Alabama Celebrates The Turn Of The Century In “New Year’s Eve 1999”
on Dec 28, 2023
Alabama Welcomes A New Century & Millennium In Song “New Year’s Eve 1999”
During the 1990s, many people anticipated the turn of the century and millennium, and everything they could offer. While others worried the change meant the end of the world was about to occur.
Esteemed Nashville songwriter Gretchen Peters captured these feelings in a song titled “New Year’s Eve 1999.” Surprisingly, the song was written long before the year included in its title.
In an interview with Songfacts, Peters said she wrote the song as early as ten years before 1999. The idea for “New Year’s Eve 1999” randomly came to her one day, as she realized that the millennium was fast-approaching.
“I remember thinking, ‘What a nice idea to think about projecting into the future that far, between two people,'” she said.
Bringing The New Year’s Celebration To Life In Song
That type of conversation is exactly what takes place in “New Year’s Eve 1999.” In the song, a couple sets a date to celebrate the arrival of the millennium on New Year’s Eve in 1999, although that day is far in the future.
Peters’ song went unrecorded for years, before Alabama finally picked it up in 1996. The legendary country group released “New Year’s Eve 1999” as the final track on their album Christmas Vol. II, turning it into an instant country classic.
While many looked forward to the arrival of 2000, others were fearful of what a new century could bring. But Alabama’s “New Year’s Eve 1999” helped put people at ease, as it celebrated all of the bright possibilities ahead.
The song is soft and soothing to the ear, making it enjoyable to listen to. Even with the passage of two decades since its release, “New Year’s Eve 1999” remains a treasured part of many New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Kick off your New Year’s Eve festivities by listening to an audio clip of “New Year’s Eve 1999” below. We’d like to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy New Year!
