“99 Degrees,” a new single from indie singer-songwriter Izzy Meth, is a pop song about positivity that offers a nod to the Ramones. The song features Andy Shernoff (writer and bassist for the Dictators, and co-writer of four songs with Joey Ramone) on bass.
Izzy wrote “99 Degrees” as a “response to the barrage of bad news everyone seems to get every day: the only answer is to actively choose happiness.”
Andy Shernoff enjoyed the process of working with the teenage singer-songwriter, “It warms this rockin’ senior citizen’s heart to hear Izzy Meth singing sweetly and playing all the instruments with the passion and spirit of a young Todd Rundgren or Paul McCartney. Old school meets new school; the future looks bright for Izzy Meth.”
19-year-old Izzy, who was weened on rock music from all eras, especially the Beatles and the Beach Boys, was thrilled to have Andy playing bass. In addition to writing and singing “99 Degrees,” the younger musician plays all guitars and drums on the song. He also mixed the song. Izzy says, “This is fun to play, and it has a ‘Danny Says’ vibe.”
This is Izzy’s ninth single since his 2022 cover of Rush’s “Spirit of Radio,” and his 2023 EP, “Even in the Silence.” Since then, he’s garnered support from diverse old-school players, including Royston Langdon of SpaceHog, Laurence Juber of Paul McCartney’s Wings and Kiss’s Bruce Kulick. Joe Franco of Twisted Sister writes, “Izzy is an awesome multi-instrumentalist excelling at everything he touches.”
On Friday, September 13, “99 Degrees” drops on all digital music platforms. Pre-Save at
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/izzymeth1/99-degrees-feat-andy-shernoff
99 Degrees
99 degrees and nowhere to go
the Ramones are playing on the radio
but nobody listens to the radio anymore
Her mother thinks I’m a lunatic
and all because of my politics
and she always gets a kick from sending me out that door
So much on my mind but nothing to say
I’ve got to make this all this misery go away—
so I’ll be happy today
Driving all around this dirty town
all I want to do is roll the windows down
but this stinking air just smells like something brown
I forget the words to every verse
summer always breaks away from something worse
but in every curse there’s always something to be found
I’m getting tired and I don’t want to stay
but there’s no point in drowning in dismay—
so I’ll be happy today
so I’ll be happy today
so I’ll be happy today
so happy today
99 degrees and nowhere to go
everywhere I turn there’s someone I know
but there isn’t anyone one here that I want to know
This whole scene is feeling like one big bore
I guess that sentiment is what emo’s for
and I can’t wait to step right out this door
So much on my mind but nothing to say
no longer am I gonna feel this way
I don’t want to be a crying cliche
in the end I know everything will be okay—
so I’ll be happy today
I’ll be happy today
so happy today
© 2024 by Izzy Meth/ ASCAP, All Rights Reserved