New Zealand’s singles charts took a while to arrive. The first chart based on sales didn’t arrive until 1975.
Wikipedia lists NZ #1 singles starting in mid-1960, but between 1960 and 1975, these were based on:
i) 1960-1964: The Lever Hit Parade. Hit songs were selected by the show’s producer
ii) 1965-March 1966: there was no recorded chart during this time
iii) March 1966-May 1975: hit songs were determined by votes. The voting was run by the magazine NZ Listener.
New Zealand has always been influenced culturally by the UK and the USA. Over time, I suspect the UK influence has faded and the US influence has grown.
Due to geographic proximity, Australian music is often popular in New Zealand. At times there’s been a cultural cringe about homegrown music. Nevertheless, a number of NZ singles have topped the charts.
I’m planning to (eventually) cover every NZ #1 single on this blog. As you can see, I’ve barely started:
| Artist | Song title | Year | Reached #1 | Weeks at #1 | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Ifield | Lovesick Blues | 1962 | 10/01/1963 | 1 | 3 |
| Dave Dobbyn and Herbs | Slice of Heaven | 1986 | 05/10/1986 | 8 | 10 |
| Boyz II Men | End of the Road | 1992 | 18/10/1992 | 7 | 8 |
| Crazy Frog | Axel F | 2005 | 18/07/2005 | 11 | 1 |
| Justin Bieber | Love Yourself | 2015 | 07/12/2015 | 10 | 5 |
| Engelbert Humperdinck | The Last Waltz | 1967 | 10/11/1967 | 2 | 6 |
| Michael Nesmith and The First National Band | Joanne | 1970 | 25/07/1970 | 1 | 9 |
| Craig Scott | Star Crossed Lovers | 1970 | 12/06/1970 | 4 | 3 |
| Vengaboys | Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! | 1999 | 08/08/1999 | 1 | 1 |
| Chris Brown | With You | 2008 | 18/02/2008 | 4 | 8 |
| Wham! | I’m Your Man | 1986 | 16/02/1986 | 1 | 6 |
| Tony Orlando and Dawn | Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree | 1973 | 01/06/1973 | 10 | 3 |
| DLT (featuring Che Fu) | Chains | 1996 | 04/08/1996 | 4 | 9 |
| Beyoncé and Shakira | Beautiful Liar | 2007 | 23/04/2007 | 1 | 4 |
| ABBA | Fernando | 1976 | 04/06/1976 | 9 | 9 |
| The Rasmus | In The Shadows | 2004 | 23/08/2004 | 1 | 5 |
| The Supremes | Where Did Our Love Go | 1964 | 17/09/1964 | 1 | 9 |
| Taylor Swift | Is It Over Now? | 2023 | 06/11/2023 | 1 | 8 |
| George Baker Selection | Paloma Blanca | 1975 | 01/08/1975 | 5 | 3 |
Paloma Blanca by George Baker Selection
Every New Zealand #1 single… 3 Paloma Blanca by George Baker Selection Topped the NZ chart: from 1 August 1975…
Is It Over Now? by Taylor Swift
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 Is It Over Now? Topped the NZ chart: from 6 November 2023 for 1…
Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Where Did Our Love Go Topped the NZ chart: for 1 week from 17…
In The Shadows by The Rasmus
Every New Zealand #1 single… 5 In the Shadows Topped the NZ chart: for 1 week from 23 August 2004.…
Fernando by ABBA
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Fernando Topped the NZ chart: from 4 June 1976 for 9 weeks 1976 was…
Beautiful Liar by Beyoncé and Shakira
Every New Zealand #1 single… 4 Beautiful Liar Topped the NZ chart: from 23 April 2007 for 1 week Beyoncé…
Chains by DLT (featuring Che Fu)
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Chains Topped the NZ chart: from 4 August 1996 for 5 weeks ‘Chains’ is…
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Tony Orlando and Dawn
Every New Zealand #1 single… 3 Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree Topped the NZ chart: from…
I’m Your Man by Wham!
Every New Zealand #1 single… 6 I’m Your Man Topped the NZ chart: from 16 February 1986 for 1 week…
With You by Chris Brown
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 With You Topped the NZ chart: from 18 February 2008 for 4 weeks Chris…
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! by Vengaboys
Every New Zealand #1 single… 1 Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! Topped the NZ chart: from 8 August 1999 for 1…
Star Crossed Lovers by Craig Scott
Every New Zealand #1 single… 3 Star Crossed Lovers Topped the NZ chart: from 12 June 1970 for 4 weeks…
Joanne by Michael Nesmith and The First National Band
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Joanne Topped the NZ chart: from 25 December 1970 for 1 week. One of…
The Last Waltz by Engelbert Humperdinck
Every New Zealand #1 single… 6 The Last Waltz Topped the NZ chart: from 10 November 2015 for 2 weeks.…
Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
Every New Zealand #1 single… 5 Love Yourself by Justin Bieber Topped the NZ chart: from 7 December 2015 for…
End of the Road by Boyz II Men
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 End of the Road by BOYZ II MEN Topped the NZ chart: from 18…
Axel F by Crazy Frog
Every New Zealand #1 single… 1 Axel F by Crazy Frog Topped the NZ chart: from 18 July 2005 for…
Lovesick Blues by Frank Ifield
Every New Zealand #1 single… Lovesick Blues by Frank Ifield Topped the NZ chart: 10 January 1963 for 1 week.…
Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn and Herbs
Every New Zealand #1 single… Slice of Heaven by Dave Dobbyn and Herbs Topped the NZ chart from 5 October…
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Aphoristic Album Reviews is almost entirely written by one person. It features album reviews and blog posts across a growing spectrum of popular music.
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Graham Fyfe has been writing this website since his late teens. Now in his forties, he's been obsessively listening to albums for years. He works as a web editor and plays the piano.
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