1999

Prince

About 1999

"1999" is a song by American musician Prince, the title track from his 1982 album of the same name. In 1983, the song peaked at number 2 in Australia. It originally peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1982 but with its re-release, it peaked at number 12 in the US in July 1983, and at number 25 in the UK in January 1983 (reaching number 2 in the UK when re-released in January 1985, as part of a double A-side with "Little Red Corvette"). Rolling Stone ranked "1999" number 215 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 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. 


Year:
1993
3:36
134 

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I was dreamin' when I wrote this
Forgive me if it goes astray
But when I woke up this mornin'
Could of sworn it was judgment day

The sky was all purple
There were people runnin' everywhere
Tryin' to run from the destruction
You know I didn't even care

'Cause they say two thousand zero zero
Party over, oops out of time
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

I was dreamin' when I wrote this
So sue me if I go to fast
But life is just a party
And parties weren't meant to last

War is all around us
My mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die
I'm gonna listen to my body tonight

Yeah, they say two thousand zero zero
Party over, oops out of time
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999
Yeah, yeah

Lemme tell ya somethin'
If you didn't come to party
Don't bother knockin' on my door
I got a lion in my pocket
And baby he's ready to roar, yeah yeah

Everybody's got a bomb
We could all die here today, uhh
But before I'll let that happen
I'll dance my life away

They say two thousand zero zero
Party over, oops out of time
We're runnin' outta time
So tonight, we gonna, we gonna (tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999)

Say it one more time
Two thousand zero zero
Party over, oops out of time
Yeah, yeah
So tonight we gonna, we gonna (tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999)

1999 (1999)
Don't ya want to go (1999)
Don't ya want to go (1999)
We could all die here today (1999)
I don't want to die
I'd rather dance my life away

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 - found dead in his home April 21, 2016. He died of an accidental overdose of the drug fentanyl), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Known by his mononym Prince, he was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor. He produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. He wrote several hundred songs plus produced and recorded his own music for his own music label. Prince had a wide vocal range and was known for his flamboyant stage presence and costumes. His releases sold over 100 million copies worldwide. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year he was eligible. Ro… more »

24 fans

Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Release Details
"1999" was released as a single on September 24, 1982, from Prince's album of the same name. It stands as one of the most important milestones in his career.
Chart Success
The song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1983, and number one on the Hot Black Singles Chart.
Cultural Impact
In 2004, "1999" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, signifying its impactful contribution to the landscape of music.
Album Essentials
"1999" is not just the title track of Prince's fifth album, it was also the LP’s lead single that helped make the album his first to be certified multi-platinum.
Apocalyptic Theme
Despite the upbeat and danceable tune, the lyrics of "1999" tell of an approaching apocalypse, ending with a countdown to nuclear explosion.
Re-Release
"1999" was re-released in 1998 to promote Prince's album "1999 - The New Master," and it again re-charted in the US and UK, peaking at number 40 and 10 respectively.
Music Video
The video of "1999" is notable as one of Prince's early efforts in constructing a visual identity to go with his music, featuring key elements of his funky and flamboyant style.
Musical Style
The song is driven by an iconic synthesizer riff, characterized by Prince's groundbreaking use of drum machines and electronic instruments.
Background Vocals
In the song, vocals are shared by Prince and his bandmates of the time—Dez Dickerson, Jill Jones, and Vanity 6 members Brenda Bennett and Lisa Coleman.
Farewell Performance
Prince's final performance of "1999" was on April 14, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia, a week before he passed away.
Tribute
After Prince's death, many artists covered "1999" in tribute, including Phish, Bruce Springsteen, and Green Day.
Pop Culture
Even as the year 1999 passed, the song remains relevant, often being played at parties and events to denote celebration and revelry.
Memorable Lyrics
One of the most iconic lyrics of the song—"They say two thousand zero zero party over, oops out of time"—refers to the millennium computer bug.
Enduring Popularity
After Prince's entire catalog was made available to stream in 2017, "1999" saw a massive increase in streams, and it remains one of Prince's most popular tracks on streaming platforms.

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    1999

    20.9M
    159.4K     4,963

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #12


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