Next's 'Too Close' Top Of The Pops For '98

12/28/1998 4:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(12/25/98, 1 a.m. PST) - As those who watched the 1998 Billboard Music Awards already know, "Too Close" by R&B act Next was the top single of 1998 on the music trade magazine's Hot 100 Singles chart (myLAUNCH, 12/8).

Here's the rest of the top 10. Impress your friends and family and read it aloud in your best disc jockey-voice:

Coming in at No. 10, "I Don't Want To Wait" by Lilith Fair favorite Paula Cole. At No. 9 is "Nice & Slow" by R&B sensation and up-and-coming actor Usher. In the No. 8 position is "Candle In The Wind 1997"/ "Something About The Way You Look Tonight," by Elton John. "Candle," which was the No. 1 single of 1997 and is the best-selling single of all time, managed to place again this year, since it remained on the chart through July.

At No. 7 is "All My Life" by Jodeci spin-off act K-Ci & JoJo. In the No. 6 position is the artist now known simply as Janet with "Together Again." Representing the country contingent at No. 5 is LeAnn Rimes with "How Do I Live." Coming in at No. 4 is Savage Garden with "Truly Madly Deeply." At No. 3 is another country queen, Shania Twain, with "You're Still The One," and Next placing next to Next in the No. 2 position are dueling divas Brandy & Monica with "The Boy Is Mine."

As for Billboard's other singles and tracks charts, Next's "Too Close" was also the R&B Single Of The Year, and "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" by Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz was the Rap Track Of The Year.

On the country side, Tim McGraw's "Just To See You Smile" was the No. 1 Country Track, while in the dance world the No. 1 honors went to Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine."

In rock, Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Blue On Black" toped the Mainstream Rock Tracks, while Marcy Playground's "Sex And Candy" toped the Modern Rock Tracks list.

Catch up on your year-end reading with features on these chart-toppers: Paula Cole, Usher, Savage Garden, Shania Twain, Brandy, Monica, Tariq & Gunz, Tim McGraw, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Marcy Playground. And check back next week for a feature on LeAnn Rimes as well!