Prince – 1999

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  General Comment:Some think that having a good time is selfish. I find it a mixture.
  
  What some don't know is the humanitarian that Prince is. Yes, in fact, you can care for others, do things for others, and still enjoy your short life.
  
  Happiness is contagious. And if more people were happy, there would be less bombs. Make sense? Sulking with your head between your knees and being jealous of happy people is hardly taking care of you OR the world.
  
  When people are happy, they are kind. When people receive kindness, they are kind to themselves. When people are kind to themselves, they are naturally kind to others. When people are kind to others, the cycle repeats itself. This cycle is the nonviolent cycle. Don't wait for somebody else. It starts with YOU.
  
  Not everything is life is that complicated. So, lets not overlook things we actually DO have control over.
  
  "Fostering Humanity ~ means passionate kindness to yourself and others. Don't wait for extraordinary moments, BE love in ordinary moments.” --Paulissa Kipp

  Flag bugamartinion April 17, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:Y2K!

  Flag arin3on January 18, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Completely random point:
  Henry and Clare in The Time Traveller's Wife love this song- they jump up on a table and start singing it at a party.
  Just a little observation.
  By the way, I completely recommend that book.

  Flagged manic4manicson November 01, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I don't think of this song as being about apoptolyptic themes at all. I admit that the lyrics do bring up the end of the world, but I actually think *that* is where Prince is being metaphoric.
  
  My interpretation is that there are some events that do not come along very often - like the century rolling over, which is something that only happens once in most people's lifetimes - and we should celebrate and enjoy these occasions, rather than letting fear keep us locked in sadness.
  
  I also thought a subtheme was that we don't need to wait for large or important events to come along before we try to enjoy life - that any excuse for a party is a good one. I don't think this is selfish and small minded - I think it's possible that the biggest gift any of us can give the world is to find ways to be happy, and therefore raise the general happiness level.
  

  Flag sheeron August 09, 2009   Link

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    @sheer - In terms of thinking the end of the world is metaphorical, I think that would make more sense taken out of the conext of his other work of that approximate era. He was stridently and repeatedly anti-war. For instance, Party Up says, "You're gonna hafta fight your own damn war / 'Cause we don't wanna fight no more." Also, this song, 1999, says, "Everybody's got a bomb, we could all die any day." Even the end of it has a little girl's voice asking, "Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb?" I don't think this is metaphor so much as reference to the practical event that will bring on Judgement Day.
    
    I do like what you say about enjoying life, and finding excuses to celebrate being positive contributions to the world. Party on, Dude!

    Flag Kaytion August 10, 2009  
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  General Comment:"Make love, not war," is the major theme to this song. Interwoven is the idea that Judgement Day is coming, live this day like it's your last and like you will live forever. Prince was always Christian, even if he didn't become conventionally so until more recently. He's not afraid to die because he's going to heaven. Many of the lyrics are biblical. He's got a lion in his pocket, he coulda sworn it was Judgement Day, can't run from the Revelation. It's interesting to read that some earlier commenter thought this was the song of "an immature, irresponsible fellow." Would he have been more responsible to have embraced war, or to have rejected his religion? I also think 1999 was intended as a rhetorical rather than literal allusion to the end of the world.

  Flag Kaytion August 09, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I love the video to this song; I think it's the only one in which all the members of Prince's band sing. It's funny how back in '99, so many people predicted the world was going to end, & now here we are 10 years later.....

  Flag jtm101583on February 18, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I thought t was about a nuclear holocaust...

  Flag plushgabbyon July 01, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:The statement, "life is just a party, and parties weren't meant to last," acknowledges that we're mortal and we should enjoy life during our limited time on earth.

  Flag procktheboaton November 18, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:he was getting so stoned he probably was dreaming when he wrote this

  Flag cartlidgeon November 18, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Great song if you've lost someone from 2000-present. It's like they're partying with you!!

  Flag jumpy73on November 09, 2007   Link

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