I love that song The German one is better in my opinion. I first heard it on The Wedding Singer... great film!
Ah, yes, definitely a great song. The german version is okay, but personally I prefer the english version because the lyrics are so great. Two lovers (or possibly friends) buy 99 red balloon from a toy store and release them into the sky, setting off some kind of apocalyptic mega war. Classic.
Was there any truth that the song was based on a true story? I seem to remember at the time that I heard a rumour that something happened along those lines during the cold war days. Although the thought that a bunch of balloons could show up on a radar screen as possibly being an incoming aircraft or missile seems a bit far fetched. Anyway I have the 7" single of 99 Red Balloons with the german version on the B-side.
Nena is still active. I like the early 80s better than the later years in that decade. Things seemed more fresh in the early 80s when music videos were still new and things were experimental. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nena .
One of the more dismal aspects of the 80s was the cold war mentality that prevailed, especially during the Reagan era. Nena's tune was symbolic of young people's fear of it. A group of high school students actually published a handbook in the 80s of all the weapons that were being built by the U.S. and Russia. What a dismal thing that was. Just depressing thinking that young people were so immersed in that military type era that they would actually spend their time publishing a book on all the weapons being made. Lots of military-related movies in that era too (Wargames, Rambo, etc) .
Red Ballons, the album was really good. I liked red ballons german version, sounded so much better stoned! Bustramp
