1999

by

Prince

Album: 1999

Released: 1983

Charted:

Get the Ringtone

Get Song @ Amazon

Get the Sheet Music

View Lyrics

Send "1999" Ringtone to your Cell phone

Songfacts®: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

View Lyrics

This is a protest song about the policies of the Reagan administration regarding the "Evil Empire," the USSR -- Prince was expressing his fears of nuclear war.

The first single released from the album of the same name, it didn't make it into the Top 40 on the first attempt, but did upon re-release after "Little Red Corvette" hit the Top 10.

Prince re-recorded this in 1998 after leaving Warner Brothers Records, who retained rights to the original recording. Prince hated Warner Brothers, and re-recorded it in an attempt to keep them from profiting from the original version. The new version was a minor hit at the beginning of 1999.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Prince originally recorded the opening verse in three-part harmony. Later he split up the vocals, and the harmony parts became a new melody. When Prince recorded this track, he would go all day and all night without rest, and turn down food since he felt eating would make him sleepy.

This is credited to "Prince And The Revolution." The Revolution was his backup band at the time. The lead female vocal was by Jill Jones, who was a member of the band. She also appeared in Prince's movies Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge.

This was Prince's 5th album. The first four sold fairly well, but this was a huge hit.

On January 16, 1999, the song spent a week on the Hot 100 at #40, thus making it the only entry to appear on the US singles chart in the year synonymous with its title. Here are four others with the year they charted in brackets: James Blunt "1973" (2007), Smashing Pumpkins "1979" (1996), Spirit "1984" (1970) and Bowling for Soup "1985" (2007). Also Estelle's 1980 was a #14 hit in the UK in 2004.

Send "1999" Ringtone to your Cell phone

Prince Artistfacts
More Prince songs

Comments (16):

I have a funny story about this song. Back in 1990 when I was living in Philadelphia, a good friend who worked at a sports arena hidden in a suburban industrial park told me about a little "secret". His secret was that the PLCB (Philadelphia Liquor Control Board), which is a government-owned corporation that owns all wine/spirits stores in the state (that's right, private stores except those run by wineries themselves can't sell wine in PA) had a "wholesale" liquor store hidden deep in the industrial park, with no windows or signs on the outside to identify what was inside. I showed up one day andy to check it out, but I was turned away after going in the door. The liquor was in a room past another set of doors that I was forbidden to enter becaus

- Bill, Cheltenham, PA

One weird lyrical inspiration it seems came from Steely Dan. In their song Deacon Blues, the lyrics are: "I cried when I wrote this song / Sue me if I play too long."

- Hans, Cambridge, MA

"Weird Al" Yankovic mentions the line:
'We're gonna party like it's 1899' in Amish Paradise, not exactly 1999, but close! Lol!

- CrazyC63312, Pittsburgh, PA

The video for 1999 was one of the first videos to break the color barrier on MTV.

- John, Nashville, TN

Almost, Justin. He said he'd always loved that song, and so he based the horn intro of "1999" on the opening vocal harmony of "Monday Monday." But he wasn't done there. Next, he took the melody and chords from 1999 and rewrote that into "Manic Monday," completing the tribute to the original song. Yes, genius is the word for it.

- KeithAdv, Springfield, IL

Ive always heard that this song is about the End of the World , the Apocalypse. Prince was predicting it would end in 1999 or 2000.

- Mike, Hueytown , AL

Perhaps no other track showcases Prince's extraordinary talent to the same extent. It always sounds loud, punchy and fresh no matter how many times you hear it. Grayson is dead right.

- Marc, London

truly amazing song. the man is a genious.

- Grayson, Cleveland, OH

The greatest line I think it 'But life is just a party and parties weren't meant 2 last' I love that line so much for some reason.

- Chelsea, Wichita, KS

Wow. All I can say about 1999 is that it is one of the best party songs. Whenever this song is played, people always dance to it. If you try to get the song, make sure you get the 6 minute album version because it is much better than the radio single. Prince is great!

- Jake, Philadelphia, PA

Underground experimentalist the Evolution Control Committee parodied this with a compilation CD called "Party Like It's $19.99!"

- fyodor, Denver, CO

remixed by bif naked, dave matthews and somebody else(rob thomas?) in 1999 by a radio station in vancouver (c-fox)

- rob, vancouver, Canada

Phil Collins was such a big fan of this song and Prince that 2 years later he wanted a similar sound when he wrote Sussudio.

- Nelson, Melbourne

The other day I saw in a Dutch TV-show that 1999 was (albeit loosely) based on a melody of a Bach-etude. Unfortunately, I don't know which one...

- Ferdinand, Hilversum, Netherlands

Chord progression is that of Mamas & Papas'
"Monday Monday". I think Prince said he based it
on that. Anyone?

- Justin, Austin, TX

He performed it in 1999 for a special DVD. Amazing

- Jam Kemal, lindua, South Africa

You have to to post comments.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson
Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Graham Parker
When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)
Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Songs Discussed in Movies
Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka. Just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.