1999 (Prince song)

1982 single by Prince September 2016 1999 Prince 1999 single.jpg Artwork for US vinyl editions single Prince 1999 "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" September 24, 1982Nilsen Mattheij 2004 37 August 7, 1982 Kiowa Trail Home Studio, Chanhassen, Minnesota * Funkhttps://www.ft.com/content/35eb34c2-c5fd-11e6-8f29-9445cac8966f https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/35eb34c2-c5fd-11e6-8f29-9445cac8966f December 11, 2022 subscription live The Life of a Song: '1999' David Cheal December 26, 2016 Financial Timeshttps://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/06/27/prince-greatest-hits-of-all-time/74170095007/ Best Prince songs of all time, ranked: 40 classics, from 'Purple Rain' to 'Kiss' Ed Masley June 27, 2024 The Arizona Republic July 25, 2025 ...wound up on the flip side of a song that couldn’t feel more different, the apocalyptic party funk of “1999. synth-funk Alexis Petridis The 70 greatest No 2 singles – ranked! The Guardian 17 November 2022 12 February 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/nov/17/the-70-greatest-no-2-singles-rankedhttps://www.avclub.com/essential-prince-best-songs-ranked-1850508051 Essential Prince: His greatest songs of all time, ranked Stephen Thomas Erlewine June 7, 2023 The A.V. Club June 13, 2025 The notion that it’s better to party because the end is around the corner is a close cousin to “1999" but where that synth-funk hit ran icy and cool,... Minneapolis soundNathan Brackett Christian David Hoard The New Rolling Stone Album Guide https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA655 2004 Simon and Schuster 978-0-7432-0169-8 655 dance-rockDave Marsh The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC 1989 Plume 0-452-26305-0 159 synth-rockhttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/prince-1999-interview-915663/ Prince's 1999: How the Artist Leveled Up on His Breakthrough LP Kory Grow December 2, 2019 Rolling Stone April 6, 2026 The title track was a synth-rock, end-of-the-world banger... 3:36 (single version)6:18 (album version) Warner Bros. Prince Prince Do Me, Baby 1982 Little Red Corvette 1983 Prince (1999) singles The Truth 1997 1999 1998 The Greatest Romance Ever Sold 1999 rblt2EtFfC4 "1999" single "1999" is a protest 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 mid-1983 re-release later reached number 12 in the US, while a January 1985 rerelease, a double A-side with "Little Red Corvette", later peaked at number 2 on the UK singles chart. Rolling Stone ranked "1999" number 339 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.Prince, '1999' https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/prince-1999-5-1224999/ Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 23 September 2021 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.http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38599/title.hip-hop-single-sales-prince-desiigner-drake Hip Hop Single Sales: Prince, Desiigner & Drake HipHopDX April 30, 2016 April 30, 2016 May 1, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160501100812/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.38599/title.hip-hop-single-sales-prince-desiigner-drake dead Background In a December 1999 interview, Prince said the inspiration for the song was a 1982 TV special about the year 1999 and speculation about what might happen in that year. Prince found it ironic that the people who watched the TV special with him, who he thought were generally optimistic, "were dreading those days". In contrast, he said, "I always knew I'd be cool, I never felt this was going to be a rough time for me", although he also believed there were "going to be rough times" for the planet as a whole, and he "wanted to write something that gave hope".https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mg7CxAYUM&t=18m03s Prince Rogers Nelson's entire 1999 CNN interview (Larry King Live) 1999-12-10 King Larry Larry King 18:03 Questions and answers about "1999" start at 2025-10-25 YouTube CNN Television interview In a 2019 interview, Bobby Z., the drummer of Prince's backing band the Revolution, explained that they saw the TV special, a documentary about Nostradamus and his predictions of the end of the world, during a hotel stop on the Dirty Mind tour. When the other musicians talked about the haunting film the next day, Prince had already written the song: "We’re all going 'Wow' and then he just embodied the whole thing with '1999.Cazares Simone 2019-01-09 Bobby Z remembers Prince and the inspiration behind ‘1999’ https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2019/01/09/bobby-z-remembers-prince-and-the-inspiration-behind-1999 2025-10-26 The Currenthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmkUJt7oWDk&t=2m32s Bobby Z - What makes Prince's '1999' great? 2019-01-09 McGuinn Jim 2:32 Story about "1999" starts at 2025-10-25 YouTube The Current Radio interview 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.https://www.thecurrent.org/episode/2019/12/05/prince-the-story-of-1999-bonus-dez-dickerson-prince-guitarist-interview Prince: The Story of 1999 bonus feature: Dez Dickerson: 'Put an explosion over it' Andrea Swensson www.thecurrent.org Reception Billboard said that "the Apocalypse never sounded this danceable before."Billboard 2023-02-07 Top Single Picks October 9, 1982 63 https://books.google.com/books?id=7SMEAAAAMBAJ Some music critics have suggested Phil Collins' 1985 song "Sussudio" sounds very similar to "1999".Mark Caro Yes, Phil Collins' 'Sussudio' Ripoff of Prince's '1999' is Included Chicago Tribune May 1, 2007 http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2007/05/yes_phil_collin.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100324032051/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2007/05/yes_phil_collin.html March 24, 2010 live March 3, 2010 Collins confirmed this claim,Keegan Hamilton Phil Collins, No Jacket Required Second Spin February 17, 2009 http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2009/02/second_spin_phil_collins_no_jacket_required_genesis_lamb_lies_down_broadway_reunion_tour.php March 3, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100704062232/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2009/02/second_spin_phil_collins_no_jacket_required_genesis_lamb_lies_down_broadway_reunion_tour.php July 4, 2010 mdy-all and remembers listening to "1999" frequently while he was on tour with Genesis. Hogan Ed Sussudio review AllMusic song t2760235 yes 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. "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. Prince also re-recorded the song and released it in 1999 as "1999 (The New Master)".https://diffuser.fm/prince-1999-song-facts/ '1999' Turns 35: 10 Facts About Prince's Joyous Apocalyptic Masterpiece Matthew Wilkering Diffuser.fm September 22, 2017 September 1, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20170922223633/https://diffuser.fm/prince-1999-song-facts/ September 22, 2017 live The original version re-charted within the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1999, achieving a record as the only song named after a year to enter the chart in said corresponding year.https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/lip-sync-herstory-prince-1999-9375520/ Lip Sync Herstory: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Prince's '1999' Chris Monroe Billboard May 11, 2020 September 1, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20220121234722/https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/lip-sync-herstory-prince-1999-9375520/ January 21, 2022 live Following Prince's death in April 2016, the song also became the first in Billboards history to reach the top 40 of the Hot 100 in three separate decades. 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. MTV added the video to its rotation on December 16, 1982, at a time when African-American artists struggled to get airplay on the channel. The exposure gave instant credibility to Prince, and is credited with helping the album reach gold status the following month.Nilsen, Per; Mattheji, JooZt; Prince. The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince. Uptown, 2004. 978-91631 5482-9. M2 notably played this video continuously from midnight Eastern Time on December 31, 1998, to the next midnight on January 1, 1999.Forrest Ben 30 January 2026 The power of music in John Hughes films https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/music-video-mtv-played-24-hours-straight/ 10 May 2026 Far Out Track listing 7" "1999" "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" 12" UK "1999" "D.M.S.R." 12" West Germany "1999" "Let's Pretend We're Married" CD – 1998 re-release "1999" "Uptown" "Controversy" "Dirty Mind" "Sexuality" 12" – 1985 re-release "1999" "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" "D.M.S.R." Personnel Credits from Guitarcloud and Benoît Clerc1999 http://guitarcloud.org/era/1999 2023-04-10 guitarcloud.orgWhat keyboards and synths appear on the song 1999 http://guitarcloud.org/faq/what-keyboards-and-synths-appear-song-1999 2023-04-10 guitarcloud.orgClerc Benoît October 2022 Prince: All the Songs Octopus 9781784728816 Prince – lead vocals, ARP Omni-2, Oberheim OB-Xa, electric guitars, bass guitar, Linn LM-1, cymbals, Pearl SY-1 Syncussion, tambourine, handclaps, cowbell Lisa Coleman – lead vocals Dez Dickerson – lead vocals Jill Jones – lead vocals Jesse Johnson – backing vocals (uncredited) Bobby Z. – Pearl SY-1 Syncussion (uncredited) Charts First release (1982) +1982 weekly chart performance for "1999"Chart (1982)PeakpositionUS Billboard Hot 100http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1982-12-11 The Hot 100 - The week of December 11, 1982 Billboard Hot 100 January 2, 2013 May 31, 201644US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/bsi/ Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) Billboard May 31, 20164US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)https://books.google.com/books?id=WiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=1999 Dance/Disco Top80 - Survey for week ending 12/4/82 Google Books December 4, 1982 May 31, 20161US Cash Box Top 100http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821218.html CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 18, 1982 https://archive.today/20120921090948/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821218.html September 21, 2012 dead May 13, 2014 . Cash Box magazine.46 +1983 weekly chart performance for "1999"Chart (1983)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= May 31, 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131020025459/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= October 20, 2013 2Flanders 8 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=204 Timo Pennanen 2021 Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 Prince 204 Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava Helsinki July 3, 2022 fi12Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDay=&ChMonth=&ChYear=&ChBand=prince&ChSong= Radio Luxembourg Singles umdmusic.com January 12, 202610Dutch40 13 Prince 1983 3 true May 31, 2016Dutch100 14 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Ireland2 21 1999 true May 31, 2016UK 25 19830212 true May 31, 2016 US re-release (1983) +1983 weekly chart performance for "1999" US re-releaseChart (1983)PeakpositionCanada (CHUM)http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1388 CHART NUMBER 1388 – Saturday, August 20, 1983 https://archive.today/20060213020749/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1388 February 13, 2006 dead January 11, 2014 . CHUM.8Canada RPM 9 4261 May 31, 2016 trueNew Zealand 4 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016US Billboard Hot 100http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1983-07-23 The Hot 100 - The week of July 12, 1983 Billboard January 2, 2013 May 31, 201612US Cash Box Top 100http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19830813.html CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending August 13, 1983 https://archive.today/20070621101159/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19830813.html June 21, 2007 dead July 10, 2014 . Cash Box magazine.14 UK re-release (1985) +1985 weekly chart performance for "1999" UK re-releaseChart (1985)PeakpositionIreland2 3 1999 true May 31, 2016Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDay=&ChMonth=&ChYear=&ChBand=prince&ChSong= Radio Luxembourg Singles umdmusic.com January 12, 20261UK 2 1985-01-26 UK-re-release true May 31, 2016 Worldwide re-release (1998/1999) +1999 weekly chart performance for "1999"Chart (1999)PeakpositionAustralia 47 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Flanders 29 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Dutch40 16 Prince 1999 4 true top40_1999 June 16, 2016Dutch100 31 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Germany 86 Prince 1999 7935 true May 31, 2016Ireland2 18 1999 true May 31, 2016UK 10 19990109 true UK-re-release1998 May 31, 2016UK Airplay (Music Week)1999-01-16 The Official UK Airplay Charts: Top 50 Music Week https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-01-16.pdf 2026-02-20 1520US Billboard Hot 100http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1999-01-16 The Hot 100 - The week of January 16, 1999 Billboard January 2, 2013 May 31, 201640Billboardadultpopsongs 33 Prince true May 31, 2016Billboardpopsongs 36 Prince true May 31, 2016Billboardrandbhiphopairplay 38 Prince true May 31, 2016Billboardrhythmic 13 Prince true May 31, 2016 +2016 weekly chart performance for "1999"Chart (2016)PeakpositionAustralia 28 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016France 32 Prince 1999 true May 31, 2016Germany 75 Prince 1999 7935 true May 31, 2016UK 49 20160505 true UK-2016 May 31, 2016US Billboard Hot 100http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2016-05-14 The Hot 100 - The week of May 14, 2016 Billboard January 2, 2013 May 31, 201627Billboarddigitalsongs 6 Prince true May 31, 2016US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)http://www.billboard.com/artist/351039/prince/chart?f=1230 Prince - Chart history Billboard May 31, 201611US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)http://www.billboard.com/artist/351039/prince/chart?f=1086 Prince — Chart history Billboard May 31, 20166 Year-end charts +1983 year-end chart performance for "1999"Chart (1983)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)https://i.imgur.com/860ttad.jpg Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 Kent Music Report Imgur.com January 22, 2023Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien http://www.australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= June 16, 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140828222607/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= August 28, 2014 16Canada RPM 71 3041 May 31, 2016 CA-YE1983 trueNew Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1983-12-31 Official New Zealand Music Chart - End of Year Charts 1983 Recorded Music NZ June 16, 201637US Billboard Hot 100Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 198341 +1985 year-end chart performance for "1999"Chart (1985)PositionUK Singles (OCC)Top 100 Singles Music Week Spotlight Publications London, England 10 January 18, 198630 +1999 year-end chart performance for "1999"Chart (1999)PositionNetherlands (Dutch Top 40)http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1999.html Jaarlijsten 1999 nl Dutch Top 40 May 11, 2022166 Certifications and sales Certifications and sales for "1999" New Zealand single Prince 1999 Platinum 1982 2024 radioscope January 14, 2025 United Kingdom single Gold 2004 2022 Prince 1999 May 27, 2022 82-1115-1 United States true 727,363 true true true See also List of number-one dance singles of 1982 (U.S.) Notes References Nilsen Per Mattheij Joozt 2004 The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince Linghem Uptown 916315482X Category:1982 songs Category:1982 singles Category:1999 singles Category:Prince (musician) songs Category:Apocalyptic music Category:Music videos directed by Bruce Gowers Category:Number-one singles in Luxembourg Category:Song recordings produced by Prince (musician) Category:Songs about dancing Category:Songs written by Prince (musician) Category:Warner Records singles