The year 1998 was a milestone year for music. It was a moment when pop ruled the airwaves, hip-hop was starting to take over the Billboard charts, and rock maintained its foothold with visceral, anthemic tracks. At the turn of the millennium, artists from various genres were releasing chart-topping songs that still inspire today.
Whether blasting with the windows down or grooving in your room, these songs from 1998 were the soundtrack for a generation.
So let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at what the top songs from 1998 were that defined the year.
What are the Top Songs from 1998?
1. “…Baby One More Time” — Britney Spears
Though officially dropped in late 1998, Britney Spears’ debut single burst onto the scene and became a cultural moment by early 1999. “…Baby One More Time” heralded the rise of teen pop and sent Spears rocketing into instant superstardom.
With an infectious chorus, a schoolgirl-themed video, and an irrepressible hook, it became one of the best-selling singles of all time and one of the defining tracks of the late ’90s.
2. “My Heart Will Go On” — Celine Dion
Written as the love theme for James Cameron’s Titanic when the soundtrack first hit in 1997, “My Heart Will Go On” was an emotional powerhouse.
Its haunting vocals by Celine Dion, combined with cinematic orchestration, took the top of the charts around the world. The song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song and four Grammy Awards. It still invokes a call to arms in emotion and nostalgia for the 1990s.
3. “The Boy Is Mine” — Brandy & Monica
This rivalry duet between R&B queens Brandy and Monica was a huge hit in 1998. Modeled after Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s “The Girl Is Mine,” the song told the story of two women in a battle for the same man.
The chemistry and tension in the vocals, alongside some slick, contemporary R&B instrumentation, gave the song a 13-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100.
4. “Torn” – Natalie Imbruglia
The band Ednaswap wrote “Torn,” but Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia transformed it into an international smash.
The jagged lyrics about emotional fragility resonated with listeners, and Imbruglia’s sincere vocal performance turned it into an alternative pop classic. (There it spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay chart.)
5. “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” — Will Smith
In the late 1990s, as Will Smith’s acting took off, he was also thriving within the music world. “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” with its infectious beat and playful lyrics, was an anthem of the era.
Its infectious groove, taking a sample from Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” made it a staple on the dance floor and earned a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.
6. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” — Aerosmith
Aerosmith’s power ballad, featured in the movie Armageddon, became the band’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Steven Tyler’s impassioned vocals paired with the song’s emotional swell made it an instant classic. It revealed a softer side of the hard rock band, one capable of vulnerability, and it has remained a wedding and prom staple ever since.
7. “You’re Still the One” — Shania Twain
This country-pop crossover hit became one of Shania Twain’s signature songs. With its heartfelt lyrics and a melody you can’t resist,
“You’re Still the One” gave Twain mainstream success and earned two Grammy Awards. It was a turning point for the popularity of country music beyond its traditional audience.
8. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill cemented herself in the history books with her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” was the album’s marquee lead single.
The song fused R&B, hip-hop, and soul with incisive lyrical material about self-respect and empowerment. It entered at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Hill the first woman rapper to do so.
9. “Truly Madly Deeply” — Savage Garden
This soft-rock love song from the Australian duo Savage Garden was a pop and adult-contemporary chart behemoth.
“Truly Madly Deeply” was beloved for its poetic lyrics and lush production. It struck a chord with lovers and romantics everywhere, emerging as one of the year’s most-played songs.
10. “Ray of Light” – Madonna
The musical reinvented Madonna again with the electronic-influenced album Ray of Light.
The title song, on the other hand, contained a more spiritual and inward-looking Madonna, with elements of techno and dance music. “Ray of Light” was met with rave reviews, took home a Grammy, and reintroduced Madonna to a new wave of fans.
11. “Intergalactic” – Beastie Boys
A mix of hip-hop, electronic beats, and quirky lyrics, “Intergalactic” became one of the Beastie Boys’ most well-known tracks.
The futuristic music video, along with its pounding bass line, helped turn it into an alt-rock and MTV favorite. The song garnered a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
12. “Frozen” – Madonna
Another Madonna hit in 1998, “Frozen,” was a dramatic and cinematic song that revealed her vocal depth.
The song’s moody strings, ambient feel, and challenge-blurring production in the music video secured her place as a boundary-pushing artist two decades into her career.
13. “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” — Jay-Z
The clever sampling of Annie’s “It’s the Hard Knock Life” by Jay-Z sent this track into the mainstream. The pairing of Broadway with lyrics that were dirty, gritty, and streetwise was unprecedented.
It bolstered Jay-Z’s legacy in hip-hop history and laid the groundwork as he blossomed into a mogul.
14. “Iris” – Goo Goo Dolls
The movie in question was City of Angels, and “Iris” is a monumental rock ballad rattling through it. Its weepy lyrics and orchestral arrangement made it a tearjerker’s go-to if you were going through a breakup.
The song reached number one on a number of charts and received a number of Grammy nominations.
15. “Believe” – Cher
Released toward the end of 1998, “Believe” was a huge comeback for Cher and was one of the first hits to employ Auto-Tune as a vocal effect.
The song quickly became an international dance anthem, just like it went to No. 1 in more than 20 countries. Its success showed that Cher could work in any era.
16. “Slide” – Goo Goo Dolls
Aside from “Iris,” Goo Goo Dolls scored with another hit with “Slide,” a catchy and upbeat song about love and difficult choices.
The song’s jangly guitars and pop-rock charm made it a radio staple.
17. “Together Again” [Janet Jackson]
This dance-pop anthem was a tribute to friends Janet Jackson lost to AIDS.
“Together Again” was an uplifting melody… with heartfelt lyrics and a positive message of hope and remembrance. It went on to be one of the biggest hits of Jackson’s career.
18. “No, No, No” – Destiny’s Child ft. Wyclef Jean
This breakout single from Destiny’s Child introduced a group that was about to dominate the early 2000s.
The remix with Wyclef Jean was a club banger and paved the way for Beyoncé’s eventual superstardom.
19. “Lullaby” – Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins’ “Lullaby” was a rock ballad spiced with spoken word, offering comfort and wisdom to a weary world.
It was a sleeper hit in 1998, thanks to its storytelling style and a calming chorus.
20. “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” — Backstreet Boys
Although released elsewhere earlier, this boy band hit cemented the Backstreet Boys’ dominance in America in 1998.
(A spooky-themed music video helped stamp it as an iconic moment in pop, too, along with its unforgettable chorus.)
A Year for All Genres
The diversity of styles that broke through into mainstream success is what made 1998 such a remarkable year in music.
Pop was experiencing a renaissance, with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC dominating the scene. At the same time, hip-hop was coming into its own, with artists like Lauryn Hill and Jay-Z mixing rap with soul and narrative.
In rock, emotional ballads reigned supreme, with Goo Goo Dolls and Aerosmith dominating the charts. Otherwise, country music made major crossover progress, led by Shania Twain.
The late ’90s also represented a period where electronic and dance music were beginning to seep into the mainstream, with artists like Madonna and Cher incorporating synths and new vocal effects to create hits.
Legacy of 1998’s Music
Those artists who led the charts in 1998 would go on to have long and influential careers. Britney Spears became a quintessential pop star.
Jay-Z would transform into a billionaire and business magnate. Widely considered one of the best albums of all time, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a true masterpiece.
And the production and songwriting innovations that came out in 1998 still inform music today. From Auto-Tune vocals to cinematic ballads and genre-blending experiments, the sounds of 1998 set the tone for 21st-century music to come.
Conclusion
1998 wasn’t just a year rich with great songs; it was a turning point in musical history. It mixed the old and the new, birthed icons for the future, and made songs that are still loved. Pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, take your pick: 1998 had it.
So the next time you feel like taking a walk down memory lane, queue up these hits and relive the magic of one of music’s most unforgettable years.
