1999 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics

1999 music was a last-call-for-the-decade mix of teen pop, adult contemporary, Latin pop, hip-hop, R&B, swing revival, alternative rock, movie soundtrack songs, and dance music. Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Ricky Martin, Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Brandy, Monica, Will Smith, Lauryn Hill, Madonna, Alanis Morissette, and Goo Goo Dolls helped define a year when CDs, radio, MTV, and TRL-era pop culture were still steering the charts.

This PopCultureMadness guide starts with the Top 10 songs of 1999, then groups more 1999 music hits by style so you can browse the year by sound, mood, and memory. It was the year boy bands were unavoidable, Latin pop exploded into the mainstream, and swing revival somehow convinced America that zoot suits were a reasonable nightlife option again.

Quick Answer: What Music Was Popular in 1999?

Popular music in 1999 included teen pop, Latin pop, R&B, hip-hop, alternative rock, adult contemporary, dance-pop, swing revival, and movie soundtrack songs. Songs like I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), The Cup of Life, My Heart Will Go On, Too Close, The Boy Is Mine, and Doo Wop (That Thing) helped define 1999 music.

Top 10 Songs of 1999

1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
2. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
3. Jump Jive an’ Wail – Brian Setzer Orchestra
4. I Want You Back – *NSYNC
5. The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
6. My Heart Will Go On – Céline 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 1999 Music Hits by Style

Beyond the Top 10, 1999 music gets more useful when grouped by style. The year had teen-pop dominance, Latin crossover breakthroughs, R&B duets, hip-hop anthems, adult contemporary ballads, alternative radio staples, big movie songs, and dance tracks that helped close out the 1990s with maximum chorus power.

1999 Teen Pop, Boy Bands, Girl Groups, and Big Radio Pop

Teen pop was one of the biggest stories of 1999. Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 Degrees, Spice Girls, Aqua, S.O.A.P., and Savage Garden helped make the year bright, catchy, and highly choreographed. This was pop built for TRL countdowns, CD singles, mall speakers, and posters carefully taped to bedroom walls.

Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
I Want You Back – *NSYNC
Tearin’ Up My Heart – *NSYNC
Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
As Long as You Love Me – Backstreet Boys
This Is How We Party – S.O.A.P.
Because of You – 98 Degrees
Lollipop (Candyman) – Aqua
Stop – Spice Girls
Goodbye – Spice Girls
I’ll Never Break Your Heart – Backstreet Boys
Turn Back Time – Aqua
Daydreamin’ – Tatyana Ali

1999 Latin Pop, Dance, and Global Hits

Latin pop and global dance music had a major mainstream moment in 1999. Ricky Martin, Elvis Crespo, Enrique-adjacent Latin crossover energy, and international pop acts helped make American radio feel more global. The Cup of Life and Suavemente were especially important for bringing Latin rhythms into wider pop culture visibility.

The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
Suavemente – Elvis Crespo
Ray of Light – Madonna
One More Night – Amber
Only If… – Enya
The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
Smack My B*tch Up – The Prodigy

1999 R&B, Soul-Pop, and Vocal Ballads

R&B and soul-pop were central to 1999, with Brandy, Monica, Usher, Next, K-Ci & JoJo, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Faith Evans, Monica, Mýa, and Boyz II Men shaping the smoother side of radio. The year had slow jams, vocal duets, and emotional ballads that still feel very late-1990s. This is where the decade put on silk pajamas and took the microphone seriously.

Too Close – Next
Nice & Slow – Usher
The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica
Are You That Somebody? – Aaliyah
All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
Love Me – 112
I’m Your Angel – R. Kelly & Céline Dion
My All – Mariah Carey
A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
No, No, No Part 2 – Destiny’s Child
My Way – Usher
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
It’s All About Me – Mýa
Love Like This – Faith Evans
The First Night – Monica

1999 Hip-Hop, Rap, and Pop-Rap Favorites

Hip-hop and pop-rap had a strong 1999 presence, with Will Smith, Puff Daddy, Pras Michel, Lauryn Hill, Beastie Boys, The Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, and Luke helping shape the year. Some tracks leaned fun and commercial, while others carried the swagger of late-1990s rap radio. The shiny-suit era had not fully left the building — it was still waving from the limo.

Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) – Pras Michel
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Just the Two of Us – Will Smith
Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
Been Around the World – Puff Daddy
It’s All About the Benjamins – Puff Daddy
Roxanne ’97 – Puff Daddy featuring The Police
Lookin’ at Me – Mase
Going Back to Cali – The Notorious B.I.G.
Victory – Puff Daddy
Still a G Thang – Snoop Dogg
Chickenhead – Wyclef Jean
Raise the Roof – Luke

1999 Alternative Rock, Pop-Rock, and Modern Rock Hits

Alternative rock and pop-rock were still everywhere in 1999. Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, Semisonic, Smash Mouth, Matchbox Twenty, Sublime, Fastball, Barenaked Ladies, Everclear, Fuel, Harvey Danger, Hole, Ben Folds Five, and The Verve gave the year a strong guitar-driven side. This was the sound of radio rock settling into adulthood while still keeping one pair of skate shoes nearby.

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
Stay (Wasting Time) – Dave Matthews Band
Closing Time – Semisonic
Walking on the Sun – Smash Mouth
Doin’ Time – Sublime
My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow
I Don’t Want to Wait – Paula Cole
3 AM – Matchbox Twenty
Pink – Aerosmith
One Week – Barenaked Ladies
Real World – Matchbox Twenty
Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
The Way – Fastball
Sweetest Thing – U2
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger
Brick – Ben Folds Five
Heroes – The Wallflowers
Shimmer – Fuel
Celebrity Skin – Hole
Brian Wilson – Barenaked Ladies
I Will Buy You a New Life – Everclear

1999 Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriter, and Big Ballads

Adult contemporary and singer-songwriter songs had a huge role in 1999. Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Edwin McCain, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Paula Cole, Sheryl Crow, LeAnn Rimes, Collin Raye, and Alanis Morissette all gave the year emotional weight. These songs were radio-friendly, wedding-friendly, soundtrack-friendly, and sometimes just plain tissue-friendly.

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
My Heart Will Go On – Céline Dion
From This Moment On – Shania Twain
I’ll Be – Edwin McCain
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
This Kiss – Faith Hill
Thank U – Alanis Morissette
Kind & Generous – Natalie Merchant
Kiss the Rain – Billie Myers
Adia – Sarah McLachlan
32 Flavors – Alana Davis
Looking Through Your Eyes – LeAnn Rimes
Your Life Is Now – John Mellencamp
The Gift – Collin Raye
Uninvited – Alanis Morissette

1999 Country and Country-Pop Hits

Country and country-pop had a strong crossover year in 1999, with Shania Twain, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, and Collin Raye all showing how country could sit comfortably beside adult contemporary and pop radio. The late 1990s country-pop boom gave the year big choruses, romantic lyrics, and a polished radio sound. Nashville was already learning how to share a table with pop without giving up the boots.

From This Moment On – Shania Twain
You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
This Kiss – Faith Hill
Looking Through Your Eyes – LeAnn Rimes
The Gift – Collin Raye

1999 Swing Revival, Retro Pop, and Novelty Favorites

Swing revival had a surprisingly visible pop culture moment in 1999. Brian Setzer Orchestra and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies brought retro horns, zoot-suit style, and dance-floor energy back into mainstream awareness. It was a brief revival, but it left a very loud brass section behind.

Jump Jive an’ Wail – Brian Setzer Orchestra
Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
Ooh La La – Rod Stewart
Woof Woof – 69 Boyz

1999 Movie, TV, and Soundtrack Favorites

Soundtracks were a major force in 1999 music memory. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing was tied to Armageddon, My Heart Will Go On continued its massive association with Titanic, and Uninvited came from the City of Angels soundtrack. Movie songs still had serious chart power before streaming split everyone’s attention into a thousand tiny playlists.

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
My Heart Will Go On – Céline Dion
Uninvited – Alanis Morissette
Looking Through Your Eyes – LeAnn Rimes
Roxanne ’97 – Puff Daddy featuring The Police

1999 MTV, TRL, and Late-1990s Pop Culture Favorites

MTV and TRL helped define how many 1999 hits were discovered, replayed, and remembered. Teen pop, shiny hip-hop videos, dramatic ballads, and alternative-rock clips all competed for screen time. This was still a visual era, when a music video could make a song feel twice as big — and sometimes twice as frosted-tipped.

Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
I Want You Back – *NSYNC
Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
Ray of Light – Madonna
One Week – Barenaked Ladies
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Celebrity Skin – Hole

How PopCultureMadness Looks at 1999 Music

PopCultureMadness looks at 1999 music through chart activity, radio presence, CD sales, MTV and TRL visibility, soundtrack importance, cultural memory, and long-term trivia value. Some songs were official chart leaders, some were movie moments, some came from the teen-pop explosion, and some captured the exact sound of the late 1990s turning toward the new millennium with glitter, guitars, and dial-up internet nearby.

PCM’s 1999 Top 100 Music Hits Chart

1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
2. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys
3. Jump Jive an’ Wail – Brian Setzer Orchestra
4. I Want You Back – *NSYNC
5. The Cup of Life – Ricky Martin
6. My Heart Will Go On – Céline 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
11. Nice & Slow – Usher
12. Tearin’ Up My Heart – *NSYNC
13. Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
14. The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica
15. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) – Pras Michel
16. Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
17. Stay (Wasting Time) – Dave Matthews Band
18. Are You That Somebody? – Aaliyah
19. All My Life – K-Ci & JoJo
20. I’ll Be – Edwin McCain
21. Just the Two of Us – Will Smith
22. Closing Time – Semisonic
23. Gettin’ Jiggy wit It – Will Smith
24. Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
25. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
26. As Long as You Love Me – Backstreet Boys
27. This Is How We Party – S.O.A.P.
28. Because of You – 98 Degrees
29. Cruel Summer – Ace of Base
30. Been Around the World – Puff Daddy
31. Love Me – 112
32. Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
33. I’m Your Angel – R. Kelly & Céline Dion
34. You’re Still the One – Shania Twain
35. This Kiss – Faith Hill
36. It’s All About the Benjamins – Puff Daddy
37. My All – Mariah Carey
38. A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
39. No, No, No Part 2 – Destiny’s Child
40. Walking on the Sun – Smash Mouth
41. Roxanne ’97 – Puff Daddy featuring The Police
42. Lollipop (Candyman) – Aqua
43. Doin’ Time – Sublime
44. One More Night – Amber
45. My Favorite Mistake – Sheryl Crow
46. Stop – Spice Girls
47. Thank U – Alanis Morissette
48. Kind & Generous – Natalie Merchant
49. I Don’t Want to Wait – Paula Cole
50. 3 AM – Matchbox Twenty
51. Goodbye – Spice Girls
52. My Way – Usher
53. Kiss the Rain – Billie Myers
54. Been Around the World – Puff Daddy
55. Pink – Aerosmith
56. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
57. Luv Me, Luv Me – Shaggy & Janet Jackson
58. Real World – Matchbox Twenty
59. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
60. The Way – Fastball
61. Sweetest Thing – U2
62. I’ll Never Break Your Heart – Backstreet Boys
63. Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
64. The Rockafeller Skank – Fatboy Slim
65. Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
66. Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
67. Ooh La La – Rod Stewart
68. Ray of Light – Madonna
69. Can’t Get Enough of You Baby – Smash Mouth
70. Adia – Sarah McLachlan
71. Never Ever – All Saints
72. Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger
73. Brick – Ben Folds Five
74. Crush – Jennifer Paige
75. Love Like This – Faith Evans
76. Turn Back Time – Aqua
77. It’s All About Me – Mýa
78. Heroes – The Wallflowers
79. Going Back to Cali – The Notorious B.I.G.
80. Shimmer – Fuel
81. Lookin’ at Me – Mase
82. Hey Now Now – Swirl 360
83. 32 Flavors – Alana Davis
84. Celebrity Skin – Hole
85. Woof Woof – 69 Boyz
86. Brian Wilson – Barenaked Ladies
87. Looking Through Your Eyes – LeAnn Rimes
88. Your Life Is Now – John Mellencamp
89. Raise the Roof – Luke
90. The First Night – Monica
91. Only If… – Enya
92. Victory – Puff Daddy
93. Still a G Thang – Snoop Dogg
94. The Gift – Collin Raye
95. Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls – Book of Love
96. Daydreamin’ – Tatyana Ali
97. Uninvited – Alanis Morissette
98. Chickenhead – Wyclef Jean
99. Smack My B*tch Up – The Prodigy
100. I Will Buy You a New Life – Everclear