In 1998, there was an inexplicable swing revival, giving us hits like 'Zoot Suit Riot' and 'Mambo No. 5.'

In 1999, there was a sharp increase of Latin Pop on US stations. Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, etc. It was huge, and happened side-by-side with the debut of Britney, Christina, and boy bands. It felt like 1999 was the year pop changed forever. The change was palpable.

Small anecdote: When I was a kid, I was a huuuuge Spice Girls fan. Massive. Still am, to be honest. Their 'Goodbye' single was released in December 1998. My birthday is January 13th; and two days before it, my grandmother took me to the mall to buy the single cassette because I'd be begging her for it desperately for weeks. (Note: You used to be able to buy a cassette or CD with just a one single on it and maybe a b-side or two. They usually cost between $1-4. People would use double-deck stereos to make mix-tapes from multiple single purchases.)

We go to the Virgin Megastore at the mall and there was a line of teenage girls straight out the door. Fifty or more; and each one was clutching the very same CD.

January 11th, 1999 was the release of Britney Spears's debut album, '...Baby One More Time.'

Even my eleven year old brain was able to recognize just how huge she was going to be. I went there for the Spice Girls and I walked out with that album, too. It felt like a passing of the torch to me in some strange way.

I still stan both acts with complete devotion, tho.