own Prison – Creed
  • Blue on Black – Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
  • Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – Jay-Z
  • Intergalactic – Beastie Boys

Why 1998 Music Still Matters

1998 music still matters because it captured pop culture just before the teen-pop and digital-music explosions fully took over. The year had alternative radio, hip-hop crossover, boy bands, swing revival, country-pop ballads, movie soundtrack giants, and dance hits all sharing space.

The year’s range was wide: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, My Heart Will Go On, Gettin’ Jiggy wit It, Torn, Jump, Jive an’ Wail, Closing Time, The Rockafeller Skank, and Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) all belonged to the same moment. That is not just a playlist; that is 1998 trying to decide between a swing-dance lesson, a boy-band video, and a dramatic movie ballad.

1998 was glossy, emotional, danceable, guitar-friendly, and already pointing toward the next era. It gave the late 1990s some of its biggest soundtrack songs, pop-rock staples, hip-hop crossovers, and teen-pop building blocks.