Music has changed for the last 20 years. Funny how being a child of the 1990s, I feel like the songs then doesn't get old, while generations today cannot appreciate the songs we enjoyed. It may be a sign that we are getting old, but gosh, we have the kind of music that youths today could have enjoyed if they lived in our era.
Back in 1999, we saw how music industrywas dominated by pop music as bubblegum pop was introduced through the likes of Spice Girls, and boy bands.
Spice Girls has dominated the music scene starting from the second half of 1996 until the departure one of its member, Geri Halliwell also known as "Ginger Spice", in 1998. They became household name after scoring numerous hits, and big selling albums "Spice" and "Spiceworld".
Source: Billboard
1999
Teen Pop Princesses Emergence
Britney Spears was seen dominating the music scene at the start of the year through the hit song "...Baby One More Time" and the album with the same title title. She scored top 40 songs "Sometimes" and (You Drive Me) Crazy" as well.
With Britney Spears' success, other teen pop sensations existed like Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, and Christina Aguilera, with the latter went close to the success of Spears through her hit self-titled album, and the number 1 single "Genie in a Bottle"
Boybands Continue to Flourish
Boy bands has flourished this year as Backstreet Boys topped the charts worldwide with "Millennium", which sold more than a million copies in America in just one week! Their closest rival NSYNC scored hits in the US from their self-titled album, which eventually became a Diamond platinum album. 98 Degrees had a great year as well after scoring 4 top 20 hits in a calendar year at the Billboard Hot 100. European boy bands Boyzone and Westlife had their fair share of success internationally too.
Source:Wikipedia
Latin Music Became More Famous
Latin pop music has been popular in 1999. Ricky Martin led Latin music world as he reached the peak of his success through his self-titled English album, which was sparked by his hit single "Livin' La Vida Loca". Enrique Iglesias invaded the English-language music scene as well when he reached number 1 with "Bailamos". Marc Anthony scored a hit with "I Need to Know". Jennifer Lopez became one of the biggest new artists on her debut with her R&B and Latin flavored album "On the 6".
Source: Wikipedia
R&B Began to Top the Charts
We saw how R&B music become more popular this year. TLC had a huge comeback 4 years after "CrazySexyCool" was released. "Fanmail", their third album, became one of the best sellers of 1999 and spawned number 1 hits such as "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty". Whitney Houston has gone deeper to R&B with her big-selling album "My Love Is Your Love". Destiny's Child scored their first US number 1 hit with "No, No, No". Brandy and Monica, who had a number 1 collaboration in 1998, had their hits in 1999. Lauryn Hill had a great year over her multiple platinum selling "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", which was a big Grammy winner that year.
Source: Wikipedia
Country Music was led by Shania Twain
Shania Twain was already among the biggest sellers for 1998 with "Come on Over" album. But the said record sold more in 1999 as it scored hit songs including "That Don't Impressed Me Much". Dixie Chicks had a great year too with "Wide Open Spaces".
Source:Wikipedia
Rock Music is Highly Popular
The Offspring started the year with a bang through their hit album "Americana". In the middle of the year, Red Hot Chilli Peppers released their most successful album ever "Californication". Limp Bizkit started to gain mainstream success with "Significant Other". While Creed released their spiritual album "Human Clay".
Source: Wikipedia
Eminem's Mainstream Debut, and the Hip-Hop World
Eminem may had a bigger year in 2000, but it was 1999 when he first hit the charts with very successful debut "The Slim Shady LP". Other notable top hip-hop stars are DMX, Nas, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and the posthomus releases by 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.
Source: Wikipedia
Conclusion:
It shows 1999 is a year of diverse music even it was dominated by pop music. It is worth going back to the music then whatever genre you are listening to because those songs is like time machine taking you to the time when songs and artists became iconic. Truly, this year is a blast with all those great music we had enjoyed.
