The Top 10 Songs of 1999
The end of 1999 and beginning of 2000 brings one certainty: lists, lists and more lists. Lists detailing the best and worst everything of the decade, century and millennium will pop-up in virtually every medium. The big loser in this trend will be the year 1999. Although this past year has given us its share of great moments and innovations, professional list-compilers are likely to skip "Best of 1999 Lists" in favor of bigger, better and badder lists (e.g. Worst Haircuts of the Past Millennium). Wishing to help the underdog, I have taken time to compile what I believe are ten of the best songs from the past 12 months.
Cynics may write off my list as opinionated. My response: Duh!!! Even lists based completely on factual data (such as Billboard) are biased in what criterion they use and exclude. At the very least my list can't be any worse than the Grammy Awards which in the past has awarded "Song of the Year" to records over two years old and once presented Jethro Tull with the best "Heavy Metal Album of the Year" (For those of you who don't know, Barbara Streisand is more Heavy Metal than Jethro Tull). A good list will make you think and be a springboard for discussion and debate. Having said that here is my official list of the Top 10 songs of 1999:
10) Hey Leonardo--Blessid Union of Souls
When they first made waves in 1995 with the sensitive love-ballad "I Believe," many (including myself) were quick to dismiss Blessid Union as a one-hit wonder. In the ensuing years, not only have they proven that they can sustain a career, they've also proven that they can rock. In one of the best sing-along guitar hooks of the year they give homage to Cindy Crawford, Pavarotti and Jim Carrey as well as title character....well you know who.
9) Miami--Will Smith
Note to Puff Daddy: You can learn so much from watching (and listening to)
Will. His lyrics are fun and upbeat and never forced, plus he picks the coolest tracks to sample (in this case The Whispers’ underrated 1980 hit "And The Beat Goes On"). Much like Don Johnson did a decade ago, Mr. Smith single-handedly made the city hip again.
8) You Go First (Do You Wanna Kiss)----Jessica Andrews
Britney Spears may have grabbed the headlines, but it was fresh-faced Jessica that injected the music world with its best dose of teen spirit over the past year. Combining the best aspects of Debbie Gibson and LeAnn Rimes, this red-haired, 15-year old from Huntington, Tennessee brought back memories of when teen angst didn't include guns in schools and STDs. With lyrics like, "Dancin' on the tightrope, wearin' it thin/Instead of closin' our eyes and jumpin' in....What's it gonna take to get us both there/Can't you see what I'm suggestin', it's a double dare," Jessica and the song's writers so vividly painted a picture of a passionate yet innocent teenage crush that seemed to come straight out of an episode of The Wonder Years.
7) Genie In A Bottle---Christina Aguilera
And speaking of not-so-innocent teen love, ex-Mouseketeer Christina Aguilera shined brightest in a year dominated by her former cast-mates (Britney Spears; N’ Sync’s JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake; and Keri Russell from television's Felicity). While Christina may have been singing about more than kissing, her production team smartly followed a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) formula when it came to making this song. At a time when so many songs are ruined by overproduction, the repetitive yet musical rhythm track of "Genie" topped by Christina’s sexy, soulful vocals proved to be infectious.
6) Right Now--Chris Gaines (A.K.A. Garth Brooks)
It took a while for everyone (Garth lovers and haters alike) to warm up to the entity that is Chris Gaines. Garth’s well developed alter-ego will undoubtedly receive additional press in 2000 with a starring role in the feature film "The Lamb." The album showcases many different styles and genres from the supposed fictional singer’s career, none more compelling than "Right Now." The song is a combination rap of Cheryl Wheeler's spoken word "If It Were Up To Me" (which lists the possible culprits for the world's problems); and the singing chorus of The Youngbloods' classic "Get Together" (which theorizes that all these problems can be solved by just loving one another). A catchy piece that provided us with a message that, in the wake of the Columbine shootings, we desperately needed to hear.
5) There She Goes--Sixpence None The Richer
From the start, this song had four things going against it. First, it was a remake of recent, yet already forgotten hit (by The La's). Second, this version was sung by a female, thus rendering it a lesbian love piece. Third, the entire song consisted of just three lines repeated numerous times. Fourth, the track was not even included on the original pressing of the album. Despite all of these obstacles, Sixpence received such powerful feedback from their live performances of "There She Goes" (including the Lilith Fair gigs), that they re-issued their album with the additional track. Ear candy didn't get much better than this in 1999.
4) Smooth---Santana/Rob Thomas
One thing is almost guaranteed for 2000: the Grammys will be dominated by Carlos
Santana. As a classic rocker enjoying his biggest hit in a generation, Santana fits the profile that Grammy voters love to reward. Stepping into Santana's ever-revolving door
of vocalists was Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas (who also wrote the song). Together they
proved to the music industry what fans already knew: Classic Rock is very much alive!
3) No Place That Far--Sara Evans and Vince Gill
There are love songs and then there are LOVE songs. By the latter I mean songs that
lovers listen to while gazing into each others eyes, all the while holding backs tears of joy. If you still don’t know what I mean, pick up a copy of "No Place That Far." It's too bad that except for the country stations this one was virtually ignored by American radio. If Celine Dion had recorded the song, it might have spent 15 weeks at #1.
2) I Want It That Way--The Backstreet Boys
Granted the producer deserves 90% of the credit for this one, as evidenced by the far inferior live and dance remix versions. This one hooks you from the start and doesn't let go. From the opening strums of the acoustic guitar to the drum-less first verse with the
single Pink Floyd-esque synthesizer chords and Brian Littrell's vocals (You are my
FIH-re/My one de-SI-I-re). Sure it’s nothing more than a simply written, well-produced pop song sung by five pretty boys. But so what?!
1) Ricky Martin --- Livin' La Vida Loca
To be crowned the #1 song of the year, is to have transcended the world of music. The song has to have been hummed in the school halls, the offices, the homes of non-music listeners. In short, the song has to have to become an icon, a symbol of the year. When you think about it only one song really fit the bill, Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca."
From his red-hot performance at the Grammy’s to the record setting attendance for his
Today show appearance, the year belonged to Ricky. When he was on the radio, you
couldn't help but feel good. Feeling good and living the crazy life (FYI: that's English for La Vida Loca) in a nutshell that's what many of us were doing in 1999.
In his wacky youth, Efrem Epstein spent Sunday mornings memorizing the list of songs on Casey Kasem's American Top 40 Countdown (What a geek)!! Efrem's vast knowledge of absolutely useless music trivia has frequently gotten him quoted in Billboard magazine and on Scott and Todd's nationally syndicated morning radio show.
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