Nena » Tracks » 99 Luftballons

Nena – 99 Luftballons (3:50)

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About This Track

“99 Luftballons” is a Cold War-era protest song by the German singer Nena. Originally sung in German, it was later re-recorded in English as “99 Red Balloons”.

“99 Luftballons” reached #1 in West Germany in 1983. In 1984, the original German version also peaked at #2 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart and the English-language version topped the UK Singles Chart. The German version topped the Australian charts for five weeks and the New Zealand charts for one week.

When it made the charts in the United States, most US radio DJs incorrectly assumed that “99 Luftballons” translated to English as “99 Red Balloons” and spoke the number 99 in English, saying “Ninety-nine Luftballoons.”

The translation of the title is sometimes given as “Ninety-Nine Air Balloons”, however “Ninety-Nine Balloons” is also correct. A Luftballon is a colourful toy balloon, rather than a balloon for transport or research. The name is derived from Luft, German for air, but the meaning of Luft does not qualify the type of balloon. The title “99 Red Balloons” almost scans correctly with the syllables falling in the right places within the rhythm of the first lines of lyrics, with “red” replacing “Luft”. The only difference is the missing counterpart to the German syllable “und” in “Neunundneunzig” (literally “nine and ninety”).
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Albums featuring this track

  • NENA
    Nena Play
    Buy
  • Definitive Collection
    Nena Play
    Buy
  • Einmal ist keinmal
    Nena Play
    Buy
  • 60 Hits - 60 Jahre Deutschland
    Various Play
    Buy
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  • supermediadave

    Love this version the best.

    15 days ago

  • davidbowiegirl

    Great song <3

    17 days ago

  • headey

    Does this have more drums on it than it used to?

    19 days ago

  • amaroK_usr

    It's not silly, it's pretty poignant...

    27 days ago

  • captain_great

    God I fucking love this silly little song

    last month

  • Charts24FM

    Bei Otto Walkes waren es 99 Pfefferkuchen

    last month

  • Charts24FM

    Nena größter Hit sogar Topten Platzierung in den Vereinten Staaten

    last month

  • sterntaler123

    >>>>>>>>KLASSE<<<<<<<<!!!!!!!!!

    last month

  • FataFaleria

    Leizig, 2006.

    March 2012

  • Hessenhexe

    Zeit zurückdrehen!!!!!!!!!!1

    February 2012

  • Ayamichan

    Neun und neunzig Luftballons!!! <3

    February 2012

  • stephendodson

    i love this song

    February 2012

  • hommerzero

    Her German versions are much better than her English versions, [2]

    February 2012

  • Nochek

    lOve.

    February 2012

  • G0DSTAR

    Her German versions are much better than her English versions, but still, I pretty much love her irregardless.

    January 2012

  • Ectopants

    I want to learn German if just for this song.

    January 2012

  • BeeGeeBounce

    FIRST EVER DUBSTEP SONG! :D

    January 2012

  • romanza28

    Заебиииииись!!!! The Best!!

    January 2012

  • BlastbeatsLOL

    German version is so much better.

    January 2012

  • Ambryer

    how nice of her to organize the chaos in Vice City:)

    December 2011
See all 359 shouts

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