Expert: Jason Musgrove - 5/10/2004

Question

In 1979 there is a quick, echo phrase throughout the song that sounds something like "tonight" to me but my friends think its "do it again"... do you know what it is? thanks.  

Answer
This is an excerpt from an interview that Guitar World did with Billy:

"The most frequently asked question about "1979" is, "What is the 'ooh-ahh-ahh' sound at the end of every phrase?" Flood and I were tracking the song, and I started humming the "oohs" like a melody line. I sang them to tape, we sampled the pertinent ones, electronically manipulated them, and looped them against the drum beat. One of my favorite songs from the album. "
Guitar World - Jan 1997

So there you have it!  Its a sampled and digitially altered Billy 'ooh'. :P