For the long-awaited release of Mark’s first solo album, he’s promoting with a title track named after his birth year. Birthdays aside, 1999 was an awesome year for music. Everyone was in party mode due to the impending turn of the millennium. Pop music was diverse and dominant, with MTV and TRL serving as hubs for youth culture. Whether Mark’s 1999 is seeking to draw upon that energy or not, its playful sound belies expectations.
The song sees Mark switch from rap verses to a gentle croon for the catchy, melodic chorus. This works quite well during 1999‘s first half but gets a bit muddled as we move on. There’s a lot happening within this track as the music attempts to distill its many influences. In this way, the song is quite “1999” in spirit. Mark does a nice job skirting between these various performance styles. I actually prefer him as a singer on this track, as the rapped moments often feel more gimmicky.
Spikes of operatic vocals pepper 1999 for no other reason than to be zany. I appreciate the unexpected injection of texture, but I wish these moments were in service to a better set of melodies. 1999‘s hook is a breezy sing-song that echoes elements of late-90’s alt-pop. But rather than forge an exciting centerpiece, this chorus retreats into a restrained — almost anti-drop — structure that neuters 1999‘s cartoonish energy. I much prefer the song’s rousing finale, when all these various elements fuse together to send the track off on a high.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75