1999 (Prince song)

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"1999"
Prince 1999 single.jpg
US 7" single (1982)
Single by Prince
from the album 1999
B-side"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1982[1]
RecordedJuly 1982
StudioKiowa Trail home studio
GenreFunk,[2] synth-pop
Length3:36 (Single Version)
6:22 (Album Version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Do Me, Baby"
(1982) 		"1999"
(1982) 		"Little Red Corvette"
(1983)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
"Let's Work"
(1982) 		"1999"
(1982) 		"Little Red Corvette"
(1983)
Prince (1999) singles chronology
"Come On"
(1998) 		"1999"
(1998) 		"1999: The New Master"
(1999)
Prince (UK) (1999) singles chronology
"Come On"
(1998) 		"1999"
(1998) 		"1999: The New Master"
(1999)

"1999" is a song by American musician Prince, the title track from his 1982 album of the same name. Originally peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, a December 1982 rerelease later peaked at number 12 in the US, while a January 1985 rerelease, a double A-side with "Little Red Corvette", later peaked at number 2 in the UK.

Rolling Stone ranked "1999" number 215 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[3] Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 41, later moving up to number 27, making it the fourth separate time the song had entered the Hot 100 and the third different decade in which the song re-charted (as after its two 1980s entries, it made the chart again on January 16, 1999 at number 40). As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 727,363 copies in the United States.[4]

Recording[]

The album version of the song starts with a slowed-down voice stating "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I only want you to have some fun." Prince shares lead vocals on the track with members of his band the Revolution, namely Dez Dickerson, Lisa Coleman and Jill Jones. Originally conceived to be a three-part harmony, it was later decided to separate out the voices that started each verse. Distinct scratching and explosion noises heard in the track were to cover mistakes during recording of a good take.[5]

Reception[]

Some music critics have suggested Phil Collins' 1985 song "Sussudio" sounds very similar to "1999".[6] Collins confirmed this claim,[7] and remembers listening to "1999" frequently while he was on tour with Genesis.[8]

Re-release[]

In January 1985, "1999" was released as a 12" single in the US with "Little Red Corvette" as the B-side, and "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"/"D.M.S.R." in the UK. The single peaked at number 2 in its second week of release.

The song was re-recorded at the end of 1998 and was released the following year as 1999: The New Master.

"1999" was re-released in the UK and the US in late 1998 to accompany the song's namesake year. It was released on 12" vinyl with the same track listing as the original 12" single: the album version, along with "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and "D.M.S.R." A CD single was also issued with the same track listing, except the edit of "1999" was substituted for the album version. It was also re-released again towards the end of its namesake year. The original version re-charted within the Top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1998, becoming Prince's last top 40 hit before his death in 2016.

Music video[]

The video, directed by Bruce Gowers, was shot during the last week of rehearsals for the 1999 Tour. It depicts Prince and his band during a live performance. Just in time to take his part after Lisa Coleman, Jill Jones and Dez Dickerson, Prince appears on the stage from above, gliding down on a fireman's pole, wearing a glittery purple long coat.

Something went wrong with shooting Dez's lead vocal line and the footage was actually re-shot by a local camera crew the afternoon prior to the first show of the 1999 Tour in Chattanooga on November 11, 1982.[citation needed]

VH1 notably played this video continuously from midnight Eastern Time on December 31, 1998 to the next midnight on January 1, 1999.

Track listing[]

7"
  1. "1999"
  2. "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
12" UK
  1. "1999"
  2. "D.M.S.R."
12" Germany
  1. "1999"
  2. "Let's Pretend We're Married"
CD - 1998 re-release
  1. "1999"
  2. "Uptown"
  3. "Controversy"
  4. "Dirty Mind"
  5. "Sexuality"
12" - 1985 re-release
  1. "1999"
  2. "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
  3. "D.M.S.R."

Charts[]

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1983) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[40] 16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[41] 71
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42] 37
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 41
Chart (1985) Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[44] 30

Certifications and sales[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 250,000^
United States — 727,363[4]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Nilsen & Mattheij 2004, p. 37
  2. ^ Cheal, David (December 26, 2016). "The Life of a Song: '1999'". Financial Times.
  3. ^ "Prince, '1999'". Rolling Stone (500 Greatest Songs of All Time). April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake". HipHopDX. April 30, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  5. ^ Swensson, Andrea. "Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Dez Dickerson: 'Put an explosion over it'". www.thecurrent.org.
  6. ^ Mark, Caro (May 1, 2007). "Yes, Phil Collins' 'Sussudio' Ripoff of Prince's '1999' is Included". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  7. ^ Keegan, Hamilton (February 17, 2009). "Phil Collins, No Jacket Required". Second Spin. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  8. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Sussudio review". Allmusic.
  9. ^ "The Hot 100 - The week of December 11, 1982". Billboard Hot 100. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  10. ^ "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  11. ^ "Dance/Disco Top80 - Survey for week ending 12/4/82". Google Books. December 4, 1982. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  12. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 18, 1982". Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2014.. Cash Box magazine.
  13. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ultratop.be – Prince – 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince – 1999" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 1999". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  19. ^ "CHART NUMBER 1388 – Saturday, August 20, 1983". Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2014.. CHUM.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6286." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  21. ^ "Charts.nz – Prince – 1999". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  22. ^ "The Hot 100 - The week of July 12, 1983". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  23. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending August 13, 1983". Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2014.. Cash Box magazine.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Australian-charts.com – Prince – 1999". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 4, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince – 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  29. ^ "The Hot 100 - The week of January 16, 1999". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  30. ^ "Prince Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  31. ^ "Prince Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  32. ^ "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  33. ^ "Prince Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  34. ^ "Lescharts.com – Prince – 1999" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  36. ^ "The Hot 100 - The week of May 14, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  37. ^ "Prince Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  38. ^ "Prince - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  39. ^ "Prince — Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  40. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  41. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6699." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  42. ^ "Official New Zealand Music Chart - End of Year Charts 1983". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  43. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1983
  44. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. January 18, 1986. p. 10.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Prince – 1999". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 31, 2016.

References[]

  • Nilsen, Per; Mattheij, Joozt (2004). The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince. Linghem: Uptown. ISBN 916315482X.

External links[]

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