The Pokémon Music Collective is a music project where various artists create and release music based on the sounds of the Pokémon games. The third single of the collection is by Michael Kaneko and was released on August 2nd, 2023. It is titled 1999. The song was named "1999" after the year when Michael Kaneko, who spent his childhood overseas, first played the Pokémon video game series.

Following imase's Utau released last September and ENHYPEN's One and Only released last month on July 12th, 2023, 1999 is the third song released from this project. Michael Kaneko is a talented singer-songwriter, who has has many listeners overseas and is known for the smash hit of the song Best Part of Us featuring AmPm.


Michael Kaneko: "I am honored to collaborate with Pokémon which is known around the world. I used to collect Pokémon cards and play the video games when I was in elementary school, so I am honored to be able to create related music. I sampled some of the sound effects and music from the Pokémon video games, so please listen to the song and pay attention for that."

「世界のポケモンとコラボさせて頂きました。小学生の時ポケモンカードを集めてたり、ビデオゲームをしていたのでこういう形で音楽を作れて光栄です。ポケモンのビデオゲームの効果音や楽曲をサンプリングしたのでその辺を注目しながら是非聴いてください。」

YouTube Clip - 1999 - Michael Kaneko

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doBQt7zOXog

Pokémon Music Collective CD's:

The Pokémon Music Collective, which includes Michael Kaneko's 1999, imase's Utau, ENHYPEN's One and Only, and other songs scheduled to be released through this project, will be released on September 27th, 2023 as both physical CD's and in digital download format. The Limited Edition physical CD will include a Blu-ray disc containing music videos, a special all-color photo booklet that introduces the artists and songs of the Pokémon Music Collective in more detail, and a Pokémon Music Collective logo sticker.

Sources: https://www.universal-music.co.jp/pokemon-music-collective/news/2023-08-02-2/ and https://store.universal-music.co.jp/product/uice4003/