Is 1999 the most iconic year in pop history?

[degen]

I can't really think of another year where all the stars alligned so perfectly. I mean sure we've had big pop moments in the 80s that may have been singular bigger pop culture moments (MJ, Madonna, Prince), but I really can't find a single year in the 80s where so many different storms co-existed at the same time that went on to produce so many pop classics.

1999 is that year. Here are the definitive moments;

Britney Spears "Baby One More Time"
Launched the career of Britney and served as the tentpole of Y2K teen pop and female pop singers. BOMT is without a doubt one of the most iconic debuts of all time. This is also Max Martin's first #1 hit, so there's two reasons why this was an important moment in pop history. 

Cher "Believe"
What are the odds that a female singer who peaked in the 1970s would return with a historical comeback that still to this day hasn't been achieved again. A female singer in her 50s scoring her biggest hit ever, 30 years into her career, is just something we will probably never see happen again. This also kicked off the trend for "autotune."

TLC "No Scrubs" 
This song kicked off a string of female empowerment anthems that would later be adopted by Destiny's Child and other girl groups. But "No Scrubs" remains the most iconic and recognizable song by a female R&B group ever. 

Ricky Martin "Livin Lavida Loca" 
Another huge moment for pop. This song led the latin pop explosion in the U.S. and launched the career of Ricky Martin and paved the way for other male stars to follow.

Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way"
Although this never hit #1 there's no doubt that it remains one of the most iconic pop songs from this era. It remains a karaoke staple until this day and was the tentpole for boyband pop. 

Christina Aguilera "Genie In a Bottle"
Of course this launched the career of Xtina, but "Genie" itself has gone on to be placed in permanent pop infamy and has become one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 90s.

Enrique Iglesias "Bailamos
If BOMT paved the way for Genie, then there's no doubt "Livin Lavida Loca" paved the way for "Bailamos." But that's the beauty of this year, even the songs that were released to cash in on trends were crafted in such perfection. Playing "Bailamos" now will take anyone on a flashback to a hot summer night in 1999 (if they are old enough to remember that is).

Santana "Smooth"
Another bizarre abnormality that just doesn't happen on the charts anymore. Perhaps it was the perfect way to close such a crazy iconic year. 


Shout outs:
Jennifer Lopez "If You Had My Love,"-While this song might not be iconic, it launched J.lo's singing career.
Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker"-While it's not her most successful #1, it was a good bookend to a decade for Mariah who scored a #1 in every year in the 90s.
Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills"-Not as iconic as some of the anthems they will drop in coming years, but, this year launched Beyonce and the girls to mainstream success.

So do you agree that with all these factors at play, that 1999 is the most iconic year in pop? 

[dremolus - solarpunk]

A lot of classic songs came out in 1999 but I don't even think it's the most iconic year of the 90s in terms of music. 1997 had just as many songs iconic songs as 1999.

[Deleted]

The entire years from 82 to 85 say hello.

[Trilogy]

sebastian ingrosso's career started in 1999 so yes

[Glove Slap]

LMAO hell no.

[Deleted]

Sicko Mode by Travis Scott and Drake came out in 2018, so no.

[leonagwen]

1983 - 1985 and 1968 - 1970.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

1998-2001 was terrible

[Glove Slap]

May 31, 2020 10:13:22 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

1998-2001 was terrible

Yeah in terms of strictly mainstream pop music, it's one of the least imaginative and uninteresting times. The majority of the works from that period that hold up were from outside the mainstream.

It's just that the oldest sizable contingent of this board has major nostalgia for that era because of when they (we) were born. It wasn't until I re-listened as a teenager that it jumped out how nearly identical those Cheiron tracks and their ilk were.

[SPRΞΞ]

Not you guys forgetting one of Madonna’s best “Beautiful Stranger!”

Yes, it was the best year of my life thus far.

[die Lotterie]

Maybe...

[Deleted]

I wouldn't even rank it in the top half of my favorite years for music in the 90's.

[Glove Slap]

May 31, 2020 13:30:13 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

I wouldn't even rank it in the top half of my favorite years for music in the 90's.

I'd actually rank it at the bottom of my list. Every other year of the decade as superior to 1999 in terms of music for me.

[degen]

Well just as predicted, backlash but with no evidence back up your claims. Lol.

[Deleted]

The best year for me 1994. R&B, new jack swing, and rock/punk classics were in full glory. The amount of R&B and soul album that have a 1994 release date is staggering!

Plus hip hop was never better.

"If the debut of Notorious B.I.G, Lauryn Hill and Outkast wasn't big enough, on the West Coast, Snoop's “Gin and Juice” and Warren G's “Regulate” raised the stakes. Then of course there was the Beastie Boys' Ill Communication (“Sabotage” took over MTV in 1994) and underground hip-hop's storytelling epic Illmatic – which lived up to all the hype behind Nas that year. Hip-hop may never be as good again."

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

May 31, 2020 13:57:59 GMT -5 degen said:

Well just as predicted, backlash but with no evidence back up your claims. Lol.

My reason against 1999 is because of how uninteresting the boy band and bubblegum pop era was. With BSB, N Sync and Spice Girls dominating from 1997-2001, so much music during that time tried to replicate them. Pop ballads were so cheesy, even R&B was inspired and boring. The saving grace came from rock and more acoustic flavoured pop, and the rap hits that were able to shine through. But the music that dominated was boring af. Britney’s best music came with her third album onward. Christina’s debut hits were fine enough but Stripped was where it was at. BSB and N Sync’s power pop songs were fine but when they went lighter, I wanted to stick a lit match in my ear. Then there’s the derivatives like 98 Degrees and whatever else emulating them. I’m grateful Destiny’s Child helped lead mainstream pop toward a heavier R&B sound that would soon put hip-hop more front and centre.

1998-2000 severely lacked personality. I was listening to an old AT40 from April 1998 awhile ago and my god was it boring.

[aerodynamite]

1998-2001 was amazing

[Luckie Starchild]

May 30, 2020 23:07:40 GMT -5 degen said:

So do you agree that with all these factors at play, that 1999 is the most iconic year in pop? 

Yeah, it's up there for me and does stand out. 1964, 1978, and 1984 are iconic too.

[Deleted]

1999 was Rainbow as usual that album defines what I think of that year.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

One of the most iconic years? yes
One of the best years? no

[mkarns]

No. 1999 had its moments and plenty of good songs (not just pop hits) including most of the songs listed here, but IMO there was way too much fluff (mostly teen pop bubblegum and overly similar sounding boybands) everywhere to make it one of the greatest or most iconic years. I'd say that 1964-67 or 1983-85 would rank at or near the top, or at least above 1999.

[Au$tin]

May 31, 2020 15:11:40 GMT -5 aerodynamite said:

1998-2001 was amazing

You're alive?!?!?!?!

[tuna]

1992 says hello.

Baby Got Back
Friday I’m In Love
Tennessee
Jump
Under The Bridge
To Be With You
I’m Too Sexy
November Rain
Jump Around
Smells Like Teen Spirit
and probably some more

[Joe1240]

I would put 1999 up there with 2008/2009 as one of the best in Pop History.

[Deleted]

Maybe this is just because I was raised on 80s music by my parents, but I'll have to go with 1983. The songs below are just from the Year-End Top 25.
Every Breath You Take by The Police
Billie Jean/Beat It by Michael Jackson
Down Under by Men At Work
Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler
Maneater by Hall & Oates
Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics
Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
Let's Dance by David Bowie
Africa by Toto
Little Red Corvette by Prince

[AmazDrag]

My vote is for 1994. 1997 and 1990 were also stellar years.

[dwhite725]

You did forget to mention Whitney.

[jenglisbe]

May 31, 2020 13:30:13 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

I wouldn't even rank it in the top half of my favorite years for music in the 90's.

That's not what the topic question is about, though, is it?

I don't think there is any denying 1999 is an iconic year year in general. That doesn't mean anyone has to like the music from that year, but it is the year where that teen pop boom truly went into orbit, where the Latin explosion went into high gear, and where the man-bashing trend of "No Scrubs" and others came in. That is iconic.

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2020 8:51:50 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

May 31, 2020 13:30:13 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

I wouldn't even rank it in the top half of my favorite years for music in the 90's.

That's not what the topic question is about, though, is it?

I don't think there is any denying 1999 is an iconic year year in general. That doesn't mean anyone has to like the music from that year, but it is the year where that teen pop boom truly went into orbit, where the Latin explosion went into high gear, and where the man-bashing trend of "No Scrubs" and others came in. That is iconic.

It says "most iconic". I still vote no.. maybe for pop fans in their 30's.. otherwise everything you mentioned pretty much came and went in a couple years and every generation could point to their "1999".

[jenglisbe]

May 31, 2020 21:25:47 GMT -5 Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ said:

One of the most iconic years? yes
One of the best years? no

Now this is a sensible post.

This of course turned into a thread about people's favorite years, but the topic question was about iconic/influential years.

I don't know which specific year it would be, but potentially an early year from the '60s works for this topic. The Beatles hit in the early '60s, which also combined with Motown becoming huge. 1964 specifically had The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and Bob Dylan released "The Times They Are a-Changin'" Martha Reeves' "Dancing in the Street," Barbra Streisand with "People," etc.