RPM was a Canadian magazine that published the best-performing singles of Canada from 1964 to 2000. In 1998, fifteen songs peaked at number one on the magazine's chart. Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping" was the first chart-topper of the year while Canadian musician Alanis Morissette stayed at number one into 1999 with "Thank U". Seven musical acts attained their first Canadian number one this year: Matchbox Twenty, Natalie Imbruglia, Fastball, Goo Goo Dolls, Brandy, Monica, and Jennifer Paige. Two artists reached number one with more than one single: Bryan Adams and Goo Goo Dolls.
The most successful song of the year, as well as the longest-running number-one hit, was "Torn" by Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia, which spent 12 nonconsecutive weeks at number one from April to July, interrupted on the week of 15 June by Fastball's "The Way". Two other songs also interrupted a single's reign at number one: "3 AM" by Matchbox Twenty kept Bryan Adams' "Back to You" off number one for two weeks, and "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls lost the number-one position on the issue of 17 August to Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine".
Three Canadian artists reached number one during 1998: Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, and Alanis Morissette. Dion topped the chart for six weeks with "My Heart Will Go On". Besides "Torn" and "My Heart Will Go On", five songs stayed at the summit for at least three weeks: "Back to You" by Bryan Adams, "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, "Crush" by Jennifer Paige, "Sweetest Thing" by U2, and "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette. Goo Goo Dolls' "Slide" became only the third single to debut at number one on the RPM Singles Chart, not counting the magazine's first issue. [1] [2]
† Indicates best-performing single of 1998 |
Issue date | Song | Artist | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
5 January [upper-alpha 1] | "Tubthumping" | Chumbawamba | [3] |
12 January | "I Do" | Lisa Loeb | [4] |
19 January | "Back to You" | Bryan Adams | [5] |
26 January | "3 AM" | Matchbox Twenty | [6] |
2 February | [7] | ||
9 February | "Back to You" | Bryan Adams | [8] |
16 February | [9] | ||
23 February | "Truly Madly Deeply" | Savage Garden | [10] |
2 March | "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | [11] |
9 March | [12] | ||
16 March | [13] | ||
23 March | [14] | ||
30 March | [15] | ||
6 April | [16] | ||
13 April | "Torn"† [17] | Natalie Imbruglia | [18] |
20 April | [19] | ||
27 April | [20] | ||
4 May | [21] | ||
11 May | [22] | ||
18 May | [23] | ||
25 May | [24] | ||
1 June | [25] | ||
8 June | [26] | ||
15 June | "The Way" | Fastball | [27] |
22 June | "Torn"† | Natalie Imbruglia | [28] |
29 June | [29] | ||
6 July | [30] | ||
13 July | "Iris" | Goo Goo Dolls | [31] |
20 July | [32] | ||
27 July | [33] | ||
3 August | [34] | ||
10 August | [35] | ||
17 August | "The Boy Is Mine" | Brandy and Monica | [36] |
24 August | "Iris" | Goo Goo Dolls | [37] |
31 August | [38] | ||
7 September | [39] | ||
14 September | "Crush" | Jennifer Paige | [40] |
21 September | [41] | ||
28 September | [42] | ||
5 October | [43] | ||
12 October | [44] | ||
19 October | "Slide" | Goo Goo Dolls | [45] |
26 October | [46] | ||
2 November | "On a Day Like Today" | Bryan Adams | [47] |
9 November | "Sweetest Thing" | U2 | [48] |
16 November | [49] | ||
23 November | [50] | ||
30 November | "Thank U" | Alanis Morissette | [51] |
7 December | [52] | ||
14 December | [53] | ||
21 December [upper-alpha 2] | |||
28 December [upper-alpha 2] |
"Ironic" is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette. It was released in February 1996 as the third single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and was produced by him. The lyrics present several situations that are described as "ironic"; this has led to debate as to whether any of these actually match the accepted meaning of irony.
"Uninvited" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as a single from the soundtrack of City of Angels in February 1998, becoming Morissette's first new recording since her international debut album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Morissette wrote the song and co-produced it with Rob Cavallo. "Uninvited" is driven by four piano notes and builds to an instrumental climax, and haunting atmosphere accompanied by cryptic lyrics.
"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but made little progress. In Los Angeles, she met producer Glen Ballard, with whom she wrote songs including "You Oughta Know".
"Iris" is a song by American alternative rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Originally written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film City of Angels, the song was later included on the band's sixth album, Dizzy Up the Girl, and released as a single on April 1, 1998.
"Head over Feet" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, taken from her third studio album Jagged Little Pill (1995). Written by Alanis and Glen Ballard, and produced by Ballard, it was released as the album's fifth single in July 1996 and presented a softer sound than the previous singles from the album. "Head over Feet" talks about being best friends and lovers with someone at the same time, with Alanis thanking them for their manners, love and devotion.
"You Learn" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, the album's producer. Maverick and Warner Bros. Records released the song as the album's fourth single. The lyrics state that valuable lessons are learned from poor decisions. The album title is taken from this song's line "Swallow it down ".
"Thank U" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The song was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, who produced her previous album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Morissette wrote the song after she came back from a trip to India. Maverick and Reprise Records released the song as a single on October 12, 1998.
"Joining You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). It was released as the album's second single on January 3, 1999. The song distinctly is composed of a verse and chorus in two distantly related keys: C minor and E minor, respectively. "Joining You" peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"Hand in My Pocket" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). The song was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard and was released as the second single from the album on October 16, 1995 by Maverick and Reprise, five months after the album release. The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who applauded Morissette's songwriting.
"Name" is a song by American rock band Goo Goo Dolls. It was released in September 1995 as the third single from their fifth studio album, A Boy Named Goo (1995). "Name" became the band's first major hit, topping both the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Album Rock Tracks chart. It also reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, "Name" peaked at number two on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number one on the RPM Alternative 30.
"Unsent" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The lyrics were written by Morissette, who also composed the music with Glen Ballard. It was released as the album's third single on March 18, 1999. It was one of the few Junkie tracks on which she played her harmonica. Morissette directed the music video for the song. Without a chorus or hook, "Unsent" has an unconventional song structure. The lyrics consist of letters addressed to Morissette's former boyfriends and friends. The single became a moderate hit, reaching number nine in Canada, number 28 in New Zealand, and number 58 in the United States.
"Slide" is a song by American alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls. It was released as the first single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl, in September 1998. According to lead guitarist John Rzeznik, the song is about a Catholic girl who becomes pregnant and discusses with her boyfriend how they should respond to it. Musically, the track is a jangle pop and alternative rock song.
City of Angels: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album for the film City of Angels, released by Warner Bros. Records on March 31, 1998.