Released: 1983 (German original) 1984 (English translation) One of the most instantly recognisable songs of the 20th century, 99 red balloons (99 luftballons) was a successful one hit wonder for German band Nena. It was originally released in Germany in 1983 before it was decided that due to it's success, that an international version was to be commissioned a year later with the lyrics translated into English. It is perhaps due to Gabriele Kerner's vocals that upon your first listen you'd be mistaken for thinking that this is a song focused around love or summer time due to it's infectiously catchy backing track. However you couldn't be further away from the truth with those assumptions. This is a song about the apocalypse essentially. The lyrics in fact describe the idea that whilst the Berlin wall was standing what would happen if someone was to release a bag of balloons from the East Berlin (Soviet controlled side) and they flew into West Berlin (German controlled) setting off the Early Warning System and thus starting a nuclear war. The idea was allegedly conceived by the band's guitarist at a Rolling Stone's gig who saw a mass of balloons in the air and believed it resembled a large spacecraft, which he believed the German's sensors would not be able to differentiate from an enemy aircraft. The theme of armageddon is only tackled head on once in the song, which may be missed by listeners as Kerner describes the harrowing end result of the war in"It's all over and I'm standin' pretty, in this dust that was a city" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14IRDDnEPR4
