Nena comes into the world of pop music with her anti-nuclear war anthem '99 Luft Ballons'- then again with the english version '99 Red Balloons' - then disappears - the video was a real blockbuster
it looked like it was done on a buget of $5
with a catering crew to film it! ha ha ha!!Can anyone else remember it?
It was a great song. Strangly enough, I prefer the German version

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I too only like they German version. I asked this question on another 80s list and most of them liked the English version best, only because about half of them were from the UK. I grew up on the German version so that's probably why I like it better. Actually, Retroman...I have a few episodes of Countdown where they played the English version instead of the German version when it was no.1 and Molly was very confused!




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*Sheree*

They mostly played the German version here in New York. I liked them both. Didn't matter any to me. It was the music and rythmn that I liked best... Her (the vocalist) voice was nice too..

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Sal Collaziano

I never really liked this song...I never understood what the big deal was..who cares about 99 Red Balloons..I wanna hear some Duran Duran! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Ha ha! I've got a lot of episodes too Sheibub
I hang out every January for that! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif
The red balloons symbolize peace or something
they're realeased into the air and trigger off a radar in which the defence force to go into full-scale red alert until theres only one balloon left

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99 Luft Balloons - I loved that song too!! I prefer the German version too. What was that other German song? The English version goes something like "Don't turn around, uh oh". Der Kommiser, maybe that's the title?

Anyone remember "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Taco? Or Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus"?

"Rock It" by Herbie Hancock? That one always gave me the creeps, for some reason.

"You Ain't Worth the Salt in My Tears" Martin Briley. My fave song which I have NEVER been able to find.

Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"


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Oh yes Gunner Girl! the song is called Der Kommissar (the original German version was written by Falco!, but wasn't as successful) The english version you're talking about is by a group called 'After The Fire' it's cool!

There was also a song called 'Da Da Da' by a German group 'Trio' which has two language versions still used today in a lot of TV ad's

'Rock It' was creepy becauase of the film clip....all those terrifing mannequins leaping at the camera, in time to the music -it's certainly scared the pants off me! YEOW! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/eek.gif


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Both versions of the song are all good to me http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif Good beat to that tune.

One more thing, Right on Nikki_91! I'll take Duran Duran over the balloons any day http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

Rock It! and Rock Me Amadeus were very cool songs. They got ALOT of airplay. That Da Da Da song - well, I didn't hear that one until just recently. But that's cool too. Wierd, but cool. heh I just don't remember it years ago...

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Sal Collaziano

Sure Duran Duran will come out on top - you can't really compare a short lived one hit wonder to one of the most influential supergroups of the 80's http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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You're right Retro, but I am a fan of One Hit Wonders and I love "Der Kommissar" just as much as I love hearing Duran Duran songs.
Rock It by Herbie Hancock..I think my brothers friends used to try to breakdance to that..the video was freaky though!
Bow Wow Wow..I loved that group, I lived in England when they came out (Dad was in Air Force) anyway, they also did a version of "Happy Birthday"..it was in Sixteen Candles.
"Da Da Da"..I was in England when that came out too..I HATED THAT SONG!! (still do)

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Check ya later-I'm outta here!*Nikki*

I can't even work out what the English version of Da Da Da is all about?!? ha ha! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Oh, I forgot.. Are there any other words? I thought it was just Dah, dah, dah...

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Sal Collaziano

Rght on Nikki! Duran Duran rules big time! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Der Kommisar, Puttin On The Ritz, Rock Me Amadeus, love 'em! I'll try and find the lyrics to DA DA DA since I have it on tape!



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*Sheree*

The english chorus goes:
Da Da Da I don't love you, you don't love me
the rest is just so bizzaro beyond anything
I has to be one of the weirdest one hit wonders of all time

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hehe Okay, yeah. That sounds familiar. Wacky! But a catchy tune anyways. http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Sal Collaziano

I just watched the film clip again for 99 balloons - Nena's walking across a field and there's like, trash cans with tiny little explosions erupting out the top as she walks past - the video is so low budget, it's so amusing - it's what 80's music video's are all about http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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I may not have ever seen that video. Damn!

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Sal Collaziano

Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about it - it's not like really terrific or anything http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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It's just one of those things. I didn't watch alot of MTV because I never thought it would be GONE...

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Sal Collaziano

Far out brussel sprout! The connection is so slow I've hardly done anythin here and won't now as I'm nearly out of time. Great that will leave me a day behind in replying in everything now, Bugger http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/frown.gif Here are the words I've managed to get for DA DA DA:

What you do and what you don't, aha
What you will and what you won't, aha
What you can and what you can't, aha
This is what you got to know
Love you though it didn't show
( a heap of gobbledygook I don't know)

DA DA DA (4 times)
I don't love you you don't love me (4 times)

I know why you went away, aha
Understand you couldn't stay, aha
Wonder where you are today, aha
After all is said and done
??? weren't right for you to run (not sure of the first word)

That's what I could get out of it, hope it helped you all! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



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*Sheree*

I think the first word he says is "It"

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"It" yeah that's probably right..

It SOUNDS like an 80s song. hehe That was a big topic back then.

Sheree. What time was it so slow? I like to keep track of things like this.. Was it slow for anyone else around this time? Our server is supposed to be working excellent...

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Sal Collaziano

Actually it sounds more like either they or though, but I'm thinking it'd be more like though as if to say "though it weren't right for you to run". Sounds like it to me!

Um, I think it was slow between 3-4 pm over here which would make it 12-1 am over in NY.
But we've been having a problem with our connection being slow for weeks for some unknown reason, especially at certain times of day. It's alright today, thank goodness. I'm no longer behind in my messages now! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



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*Sheree*

Allow me to clarify the missing pieces to this little mystery....the goobledygook Sheibub referred to is:

Ich lieb dich nicht du liebst mich nicht

And that last line in question is:

it was right for you to run

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

German!

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Sal Collaziano

You got it! or rather, Sie erhielten es! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

[This message has been edited by Roemello (edited 05-06-2000).]

oh boy! this is fun - I reminds me of German lessons at school with Mr Frizenburger.

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I took German for about a year but forgot most of it. I think I passed with a 65. I didn't do school much.. But I do remember German being a fairly easy language to learn.. It's great to know a second language. I should have taken it more seriously.

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Sal Collaziano

Lo tiene definitivamente es ventajas! Oh boy, now you got me speaking tongues... http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

What the heck is that now? Brain boy! hehe

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Sal Collaziano

That was spanish....and btw...Qui êtes-vous appelle le garçon de cerveau?...lol http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

Oh, no. I'm too lazy to go use a translater! hehe What's that? http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/tongue.gif

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Sal Collaziano

French http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/tongue.gif That about my does my language tyrade http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

Well thanks for clearing that up for me, Roemello! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif No wonder I couldn't understand the gobbledygook if it was in another language.



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*Sheree*

Well, it seems we've gone billuengal since I've been away..here's a spanish phrase I seem to know:
Quiro uno cerveza!!!

(I want a beer!!!) LOL

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Check ya later-I'm outta here!*Nikki*

Uhh! I feel left out! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/frown.gif I will have to use the translastor! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Damn. I should atleast know Italian. Right?

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Sal Collaziano

[This message has been edited by Sal Collaziano (edited 05-07-2000).]

lol...Nikki...that's the only phrase you really need http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif Well, that and if an ugly local makes a pass, you could always say, "Va lejos usted hedor de un asno de las cucarachas"

(Go away you stench from a cockroaches ass) http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

j/k...that might be a little too mean... http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/wink.gif
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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

[This message has been edited by Roemello (edited 05-08-2000).]

<FONT size="4">ROFLMAOPMP @ Roemello</FONT s>

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Ayla

hmmm...rolling on floor laughing my ass off pi...hey! Gracias, gracias http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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- Roemello
http://spiffyentertainment.8m.com

Heeeeez a translator! http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Sal Collaziano

How many others remember the 7 Seconds version of 99 Red Balloons? It must be one of the rockinest (is that really a word) covers of all time.

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Seven Second version?!? What the heck? hehe I don't think I've haerd that one!

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80sXChange Homepage (http://www.80sxchange.com)

Not seven seconds long. 7 Seconds, the punk band. Their version of 99 Red Balloons *rocked!*

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Oh haha! Okay, that's better. http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smile.gif

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80sXChange Homepage (http://www.80sxchange.com)

oh yeah, I forgot all about that version. That totally rocked!

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Check ya later-I'm outta here!*Nikki*

hey yeah, I remember that - it was cool

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Originally posted by RetroMan:
<STRONG>Nena comes into the world of pop music with her anti-nuclear war anthem '99 Luft Ballons'- then again with the english version '99 Red Balloons' - then disappears - the video was a real blockbuster
it looked like it was done on a buget of $5
with a catering crew to film it! ha ha ha!!Can anyone else remember it?
It was a great song. Strangly enough, I prefer the German version
</STRONG>

Earlier this year--especially from Saturday Night '80s--I've heard both English- and German-language versions of 99 Luftballoons (aka 99 Red Balloons).

I have to admit I like the German version of 99 Red Balloons better also.

I can´t stand both of them anymore...*LOL* :D

Nena´s '99 Luftballons' and Falco´s 'Der Kommissar (Rap That)' marked a historic moment in German music history...it was the first time that German artists were able to enter top chart regions in the US with music sung in their native language!

A short lived success, like the whole hype around those music...but finally, Germany was noticed for more than Bratwurst, Mercedes Benz and Cuckoo clocks... :)