Our 10 Best 98 Degrees Songs list takes a look at a popular boy band from the 90s. They arrived on the music scene around the time Backstreet Boys and NSYNC were at the height of their fame. They were compared to them whenever they released music. 98 Degrees consisted of four members. They are Jeff Timmons, Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. What stands out about this boy band is that they got together on their own. They weren’t a manufactured group the way other boy bands were at the time. 98 Degrees sold over 10 million records. They have eight Top 40 singles. Some of their hits include “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” “Thank God I Found You,” “The Hardest Thing,” ‘Because of You,” “Invisible Man,” “True to Your Heart” as well as others.
98 Degrees wanted to stand out from other boy bands. They wrote most of their songs. They were also known for their smooth harmonies. The group felt they had more credibility than their competition because they were signed at Motown Records. They believed that made them more credible when they sang r&b music. They grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. The guys snuck backstage at a Boyz II Men concert and it changed their lives. They ended up meeting someone who gave their demo to a Motown exec and the rest was history.
The group released their self-titled album in 1997. The album peaked at number 88 on the r&b charts and 145 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Invisible Man” and “Was It Something I Didn’t Say.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. 98 Degrees and Rising came out in 1998. It peaked at number 28 on the r&b charts and 14 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “True to Your Heart,” “Because of You,” “I Do (Cherish You),” “The Hardest Thing,” The album sold over four million records.
Revelation was released in 2000. It peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” “My Everything” and “Yesterday’s Letter.” The album sold over two million records. The group took a break after this album was released. They worked on solo projects for a while before they decided to get back together. 2.0 was released in 2013. It peaked at number 65 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Microphone” and “Impossible Things.”
98 Degrees were compared to other boy bands that came out during the height of their fame. They may not have had the same success as their competition, but they did make a name for themselves. They proved they could sing pop and r&b music without being a manufactured group. Other groups go through member changes, but they stuck together. Our Top 10 98 Degrees Song list will feature their best songs.
# 10 – True to Your Heart ft. Stevie Wonder
The first song on our Top 10 98 Degrees Songs list is “True to Your Heart” from the Mulan Soundtrack and the 98 Degrees and Rising album. The song has a pop and r&b sound. The love song is about seeing what is in front of you. The track is telling the listeners to look inside of their hearts and see the love in front of them. If you’re torn with being with someone, this song will give you the answers you need.
You don’t have to watch the movie to appreciate the song. The celebratory tune is relatable to everyone who has ever been in love. Here is some trivia about the song. The song was originally written for Hanson. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than 98 Degrees singing this song. The writers wanted the song to cater to Stevie Wonder’s style of music. It makes sense that he was featured on the song since the writers wanted it to sound like something he would sing.
98 Degrees sing a lot of ballads so this song gave them a chance to do something different. They proved they could sing more than ballads. They can get you out of your seat. 98 Degrees and Stevie Wonder are an unlikely pairing, but they made it work. The song is catered more to Stevie Wonder’s style of music so it wouldn’t have been hard for him to do a fantastic job on it. The music is catchy and fun. It’s the perfect summer song. The harmonica is insane. Stevie Wonder can really blow on the harmonica. Nick Lachey and Stevie Wonder sing well together. They give each other room to shine on the track. Stevie Wonder proved why he’s a legend in the business, but Nick Lachey was able to keep up with him. Their harmonies are on fire. Their voices blend so well together. This song took a back seat to Christina Aguilera’s “Reflection,” but this jam is worth checking out.
# 9 – She’s Out of My Life
The next song on our Top 10 98 Degrees Songs list is “She’s Out of My Life” from the 98 Degrees and Rising album. The regretful song is about how it feels to lose the love of your life. Most people have been through bad breakups and think about how the person is no longer in their lives. They end up regretting the things they did to make the people leave. They would do anything to get them back. We have all sat by the radio and got emotional listening to break-up songs before. There’s something different about this track. The lyrics will hit you right where it hurts. You know you are listening to a great song when it gets to you that way.
The late, great Michael Jackson originally recorded this song. As you know, we tend to ask if people should cover songs that other artists have recorded. We also ask if they make the song their own. This was a very popular song on Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album. The group must have been very confident to take on one of his classic hits. They took a huge risk because there aren’t too many people who could do Michael Jackson’s songs justice. They changed the song to make it more suitable for them. They decided to record a cappella version.
You would have to have very strong vocals to sing a song without music. Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons’ vocals were perfection. They sang the song with soul. They were in perfect pitch throughout the track. They were “in sync” (no pun intended) with each other. The group’s harmonies are flawless. Their voices sound like music so they didn’t need it for the song. This version won’t make you forget about the original song, but it’s a remarkable cover of it.
# 8 – The Hardest Thing
This breakup song is from the 98 Degrees and Rising album. It has a pop and r&b beat. The melancholy song is about a man who’s torn between two women. One of the women is the one he is dating while the other is his mistress. He ends up breaking up with the mistress and staying with his true love because she trusted him. He knows he has to say goodbye to his mistress, but he’s having trouble letting go because he loves her. He thinks “the hardest thing” is looking her in the eyes and telling her that he doesn’t love her. The song has the makings of a soap opera. Soap Operas are about love triangles and the group is dealing with one in this song.
On the surface, this sounds like a beautiful love song. If you dissect the lyrics, you will know that it’s not a love song. It’s a song that expects the listeners to feel sorry for a man who is cheating on the love of his life. He makes it seem as if breaking up with his mistress is harder than cheating on the love of his life. He sounds like someone who should be alone. Our job is not to judge his character. We are going to stick with the song itself. Despite the way he comes off in the song, it’s very beautiful. The music is gorgeous and will touch your soul. It will leave you in a trance.
You can slow dance to this song, but would you want to do that while you’re listening to the lyrics? Nick Lachey mainly sings lead on the song. His hypnotic voice will make you forget what type of song this is. He practically reaches out to you with his vocals. Jeff Timmons has a small, but memorable role in the song. He holds an impressive note towards the end. You might not expect to hear it, but he pulls it off. Once again, their harmonies are flawless. They know what they are doing when they sing together. Their harmonies are the highlights of their songs. Expect to see this with most of the songs on our list.
# 7 – Yesterday’s Letter
The anthemic song is from the Revelation album. The track has an r&b and pop sound. The sad song is about a girl who broke up with a man and told him to move on with his life. He wants to be back with her because he’s convinced they had something special. He still thinks there’s hope for them to get back together. This song will resonate with people who have trouble moving on from a relationship. It’s hard to move on when you’re still in love with the person. These lyrics will hit close to home if you are going through the end of a relationship. This is the type of track you will want to listen to with the lights turned down and a drink in your hand.
The soulful ballad will take your heart through all of the phases of a bad breakup. It will make you feel emotional. The music is a little misleading. This track calls for somber music. It makes you think that it’s a song about falling in love. This is a track about losing love. The piano is mesmerizing. There’s no way you can sit through it and not be moved by the music. This track gives listeners a chance to hear Drew Lachey at the microphone. He gets a chance to sing, but he doesn’t sing as often as his brother does.
Drew Lachey has a beautiful tone to his voice. His baritone vocals are as smooth as silk. He sings the song with a lot soul and passion. He makes you believe that he’s dealing with a devastating loss. Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons are along for the ride. Their vocals are on point as well. This song didn’t chart, but it’s a beautiful and catchy song that deserved a spot on our list. 98 Degrees’ diehard fans have heard this gem, but everyone else should hear it too.
# 6 – Because of You
The longing song is from the 98 Degrees and Rising album. The track has a pop and r&b beat. The tender song is about finding that special someone you’ve been waiting for and never wanting to be away from that person. People who have searched for love for years could relate to the lyrics of the song. The lyrics were different because of the comparisons they used for love. They compared love to sunshine after a rainy day. They also said they were losing their minds because of love. The comparisons kept the song from being like other tracks on the radio. The lyrics sound like songs from the Motown era. Motown acts used to write songs comparing love to other things. It’s a good idea because it will keep the song from being like everything else on the radio.
This is another track on our Top 10 98 Degrees Songs list that strays from the ballads. This song has a mid-tempo vibe. It sounds similar to songs that the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC recorded during the height of their careers. It has a catchy 90s beat that will have you moving in your seat. The song was recorded years ago, but the music doesn’t sound dated. It sounds like something that would be on pop radio or streaming apps today. Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons take turns singing lead vocals on this track. They sound soulful on it. They sing it as if it were meant to be a ballad instead of a midtempo song.
Jeff Timmons does excellent runs in the song. He doesn’t miss a beat and his voice never cracks. Nick Lachey’s voice is soft and sweet. Nick Lachey’s voice is the perfect one to listen to when you’re about to go to sleep. His voice is so soothing and will help you relax. We can’t move on without mentioning their tight harmonies. The group knows what they are doing when it comes to harmonies. They wrote the handbook when it comes to harmonies. They could probably give lessons because they are so good at harmonizing.
# 5 – Invisible Man
The next song on our Top 10 98 Degrees Songs list is “Invisible Man” from their self-titled album. The song has an r&b and pop beat. The heartbreaking song is about unrequited love. The song is about a man who sees a woman at a party. He’s checking her out, but she’s having fun with her friends. He feels like she doesn’t know he’s alive. She ignores him as if he weren’t there. Most men feel like this when they try to approach women who are out of their leagues. They feel like they are invisible just like the guys said. If you change the gender of the title, women can relate to this song too. The lyrics will touch your heart as you listen to the guys explain how it feels to be in love with someone who doesn’t see you.
The song is a timeless classic. It’s not overproduced or heavily laden with a pop sound like their competitor’s songs. This song sounds like real music. It has a smooth r&b and pop sound. The music is tender and sweet, but it isn’t the focus of the song. Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons are the focus of the song. The musicians are very good not playing too loudly so we can get a chance to hear them singing the lead vocals.
Jeff Timmons is an underrated singer. He does have to take a backseat to Nick Lachey because he’s not the lead singer, but he is a slept on artist. His vocals are smooth and silky. He can do runs and hold notes flawlessly. Nick Lachey’s vocals are outstanding. He proves why he’s the lead singer because he commands your attention when he sings. He engages the listeners with his seductive vocals. He makes you believe that he is longing for a woman who doesn’t see him. His vocals are a little unrecognizable on this track, but he’s showing his versatility on it.
# 4 – My Everything
The deep song is from the Revelation album. The song has a pop and r&b beat. The moving song is about the way a man feels about the female in his life. He wants her to know that she’s his everything. He feels like his life belongs to her. This track is something you will want to play for the woman you love. It’s the perfect track to play if you are about to pop the question to your lady. You could also play this song for your wedding or your first dance. The lyrics will have you crying tears of joy. The lyrics are so sweet and any woman would be happy to have these words recited to her. If you pay attention to the lyrics, the song could also be about the love of a family member or friend. People love in different ways so the lyrics are versatile.
Here is some trivia about the song. The song was written about Nick Lachey’s relationship with Jessica Simpson. They were together when 98 Degrees recorded this track. They eventually got married. We aren’t surprised because he dedicated this song to her and she melted. There’s no surprise she was willing to marry him after hearing this song. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last long, but the song most likely helped them get married. The music is soft and romantic. The music might put you in a trance. This track gives the Lachey brothers a chance to sing together. Nick and Drew Lachey take turns singing lead on this song. They do a great job on the track.
Their vocals may move you to tears. The brothers don’t usually sing on too many songs together so it was nice to hear them sing together. Nick Lachey tries his best to turn the song into a power ballad. Unfortunately, he holds back a little when he holds his notes. He stopped the note a little too soon. If he kept going just a little longer, the note would have been flawless. Drew Lachey didn’t hold notes, but he sounds good too. 98 Degrees will impress you with those harmonies. They sing the background just as well as Nick and Drew Lachey sing lead. You might be torn on which part to sing because both ends are good.
# 3 – I Do (Cherish You)
The powerful ballad is from the 98 Degrees and Rising album. The song has a pop and r&b sound. The sweet song is about a man who is thankful for having his lady in his life. He lets her know that he cherishes her and wants her in his life forever. The title would make you think that it’s about a person getting married. If you hear these lyrics, marriage wouldn’t be far behind. This is a wonderful dedication to love. If you aren’t in love, you may not be moved by the lyrics. The lyrics may have you wishing you could be in love the same way. If you are in love, your heart will melt. This is another track that could be played at a wedding or for the first dance.
Mark Wills originally recorded the song. He recorded a country version of the track. the song was written for Mark Wills. 98 Degrees chose not to stray too far from the original version of the song. They recorded a pop and r&b version of the track. The arrangement is very similar to Mark Wills’ version. 98 Degrees version has a little more tempo because of the drum section and finger snaps. Mark Wills’ version is mostly acoustic. Nick Lachey takes the lead on the track. He sounds similar to Mark Wills. He has the same tone as Mark Wills. Mark Wills sings with a twang and that’s basically the only difference between their voices.
Nick Lachey’s vocals are so strong on this track. He shows excellent control. He knows when to pull back and when to let go vocally. He starts the song softly and builds the song up to a dramatic finale. He’s probably the best person in the group to take on this track. Both versions of the song are good. Country fans may prefer the original, but pop fans may like 98 Degrees version better.
# 2 – Thank God I Found You Mariah Carey ft. Joe and 98 Degrees
The inspirational song is from Mariah Carey’s Rainbow album. The song has a pop beat. We added this song on our Top 10 Mariah Carey Songs list. If you read that list, you know this song appeared on it. We added it to this list because it’s 98 Degrees’ highest-charting single. The sweet song is about someone thanking God for finding someone to love. She’s telling a story about what she went through in order to be with the one she loves. Joe and Nick Lachey also provide vocals on the track. Here is some trivia about the song. The song was inspired by her then-boyfriend Luis Miguel.
The arrangement is similar to Mariah Carey’s hit “One Sweet Day.” If you listen closely, you may notice the songs sound alike. Mariah Carey sings the first verse of the track. She sounds like an angel. She’s one of the power divas for a reason. As we mentioned in our previous article, she holds back a little to allow her partners a chance to shine. Joe proved he’s one of the best r&b singers to come out during the height of his fame. His baritone vocals will blow your mind. Nick Lachey has a small role in the song. He sings in the bridge and the rest of 98 Degrees provide the harmonies in the song. The group may play a small role in the song, but they do more for the song than you think. Their harmonies are incredible and help make the song better.
# 1 – Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)
The number one song on our Top 10 98 Degrees Songs list was “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” from the Revelations album. The track has a pop and Latin beat. The flirty song is about a man who wants to have at least one night to prove himself to the woman he wants. He asks her to give him a chance. He feels he could give her everything she wants if she gives him a chance. She wants him too, but she’s hesitant to give in to him. He feels she loves him too, but she doesn’t want to show it. She’s been hurt before and doesn’t want to go through it again. This song is told from a man’s point of view, but women can relate to it as well. They want to prove that they are the right one and would want a chance with the men they love.
This track is different for the guys. They are balladeers so this song gave them a chance to record an energetic track. This song was inspired by the Latin explosion that occurred in the 90’s with Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony as well as others. The music gave them a chance to have fun. They proved that they don’t always have to do serious love ballads. They can do flirty songs too. The music will have you out of your seat as soon you hear the first note. The song is great for dancing and working out. Nick Lachey and Jeff Timmons sang lead on the song. They didn’t disappoint because their vocals were fire. They were able to keep up with the busy music.
There was a lot going on and they were able to keep up vocally. They also sang in time with the music. Everything about this explosive song works. Nick Lachey holds a note after the bridge that was a pleasant surprise. We didn’t expect to hear a note in this type of song, but he pulled it off. We can’t end this list without talking about their harmonies one more time. 98 Degrees should really teach other acts how they harmonize. They sound fantastic. You may find yourself confused as to which part of the song to sing. There’s no way you can listen to this song without singing along with them.
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