Looking Back at the Hits of 1998 Turning 25 in 2023 | Nostalgic Music Milestone

Looking Back at the Hits of 1998 Turning 25 This Year

As we enter 2023, it marks a big milestone for the music of 1998 - a quarter century has passed since these songs first topped the charts. Going back 25 years takes us to 1998, when Bill Clinton was president, Google had just launched, and pop, rock, hip hop, and R&B artists that would go on to define the 1990s were at the peak of their popularity.

The Rise of Teen Pop and R&B Stars

1998 saw the emergence of many teenage pop stars that would have an enduring impact on music over the next two decades. 16-year old Britney Spears broke onto the scene that year with "...Baby One More Time," still one of the best-selling singles ever. Christina Aguilera's self-titled debut album dropped when she was just 17. Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees had breakout hits as well, appealing to the highly lucrative teen market.

On the R&B side, young women were making waves too. Brandy scored her first #1 with "The Boy Is Mine," a smash duet with Monica that would go on to win a Grammy. Mya and Aaliyah both put out their debut albums in 98, fusing R&B and hip hop sounds. Destiny's Child broke through with their infectious "No No No," though even bigger hits lay just ahead.

Alternative Rock's Last Big Year

Alternative and indie rock reached new heights of popularity in the mid 90s before declining in mainstream success. But 1998 saw some of the last big alt-rock hits before pop punk took over as the dominant guitar-driven genre.

The Offspring had their breakthrough single "Pretty Fly For A White Guy," which blended punk attitude with pop hooks. Canadian band Barenaked Ladies scored their one and only #1 hit in the U.S. with the irrepressible "One Week." Other big 98 modern rock hits included Semisonic's "Closing Time," Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta," and New Radicals' "You Get What You Give," whose fame far outlasted the band's short career.

Rap and Hip Hop Widen Their Appeal

By 1998, rap and hip hop had entered a new commercial phase and were topping charts across genres. Most notably, Lauryn Hill bridged hip hop and R&B with her multi-platinum debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, featuring the hits "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Everything Is Everything."

Jay-Z and DMX broke through from the hardcore East Coast rap scene, scoring radio and MTV hits without softening their sounds. Beastie Boys came back strong after a lengthy absence with their eclectic, experimental album Hello Nasty. And of course, there was Juvenile's bounce-rap classic "Back That Azz Up," which still fills dance floors today.

The Soundtrack to Millennial Childhoods

For Millennials and older members of Gen Z, so much of the music that filled our childhoods came from 1998. The year's film soundtracks read like a who's who of late 90s nostalgia.

There was Aerosmith's Armageddon power ballad "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," played endlessly on the radio. Rugrats: The Movie had the irresistibly silly "Witch Doctor" and a cover of "A Baby's Gotta Do What A Baby's Gotta Do." And what kid of the era didn't know Will Smith's Fresh Prince remix of "Just The Two Of Us"?

It may be two and a half decades since many of these songs came out, making some Millenials feel rather old! But in 2023, we get to look back and celebrate the hits that shaped pop music as we now know it.