A couple of times a year, a music compilation would come out with hits by certain artists, ones in the same record label of course.

BMG Australia in 1998 released Hit Machine 22, 20 hits to make you move and groove though undoubtedly some songs got a skip as there is a mix of music genres from pop to electronic music and not everybody likes the same songs.

Buses and Trains – Bachelor Girl

A late 90s classic in Australia, worth listening to every now and then to get the complete late 90s music experience, no doubt many people can relate to the lyrics though not walking under a bus hit or being hit by a train.

C’est la vie – B*Witched

They huffed, they puffed, and they blew most of the chart down as this song peaked at No. 6 after entering the ARIA chart in July 1998, this song is one for those who want the full pop music experience, I wish I had their energy in the music video.

Everybody Get Up – Five

The group formerly known as 5ive wanted us to get up, and we were happy to do so and still are happy to do so, this No. 5 hit is one of those songs you just have to have on a playlist.

You do hear a sample of ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ in the song, that song was originally by Arrows in 1975, the famous Joan Jett version was six years later.

Big Mistake – Natalie Imbruglia

This song was not considered a big mistake to listen to (or perhaps watch) in 1998, it peaked at No. 6 in Australia and No. 2 in the UK, it still isn’t a big mistake to listen to this song on occasions though some may prefer the song ‘Torn’.

I’ll Never Break Your Heart – Backstreet Boys

This 1995 song got a re-release in 1998 and done solid business, the above is the 1995 music video, the song hit No. 10 in Australia in 1998, it is a song that I do listen to regularly, you could say it is the 90s version of Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.

Ladidi Ladida – S.O.A.P

‘Ladidi Ladida’ certainly got some attention in 1998 especially with the opening lines

I want to see you come
into my life
before I give you some
Ladidi Ladida

This is not a song that I play often, maybe it is because it is hard to take the song seriously after the first note, people prefer ‘This Is How We Party’, now that song can get people moving.

Human Nature – Cruel

‘Cruel’ was a No. 14 hit for Human Nature in 1998 so the buying public wasn’t being cruel to them, it is interesting taking a look at the group before they were all in suits and ties and being kings of residency in America.

The Things I Love In You – Cold Chisel

Cold Chisel were back in 1998 and straight into the Top 10 with ‘The Things I Love In You’, it certainly did help add a rock element to the charts that was largely dominated by pop music, this song gets regular play at home.

Mousse-T – Horny

Mousse-T was the DJ of this song, “Hot ‘n’ Juicy” done the singing of this song that captured the imagination of listeners in 1998, Kids sure got an education in the late 90s through song, this was no exception.

It got to No. 13 on the Australian charts and even made the South Park album ‘Chef Aid: The South Park Album’, yep it is funny thinking about pre-teens of 98 (I was 12 then but did not sing) going around a school singing ‘I’m horny, horny, horny, horny’.

I Still Love You – Next

This song by R&B group Next peaked at No. 31 in Australia and No. 14 in America, it is enjoyable to listen to, they really had a good sound, sometimes in a compilation you can find a song that surprises you and you end up liking it, this is one such song.

Crazy Little Party Girl – Aaron Carter

Big brother Nick Carter was having success with Backstreet Boys, Aaron Carter was having success on his own as he charted three times in 1998 with ‘Crazy Little Party Girl’ being the second charter and it peaked at No. 20 in Australia in 1998.

Those were good days, though I wish they didn’t push Aaron into music at such a young age, all that fame, fortune and excess is no place for a kid.

Single – Popsie

The Kiwis (New Zealanders) loved this song by Swedish girl pop group ‘Popsie’, it peaked at No. 5 but in Australia it peaked at No. 69, pretty deep down the charts for a song to make a compilation album but it is here, not a bad song overall.

The First Night – Monica

Monica between 1995 and 1999 had seven Top 10 singles in America including three consecutive number one hits, this song had reasonable success in Australia peaking at No. 30 on the charts.

God Is a DJ – Faithless

This song peaked at No. 37 on the charts in Australia, it isn’t my cup of tea, though for those who like electronic music, this one may be one for your tastes.

I Think I’m Paranoid – Garbage

Garbage has done decent with singles though they have just the one Top 10 song in Australia, their albums are a different story, no studio album of theirs has peaked outside the Top 10 with Beautiful Garbage topping the charts in 2001.

This song got the band in as the writers of the 60s hit ‘Bend Me, Shape Me’ claimed that the words in the chorus “Bend me, shape me/anyway you want me” was similar to the lyrics “Bend me, break me/Anyway you need me”.

This one is in the play regularly pile.

Cowboy Style – Kylie Minogue

This song isn’t a bad one though I would need the right mood to play it, it peaked at No. 39 in Australia during a pretty barren couple of years where only one Kylie song from six made the Top 10, compare this to her 2000 and 2002 run when she had four No. 1 singles in Australia.

Christian Fry – You Got Me

This song seems to be one of those that has avoided Wikipedia, nothing comes up for Christian Fry, luckily one person went to all the trouble of cataloguing shots that hit Australian charts and revealed this song charted at No. 68.

It’s not bad at all, it is pure late 90s pop.

One For Sorrow – Steps

This song peaked at No. 34 in Australia, but it is a good song by Steps, you got to admire pop bands, not only did they have to sing but they also had a do a lot of dancing and not look stupid doing it, though some moves do look a bit awkward to be enthusiastically doing.

Apparently, there were three versions of this song released in 1998, this one with Redzone peaked at No. 37 and for some music lovers this one is preferred to the No. 3 version that was released a few months earlier, I wonder how many people brought the wrong single.

Freak Me – Another Level

This song entered the charts in September 1998 and peaked at No. 43, looking back at this list of songs makes you think that kids had no idea what they were listening or singing to, and we can now laugh about that in 2025, part of the kid experience is doing something you have no idea about.