1999 (Charli XCX and Troye Sivan song)

"1999"
Single by Charli XCX and Troye Sivan[a]
from the album Charli
Released5 October 2018 (2018-10-05)
Studio
Genre
Length3:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Oscar Holter
Charli XCX singles chronology
"Girls Night Out"
(2018) 		"1999"
(2018) 		"Blame It on Your Love"
(2019)
Troye Sivan singles chronology
"Animal"
(2018) 		"1999"
(2018) 		"Revelation"
(2018)
Music video
"1999" on YouTube

"1999" is a song by English singer Charli XCX and Australian singer Troye Sivan, released as the lead single from the former's third studio album Charli on 5 October 2018.[4] The single cover was inspired by the 1999 film The Matrix.[4] It follows several singles released earlier in 2018 by Charli XCX and Sivan's 2018 album Bloom. The track reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart dated 22 November 2018, becoming Charli XCX's tenth top 40 single and first top 15 single since 2015, as well as Sivan's fourth top 40 single and his first top 20 single.[5]

A sequel to the track, "2099", was released as a promotional single in September 2019.[6]

"1999" is playable in Just Dance Unlimited on Just Dance 2020.[7]

Background and composition

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Background

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The song contains nostalgic lyrical references to the titular year along with a snare-heavy beat, "fuzzy sawtooth bass and sparking Eurodance keys".[8] Sasha Geffen of Pitchfork stated that the track is "more concerned with the act of remembering than with the specifics of the year it calls up itself" and "fits alongside the rest of Charli XCX's sleek, forward-looking pop songs".[8] The song also references Britney Spears' 1998 debut single, "...Baby One More Time", as suggested by Max Martin.[9]

Musical composition

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The song is written in the key of D major, with an allegro tempo of 124 BPM in 4
4 common time. Sivan's and Charli XCX's voices span between the notes B3 and F#5.[10][11]

Artwork

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The cover art references the 1999 film The Matrix, with Sivan dressed as Neo, wearing dark sunglasses, a black overcoat, and dyed black hair against a bright green background.[12] Charli XCX, who is dressed as Trinity, flanks him.[12] Billboard also noted its similarity to Aaliyah in the music video for her 2000 song "Try Again".[13]

Promotion

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Charli XCX and Sivan tweeted lyrics from "1999" addressed to each other on Twitter before sharing the cover art and title of the song.[14][15]

Music video

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Charli dressed as all the Spice Girls in the "Say You'll Be There" music video

The music video was released on 11 October 2018, and features Sivan and Charli XCX in various homages to 1990s pop culture, including the iMac G3 and Steve Jobs, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, New Radicals, Eminem, the Nokia 3310, Rose McGowan and Marilyn Manson, the films Titanic, The Matrix, American Beauty, and The Blair Witch Project, the Dancing baby, the video game The Sims, and the music videos for the songs "Say You'll Be There", "Waterfalls", "Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)", and "I Want It That Way".[16][17] For many of the homages, deepfake technology was used.[18]

Track listing

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Digital download[19]

  1. "1999" – 3:09

Digital download — Stripped version[20]

  1. "1999" (Stripped) – 3:21

Digital download — The Knocks Remix[21]

  1. "1999" (The Knocks Remix) – 3:41

Digital download – Remixes[22]

  1. "1999" (Alphalove remix) – 3:55
  2. "1999" (Easyfun remix) – 3:12
  3. "1999" (Michael Calfan remix) – 3:03
  4. "1999" (R3hab remix) – 3:18
  5. "1999" (Carta remix) – 2:52
  6. "1999" (Super Cruel remix) – 2:51
  7. "1999" (Young Franco remix) – 3:33
  8. "1999" (Dipha Barus remix) – 2:28
  9. "1999" (The Knocks remix) – 3:40

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 5 October 2018
Original Asylum [19]
9 November 2018 Alphalove remix [47]
16 November 2018 Easyfun remix [48]
23 November 2018 Michael Calfan remix [49]
United States 4 December 2018 Contemporary hit radio Original Atlantic [50]
Various 18 January 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Remixes Asylum [22]

Vengaboys version

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In September 2021, Vengaboys released a cover version of the song, which was retitled "1999 (I Wanna Go Back)" and came with a deepfake-style video which saw the cover stars from various 1990s albums lip-syncing to the song and the band put into the Friends title sequence with the sofa and fountain. One of the "deepfakes" is superimposed on the single cover of Vengaboys' own "We're Going To Ibiza".[51][52]

Notes

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  1. ^ On physical releases of Charli, "1999" is credited to Charli XCX featuring Troye Sivan.

References

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  1. ^ Geffen, Sasha. "Charli XCX / Troye Sivan "1999"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Single Review: Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999". A Bit Of Pop Music. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  3. ^ Kim, Michelle. "Charli XCX: Charli Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b Sodomsky, Sam (1 October 2018). "Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Announce New Song '1999'". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Ariana Grande claims second week at Number 1 with huge streaming numbers". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  6. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (9 June 2019). "Watch Charli XCX and Troye Sivan debut new song "2099"". The Fader. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  7. ^ Just Dance (30 January 2020). Just Dance Unlimited: 1999 by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan | Official Track Gameplay [US] (Trailer). Retrieved 6 February 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b Geffen, Sasha (5 October 2018). "'1999' by Charli XCX / Troye Sivan Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Does Charli XCX Know Her Lyrics?". Variety. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, 1999". Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. ^ Brett, Mclaughlin; Noonie, Bao; Charlotte, Aitchison; Troye, Sivan; Oscar, Holter; Sivan, Charli XCX & Troye; XCX, Charli; Troye, Sivan (11 October 2018). "1999". Musicnotes.com.
  12. ^ a b Krol, Charlotte (1 October 2018). "Charli XCX to drop new single '1999' with Troye Sivan on Friday". NME. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  13. ^ Bote, Joshua (1 October 2018). "Troye Sivan & Charli XCX Announce New Song '1999'". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  14. ^ Hussein, Wandera (1 October 2018). "Charli XCX and Troye Sivan announce new duet '1999'". The Fader. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  15. ^ Garner, Glenn (2 October 2018). "Troye Sivan and Charli XCX Announce Collab in 'Matrix' Cosplay, Internet is Shook". Out. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  16. ^ Hussein, Wandera (11 October 2018). "Charli XCX and Troye Sivan drop '1999' music video". The Fader. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  17. ^ Bloom, Madison; Strauss, Matthew (11 October 2018). "Watch Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Dress Like Eminem, Britney Spears, Steve Jobs, More in Amazing New Video for '1999'". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Charli XCX's new video uses deepfake technology because of course it does". Popjustice. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  19. ^ a b "1999 – Single by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  20. ^ "1999 (Stripped)– Single by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Tripped". Tidal. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  21. ^ "1999 (The Knocks Remix) – Single by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Tidal". Tidal. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  22. ^ a b "1999 (Remixes) by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Chart Search | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  27. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 43/2018". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  28. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  29. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  30. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  31. ^ "מדיה פורסט – לדעת שאתה באוויר week 47". Mediaforest.biz. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  32. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  33. ^ "Tipparade week 47 van 2018". Top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  35. ^ "2018년 41주차 Download Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 41, 12 oktober 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  38. ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  39. ^ "Charli XCX Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  40. ^ "Chart History (Pop Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  41. ^ "Top Radio Hits Moldova Weekly Chart: Dec 12, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  42. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  43. ^ "Dance Top 100 - 2019". Mahasz. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Danish single certifications – Charli XCX & Troye Sivan – 1999". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Charli XCX ft Troye Sivan – 1999". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  47. ^ "1999 (Alphalove Remix)". 9 November 2018 – via open.spotify.com.
  48. ^ "1999 (Easyfun Remix) – Single by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  49. ^ "1999 (Michael Calfan Remix) – Single by Charli XCX & Troye Sivan on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  50. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  51. ^ "Vengaboys throw it back to the '90s with a cover of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's '1999'". NME. 10 September 2021.
  52. ^ "Vengaboys look back at their biggest hits: "People loved or hated us"". www.officialcharts.com.
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