1999- the dawn of the Millennium and the last year of the 1990s, carving its righteous path into pop culture. It was also a great year for iconic music with Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and many more pop and rock artists reigned the radio airwaves and MTV, when the network still promoted music videos.
This little pop culture fact brings us back to the 1999 VMAs, also known as the Video Music Awards, which took place on September 9, 1999. The entire show was dedicated to the musicians who broke ground that year, which only amplified their fame and pinned them in the music industry. The afternoon countdown show, Total Request Live, or TRL, which aired from 1998 to 2008, additionally helped launch the careers of many pop and rock stars, as it was before the time of social media, and TRL was the place to catch up with celebrities, trends, and everything else.
Twenty-six years later, the 1999 and the Y2K eras are still felt. It seems like everyone and their mother (including me) wants to go back to revisit them. Of course, time travel hasn't been perfected yet, so going back physically isn't an option. But taking a mental trip down Memory Lane is, and we're going to do so with a rewatch of some of the 1999 VMAs performances.
5 1999 MTV VMAs performances that defined the show
Britney Spears: "Baby One More Time"
Britney was only the sweet baby age of seventeen when she performed her first-ever single, "Baby One More Time" on the VMA stage. Dressed in a crystal-trimmed leather cropped top, matching pants, and Sketchers, she definately stole the show. What's cool about this whole setup is that the planners decided to go on theme with the "Baby One More Time" video.
Sadly, Britney's life was taken over by the music industry, and after a traumatic conservatorship, she no longer wants to perform in front of sold-out crowds or create new music.
Blink-182: "What's My Age Again"
Blink-182 opened the VMAs with a solid performance of "What's My Age Again," which the mid-teen me at the time completely loved. These were (and still are) filled with energy that breathes the life back into you. It's hard to believe that Travis Barker is now happily married and shares a son with Kourtney Kardashian.
Backstreet Boys: "I Want It That Way/"Larger Than Life" medley
The Backstreet Boys was the epitome of a boy band. It was a quintet of good-looking guys with epic dance moves, synchronizing vocals, and catchy tracks that make you want to get up and party. Now, have BSB do a medley of two of their hit 1999 tracks dressed in futuristic attire, then you have the making of a legacy.
TLC: "No Scrubs"
Before there was Beyoncé and Destiny's Child, there was TLC. Composed of Tyonne "T-Boz" Watkins, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and the late Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, the Atlanta-based girl group was introduced by the late Prince prior to their performance of "No Scrubs."
As 1999 was all about the intergalactic fad and people wanted to ship off of Earth, the women were dressed like they were from Outer Space. Yet, it was also a fashionable moment for TLC, which they perfectly pulled off.
*NSYNC: "Tearing Up My Heart"
*NSYNC was another boy band that ruled the late 1990s/early 2000s. They were considered a "rival" to the Backstreet Boys, but that was just fueled by the press, as the bands had respect for one another. While similar, they were different in terms of melody and looks, but held great tracks.
The VMA performance "Tearing Up My Heart" was in collaboration with Britney's "Baby One More Time," which made for another stellar historic moment.