It was the year of the year of Britney vs Christina, SMS texting, razor scooters, Royal Elastic trainers and The Matrix. 1999 was also the year the world’s population exceeded 6 billion. Remember? In the second of a series of regular ‘What were you doing in…?’ posts, it’s time to take a trip back to the end of last century. Which sounds far longer than 11 years ago.
1999 was the year we panicked about the millennium bug. The Y2K bug was fuelled by press coverage, media speculation, as well as corporate and government reports. All over the world companies and organizations checked and upgraded their computer systems and nothing really went wrong at all – but it certainly did tie up a lot of corporate and IT time.
On the technology front 1999 was a big year – Microsoft released Windows 98, the first version of MSN Messenger was released, bluetooth was announced and we saw the initial release of Napster. Apple also released the first iBook, the first Laptop designed specifically for average consumers.THE WORLDIn other global events the Euro was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency and a total solar eclipse was seen in Europe and Asia. Off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, a plane piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed, killing him and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette.
In Columbine, USA two teenage boys went on a rampage at Columbine High School killing 12 students, 1 teacher and themselves.
In global politics Helen Clark becomes the first elected female Prime Minister in New Zealand and Boris Yeltsin resigned as President of Russia, replaced by Vladimir Putin. Impeachment proceedings were brought against President Bill Clinton and Osama Bin Laden set up his Al-Qeada terrorist base in Afghanistan
AT HOME
We saw the ALP government of Bob Carr re-elected in New South Wales, the GST bill passed through the Senate and Tim Fischer retire as federal leader of the National Party to be replaced by John Anderson the next day.In a shock result, Steve Bracks and the Labor Party formed a minority government with three rural independents ousting the ruling Liberal/National coalition government of Jeff Kennett in Victoria.
Prime Minister, John Howard created a controversy when he avoided the use of the word ‘sorry’ when a motion was tabled in Parliament expressing ‘deep and sincere regret that indigenous Australians suffered injustices under the practises of past generations’.
A referendum was held to determine whether Australia should become a republic and whether a preamble should be inserted into the constitution recognising the Aborigines as Australia’s first people. The ‘no’ vote scored 54% on the republic question and 60% on the preamble question.
And the more things change the more they stay the same, in response to the growing number of illegal immigrants, most of whom arrived by boat, the government allowed police to board vessels in international waters. On 23 November, refugees were barred from seeking asylum if they had lived somewhere else for more than seven days or had the right to live somewhere else.
April 1999 saw a massive hailstorm hit Sydney, with most of the damage being centred on the Eastern Suburbs. It was one of the costliest natural disasters in Australian history, causing $1.7 billion in insured damages.
In South Australia eight decaying bodies were found in barrels in a disused bank vault north of Adelaide, marking the beginning of the Snowtown murders case, which were Australia’s worst ever serial killings.
FASHION
hoodies, PVC clothes
FUN FACT
On 19 November 1999 every digit in the date was an odd number (19/11/1999). This hitherto common event will not happen again until the year 3111.
ENTERTAINMENT
Logie Award winners from 1999• Most Popular Personality on Australian Television – Lisa McCune, Blue Heelers
• Most Popular Actor – Martin Sacks, Blue Heelers
• Most Popular Actress – Lisa McCune, Blue Heelers
• Most Popular Program – Blue Heelers
• Most Popular New Male Talent – Daniel MacPherson, Neighbours
• Most Popular New Female Talent – Kimberley Cooper, Home And Away
• Most Popular Light Entertainment Program – Hey Hey It’s Saturday
• Most Popular Comedy Program – Hey Hey It’s Saturday
Top 10 songs of 1999
10. Genie In A Bottle – Christina Aguilera
9. Why Don’t You Get A Job – The Offspring
8. That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain
7. Don’t Call Me Baby – Madison Avenue
6. Believe – Cher
5. Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) – The Offspring
4. Last Kiss – Pearl Jam
3. Blue (Da Ba Dee)– Eiffel 65
2. Baby, One More Time – Britney Spears
1. Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
THE MOVIES WE WENT TO SEE
Star Wars Episode 1:The Phantom Menace
The Sixth Sense
Toy Story 2
The Matrix
Tarzan
The Mummy
Notting Hill
The World Is Not Enough
American Beauty
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
And to trigger your memory a bit further check out…..
• Britney Spears interview with Rosie O’Donnell
• Australia beating USA for the first time ever in the Mens 4×100 Freestyle Relay at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships in Sydney
• Danni Mingoue singing Everlasting Love at Mardi Gras
• Hole performing at The Big Day Out
[Thanks Lana – Sharpest Pencil].
1999 was a mixed one for me. I finally found my mojo as editor of Cosmo, introducing different shaped models into the magazine and really loving my job after losing my ambition for a year or so after having my first child. I got married. I had a miscarriage. I moved house.
What has happening in your life in 1999?
Top Comments
i was 3, but looking back, i'd like to have been my age back then I like some of the music, like I'm Blue (da ba dee) and LOVE the Matrix!! I would have fitted in like hell
I was i year 9 at high school, developing crushes on boys in the years above.