99 (song)
| "99" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Toto - 99 (German).png West German release with 1980 tour dates | ||||
| Single by Toto | ||||
| from the album Hydra | ||||
| Released | October 1, 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 3:28 (Single Version) 5:16 (Album Version)[1] | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Paich | |||
| Producer(s) | Toto, Tom Knox, James Guthrie | |||
| Toto singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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"99" is a song by the American rock band Toto. The song appeared on the Hydra album in 1979.[2] As a single, it reached number 26 on the Billboard charts.[3] In Canada, the song peaked at number 17 on the RPM singles chart.
Development
The song was written as a tribute to George Lucas's film THX 1138, and the music video resembles a scene in the movie.[1][2][4] In the video, as in the movie scene where the main character (named "THX 1138" and nicknamed "Thex") is imprisoned, the room is completely white and everyone is wearing a white jumpsuit.[5] Toto Legend, the former official International Toto Fan Club newsletter, reviewed the video:
'99' was predominantly a performance video, though the set design was rather conceptual. Following David Paich's intention regarding the lyrics, about a sterile society in which names are forgotten and love forbidden, the set was sterile white, with various sized sculptured 99's hanging and standing about, and the band was clad in futuristic white jumpsuits. There were some notable shots in this one — keyboard close-ups and an artistic view of Jeff through a transparent drum head, a technique that several popular videos have copied since.[5]
Guitarist Steve Lukather has since admitted that despite the song's popularity, it is one of his least favorite compositions, and has even said he "downright hated it." He called the lyrics "obtuse."[citation needed]
Personnel
Toto
- Bobby Kimball – backing vocals
- Steve Lukather – guitars, lead and backing vocals
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards
- David Paich – keyboards, piano, backing vocals
- David Hungate – bass
- Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion
Track listing
- "99" - (3:28)
- "Hydra" - (5:04)
References
- ^ a b Elias, Jason. "Song Review: 99 - Toto". Allmusic. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ a b Ryan, Tim (May 7, 2004). "TOTO flies high on tour". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ Hyrdra singles in the Billboard Charts, AllMusicGuide.
- ^ Saldaña, Edmundo García (October 19, 2001). "De 'Africa' al Foro". Reforma (in Spanish). Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ^ a b "99". Toto Encyclopedia. The Official Toto Website. April 28, 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-06-18. Retrieved March 12, 2010.