Flashback Friday: Songs from 1999

I've been thinking a lot about 10 years ago. I'm vividly remembering how interesting 1999 was musically, film-wise and pop-culture as well as tripping out how long ago that is. So with that in mind, I'm starting a new weekly post to help us all recall the year Prince sang about. First up: some music thoughts

It was the year when I starting watching MTV more, consistently listening to more than just gospel and the first year I bought a CD (might as well admit it, first CD purchase - Christina Aguilera). It was the peak of pop music but pop music had so much going into it that anybody could listen to their local Top 40 station or hear a diverse sound on MTV (back when they actually still played videos in prime time).

But of course this was still the jiggy era, the rap-rock era and boy-band era. It was a turning point where literally boundaries were crossed for better or worse and memorable nonetheless.

Ten years ago, these were some of my favorite joints that still sound awesome today

Lenny Kravitz "American Woman"
Rage Against the Machine "Guerilla Radio"
Eminem "My Name Is" "Guilty Conscience" "Role Model" (personally still a Top-10 Em joint)
Third Eye Blind "Never Let You Go"
Lit "My Own Worst Enemy"
Offspring "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)"
Blink 182 "What's My Age Again"
Fatboy Slim "Praise You"

Naughty By Nature "Jamboree" (still a great summer jam)
Sugar Ray "Every Morning/Someday"
Limp Bizkit "Nookie" (don't front, everybody was bumping this song then)
TLC "No Scrubs" (one of the greatest comeback songs ever)
Smash Mouth "All-Star" (probably one of the first played-out songs I remember)
Everlast "What It's Like"

Shania Twain "You're Still The One" (like I said, I was on my pop ish back then)
New Radicals "You Get What You Give"
Orgy "Blue Monday" (one of the best covers I've heard)
Korn "Freak on a Leash"
The Roots "You Got Me" (my first introduction to the Legendary)
Nas "Nas Is Like/Hate Me Now" (unfortunately, this would lead into the low-points of his career)

Staind "Mudshovel" (i didnt hear it then, but i love it now)

Maxwell "Fortunate"

Santana f. Rob Thomas "Smooth"

Eagle Eye Cherry "Save Tonight"

Juvenile f. Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne "Back That Thang Up"

Red Hot Chili Peppers "Scar Tissue"

Pharoahe Monch "Simon Says"

Mos Def "Ms. Fat Booty"

Ol Dirty Bastard f. Kelis "Got Your Money" (classic Neptunes/ODB/Kelis moment)

Alright, I'm gonna burn y'all out reading that. Note that it's not all of my favorites but a snapshot of them. But I'll take a look at the albums, moments, trends, great movies, etc....from a year that we all looked forward to.

*Special note: Today is Good Friday which is honestly one of my favorite "holidays" because of what it means. Usually it meant 1/2 day at school or no school, but now it's a time for people of faith to reflect on the death of Jesus Christ. It's one of the most important events in the history of the world for a variety of reasons. But be reflective and just take time to give thanks for a moment that's given a lot of people direction.*