The original lineup was Mick Jones - guitars & vocals, Don Letts - sound effects & vocals, Dan Donovan - keyboards, Greg Roberts - drums & background vocals, Leo Williams - bass.
The group's initial incarnation, founded by Jones and film director Don Letts once played in Basement 5 (maker of The Punk Rock Movie, various Clash music videos, and later the Clash documentary Westway to the World), debuted with the 1985 release This Is Big Audio Dynamite. 1986's No. 10, Upping St. reunited Jones for one album with former Clash-mate Joe Strummer who co-produced the album and co-wrote a number of songs, but that reacquaintance soon ended. BAD supported U2 on their 1987 world tour, then followed with 1988's Tighten Up Vol. '88 and 1989 Megatop Phoenix. BAD supported U2 on the leg of their 1992 Zoo TV Tour that included Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The band changed their name to Big Audio Dynamite II for the 1990 album "The Globe", when
Don Letts, Greg Roberts and Leo Williams left to form the band Screaming Target (and later Dreadzone) and changed the name once more to Big Audio for 1994's "Higher Power". The band returned to the Big Audio Dynamite name in 1995 for the albums "F-Punk" (1995) and "Entering a New Ride" (1997) before ultimately disbanding in 1997. The band reunited in 2011.
Jones' latest projects include work with The Libertines and his own outlet with Tony James of Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame - CARBON SILICON
Other 99
Big Audio Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes it's just fine
No one gets ten out of ten
Lucky if it's nine
No I ain't the greatest
Sure there's imperfections
And if you gave me a test
Might not pass the inspection
Sometimes it's just fine
I ain't with the 100 crowd
I'm with the 99
Nobody is perfect
Of this I am sure
I looked into the mirror
And I saw the floor
You can draw your own conclusion
But I'll tell you mine
I ain't with the 100 crowd
I'm with the 99
Nobody is perfect
That ain't no jive
No one gets ten out of ten
You gotta strive for five
I won't say that I'm the best
That you ever had
But the bit that has been good
Sure outweights the bad
Nobody is perfect
Tell you I don't mind
If you ain't in the 100 crowd
Join the 99
Got me some ambition
Just like all the rest
And I got a mission
But I'd settle for less
You can draw your own conclusion
But I'll tell you mine
I ain't with the 100 crowd
I'm with the 99
I ain't with the 100 crowd
I'm with the 99
Hey hey now
Everything's not always great
Everything's not always great
Sometimes it's just fine
Sometimes it's just fine
No one gets ten out of ten
Lucky if it's nine
Everything's not always great
Everything's not always great
Sometimes it's just fine
Sometimes it's just fine
No one gets ten out of ten
Lucky if it's nine
Hey hey now
Everything's not always great
Everything's not always great
Sometimes it's just fine
Sometimes it's just fine
No one gets ten out of ten
Lucky if it's nine
Everything's not always great
Everything's not always great
Sometimes it's just fine
Sometimes it's just fine
No one gets ten out of ten
Lucky if it's nine
The lyrics of Big Audio Dynamite's song "Other 99" convey the message that not everyone can be perfect and that it's okay to be part of the majority rather than the minority. The first few lines indicate that there are times when things may not be excellent, but it's alright as not everybody can achieve perfection with a ten out of ten. Mick Jones, the writer of the song, acknowledges his imperfections and the fact that he may not pass an inspection by anyone he deems higher than himself. The chorus explains that he doesn't need to be part of the top one percent as he is perfectly okay with being included in the larger number of the ninety-nine percentile. The lyric "I looked into the mirror, and I saw the floor" conveys his realization that he is not perfect and needs to strive to be better.
The writer shares that everyone has their mission and ambition, and while he is not striving to be that top one percent (the hundred crowd), he is still working on his objectives and would be content if he achieves less than what he aspires for. We can not always be the best, and it's okay. This song conveys the message of being true to oneself and being comfortable with what you have rather than striving for perfection endlessly.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
No one gets ten out of ten
That ain't no jive
Lucky if it's nine
You gotta strive for five
No I ain't the greatest
I won't say that I'm the best
Sure there's imperfections
Nobody is perfect
And if you gave me a test
Tell you I don't mind
Might not pass the inspection
If you ain't in the 100 crowd, join the 99
I ain't with the 100 crowd
I'm with the 99
Nobody is perfect
That ain't no jive
Of this I am sure
Everything's not always great
I looked into the mirror
You can draw your own conclusion
And I saw the floor
But I'll tell you mine
You can draw your own conclusion
You can draw your own conclusion
But I'll tell you mine
But I'll tell you mine
That you ever had
Tell you I don't mind
But the bit that has been good
Sure outweighs the bad
Tell you I don't mind
If you ain't in the 100 crowd, join the 99
Join the 99
If you ain't in the 100 crowd, join the 99
Got me some ambition
I got me some ambition
Just like all the rest
Just like all the rest
And I got a mission
And I got a mission
But I'd settle for less
But I'd settle for less
Hey hey now
Hey hey now
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
No one gets ten out of ten
That ain't no jive
Lucky if it's nine
You gotta strive for five
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
No one gets ten out of ten
That ain't no jive
Lucky if it's nine
You gotta strive for five
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Everything's not always great
Nobody is perfect
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
Sometimes it's just fine
Of this I am sure
No one gets ten out of ten
That ain't no jive
Lucky if it's nine
You gotta strive for five
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL DONOVAN, DON LETTS, GREG ROBERTS, HERMAN EZEKIEL WILLIAMS, MICHAEL GEOFFREY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Mueller
As someone who struggles with perfectionism, I need to listen to this song once in a while as a reminder that it's okay to do something good instead of perfectly, the main thing is to do it instead of fail to take any action.
Avery Daymond
With the exception of e=MC & rush, here in America or at least where I grew up (Arkansas) I never heard any big audio dynamite songs on the radio. It's absolutely disgusting honestly because they had many songs better than the crap being played on the radio at the time. Thank you internet!
Tom Gould
The most underrated band ever
Ty Lally
Finest. Band ever.
Graham Young
Seems like a theme for the day at work I just had! After listening to this track I feel so much better! BAD...........
Paul Byrne
Saw them live in McGonagles Dublin this tune and 88 was just released.
ussling
Please, anyone, get a DeLorean with a functional Flux Capacitor and take me back to the 1980s.
Joseph Di Lorenzo
Pure truth, those lyrics.
sonic jet
Sounds like Prince Rasberry Beret :)
Paulina Arango Herrera
Yeah