World Events in 1999
NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia
From March to June, NATO conducted an aerial bombing campaign against Serbia to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. It was the first time NATO used military force without UN Security Council approval.
Columbine High School Massacre
On 20 April, two students killed 13 people and injured 24 others at Columbine High School in Colorado before taking their own lives. The tragedy reignited the American gun control debate.
Y2K Bug Preparations
Governments and businesses worldwide spent an estimated $300 billion fixing the Y2K computer bug before the year 2000 rollover. In the end, the transition passed largely without incident, leading some to question whether the threat was overhyped.
Murder of Jill Dando
BBC Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham on 26 April. The case became one of Britain's most high-profile unsolved murders after the conviction of Barry George was overturned.
Macau Handed Back to China
On 20 December, Portugal handed sovereignty of Macau to China, ending over 400 years of Portuguese rule. It was the last European colony in Asia.
Millennium Celebrations
The world prepared for the biggest New Year's Eve celebration in history. The Millennium Dome opened in Greenwich, while celebrations from Sydney to London to New York ushered in the year 2000.
Music in 1999
"...Baby One More Time"
Britney Spears
Britney Spears' debut single announced the arrival of a pop phenomenon. The schoolgirl outfit in the music video became iconic, and the song spent two weeks at UK number one.
"Believe"
Cher
Cher's Auto-Tuned comeback anthem carried over from late 1998 to become the best-selling single of 1999 in the US, proving that the icon could reinvent herself for a new generation.
#1 Film of 1999
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Box Office: $924 million worldwide
George Lucas returned to the Star Wars universe with the first prequel, generating enormous hype. While it divided fans and critics (especially over Jar Jar Binks), it was the highest-grossing film of 1999.
Born in 1999
Lil Nas X
Rapper and singer who broke records with Old Town Road
Addison Rae
Social media personality and one of TikTok's earliest major stars
Erling Haaland
Norwegian football striker and prolific Premier League goalscorer for Manchester City
Coco Gauff
American tennis prodigy who won the US Open aged 19
Lost in 1999
Stanley Kubrick
Visionary film director of 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining
Age 70
Dusty Springfield
British singer with one of pop's greatest voices, known for Son of a Preacher Man
Age 59
Joe DiMaggio
New York Yankees baseball legend and former husband of Marilyn Monroe
Age 84
King Hussein of Jordan
Longest-serving monarch of Jordan who was a key figure in Middle East diplomacy
Age 63
Technology in 1999
The dot-com bubble was at its peak, with internet start-ups valued at absurd levels. Napster launched and began disrupting the music industry. BlackBerry released its first device. Y2K preparations dominated IT departments worldwide.
- ● Napster launched, revolutionising (and disrupting) the music industry
- ● BlackBerry released its first device
- ● Wi-Fi branding introduced for 802.11b wireless networking
- ● MSN Messenger launched, becoming a staple of teenage communication
Cost of Living in 1999
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £80,000 | $133,000 |
| Average salary | £19,500 | $39,000 |
| Pint of milk | 34p | $0.67 |
| Loaf of bread | 65p | $0.84 |
| Dozen eggs | £1.20 | $1.14 |
| Pint of beer | £1.68 | $2.90 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £2.80 | $1.17 |
| Cinema ticket | £3.70 | $5.08 |
Shop 1999 memorabilia on eBay/Amazon
The Zeitgeist of 1999
Millennium fever gripped the world as the year 2000 approached. Boy bands and pop princesses ruled -- Britney, Christina, *NSYNC, and Westlife were everywhere. The Matrix blew minds in cinemas. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? became the biggest show on British television.
In the News in 1999
NATO bombed Serbia over Kosovo. The Y2K bug had businesses spending billions to prevent a digital meltdown at midnight. Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in a case that shocked Britain. The minimum wage was introduced in the UK.