Song#: 1483
Date: 06/04/1983
Debut: 70
Peak: 12
Weeks: 15
Genre: R&B, Funk
Pop Bits: This song was initially the first single released from Prince's album of the same name. First impressions at pop left it locked out of the Top 40 while Dance (#1) and R&B (#4) loved it. But then along came "Little Red Corvette" (#6 Pop, #15 R&B, #17 Rock) and things changed. Prince's star rose quite a bit after that hit and pop stations started to re-spin "1999." This time the song clicked at Pop and on its second chart go-around it just missed out on the Top 10.
ReduxReview: There is not much more I can add to what I wrote in the earlier post for this song. However, since that original post, Prince has gotten stingy with his music on streaming services. All of his stuff has been removed from Spotify and even YouTube has been cleared. So I guess unless you already have a copy or wanna buy one (or join whatever freakin' service he's deemed worthy of his music), you won't be partying here like it's 1999.
ReduxRating: 9/10
Trivia: The b-side of "1999" was the non-album track "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" The ballad quickly became a fan fave and it ended up being covered by several artists including Alicia Keys. Keys recorded the song for her 2001 debut album Songs in A Minor. She adjusted the title to "How Come You Don't Call" and the tune was issued as the third single from the album. It would reach #59 Pop and #30 R&B.
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I'm actually surprised you could get a copy from Spotify when you reviewed the original run this past April. Prince has been notorious for keeping anything and everything of any media where he isn't paid. But wait....in the U.S., Prince, nor anyone else, gets paid when their song is played on the radio. I guess that's the one thing even Prince can't control.
ReplyDeleteIt was sometime after that posting that Prince signed with Tidal, so his music is there for streaming apparently. Back in the day, I know artists got paid for airplay on radio. I had learned the breakdown of royalty payments in a college class. Today, I think they are still paid but it's different. I think it is some kind of flat fee that stations pay to BMI/ASCAP each year that is then somehow distributed to artists. I know that bars and theaters that have live music have to do that. We did at our theater. It's a whole new world and artists (especially smaller/indie ones) don't get paid nearly enough for their work. It's a rough career choice.
DeleteI didn't realize there actually were payments made for radio airplay. From what I can find, it's not the performers who get paid, it's the songwriters only. So, I guess Prince does still get something for his songs on the radio.
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