999 Nena - 99 Luftballons
999 Nena - 99 Luftballons
I figured with it being my 999th song pick, this aptly named hit from the German Pop/Rock group Nena would be perfect for the occasion. Many over here on this side of "the pond" actually refer to Nena as a "one hit wonder" with this song said to be their only hit. For being a one hit band, it is odd that I can name 5 other songs off of the top of my head that were hits: Irgendwie Irgendwo Irgendwann, Feuer und Flamme, Leuchtturm, Rette Mich, and Nur Geträumt; if I thought about it I could probably name more.
Anyway, this one was originally released on their '83 self-titled debut album as well as the ' 84 album of the song's namesake, which also had on it an English version of the song titled 99 Red Balloons. From what I understand them using the title 99 Red Balloons worked better with the lyrical scheme in English.
Oddly enough because of the English version's title I have noticed many people who don't know the language erroneously believe that the word Luft means Red in German. Luft actually is the word for Air in German; the German word for Red is actually Rot. In this context Luftballons essentially refers to rubber toy balloons; there is a little Deutsch 101 for you today.
Wow, this is my final three-digit song pick; on to four digits!
Here is the music video on YouTube.
Heris the Red Balloons English version on YouTube.
Here is a live performance on YouTube.
My song pick a year ago today: Rainbow - Street of Dreams
My song pick two years ago today: Van Morrison - Moondance
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Gosh I was doing a work placement in Germany when Nena was the biggest thing since sliced bread. Not listened to this album in the 29 intervening years, though it sounds a tad dated by the then new all singing & dancing electronic instrumentation that was being experimented with by so many bands at the time it brings back many happy memories of racing around Wolfsburg in a GTi and hitch hicking across the rest of Germany while I was working at Wolfsburg.
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