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about
When Prince wrote 1999 in 1982 the world was on the verge of geo political collapse. When Soft Rubbish wrote 1999 in 2019 it was the eve of 20 years since Prince forecast what state the world would be in at the dawn of Y2K and history does repeat because as we can see, nothing much has changed. The world is still on the verge of collapse. Both Prince's and Soft Rubbish's 1999 are anthems that push back against the threat of nuclear war, against despots with evil plans to destroy us, the despoilment of nature, against community collapse, and are a cry for unity, love, sexuality and joy in a time of panic and hysteria. It was zeitgeist synchronicity when I wrote this song, I literally wrote it to and for Prince, or should I say, his spirit. I wanted him to know that sadly nothing had changed but that cultural commentators, like myself, and all artists - are still hell-bent to not accept the dystopian narrative of destruction or demise. I wrote an uplifting riff with lyrics and themes that reflect the spirit of our times, much bleaker than Prince's lyrics obviously but a rejoinder to the ecstatic party he bequeathed us. Therefore our 1999 is not so much a party at the end of the world but a twisted self reckoning of how sick and backward we have become as a society. Thanks to tabloid media, social media, bullshit world leaders who aren’t fit to lead two sheep let alone a country. Also identity politics and petty fighting among people who all want the same things: toilet paper, to be seen, heard, loved and if we’re not careful that pettiness will be the death of us. This song is a critically important and timely wake up call to stop fucking robots and stop being assholes.
lyrics
1999
Everyone has hang-ups
Everyone has spewed at a party
But not me
Not me
Everyone is winning
Everyone is goofing and giffing
But not me
Everyone has touched their bit
Everyone has toiletted their musk away
But not me
CHORUS
Everyone is normal
Everyone’s abnormally purple
Everyone has hang-ups
Everyone has spewed at a party
Somebody please wake me when it’s
1990
Somebody please wake me when it’s 1990, 1990, 1999
Everyone is a chameleon
Everyone has a beautiful onion
But not you
Not you
Everyone is finding their identity
Everyone is losing their marbles
But not you
CHORUS
Everyone’s smashing their mod cons
Everyone’s running to their mother
Everyone’s shaving their beard
Everyone’s joining a band
Somebody please wake me when it’s
Everyone is normal
Everyone’s abnormally purple
Everyone’s fucking robots
Everyone’s an asshole!
Somebody please wake me when its
1990
Somebody please wake me when it’s 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 99!
credits
released October 27, 2019
Written by Julie Montan.
Performed by Julie Montan, Joe Foley, Mat Sincock, Renato Vacirca.
Recorded at Phaedra.
Mixed by Robin Waters.
Mastered by David Walker.
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