I was a young U.S. soldier stationed in Pirmasens, West Germany (at the time) when this song came out. I didn't know the words, but I knew what it was about. One day I was out on a day off with a German soldier friend of mine, and we were visiting a wooded area that had seen heavy fighting between the Germans and Allies during WWII. I remember thinking at the time how just a few decades earlier instead of being friends, we would have had to try to kill each other out there. In those days (1983), one of the things we (those in charge) were worried about was a possible soviet tank led invasion into Western Europe via Czechoslovakia. It's a shame. Now, almost 40 years later and after it seemed that all of that was over, we're back to worrying about war with Russia again. It's really a shame because those who have to do the actual fighting are just normal people who could easily be friends if given the chance.
sadly, there are many things that saw progress in the 70s-00s, that have devolved in the last 6yrs or so, and we're essentially right back where we started. those that shape history seem to ignore history.
@@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575 It's people as a whole who give these malignant narcissists power. Therefore the concept of Total War is correct because people do in general get the government they deserve.
@@HiroNguy you must believe elections aren't rigged. i have yet to find anyone in my electoral district that voted for some of the ppl that won our district.
The English version pales in comparison to this version. Nena sang with so much passion and emotion in her native language. I don’t speak or understand German but the beauty of this song stood the test of time. Timeless indeed.
"Neunundneunzig jahre Krieg, liessen keine Platz fur Sieger..." Ninety-nine years of war leaves no place for victors - if the Bomb had been dropped during the 80's we'd have learned what that meant, if anyone had survived.
Exactement ! Les gens trouvent que l'allemand n'est pas une langue douce à entendre mais dans cette chanson on en entend toute la beauté à travers la voix expressive de la chanteuse. ✨
The English version's little "This is it boys, this is war" has a certain fatalist fun in it that I quite like. Sure it's dissonant, but "if everything's ending might as well have fun with it!" is an interesting attitude to ponder.
The lyrics of the original German version tell a story: 99 balloons are mistaken for UFOs, causing a general to send pilots to investigate. Finding nothing but balloons, the pilots put on a large show of fire power. The display of force worries the nations along the borders and the war ministers on each side encourage conflict to grab power for themselves. In the end, a cataclysmic war results from the otherwise harmless flight of balloons and causes devastation on all sides without a victor, as indicated in the denouement of the song: "99 Jahre Krieg ließen keinen Platz für Sieger," which means "99 years of war have left no place for winners." The anti-war song finishes with the singer walking through the devastated ruins of the world and finding a single balloon. The description of what happens in the final line of the piece is the same in German and English: "Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen," or "I think of you and let it go." Love this song !!!!
Hi everyone,I'm from India. 99 LB is super relevant at the end of 2021 because Russian foreign minister Ryabkov just said the world is heading to a nuclear war crisis because of NATO's position on Ukraine. Also, influential US Senator Roger Wicker said the USA might have to soon fight a nuclear war against Russia to defend Ukraine. _But do not worry because one of the greatest scientists in history, Sir Isaac Newton,(the discoverer of gravity and the Laws of Motion) said Jesus Christ will return to earth this century._ I believe this too. Jesus will stop the wars that humanity is constantly engaging in and the pollution we are causing . He will usher in an era of peace because he is the Prince of Peace. Btw for the German speakers here, your amazing scientists Johannes Kepler and Leonard Euler were devout Christians. And the world famous Latino scientist Juan Maldacena is a devout believer too and so were the Wright Brothers who invented the airplane! _My ancestors in India were converted by Christ's apostles Thomas._ Take care everyone and remember to be extra kind to your family/friends and strangers :)
Wow really!? I was so beauty stricken by Nena ohmy 💘💘💋💘❤ krush & her voice, still were same age & where am I again? Oh oh leaving a comment. Lol see? Still in awe! She's 1, for me anyway that each step beneath her feet is covered in rose petals upon that which she walks! Royalty like Princess Diana xoxo
I know my German is getting better when I can understand about half of what she's singing without needing translation. Goals! Love this song! Wherever you are Nena, thank you c:
Nena's voice is just so amazing, and I love it so much. There's something about the original German version that the English one just can't compete with.
For those that still don't know....99 Luftballoons is about a war that is triggered when 99 red balloons are innocently released between West and East Germany, this eventually ends up destroying the world. In other words, it's an anti-war song.
When I was a student in Japan, I listend to this song for the first time, I really liked it and felt want to sing. From that time, I decided to get to focus on my English class. As a result, I got pretty fine English skills at least to realize this song is not English.
@@skiwax4918 Here's the thing mate, if you don't speak either then it's pretty difficult. I could bet money that you couldn't tell the difference between spoken Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian despite these being about as similar to each other as German is to English.
@@skiwax4918 I'm sorry though. But unfortunately, that happens a lot especially with kids. Now,I can tell just German-ish language, spanish-ish language and so on.
Such a weird time for me in the early 80's...being in the military at the time, I seriously did not think I would live to 30 as there was sure to be a nuclear war. I partied with abandon without any thought to my future, as I really didnt think I had one....and now here I am watching this and I am 57.....Feels good to still be here.
All of us Cold War kids who served in the 80s military, blessings to you, brothers and sisters. It was a glorious time to be alive... even if we thought the world could end any minute. Maybe that's why we loved life so much back then?!?!? I know I did.
The song sounds a lot familiar to what's going on today. And I agree the German version sounded better. When they released the English version, it was a flop
@@kingsouther I will tell you as someone living in America, you’ll hear the original German version on the radio and playing in stores before you hear the English version.
@@Iceechibi That probably had more to do with the fact that whoever has the publishing rights only allows it for the German version since Nena would love for it to disappear.
OK OK I admit it!!! I fell in love with Nena when this song was released in 1983. I was 16 years old. I would sit around watching MTV just waiting for them to play the video. Eventually, I recorded it on VHS and watched it over and over and over. Great song! Great video! Beautiful girl!
@@OrthoKarterhe didn't compare her to God, he said a goddess, unless your saying that there is a goddess which would make you the one commiting blasphemy
I found 'Fragezeichen' album today at my local record shop, saw that the band had done this song, but had never heard any of their other works. This band is so good! I love their infectious pop rhythms and the vocals by Gabriele 'Nena' Kerner remind me of Debbie Harry. Fantastic! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I learned this song at the German lessons. And learned what the song means. We had a very kind and humble female teacher. I used to to love this song. And after 35 years I still love it. Thanks Nena!
If you understood the times that this was written...I was stationed in West Germany 86-89. Things were tense. Sadly, it's still relevant, different direction, different balloons..
NENA hat mich mein ganzes Leben begleitet, und auch heute bin ich stolz auf sie, sie hat sich nicht dem System gebeugt, sondern ist sie selbst geblieben ❤
В начале 80 годов балдели и сходили с ума от этой музыки и песни в Советском Союзе.не понимая слов и смысла.N🇩🇪E🇩🇪N🇩🇪A🇩🇪 SUPER!!! Grüezi us de Schwijz!✌️🇨🇭✌️🇨🇭✌️🇨🇭✌️
The fact that this song came to so many people's minds 40 years later, as a Chinese Balloon flies over the U.S.A. is a testament to Nena and this song. Keep Rocking Girl.
Ya know, she wrote this song in the 80s as a form of reflection on the way the world was, at the time. Being German, her country was being held hostage by the two Global Super-Powers, the USA and the USSR. There were about 900,000 NATO soldiers stationed in West Germany and likely more than a million Soviets in East Germany. The main concern at the time, however, wasn't the number of soldiers stationed there; The concern was caused by the terrifying number of nuclear weapons each side pointed at the other. And so this song was written by a German girl, during the peak of the Cold War, to try to come to terms with the insanity that had gripped the world for almost 50 years. She was, as was every other German, stuck in the middle of two nuclear-armed Super-Powers, who were both apparently itching for an excuse to launch their nukes at the other. And it wasn't just intentional attacks that we needed to worry about, either. There was ALWAYS the fear, the bowel-gripping terror, that some accident or that some action might be misinterpreted and lead to a full-scale nuclear exchange that would leave the world unfit for human habitation... It's hard to describe to someone what it was like to live through the Cold War; knowing that any minute of any day could be the day that the nukes start flying and the world starts ending (there was a movie called The Day After [1983] that actually did a good job of showing what it would have been like to live in that world, if the nukes ever were launched). I suppose that it's a bit like being a small child and watching your parents violently clashing right in front of you. You're too small to do anything and you know that if one of them tries to kill the other, the whole house will burn down, with all your siblings in other rooms dying in the blaze... Anyway, that was the state of the world when NENA wrote and performed this song back in '83. The world has changed a LOT since then, but the spectre of global nuclear annihilation still looks the same and appears to still be lurking in the shadows, waiting to be summoned to claim our world...
The Day After was not nearly accurate in depicting the post-nuclear horror that would come after the bombs dropped for those unlucky enough to survive. The film that really drove that home was Threads (1984), the first to depict several things which are now common knowledge; the EMP effect on electronics, the idea of a nuclear winter, the effects of radiation sickness on survivors and future generations, and the impact of the loss of civil infrastructure on society, regressing us back to a pre-industrial level of tech etc. It was truly horrifying and was shown in a public-information capacity in the US several times after the BBC broadcast it in the UK. Check it out if you have the stomach for it; it is truly horrific but extensively researched with the best available knowledge at the time of effects of fallout etc.
@@rosePetrichor The effect of fallout on people and on soil and on crops was all depicted in The Day After (1983). The black soldier even attempts to shield himself from the Alpha and Beta radiation while walking through affected areas, by covering as much of himself as he can, with a blanket (which would actually be effective against *EXTERNAL* Alpha and Beta radiation). The equipment failures in the hospital and elsewhere show how the EMP would render unshielded equipment useless. Cars are left abandoned, though it's not made clear that it's because they refuse to start. The societal breakdown is shown with people turning against each other in a makeshift church. A man is murdered by a desperate group of monsters that look like they were a human family before the bombs dropped. I think his wife was killed first, then when he rushed to her aid, they killed him too. I can't remember if they did this so they could eat him, or just to rob him. The loss of civil infrastructure is apparent when the ruins of neighbourhoods are shown in bleak detail, the new ramshackle huts that are hastily put together for shelter in lieu of the rubble that was once their homes and businesses. It's apparent in the journey of several characters through ruins and wastelands that was once a city and its suburbs. And it's apparent when we see scenes of the remains of the hospital and lab, where the last remnants of technological advancement crumble and decay with the rest of the failing world. I saw Threads back in the 90s. I thought it was more sophisticated than The Day After, however, The Day After had mass market appeal. Everything was dumbed down a notch, but it was also much more relatable in many ways. The narrative was simpler, allowing the audience more time and brain-space to focus on the aftereffects of the brief nuclear exchange. I honestly don't understand how you can say that The Day After was _"not nearly accurate in depicting the post-nuclear horror that would come after the bombs dropped..."_ I included examples from The Day After of all the things you listed, that you intimated were lacking in the film. I would ask you to watch it again (I rewatched it about 18 months ago) to re-familiarise yourself with not just the narrative and the details, but the intricacy with which those details are explored and fleshed out. I can FULLY sympathise that you- or anyone- might see that Steve Guttenberg has a starring role and dismiss the film as a comedy, or as a light drama with some romance elements. That's a perfectly understandable reaction, but it's also dead wrong. The film is BLEAK! When the family splits and Steve G. takes the girl (and 1 or 2 others, I think?) on the horse-drawn carriage, to try to reach the hospital, EVERYONE assumes that they'll get her there and bring her back and they'll all be safe and everything will work out for this one, fine family. The film makers had more sense than that, thankfully. I don't want to spoil it, but I think you know that this tangent of the story does NOT have a happy ending. It doesn't have a happy middle, either. And the beginning isn't happy too, come to think of it... And then there are all the other stories of all the other people, whose lives we've been following. It's an UGLY film that doesn't have a happy ending. I cried my eyes out when I first saw it, back in '85. My mother assumed it would be a typical Steve Guttenberg movie and that we'd all enjoy it. She never rented movies for us again, after that. No shit. Nb: I have to admit, though, she'd rarely ever rented movies for us before that moment. After it and to this day, though, she never rented movies again.
German Lyrics for those who want it Hast du etwas Zeit für mich Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von neunundneunzig Luftballons, auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von neunundneunzig Luftballons Und, dass so was von so was kommt Neunundneunzig Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All Darum schickte ein General 'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär Dabei war'n dort am Horizont nur neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger Jeder war ein grosser Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk Das gab ein grosses Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoss man am Horizont auf neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht Mann, wer hätte das gedacht Dass es einmal soweit kommt Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr Und auch keine Düsenflieger Heute zieh' ich meine Runden Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
+BaltimoreAndOhioRR I learned just today, Saturday 29 May 2021, that the English translation changed its name to 99 Red Balloons? Luft means Air, like Luftwaffe. Not red.
@@glenhardy4770 Ja 99 Airballoons klingt auch etwas scheiße und hätte nicht in das Lied gepasst. Darum haben die es verändert. Denkst du ernsthaft, dass die einen solchen Übersetzungsfehler alla die Jahre lang nicht bemerkt hätten?
@@throwawayaccountm1325 Verzeihen Sie, aber Sie sollten besser aufpassen. Ich finde Airballons nicht ein bisschen beschissen, wie du sagst, ich mag ihre Originaltexte. Ich mag es nicht, das Wort in Rot zu ändern. I apologize if any wording offends you. I am learning Deutsch. I LIKE her original lyrics.
@@glenhardy4770 They changed the name (i.e. added 'red') for the syllable. Because (as you noted) Germans call what we just call 'balloons', "luftballons" (= "air-balloons") it didn't scan without an extra syllable. And as the term "air-balloons" sounds odd in English parlance, they opted for adding a colour.
I first heard this song when I was 7 years old, at a friend's house, which I attended with my older brother, while playing the music video game Donkey Kong jungle beat, for GameCube. I actively searched for this song for about 6 years, then gave up. Many years passed and I found the same song in a movie, through this movie I was able to trace the name of the song, and finally, after 19 years I found it.
I am still completely stunned every time inhear this, there is just so much in this song, it rocks, its funky, its beautiful its 80s synthpop and inhavent even mentioned the singer....
Consider this top five of the best songs ever heard!! 49 yr old American growing up in the US Midwest, hearing this on the bus, on an hour-long bus ride to school, gave me hope...prison would end,life would begin....this girl's voice..phenomenal!!...the flux of the song,Melody,drama,suspense,...so simple....yet so humanly beautiful....thankyou so very much!
This is a rare song in which I don’t have to know what the lyrics mean, although I did learn the meaning of the song. It’s enough to hear Nena sing it so well.
@@STOCKHOLM07it's basically about someone sending 99 balloons as like a love letter to someone but then a war breaks out and the world dies except for the singer and a single balloon.
At 62 she looks good & is still going strong! "Combined with the success of the Nena band years, she has sold over 25 million records, making her the most successful German pop singer in chart history."
I sang this song in its entirety in German one time in our classroom back in high school. I think I weirded out my classmates 'cause 1. I'm Asian and 2. They thought I was possessed and speaking in tongues. Good times.
When I went to Germany with my buddies I was singing this to myself and they were all thinking wtf is he singing, then it came on in a bar, I couldn’t hide my excitement we were all singing it by the end
I grew up with this song in the 80s. My mom and dad lived in Germany for years before I was born when my dad was in the Air force and I used to have an original cassette tape of this song that I nearly wore out listening to it. This song is actually what made me decide when I was like 7 that I wanted to live in Germany. I ended up joining the Army when I was 20 and living in Mannheim, Germany for 5 years.
I was 13 when the song came out and I listened to it for the first time with a German friend who'd come to Portugal for his summer holidays in 1984. Every time I listen to this song it makes me want to go back to the 80s when it was better than it is today ❤ 🇩🇪🇵🇹
When this song came out, I was in my junior year of high school and dating the exchange student from what was then *West* Germany. We lost touch about a year after she returned to Germany, but her twin brother visited me several years ago. She's married, has kids, and is doing well. It seems she never forgot me, as one of her sons is named Christopher and another is named Nicholas. I never forgot you either, Kecxy.
This is the version I grew up with in America. Today, the local oldies station plays the English version. Which just doesn't sound right to me. I wish they play the German version instead.
I've always loved this song in German. I listened to the English version to understand the lyrics, and I can say without a doubt that the German version is far more satisfying to listen to, despite the language barrier.
@@triforcelp131 I hope so too... My Russian friends and I promised to stay friends for decades ahead too even if our countries become enemy to each other when the war broked out..
@@triforcelp131 Thanks, but I'm very concerned about the relationship between Russia and Japan. I understand Supporting Ukraine as an advanced country is important but I, as a Japanese citizen, think protecting our own profit by keeping a good/neutral relationship with Russia is also important. "good relationship" sounds inappropriate in this situation though. I'm sorry in advance if my opinion made everybody unpleasant.
I love that GERMAN lyrics are translated here, as opposed to 99 red balloon English lyrics. I always thought this song sounded better in German, so it’s nice to see what those German words meant. Great song great video have loved it since 83.
LYRICS: [Intro 1/1 +Verse 1/5]* Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?...Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons...Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?...Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons...Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt... [Instrumental 1/2] [Verse 2/5] 99 Luftballons..Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All...Darum schickte ein General 'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher...Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär Dabei war'n dort am Horizont...Nur 99 Luftballons [Verse 3/5] 99 Düsenflieger..Jeder war ein großer Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk..Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft..Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoss man am Horizont...Auf 99 Luftballons.. [Instrumental 2/2] [Verse 4/5] 99 Kriegsminister..Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute..Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht..Mann, wer hätte das gedacht? Dass es einmal so weit kommt...Wegen 99 Luftballons [Bridge 1/1] Wegen 99 Luftballons...99 Luftballons... [Verse 5/5 +Outro 1/1] 99 Jahre Krieg..Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr..Und auch keine Düsenflieger Heute zieh' ich meine Runden..Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden..Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
As Nena herself has indicated, it was not written to express any anti war sentiment. It was the listening public who viewed it as such. I think the band ultimately embraced it as the general public interpreted it. Brings to mind the DH Lawrence advice to “trust the tale not the teller”
Absolutely beautiful! I remember the first time that I heard this song in the German language. It captured my heart. And until tonight I had no idea how beautiful the artist is. Certain songs help me to be brave and hopeful. This is one of them! ❤️
When I hear this song, it takes me back to elementary school to June 1983. We had a sports day at the stadium, they played this song... I see my beautiful classmate Kamila again in a T-shirt and shorts...
Ich möchte euch eine Geschichte erzählen: Einmal fuhren mein Vater und ich von Deutschland aus durch ganz Polen und wir hatten eine Kassette mit dem coolsten Hit Luftballons 99 Ich möchte dem Solisten für dieses wundervolle Lied danken, das wir 1000 km lang gehört haben.1990 🛣️🚘❤❤❤🫶🫶🫶 Papa ist weg, aber die Erinnerung bleibt
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von neunundneunzig Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von neunundneunzig Luftballons Und dass sowas von sowas kommt Neunundneunzig Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All Darum schickte ein General 'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär' Dabei war'n dort am Horizont Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger Jeder war ein großer Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk Das gab ein großes Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoss man am Horizont Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen: "Krieg!" und wollten Macht Mann, wer hätte das gedacht Dass es einmal so weit kommt Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Luftballons Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr Und auch keine Düsenflieger Heute zieh' ich meine Runden Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Do you have some time for me? Then I'll sing a song for you Of ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Are you thinking of me right now? Then I'll sing a song for you Of ninety-nine balloons And that something comes from something Ninety-nine balloons On their way to the horizon Thought to be ufos from outer space So a general sent Sent a squadron of airmen after them To sound the alarm, if it were so But there on the horizon Only ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine jet planes Each one was a great warrior Thought they were Captain Kirk There was a big fireworks show The neighbors didn't get it And felt like they were being picked on And on the horizon they shot At ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine ministers of war Matches and gas cans Thought they were smart people Already sensing fat prey Shouting "War!" and wanting power Man, who would have thought That it would come to this Because of ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine balloons Ninety-nine years of war Left no room for victors There are no more war ministers And no more jet planes Today I make my rounds I see the world in ruins I found a balloon Think of you and let it fly
Don’t shoot the balloons or let them fly like Trump did? An ounce of research will show you this isn’t a new phenomenon, this is a moral panic that morons are eating up, per American style
I love the song. She made an English version which is cool because I understand it, but the German version is 100 times better. I don't understand a word and it sounds incredible
Munich, Germany 1999 - I am 19 year old American met this beautiful girl at Hofbrauhaus, she didn’t speak any English and I didn’t speak German. Went to nightclub with her with this song blaring as we drank and made out. Left her hotel in morning and couldn’t find her before I left. One of the best nights of my life!
99 Luftballons. Heute habe ich dieses Lied in einem Supermarkt in Japan auf Deutsch gehört. Und dieses deutsche Lied war gestern im japanischen Radio. Dieser Song, der vor langer Zeit in Japan ein Hit war, könnte in Japan wieder ein Hit werden.
Songtext zu „99 Luftballons“] [Strophe 1] Hast du etwas Zeit für mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt Denzel Curry 'BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE' Official Lyrics & Meaning | Genius Verified [Instrumental] [Strophe 2] 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All Darum schickte ein General 'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär Dabei war'n dort am Horizont Nur 99 Luftballons [Strophe 3] 99 Düsenflieger Jeder war ein großer Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoss man am Horizont Auf 99 Luftballons [Instrumental] [Strophe 4] 99 Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht Mann, wer hätte das gedacht? Dass es einmal so weit kommt Wegen 99 Luftballons [Bridge] Wegen 99 Luftballons 99 Luftballons [Outro] 99 Jahre Krieg Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr Und auch keine Düsenflieger Heute zieh' ich meine Runden Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
I think post cold war era of peace was the exception, not the rule. Rise of global trade, advancement of technology, fall of global military tensions all generally led to more globally open tendencies than nationalistic sentiments in general. Of course there was Yugoslavia, and that was horrible. But the whole world in general I think found joy in the tension of cold war ending. I guess now tendencies are going back to nationalistic sentiments ariund the world. Conflict among different nations will eventually lead to less global economic prosperity and rising military tensions :(
bin aus österreich und als der titel rauskam war ich 12 jahre alt jetzt bin ich 53 jahre alt und stehe immer noch auf diesen song da soll mal einer sagen musik überdauert keine jahrzehnte......
yet the pentagon has refused to give any information on what the balloon is holding nor any evidence the balloon is chinese in the first place.......... so this song just rings true, that it makes no sense for chinese balloons to get past the coast guard, and this was just some random balloon that people are using the go to war lmao
The upper limit of national airspace is not defined by international law. According to Wikipedia, an altitude of between 60 and 110 km is normally assumed as the airspace upper limit for the sovereign territory. When the U2 was still regularly conducting espionage flights, it was actually defined by the Russian air defense systems ;) :) Re-entry vehicles from space have to cope with massive friction from about 120 km. A lot of things (like Russia's border transgression) should finally be regulated at the UN by international agreement... So I'd suggest to meet there half way and talk finally about the limitation of UN-SC member's veto rights and the reduction of the quorum for a peace keeping mission to a 2/3 majority !
For people who don't understand this song is about 99 red balloon being mistaken for a missile assault and ultimately triggers a nuclear war. The cold war days were some scary times knowing a bunch of people in power had weapons that could destroy the world and nobody had a say whether or not they could use it
Sure. Because her native tongue is German and it was originally composed in German. There will be tweaking in the English version to pitch the notes together
Considering how popular this song STILL is in the US, I can't imagine how poignant it must have been in West Germany in the 80s. We were worried about potential heating up of the cold war, but you were pressed right up to the iron curtain.
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich? Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt [Instrumental] [Strophe 2] 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All Darum schickte ein General 'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär Dabei war'n dort am Horizont Nur 99 Luftballons [Strophe 3] 99 Düsenflieger Jeder war ein großer Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoss man am Horizont Auf 99 Luftballons 99 Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen, „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht Mann, wer hätte das gedacht? Dass es einmal so weit kommt Wegen 99 Luftballons
![NENA | 99 Red Balloons [1984] (Official HD Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hiwgOWo7mDc/mqdefault.jpg)
![NENA | 99 Red Balloons [1984] (Official HD Music Video)](/img/tr.png)
I was a young U.S. soldier stationed in Pirmasens, West Germany (at the time) when this song came out. I didn't know the words, but I knew what it was about. One day I was out on a day off with a German soldier friend of mine, and we were visiting a wooded area that had seen heavy fighting between the Germans and Allies during WWII. I remember thinking at the time how just a few decades earlier instead of being friends, we would have had to try to kill each other out there. In those days (1983), one of the things we (those in charge) were worried about was a possible soviet tank led invasion into Western Europe via Czechoslovakia. It's a shame. Now, almost 40 years later and after it seemed that all of that was over, we're back to worrying about war with Russia again. It's really a shame because those who have to do the actual fighting are just normal people who could easily be friends if given the chance.
Because people have short memories. War is MADNESS,
sadly, there are many things that saw progress in the 70s-00s, that have devolved in the last 6yrs or so, and we're essentially right back where we started. those that shape history seem to ignore history.
@@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575 It's people as a whole who give these malignant narcissists power. Therefore the concept of Total War is correct because people do in general get the government they deserve.
@@HiroNguy you must believe elections aren't rigged. i have yet to find anyone in my electoral district that voted for some of the ppl that won our district.
@@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575 thanks for nothing Joe Biden
The English version pales in comparison to this version. Nena sang with so much passion and emotion in her native language. I don’t speak or understand German but the beauty of this song stood the test of time. Timeless indeed.
very well said😊
I understand enough, even if I last spoke German regularly at school almost 25 years ago. It is a classic, and a warning.
"Neunundneunzig jahre Krieg, liessen keine Platz fur Sieger..." Ninety-nine years of war leaves no place for victors - if the Bomb had been dropped during the 80's we'd have learned what that meant, if anyone had survived.
Exactement ! Les gens trouvent que l'allemand n'est pas une langue douce à entendre mais dans cette chanson on en entend toute la beauté à travers la voix expressive de la chanteuse. ✨
The English version's little "This is it boys, this is war" has a certain fatalist fun in it that I quite like. Sure it's dissonant, but "if everything's ending might as well have fun with it!" is an interesting attitude to ponder.
The lyrics of the original German version tell a story: 99 balloons are mistaken for UFOs, causing a general to send pilots to investigate. Finding nothing but balloons, the pilots put on a large show of fire power. The display of force worries the nations along the borders and the war ministers on each side encourage conflict to grab power for themselves. In the end, a cataclysmic war results from the otherwise harmless flight of balloons and causes devastation on all sides without a victor, as indicated in the denouement of the song: "99 Jahre Krieg ließen keinen Platz für Sieger," which means "99 years of war have left no place for winners." The anti-war song finishes with the singer walking through the devastated ruins of the world and finding a single balloon. The description of what happens in the final line of the piece is the same in German and English: "Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen," or "I think of you and let it go." Love this song !!!!
Thank you for all’ tue précisions
That is essentially what the English version of the song says.
Hi everyone,I'm from India. 99 LB is super relevant at the end of 2021 because Russian foreign minister Ryabkov just said the world is heading to a nuclear war crisis because of NATO's position on Ukraine. Also, influential US Senator Roger Wicker said the USA might have to soon fight a nuclear war against Russia to defend Ukraine. _But do not worry because one of the greatest scientists in history, Sir Isaac Newton,(the discoverer of gravity and the Laws of Motion) said Jesus Christ will return to earth this century._ I believe this too. Jesus will stop the wars that humanity is constantly engaging in and the pollution we are causing . He will usher in an era of peace because he is the Prince of Peace. Btw for the German speakers here, your amazing scientists Johannes Kepler and Leonard Euler were devout Christians. And the world famous Latino scientist Juan Maldacena is a devout believer too and so were the Wright Brothers who invented the airplane! _My ancestors in India were converted by Christ's apostles Thomas._ Take care everyone and remember to be extra kind to your family/friends and strangers :)
Thanks a lot for your translation!
Wow really!? I was so beauty stricken by Nena ohmy 💘💘💋💘❤ krush & her voice, still were same age & where am I again? Oh oh leaving a comment. Lol see? Still in awe! She's 1, for me anyway that each step beneath her feet is covered in rose petals upon that which she walks! Royalty like Princess Diana xoxo
Freu mich auf heute Abend NENA Live in Nürnberg. Tolle und vor allem authentische Frau, mit vernünftigen Ansichten ❤
Ich wünsche dir viel Spaß! Stimmt, Nena ist super. :)
@@baboonking1369 Danke, es war grandios, NENA und ihre Kinder haben voll drauf.
I don't know why, but this song always gives me goosebumps
Same 🥶
cause it's a masterpiece
Given how is about nuclear annihilation and WW3....yee
Cause this is war, lol. I mean, though, it hits, now as much as ever, if not more.
@@kagesong we are always looming on the doorstep of war. It is a matter of when, with whom, and why... and that is depressing!
I know my German is getting better when I can understand about half of what she's singing without needing translation. Goals!
Love this song! Wherever you are Nena, thank you c:
Keep up the good work Bruder
That's awesome. I'm also trying to learn German I'm still A1.
@@ilovekittens129 My respect to you, keep up the work and one day you will be fluent in it. Greetings from Germany:)
@@Leon-rk4rc thank you so much! c:
I'm learning German for the same reason.
Nena's voice is just so amazing, and I love it so much. There's something about the original German version that the English one just can't compete with.
Of course, the original version is almost always better!
Das Lied ist heute aktueller den je. Danke Nena, wollen hoffen das uns nicht alles um die Ohren fliegt!
Viele Lieder sind hellseherisch, wie auch Gedichte.
For those that still don't know....99 Luftballoons is about a war that is triggered when 99 red balloons are innocently released between West and East Germany, this eventually ends up destroying the world.
In other words, it's an anti-war song.
When I was a student in Japan, I listend to this song for the first time, I really liked it and felt want to sing.
From that time, I decided to get to focus on my English class.
As a result, I got pretty fine English skills at least to realize this song is not English.
😂
German and English are very different, how if I told you that I confused Chinese and Japanese x)
@@skiwax4918 Here's the thing mate, if you don't speak either then it's pretty difficult.
I could bet money that you couldn't tell the difference between spoken Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian despite these being about as similar to each other as German is to English.
@@skiwax4918
I'm sorry though.
But unfortunately, that happens a lot especially with kids.
Now,I can tell just German-ish language, spanish-ish language and so on.
@@skiwax4918 they're both forms of the same ancient language, so they aren't completely different. I can understand some German
Such a weird time for me in the early 80's...being in the military at the time, I seriously did not think I would live to 30 as there was sure to be a nuclear war. I partied with abandon without any thought to my future, as I really didnt think I had one....and now here I am watching this and I am 57.....Feels good to still be here.
Me too
All of us Cold War kids who served in the 80s military, blessings to you, brothers and sisters. It was a glorious time to be alive... even if we thought the world could end any minute. Maybe that's why we loved life so much back then?!?!? I know I did.
Rock on my good sir
I'm 58. I didn't care about anything except gettin high...Thank you.
Spent early 80s living in the bullseye of a high priority target, a SAC base in North Dakota. Feel the same way.
The song sounds a lot familiar to what's going on today. And I agree the German version sounded better. When they released the English version, it was a flop
No it wasnt a flop. It made cultural history in many countries
@@kingsouther I will tell you as someone living in America, you’ll hear the original German version on the radio and playing in stores before you hear the English version.
@@Iceechibi That probably had more to do with the fact that whoever has the publishing rights only allows it for the German version since Nena would love for it to disappear.
@@kingsouther the German version topped out at #2 on the Billboard Top 100. The English version didn't even chart.
0% twerking
0% drugs & alcohol
0% bullshit
99% luftballons
and 1% non-luftballons 💥
Have you ever tried to ingest copious amounts of fent?
@@seutepandoestaekwondo Lead balloons?
@@johnt.inscrutable1545
Air balloons. Luft=air
@@johnjones6601 NON-luftballons ≠ NOT AIR, thus possibly lead??
Thanks for playing. Here’s your sign.
Despite 3 years of German classes in high school, I still can't speak the language, but I prefer this over the English version of the song.
ofc the german one is better
@@Riley_Mundt all the same here
@Imakeplaylists-in1pw ja, Es gibt.
This song is from 1983 and still slaps harder then most songs nowadays.
Cheers from Greece.
This song was its time ahead
Where did you get that emoji?
@@ComradeAri1989 Up date and d-load it from you're emoji's!
OK OK I admit it!!! I fell in love with Nena when this song was released in 1983. I was 16 years old. I would sit around watching MTV just waiting for them to play the video. Eventually, I recorded it on VHS and watched it over and over and over. Great song! Great video! Beautiful girl!
I listen to this with English ears, and I can't imagine how anyone could hate this song. A musical masterpiece if there ever was one.
Tears my brother know no language but I agree.
Such talent not just to be able to flawlessly sing in her native tongue, but also in English. Nena was an absolute goddess growing up
While i agree the song is good, comparing a singer to God is idolatry. a sin.
@@OrthoKarter what
@@jarn4657 Can you read?
@@OrthoKarter Just some troll/parody account, I guess.
@@OrthoKarterhe didn't compare her to God, he said a goddess, unless your saying that there is a goddess which would make you the one commiting blasphemy
I found 'Fragezeichen' album today at my local record shop, saw that the band had done this song, but had never heard any of their other works. This band is so good! I love their infectious pop rhythms and the vocals by Gabriele 'Nena' Kerner remind me of Debbie Harry. Fantastic! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I learned this song at the German lessons. And learned what the song means.
We had a very kind and humble female teacher. I used to to love this song. And after 35 years I still love it.
Thanks Nena!
I’m not taking any version of this song other than this one. The German version’s the best and nobody can change my mind.
I agree
Ja
If you understood the times that this was written...I was stationed in West Germany 86-89. Things were tense.
Sadly, it's still relevant, different direction, different balloons..
And she's still going strong, major force in Europe.
Spot on, I was a UK reservist back then. We expected less than a third of us would reach our pre-deployed equipment if ‘the balloon went up’
@@alanwoodall7174 You do chem warfare training? 3 days in a shelter, mask on, mask off!
@@rogersmith1746 reciting name & service number with streaming eyes…
@@alanwoodall7174 😂😂 Like those?
NENA hat mich mein ganzes Leben begleitet, und auch heute bin ich stolz auf sie, sie hat sich nicht dem System gebeugt, sondern ist sie selbst geblieben ❤
В начале 80 годов балдели и сходили с ума от этой музыки и песни в Советском Союзе.не понимая слов и смысла.N🇩🇪E🇩🇪N🇩🇪A🇩🇪 SUPER!!! Grüezi us de Schwijz!✌️🇨🇭✌️🇨🇭✌️🇨🇭✌️
The fact that this song came to so many people's minds 40 years later, as a Chinese Balloon flies over the U.S.A. is a testament to Nena and this song. Keep Rocking Girl.
Yes, war is coming...
For me, the song, When the world's on fire, by the Carter family, comes to my mind.
It was a classic in the 80s ( like so many songs of that era) and will continue to be a classic.
@@153fish8 you do realize that this song is about innocuous weather balloons causing irrationnal panic, and then a needless nuclear war ?
@@ricomajestic It was cold war classic not just 80's the context heavily matter on this song
Ya know, she wrote this song in the 80s as a form of reflection on the way the world was, at the time. Being German, her country was being held hostage by the two Global Super-Powers, the USA and the USSR. There were about 900,000 NATO soldiers stationed in West Germany and likely more than a million Soviets in East Germany. The main concern at the time, however, wasn't the number of soldiers stationed there; The concern was caused by the terrifying number of nuclear weapons each side pointed at the other. And so this song was written by a German girl, during the peak of the Cold War, to try to come to terms with the insanity that had gripped the world for almost 50 years. She was, as was every other German, stuck in the middle of two nuclear-armed Super-Powers, who were both apparently itching for an excuse to launch their nukes at the other. And it wasn't just intentional attacks that we needed to worry about, either. There was ALWAYS the fear, the bowel-gripping terror, that some accident or that some action might be misinterpreted and lead to a full-scale nuclear exchange that would leave the world unfit for human habitation...
It's hard to describe to someone what it was like to live through the Cold War; knowing that any minute of any day could be the day that the nukes start flying and the world starts ending (there was a movie called The Day After [1983] that actually did a good job of showing what it would have been like to live in that world, if the nukes ever were launched). I suppose that it's a bit like being a small child and watching your parents violently clashing right in front of you. You're too small to do anything and you know that if one of them tries to kill the other, the whole house will burn down, with all your siblings in other rooms dying in the blaze...
Anyway, that was the state of the world when NENA wrote and performed this song back in '83. The world has changed a LOT since then, but the spectre of global nuclear annihilation still looks the same and appears to still be lurking in the shadows, waiting to be summoned to claim our world...
well written.
A man wrote the song.
MAD has worked for 77 years.
Let's hope it still works.
Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?
The Day After was not nearly accurate in depicting the post-nuclear horror that would come after the bombs dropped for those unlucky enough to survive. The film that really drove that home was Threads (1984), the first to depict several things which are now common knowledge; the EMP effect on electronics, the idea of a nuclear winter, the effects of radiation sickness on survivors and future generations, and the impact of the loss of civil infrastructure on society, regressing us back to a pre-industrial level of tech etc. It was truly horrifying and was shown in a public-information capacity in the US several times after the BBC broadcast it in the UK. Check it out if you have the stomach for it; it is truly horrific but extensively researched with the best available knowledge at the time of effects of fallout etc.
@@rosePetrichor
The effect of fallout on people and on soil and on crops was all depicted in The Day After (1983). The black soldier even attempts to shield himself from the Alpha and Beta radiation while walking through affected areas, by covering as much of himself as he can, with a blanket (which would actually be effective against *EXTERNAL* Alpha and Beta radiation).
The equipment failures in the hospital and elsewhere show how the EMP would render unshielded equipment useless. Cars are left abandoned, though it's not made clear that it's because they refuse to start.
The societal breakdown is shown with people turning against each other in a makeshift church. A man is murdered by a desperate group of monsters that look like they were a human family before the bombs dropped. I think his wife was killed first, then when he rushed to her aid, they killed him too. I can't remember if they did this so they could eat him, or just to rob him.
The loss of civil infrastructure is apparent when the ruins of neighbourhoods are shown in bleak detail, the new ramshackle huts that are hastily put together for shelter in lieu of the rubble that was once their homes and businesses. It's apparent in the journey of several characters through ruins and wastelands that was once a city and its suburbs. And it's apparent when we see scenes of the remains of the hospital and lab, where the last remnants of technological advancement crumble and decay with the rest of the failing world.
I saw Threads back in the 90s. I thought it was more sophisticated than The Day After, however, The Day After had mass market appeal. Everything was dumbed down a notch, but it was also much more relatable in many ways. The narrative was simpler, allowing the audience more time and brain-space to focus on the aftereffects of the brief nuclear exchange.
I honestly don't understand how you can say that The Day After was _"not nearly accurate in depicting the post-nuclear horror that would come after the bombs dropped..."_
I included examples from The Day After of all the things you listed, that you intimated were lacking in the film. I would ask you to watch it again (I rewatched it about 18 months ago) to re-familiarise yourself with not just the narrative and the details, but the intricacy with which those details are explored and fleshed out. I can FULLY sympathise that you- or anyone- might see that Steve Guttenberg has a starring role and dismiss the film as a comedy, or as a light drama with some romance elements. That's a perfectly understandable reaction, but it's also dead wrong. The film is BLEAK!
When the family splits and Steve G. takes the girl (and 1 or 2 others, I think?) on the horse-drawn carriage, to try to reach the hospital, EVERYONE assumes that they'll get her there and bring her back and they'll all be safe and everything will work out for this one, fine family. The film makers had more sense than that, thankfully. I don't want to spoil it, but I think you know that this tangent of the story does NOT have a happy ending. It doesn't have a happy middle, either. And the beginning isn't happy too, come to think of it... And then there are all the other stories of all the other people, whose lives we've been following.
It's an UGLY film that doesn't have a happy ending. I cried my eyes out when I first saw it, back in '85. My mother assumed it would be a typical Steve Guttenberg movie and that we'd all enjoy it. She never rented movies for us again, after that. No shit.
Nb: I have to admit, though, she'd rarely ever rented movies for us before that moment. After it and to this day, though, she never rented movies again.
I was 11 when this song came out. How I wish I could turn back the clock and treasure my childhood more.
It's fkckn CRAZY we have to listen for this song today almost 40 years later again.
Hearing this always makes me remember the times I played GTA Vice City and this song popped up on the radio... Great song!
i have vice city still
This song was born during the Cold War, and has become relevant again today.
Ja
A lot of things from the cold war were good: Rock Music in General, Free Love, Politicians who know what the word "Diplomacy" means.
this shows really well how f***ed the world is right now
@@Ribulose15diphosphat *_Two Tribes_* by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
@@TNTorge mate the world has always been royally fucked. Ever since we stepped foot on it
My mother's from Berlin Germany , and sharing heritage ... Love awesome video .
German Lyrics for those who want it
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons, auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und, dass so was von so was kommt
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein grosser Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein grosses Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
If you say so , hell yeah!!!!
Let's put Nena back in the top 100
I remember this playing all the time on MTV! Great song, both versions! ✔👍
+BaltimoreAndOhioRR I learned just today, Saturday 29 May 2021, that the English translation changed its name to 99 Red Balloons? Luft means Air, like Luftwaffe. Not red.
@@glenhardy4770 Ja 99 Airballoons klingt auch etwas scheiße und hätte nicht in das Lied gepasst. Darum haben die es verändert.
Denkst du ernsthaft, dass die einen solchen Übersetzungsfehler alla die Jahre lang nicht bemerkt hätten?
@@throwawayaccountm1325 Verzeihen Sie, aber Sie sollten besser aufpassen.
Ich finde Airballons nicht ein bisschen beschissen, wie du sagst, ich mag ihre Originaltexte. Ich mag es nicht, das Wort in Rot zu ändern.
I apologize if any wording offends you. I am learning Deutsch. I LIKE her original lyrics.
Cool ta vie chacal
@@glenhardy4770 They changed the name (i.e. added 'red') for the syllable. Because (as you noted) Germans call what we just call 'balloons', "luftballons" (= "air-balloons") it didn't scan without an extra syllable. And as the term "air-balloons" sounds odd in English parlance, they opted for adding a colour.
Wer ist 2024 noch alles dabei?! 🤘😎🕊🎶🎹🎸
die Franzosen sind auch da 🇨🇵
i'm 17 years old from japan
i'm 16 from Portugal, but Nena is just popular everywhere❤
Jawohl!
Im 28 years from Mexico, since 2002 in love with this song thanks to gta vice city.
I first heard this song when I was 7 years old, at a friend's house, which I attended with my older brother, while playing the music video game Donkey Kong jungle beat, for GameCube. I actively searched for this song for about 6 years, then gave up. Many years passed and I found the same song in a movie, through this movie I was able to trace the name of the song, and finally, after 19 years I found it.
Thats the best Feeling ever hands down 🔥
I am still completely stunned every time inhear this, there is just so much in this song, it rocks, its funky, its beautiful its 80s synthpop and inhavent even mentioned the singer....
The vocals gotta be the best part yeah
I don't listen much German music - but there is something about this song that is just so.... timeless
She’s a babe! SHWING!!!!
unfortunatelly
I can also recommend "Nur geträumt" with Nena and "Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)" with Peter Schiller.
Consider this top five of the best songs ever heard!! 49 yr old American growing up in the US Midwest, hearing this on the bus, on an hour-long bus ride to school, gave me hope...prison would end,life would begin....this girl's voice..phenomenal!!...the flux of the song,Melody,drama,suspense,...so simple....yet so humanly beautiful....thankyou so very much!
Song is better in German than in English even if I know no German
History repeats itself. I thought we were done with 99 luftbaloons but here we are.
All wars represent a failure of diplomacy,
History doesn’t repeat itself. It often rhymes.
Idk if you were blind but since this song came out there have been hundreds of War not just Ukraine
@@societyofjesus5943 My confirmation priest was a Jesuit.
@@wilhufftarkin8543 amazing! i know nothing about priest stuff. only made this account as a joke:)
This is a rare song in which I don’t have to know what the lyrics mean, although I did learn the meaning of the song. It’s enough to hear Nena sing it so well.
I sing the German but I don't know what I'm singing apart from 99 and luftballons.
@@STOCKHOLM07it's basically about someone sending 99 balloons as like a love letter to someone but then a war breaks out and the world dies except for the singer and a single balloon.
@@Algox Yes, the people thought the baloons were aliens I think.
At 62 she looks good & is still going strong!
"Combined with the success of the Nena band years, she has sold over 25 million records, making her the most successful German pop singer in chart history."
Nena was the name of the band. The stunningly gorgeous singer's name is Gabrielle Kerner.
@@Oliviacaptain Nena is her artist name. Not the name of the Band.
@@Oliviacaptain It was her nickname since she was 3 years old.
Miss Nena, Wonderful Song, brings back memories.
I prefer the German version even though I don't speak German.
I do to i understand most german but it still sownds better
Most songs do written in their original language. Sad I don’t know any spoken language beside English. But I can speak music 🎼
Yo ni siquiera se hablar inglés pero mucho mejor en su versión original en alemán
I speak German and the German version is way better
You’re such a dork. Lol.
I sang this song in its entirety in German one time in our classroom back in high school. I think I weirded out my classmates 'cause 1. I'm Asian and 2. They thought I was possessed and speaking in tongues. Good times.
Ahahahahaha
@@Omar-nj5yl cool like your story
that shit was hilarious. had my dying. lol. im learning the song now in german and just seen your post. i cant stop laughing.
I think I died of cringe and second hand embarrassment from reading that
When I sing for my fellow Americans in Japanese, they laugh their heads off. I guess it's because of the incongruity of it all. I'm white, by the way.
When I went to
Germany with my buddies I was singing this to myself and they were all thinking wtf is he singing, then it came on in a bar, I couldn’t hide my excitement we were all singing it by the end
I grew up with this song in the 80s. My mom and dad lived in Germany for years before I was born when my dad was in the Air force and I used to have an original cassette tape of this song that I nearly wore out listening to it. This song is actually what made me decide when I was like 7 that I wanted to live in Germany. I ended up joining the Army when I was 20 and living in Mannheim, Germany for 5 years.
a pacifist song about how awful war is made you want to join the army? ok...
I was 13 when the song came out and I listened to it for the first time with a German friend who'd come to Portugal for his summer holidays in 1984.
Every time I listen to this song it makes me want to go back to the 80s when it was better than it is today ❤ 🇩🇪🇵🇹
💯👍👍
When this song came out, I was in my junior year of high school and dating the exchange student from what was then *West* Germany. We lost touch about a year after she returned to Germany, but her twin brother visited me several years ago. She's married, has kids, and is doing well. It seems she never forgot me, as one of her sons is named Christopher and another is named Nicholas. I never forgot you either, Kecxy.
Why does this give me eurotrip vibes
That's kinda rad right there.
@@KnuckleHunkybuck Imagine my surprise!
That's such a cute story :3
Muzika moje mladosti. U tom periodu imala sam moj bend i svirali smo ove hitove🎉😊
Jako lijepo 😊
This is the version I grew up with in America. Today, the local oldies station plays the English version. Which just doesn't sound right to me. I wish they play the German version instead.
@@arvedludwig3584 - No. Today's radio doesn't take requests like back in the day. 😕
Very sad they dont look at the traditions etc. They only look at the mass i'm a german and I like the German version much More too
Ironic since the German version was more successful in America lol. No idea why your local station plays the English version.
@@mcperfektff1236 Well, the German version was more popular in the U.S. Its strange that radio station plays the English one.
I think they're technically different songs.
Same theme and message but, different in a way that caters to each other's sensibilities.
I've always loved this song in German. I listened to the English version to understand the lyrics, and I can say without a doubt that the German version is far more satisfying to listen to, despite the language barrier.
you couldn't be more right. i found the english version because i didn't even know the name of the song. but than this... WAY better!
same here i turned on subtitles a little difference in german/english songs. only german i can speak is captain kirk lol
Watch german version but turn on english subtitlrs for translation. It helps.
And the german lyrics are so much better
@@ravg1347 aren't they just
Nena is gonna be gaining a huge amount of popularity in 2023
I am a balloonist living in the US of A....if they shoot me down me (if I survive) or my relatives are going to sue somebody!
Not as much as in 1983 as she was striking the US Charts up to the second place.
The song will probably be banned as hate speech soon...
@@st.jimmy0244 for what reason?
@@florianj6490 It's anti-war.
Ich habe in den USA studiert und diesen Song auf dem Campus auf Deutsch in der Dukebox gehört, es war fantastisch!
This song became relevant again waaaaaay too soon
;-;
and it's scary af
🤔
Remember No Russian
If the bombs start droppin', this is the song I'll be singing.
Her voice and the way German sounds is the best combination. Let's hope things will be better for both Ukrainian and Russian. from Japan
The German lyrics tell a far better story than the mushy English ones, this is one of the great cold war protest songs
With Russia doing military drills on the disputed islands, I hope your comment won’t be looked on as having aged well
@@triforcelp131 I hope so too... My Russian friends and I promised to stay friends for decades ahead too even if our countries become enemy to each other when the war broked out..
@@stellina113 Thats nice
@@triforcelp131 Thanks, but I'm very concerned about the relationship between Russia and Japan. I understand Supporting Ukraine as an advanced country is important but I, as a Japanese citizen, think protecting our own profit by keeping a good/neutral relationship with Russia is also important. "good relationship" sounds inappropriate in this situation though. I'm sorry in advance if my opinion made everybody unpleasant.
I love that GERMAN lyrics are translated here, as opposed to 99 red balloon English lyrics. I always thought this song sounded better in German, so it’s nice to see what those German words meant. Great song great video have loved it since 83.
Germany now shooting down red balloons in Ukraine, and leopard tanks with iron crosses are rolling towards Russian borders so sad.
LYRICS:
[Intro 1/1 +Verse 1/5]*
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?...Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons...Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?...Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons...Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt...
[Instrumental 1/2]
[Verse 2/5]
99 Luftballons..Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All...Darum schickte ein General
'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher...Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont...Nur 99 Luftballons
[Verse 3/5]
99 Düsenflieger..Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk..Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft..Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont...Auf 99 Luftballons..
[Instrumental 2/2]
[Verse 4/5]
99 Kriegsminister..Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute..Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht..Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?
Dass es einmal so weit kommt...Wegen 99 Luftballons
[Bridge 1/1]
Wegen 99 Luftballons...99 Luftballons...
[Verse 5/5 +Outro 1/1]
99 Jahre Krieg..Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr..Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden..Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden..Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
One of THE BEST anti-war songs ever.
🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
👍👍👍
As Nena herself has indicated, it was not written to express any anti war sentiment. It was the listening public who viewed it as such. I think the band ultimately embraced it as the general public interpreted it. Brings to mind the DH Lawrence advice to “trust the tale not the teller”
Absolutely beautiful! I remember the first time that I heard this song in the German language. It captured my heart. And until tonight I had no idea how beautiful the artist is. Certain songs help me to be brave and hopeful. This is one of them! ❤️
Nena!!!! Amazing in 1983......still amazing in 2023!
I agree.
Ich bin Japaner. Mein Vater hat mir dieses Lied empfohlen.
Ich bin jetzt 28 Jahre alt. Ich höre es jeden Tag.
American here. 23 years old. Beautiful music and poetic words find their way everywhere
I think it sounds better in German than in English. Boy, she's got pretty eyes.
She really does
Can’t beat hazel green eyes! Especially with dark hair!
much much better
If she sang in Spanish or any other language it would sound great, and those eyes yeah!
@@jim6235 I really think German makes it sound so expressive,accent, everything fits so well, this song was made to be sung on German..
When I hear this song, it takes me back to elementary school to June 1983. We had a sports day at the stadium, they played this song... I see my beautiful classmate Kamila again in a T-shirt and shorts...
Ich möchte euch eine Geschichte erzählen: Einmal fuhren mein Vater und ich von Deutschland aus durch ganz Polen und wir hatten eine Kassette mit dem coolsten Hit Luftballons 99 Ich möchte dem Solisten für dieses wundervolle Lied danken, das wir 1000 km lang gehört haben.1990 🛣️🚘❤❤❤🫶🫶🫶 Papa ist weg, aber die Erinnerung bleibt
SHE TRIED TO WARN US ABOUT THE BALLOONS BUT WE DIDNT LISTEN
Actually we just didn’t speak da German
UFO's incoming
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär'
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont
Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Do you have some time for me?
Then I'll sing a song for you
Of ninety-nine balloons
On their way to the horizon
Are you thinking of me right now?
Then I'll sing a song for you
Of ninety-nine balloons
And that something comes from something
Ninety-nine balloons
On their way to the horizon
Thought to be ufos from outer space
So a general sent
Sent a squadron of airmen after them
To sound the alarm, if it were so
But there on the horizon
Only ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine jet planes
Each one was a great warrior
Thought they were Captain Kirk
There was a big fireworks show
The neighbors didn't get it
And felt like they were being picked on
And on the horizon they shot
At ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine ministers of war
Matches and gas cans
Thought they were smart people
Already sensing fat prey
Shouting "War!" and wanting power
Man, who would have thought
That it would come to this
Because of ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine years of war
Left no room for victors
There are no more war ministers
And no more jet planes
Today I make my rounds
I see the world in ruins
I found a balloon
Think of you and let it fly
She's nuts! Fighter jets shooting down balloons? That'll never happen!
🤣
Especially high tech ones like she said. Can you imagine them sending up their best air superiority fighter after a balloon? LOL! Ridiculous.
I mean, she's religious COVID denier...
Don’t shoot the balloons or let them fly like Trump did? An ounce of research will show you this isn’t a new phenomenon, this is a moral panic that morons are eating up, per American style
Never saw them singing this. Love this song. And they are all so ridiculously good-looking.
I love the song. She made an English version which is cool because I understand it, but the German version is 100 times better. I don't understand a word and it sounds incredible
Deutsch lernen👍😎
I think everyone needs to be reminded of this song given the current situation with this world ☮️
Oh Me Matt i think that is exactly what we are all doing searching up Nina.
Munich, Germany 1999 - I am 19 year old American met this beautiful girl at Hofbrauhaus, she didn’t speak any English and I didn’t speak German. Went to nightclub with her with this song blaring as we drank and made out. Left her hotel in morning and couldn’t find her before I left. One of the best nights of my life!
Year is 2023, and this song is relevant again... Oh, humanity...
The original German version is such a special treat.
99 Luftballons. Heute habe ich dieses Lied in einem Supermarkt in Japan auf Deutsch gehört. Und dieses deutsche Lied war gestern im japanischen Radio. Dieser Song, der vor langer Zeit in Japan ein Hit war, könnte in Japan wieder ein Hit werden.
Songtext zu „99 Luftballons“]
[Strophe 1]
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt
Denzel Curry 'BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE' Official Lyrics & Meaning | Genius Verified
[Instrumental]
[Strophe 2]
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont
Nur 99 Luftballons
[Strophe 3]
99 Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf 99 Luftballons
[Instrumental]
[Strophe 4]
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?
Dass es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballons
[Bridge]
Wegen 99 Luftballons
99 Luftballons
[Outro]
99 Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
40 years later and this song is still appropriate today as it once was 😒😒
I know right lol. Especially with this Chinese spy balloon ruckus
We are closer to nuclear war now than back in those what-we-thought-were-scary Raygun-Breshnev times. I was around back then, unlike you kids.
No not really
@@franklittle8124 unfortunately, yes. Also around back then. :(
I think post cold war era of peace was the exception, not the rule. Rise of global trade, advancement of technology, fall of global military tensions all generally led to more globally open tendencies than nationalistic sentiments in general. Of course there was Yugoslavia, and that was horrible. But the whole world in general I think found joy in the tension of cold war ending.
I guess now tendencies are going back to nationalistic sentiments ariund the world. Conflict among different nations will eventually lead to less global economic prosperity and rising military tensions :(
Fun fact: the budget for this entire video was $147 USD. The largest expense was smoke bombs and balloons.
$450 in today's money....
How do you know the budget for it? That's interesting
Idk why but this song just popped into my head today. Never knew it would be the same day the official video would be released
Same here
This just dropped in my recommended list. Many, many years since I watched her, I’d forgotten how stunningly beautiful she is.
Even though I don't speak German I like this much better than the English version.
I completely agree! And I understand both languages
Same here!
Agreed.
Agreed! So say we all
Ich freue mich, auf jede Antwort die höflich und Deutsch ist und ehrlich gemeint ist, danke
Great song for what is happening right now.
Only 95 Luftballons left...
bin aus österreich und als der titel rauskam war ich 12 jahre alt jetzt bin ich 53 jahre alt und stehe immer noch auf diesen song da soll mal einer sagen musik überdauert keine jahrzehnte......
Alter
There is now a second Chinese luftballon, this time in South America. 🎈🎈 We'll get to 99 in no time!
RIP China balloon (2023 - 2023). 😔 🎈 🇨🇳
Even if it was low Tech spy balloon, never a threat. Google Earth would have sufficed to any curious Nation.
Oh, so we’re all here. I guess that’s a thing now..
Shit.
Yup hello to all Cold War kids
Tellement de souvenirs en l'écoutant à l'époque dans ma chambre avec mon lecteur cassette et avec mon Walkman... ❤🎸J'avais 10 ans... 🥰🔥
Who else was watching and listening to this on MTV in 1984!
I wasn’t born in the 80s so I don’t know but I was born in the 90s
Found a way back in a hot tub while visiting a ski lodge with friends. Let me say, it was a good night.
Literally 1984
I was helping to man the front line in Germany when this came out. I was hoping that it was all over in 1991.
Yup
Given the current Chinese balloon imbroglio, the prescience and irony of this classic 40 year old track isn't lost on me..
yet the pentagon has refused to give any information on what the balloon is holding nor any evidence the balloon is chinese in the first place..........
so this song just rings true, that it makes no sense for chinese balloons to get past the coast guard, and this was just some random balloon that people are using the go to war lmao
The upper limit of national airspace is not defined by international law. According to Wikipedia, an altitude of between 60 and 110 km is normally assumed as the airspace upper limit for the sovereign territory. When the U2 was still regularly conducting espionage flights, it was actually defined by the Russian air defense systems ;) :) Re-entry vehicles from space have to cope with massive friction from about 120 km.
A lot of things (like Russia's border transgression) should finally be regulated at the UN by international agreement... So I'd suggest to meet there half way and talk finally about the limitation of UN-SC member's veto rights and the reduction of the quorum for a peace keeping mission to a 2/3 majority !
For people who don't understand this song is about 99 red balloon being mistaken for a missile assault and ultimately triggers a nuclear war. The cold war days were some scary times knowing a bunch of people in power had weapons that could destroy the world and nobody had a say whether or not they could use it
Wow, thanks. I didn’t know it had that much meaning. 😅
that is some heavy shit for an upbeat pop music
@@L30N4tER yep this song came out during a time where a littiral flock of seagulls on a radar could've trigger world war 3
What is scary is that in 2020 the Communists won the Cold War and the tools they have today make nukes seem quaint.
@@orangeystudios2070 this is what germans feel like when they first understand US songs :D
Gestern Abend in Saarbrücken bei ihrem Konzert live gehört ❤❤ihre Stimme immernoch einzigartig ❤❤
This version is way better than the English version in my opinion 😁👍💙🇺🇸🇩🇪
Not to start a fight or anything, but what if I said I like both versions? : )
Sure. Because her native tongue is German and it was originally composed in German. There will be tweaking in the English version to pitch the notes together
there are English subs available
Considering how popular this song STILL is in the US, I can't imagine how poignant it must have been in West Germany in the 80s. We were worried about potential heating up of the cold war, but you were pressed right up to the iron curtain.
If you point at a random german, and say ,,99", he will always complete it with red Ballons :]
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Und, dass sowas von sowas kommt
[Instrumental]
[Strophe 2]
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont
Nur 99 Luftballons
[Strophe 3]
99 Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf 99 Luftballons
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen, „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?
Dass es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballons
Danke schön Deutschland für Nena und Nina Hagen, ich liebe all of you ! ( ich bin french 😁)
I'm crying watching this.. So many wonderful memories of times and people gone
@mohammeddahmani6099 no the war isn’t over
it’s about the cold war
Even as an English speaker born and raised in America, the German version is way better than the English.
The English version was produced to make money. The German original was made as top music ... !
Alle Erinnerungen aus meiner Kindheit kommen zurück. Ich vermisse diese Jahre sehr.
Ich bin wirklich zufrieden mit diesem Lied, ich höre es fast jeden Tag 😄