Publication: Chicago Sun-Times [US]
Date: December 29, 1998
Section: Future
Page Number(s): 25
Length: 441 Words
Title: "'1999' Redux; Prince's '82 Smash Ushering In a New Era"
Written By: Kevin M. Williams

The millennium has a theme song.

And it's an oldie.

As it threatens to become an omnipresent anthem for the coming millennium, the hit "1999," an apocalyptic jam by Prince, is showing that it's still got legs.

"It's always been in rotation," said Sam Jennings, a coordinator of the Chicago Nation, a fan group devoted to the artist. "It's one of his biggest hits, the one that pretty much introduced him to a huge audience. And it's a very catchy song."

A hit in 1982 and long a staple of dance club play lists, "1999" is bound to hit even heavier rotation beginning on New Year's Eve. MTV's spinoff channel M2 even plans to play the "1999" video nonstop for 24 hours starting at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Never mind the fact that the lyric Two thousand zero zero/Party over oops/Out of time clearly marks "1999" as a theme song more appropriate for a year from now.

Chronological quibbling isn't stopping anybody from appropriating the ditty, including the artist.

His planned new EP, "1999: The New Master" is scheduled to hit record stores in January. It will feature seven different versions of the classic jam, including hip-hop, reggae and R&B flavorings.

"Master" also will be available at Prince's Web site, www.1800newfunk.com.

Included on the roster of proposed artists are Doug E. Doug and high-volume songstress Chaka Khan.

It is important to note, however, that "1999" will be a new recording of the song. The original tune is owned by Warner Bros., and was re-issued to radio stations in November, anticipating the pre-millennial buzz.

Bob Merlis, a spokesman for Warner, said that as long as the originator is planning to issue re-recorded variants of "1999," there won't be a problem. He added that the tracks used to create the original song are in the vault at Warner, the label for which Prince was under contract from 1978-96.

The original "1999" is available on two greatest hits packages, as well as the album "1999," which was released in 1982.

"Unless something big happens, I really don't see it replacing the original," Jennings said. "Everybody already has the original, and it's really hard for the artist to compete with the marketing at Warner Bros."

The song itself, which advocates kicking out the jams in the face of a looming apocalypse, also strums nostalgic chords in listeners, sending them flocking to the dance floors at local clubs.

"The whole world is loving that song right now," said Laura B., a disc jockey at Excalibur night club.

"When people hear it, they just get excited and scream. But it's always been a good club song."