99 Luftballons

"99 Luftballons" ("99 Red Balloons") is a protest song by Nena that reached number one in Germany in 1983 and in the UK in 1984. It was one of the last anti-war songs to be a big hit in the U.S., ironically in a foreign language and with its message obscured. It tells a story of 99 red balloons floating into the air, triggering an apocalyptic overreaction by the military. It was translated (to the complaint of some) into English as well. However, the English version of the song fared relatively poorly.

It may be compared to Dr. Strangelove in its use of surreal humor founded on a serious underlying concern about how perpetual readiness for war becomes a dangerous "tinderbox" which even a trivial spark can ignite.

It has been covered by numerous bands, most notably by 7 Seconds in English, and by Goldfinger in English with German at the end.

The song 99 Luftballons was used in a Telus commercial in Canada in 2003. This commercial featured piglets being lifted up by red balloons into the air, with the German song playing in the background.

External links

• A triple side-by-side comparison of the German lyrics, a direct translation, and the English version
• List of bands who have covered this song