I was in Germany when the wall fell and this song was played everywhere. It was the end of the cold war and the world was full of hope. And here we go again, so sad. Another beautiful song from them is Send Me an Angel, it's amazing.
Thanks for sharing that, did the song come our before or after the wall fell? I was born in 1982 so I didn't understand anything of what happened at the time, but I remember from my mom that something important just happened.
The band wrote this during a visit to Moscow in 1989. The previous year, they became the first hard-rock band to play in Russia, and they returned to play the Moscow Peace Festival.
Yup, it was the huge deal that the wall came down to open up East Germany and more free travel. Seemed like the start to end communism but we know not totally. Now there is just Germany united.
@@scotthill1600 I did - Eastern Germany is basicly a failed state with collapsed demographics as well as a complete political degenreration... and we shouldn't even talk about the situation in Russia nor, what it's doing to it's brothers. It aged badly.
I couldn't get enough of this song when it came out. Over 30 years later and I still get emotional hearing it. Watching the wall come down live on TV is a moment I'll always remember.
I was in the Army in Germany from ‘86-89 in a tank battalion. This song is about the end of the Cold War, the Wall coming down, and the bitter sweet transition from one era to the next. In my 60’s now but this song still brings a tear to my eyes. I never dreamed I would see that change in my lifetime
Badly enough, we had to watch a transition into the other direction these years -.- I joined a bit later, but '05-'10 FmAufklAbschn 921 + one year 5. Minensuchgeschwader (Heimatnah Kiel) ;) At least I made the (golden) French-Fries Hut full as Navy Private =D
@@crimsonwizard2560 Well, it actually is. It was recorded in the upcoming of the breakdown of the SU in the height of Perestroika - and the cold war ended with it. Well, Russia kind of restarted it in the 90's again, but that's another story ;)
When my father was 19, he helped a young man named Wolfgang escape the East German border. He then called Wolfgang’s family and told them in German that their son is free. This song makes me think of that. ❤️
This song touch me deeply, thank you for your reaction. As a Cold Water Veteran I feel a sense of pride and deep sorrow when I hear this. I’ve personally seen the Czechoslovakian border during this time and how great it was to be a small part of making this change. My sorrow comes from the fact that we didn’t learn much as the world is so divided and also now the US is more divided than ever!
I too am a Cold War Vet who served in West Germany 1981 to 1983. I also served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm I Retired in 2001 after 20 years in the USAF. This song reminds me of my service
Yes. You would think that powers would learn, but they do not. With the US so divided, and being the strongest entity on the planet, for now, their next step could destroy us all. I am not American. I am Canadian. The world right now is a mess. Add Trump to the mix, and, sorry, life as we know it is gone. There are enough dictators right now. He will be another.
lm 54.....and l cry, always, with this song. ( lve seen them 4x....Perfection) America must Stand with Freedom and The Future of the Children. Mine also.
my parents sat me infront the tv and said "watch this its important" and then went to the wall.... i was 6 and thought its a strange new years. (but i also wondered where the animals are when we were on top these "look over the wall" towers ) xD greetings from berlin.
I was 27 also... and had just left the USMC after 8 years on active duty. I was fully aware of the impact and meaning of the fall of the wall and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact - having always had to look at maps of where I was stationed (and where my parents lived) to determine how likely it was to be targeted by the USSR's ICBMs, evacuation routes, and where defensive positions could be sited. The feeling that all that was all past was immense... but here we are once again, 25 years later and the threats are back.
I'm from Russia, and this is one of my first favorite rock ballads. from the 1990 album ,, Crazy World ,, . at that time I was 14 years old , and the Rock music of the West was just beginning to penetrate to us . This video shows footage from the 1989 concert "Moscow Music Peace Festival", where such familiar bands as Cinderella , Skid Row , Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi well as the Great and Terrible Ozzy Osbourne. So far, these are my favorite bands. .By the way, in 1991 I was at a Monsters of Rock concert, where AC/DC and Metallica were favorites. You made a video from that Enter Sandman concert. you can 't see me there , because I wasn 't near the stage ) . There was no strength to stand on my feet in such a crowd all day . The concert started at noon and ended late at night. when Metallica finished playing , it was already dark , and then after a long pause AC DC began to perform , and they performed , as it seemed to me , almost endlessly . But this infinity was the happiest in my life......I apologize for my English ) . I wrote it through a translator ..You are well done, and the most beautiful couple!!! good luck. With love from Russia! And Happy New Year!! . I wish you happiness and long years of joy, and good rock reactions))
as a Russian, how do you see the current conflict with Ukraine? Everything about it is so wrong. I really believe it is not the Russian people , how on Earth do you cope?
As a veteran of the Cold War, 1976-1992, and the son of a veteran who was in West Berlin during the airlift in 1949-1952 this song has a deep meaning for me.
I grew up in East Germany, the former GDR. November 1989, when the Wall came down, was an incredibly exciting and emotional time for all of us in Germany. It was a time of new beginnings, the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany in October 1990. All this was only possible thanks to Gorbachev and his reform policies. Even though there were many hurdles and difficulties and the end of the Cold War was unfortunately not permanent, it is a major milestone in the history of Germany, Russia and Europe.
My brother was in Canadian military and posted to Germany twice . First time when wall was still up and second time after it was taken down . Many people of West Germany were angry that the East Germans were given so much while they were struggling .
The wall was on many heads at this time, but there were also many families who were finally reunited. It was the right path and time will silence even the last doubters.
Yes, I was stationed in Germany from 1986 to 1988, I just missed the wall coming down. I did see some of the border wall when it was east and west Germany.
I was in Germany when the wall came down and it’s correct to say that a lot of West Germans were angry about the wall coming down. It was a crazy time but it was the right thing to do in the long run…it should have never gone up!
Great reaction!! This is such a powerful song/video - I honestly can't help but get a bit misty eyed every time I hear it.. Those of us that witnessed the fall of the Iron Curtain / USSR really felt the impact of this beautiful piece! It was so poignant coming from a German band, whose country, for years, divided East/West, but now the wall was coming down (as shown in the view of Postdammer Platz in the video). They understood the magnitude of what they were creating! Unfortunately, we could use another 'wind of change' again...let's hope it comes! Peace!
I was lucky enough to be working in Anchorage AK ( 1990s) as medical coverage when they played 2 nights. Klaus is the only one I got to shake hands with, but seeing them play and "behind the scenes" was an experience.
The band comes from Hannover in Germany. They have more fans in the US, Russia and Japan, than in Germany. Wind of Change was insprirated by their concert in the olymic stadium in moscow. they were invited by Michael Gorbatchow, the last chairman of the communist party of the USSR. They felt the wish of change of the sowjet people, later the song becomes the hymn of the reunion of the two german countries. And the rest is musical history. Thank you for your reaction. I hope you have an pecefull year 2024. Greatings from Germany.
Other Scorpions songs that are in the ballad type to do Always Somewhere, Send Me an Angel, Holiday, Loving You Sunday Morning. For heavier songs Rock You Like a Hurricane, Big City Nights, No One Like You, The Zoo, Animal Magnetism, The Sails of Charon
Any of those and more. To be honest, I'm burned out on people recommending this song for a reaction. I'm not sure if most of the recommendations are coming from people who are more fans of the song than the band, or just people who think it's the "most accessible" Scorpions song for new listeners. It's almost always this or "Still Loving You", but the Scorpions have so many good songs, and many of them are better than this, in my opinion. Let's broaden our selection, folks! Besides, the feel good message that people like about this song, it didn't really pan out for Russia, did it? ;)
This song is beautiful, it captures the hope and dreams of peace, its also bittersweet. We are so close to war exploding across the world. That time of peace has slipped away. 💔
This song is The collapse of the USSR.There was a Moscow Peace Festival in 1989.It promoted understanding between the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War[ This song was inspired by the festival.Bands like Motley Crue,Scorpions,Bon Jovi,& Ozzy Osbourne played this festival
Wind of Change was the song my parents first danced to, when they met at the disco, so without it I may wouldnt exist today. 😅😂 If you ever wanna cover some songs of unknown artists, feel free to watch a long to one of my songs 😉 But anyway, keep up the good work! 🙂
This song is a snapshot of a moment in time. A moment when we, the Human Race, lifted up our eyes, and for the first time in nearly forty years, dared to imagine there might lie anything in our futures, besides nuclear oblivion.
The Wall came down in 89,,, I was there in the Army on border patrol when they began tearing it down,,, I was given a piece of it by a 13 yr old East German girl while she thanked us
Love the Scorpions. Sometimes hard for them to shine with so many great groups and artists at the time but did find their spot. We remember them today in 2024.
" Wind of change" celebrates The End of the Cold War & in particular the Demolition of the Berlin Wall .. !!! The End of The Cold War meant that We all had been Granted the Gift of Life & a Global Nuclear War had been averted .. !!! The band Scorpions is from Germany .. !!! So; the unification of Germany & the cessation of the internal German hostilities were at the time without a doubt what lay closest to their hearts .. !!! ... even though ... the Arch Enemy indeed had been the Soviet Union .. !!!
I'm glad you said the guitar solo, captures the essence of the song, some other reactors did a live version that skipped it. Thanks for doing the nusic video, great reaction!
When I learned of Scorpions, I thought them as a hard rock band only. Then I heard this song and was like WAIT, WHAT? This song made me cry the first time I heard it, and it only gets better the more you listen to it. The best part is? It's message never dies. Peace is always something to strive for. Kudos to you all for reacting to this, thanks
Been a die hard Scorpions fan for a long time, and Klaus' voice still hits me in a very particular way. He never gets mentioned in "great" vocalists but, for me, he can strike a nerve as good as any. This vid reminds me of a new song form a band called Orbit Culture, a very heavy band and a very special band, with their song called While We Serve. The lyrics and video are very sad{and disturbing}and the music is just fire. Hopefully you'll chk out some Orbit Culture in the near future.
Fellow die hard Scorpions fan here. Klaus Meine's voice is so unique, no one can sing just like him. He does get mentioned amongst the "great" vocalists, but not nearly as much as he deserves. That voice cuts right through you. In my opionion he can absolutely hold his own against even a Mercury or Dio. Did you see the live footage of In Trance from 1978 they released on their channel just yesterday? Incredible. ua-cam.com/video/JsLq8HDkqNU/v-deo.html
History, my brother from Canada. Berlin was divided, they show Berlin because the wall was there dividing it between East and West Berlin. I was actually there a year after the wall collapsed, in the military. Went further East and saw fencing in the country area that was still upright, climbed into an old East German army guard tower. Very cool! Great song!
I always say this is a song you can't really truly understand and appreciate unless you lived and knew the times when it came out. There are a lot of songs that give me nostalgia, but this song is tied to an incredible historical event, so whenever I hear it that's all I can really think about.
Klaus Meine (vocals) of the Scorpions was inspired by the band's first visit to Russia (then, the USSR) in 1988 and again in 1989... It was significant because they are a German band... and their grandparents' generation were the nazis of World War II that invaded Russia and killed 27 million Russians in the onslaught w/ tanks and missiles... And for a German band to come to Russia about 50 yrs later and win over thousands of Russian fans w/ their music in English was a miracle. When the Scorpions were a local Hanover band in the 1960's, they were huge fans of The Beatles... a band that was banned in the USSR (as was rock n' roll music) in communist countries... For the Scorpions to be allowed to come and perform in the Soviet Union was another sign that things were changing in Europe significantly - even Soviet Premiere Gorbachev was a fan of Scorpions. And finally, the (re)unification of Germany in 1990 was something to celebrate for Germans who were born and raised on either side of the Berlin wall, unable to reach out to their own people in East Germany (who were under communist rule). It truly was the end of an era.
This song reminds me of the time when my country, Latvia, gained independence from the USSR. 1989 was the year we all as nation stood together forming the Baltic Way and protested against the occupation. This song was huge back then and will always be part of the freedom movement.
I so love this song!! Brings back memories from my life, these guys are a great band performing great music!!❤ Thanks for all of your reactions guys!!❤❤
Having lived through the era, the song is still very powerful -- especially when you've experienced a little bit of what it was like before Glasnost, and nowhere as much as in Berlin. I was 17 and on a school trip to (then West-)Berlin, back in 1973. The Youth Hostel we were staying at was in one of the not-so-nice suburbs; when we arrived, the first thing the staff told us was not to go into the park right across the street at night because someone had been knifed to death there just two days ago. But anyway, we had to take the subway train to get downtown to the sights, and as the train tracks predated the building of the Wall in 1961, some of the stations lay underneath what was then East Berlin -- and not in use. The train would slow down to almost walking speed passing through those stations, and you could clearly see the East German military patrols on the platforms -- teams of two, full combat gear, semi-automatic guns at the ready, and an attack dog at their feet. They were there not only to prevent non-East Germans from getting off the trains but also to make sure that no East German jumped/climbed on to escape the GDR. This was bad enough during daytime; a deserted, dimly-lit subway station is always depressing, but imagine coming home at night passing through -- spooky is too mild a word to describe those five minutes of slow driving, especially knowing that you were actually passing underneath the Wall and past the Bernauer Strasse, an address that had seen some of the most tragic moments of people making last-ditch attempts to flee almost total isolation by jumping out of 3rd-story windows, using knotted bedsheets ... all the clichés, really, and remembering that this had happened just a little over 10 years earlier. So yeah, the song brings back a lot of memories. 🙂
I agree with some of the other comments I have read. You did lead a sheltered music life. The Scorpions were near the end of their career, it's true, and they were typically not known for ballads. This era, from 88 - 91, was. Just about every rock band, including my beloved KISS, put out a ballad and had voilah - the biggest hits of their career. Still Loving You was huge also but this far outdid what the band expected. The song was released in 1990 and was monumental in seeing the Berlin Wall go down finally uniting the people of Germany. Epic song.
" Polar Nights " - SCORPIONS 1976 🎸 this song has some of the very best heavy guitar riffs throughout the entire song and those drums too ,so very cool.
Back in the early 80s, Klaus lost his voice. He thought his singing career was over, but after two vocal cord surgeries and voice therapy, he came back with his voice as strong as ever.
The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin. It was a physical wall that was guarded; people were killed trying to scale the wall. We were close, like brothers, makes me think of this, and what it must have been like to have been in Berlin when the wall came down. Killer band, killer song. Check out The Zoo.
Yes, this is a German band, singing about the time around when the wall came down, as well as the demise of the Iron Curtain, which would lead to the reunification of their country. So, yes, this was a song with meaning.
The very first time I heard this was while watching a Filipino cover band in Singapore. They nailed it, (including the whistle) I had been at sea so didn't get to hear it before that. I LOVE the Scorpions. I rock with them, but this my favorite song. 10/03/2017 Grand Sierra Resort Reno 😎😎
When this came out, I was 9 going on 10. I remember hearing it all the time on the radio, back then (even well into '91!). In fact, I kind of have an inside antic-dote I've kept to myself all these years.. Summer of '90, my parents take us to Bemidji, MN for an overnight hotel stay. And on the way, naturally, the radio played this tune. So whenever I hear this song to this very day, I can't help but think of the lyrics.. .. *Take Me, To Bemidji, Minnesota! On a Glory Night* . . .
When you mention the involvement of Russian influence in the song, at one point it seems to say "Let your Balalaika sing what my guitar wants to sing". A Balalaika is a Russian musical instrument, similar to a guitar, mainly made out of wood.
I was in Germany when the wall came down. I remember the day very well. I was in Aschaffenburg Germany as an MP. I think they were from Hanau which was just a few miles away from Aschaffenburg.
The World Wide Live album is a must for anyone who calls themselves rock lovers. All songs are awesome. Adding to the suggestions already made, Dynamite is also a banger. Have a nice day, Phill and Sam.
Thank you for taking on this song. There are some things to this that you had to live through to get. This wasn't a song about politics or economics. It's a song about putting aside our differences in an amazing time. Here's where it gets hard to describe. For decades prior to this, we really believed we were a heartbeat away from ending the world. It's a mindset that thankfully we do not experience now. The 80s have been described as a decade of excess. In part, that's because we would be gone tomorrow, so carpe diem! This song is the best expression that I'm aware of that captures the release of that. To go from horror to flowers in what seemed like a breath is like no other experience. From the perspective of a European, each side of this emotion was even more intense. After all, that's where the war would start. Specifically, Germany was ground zero. Entire generations on both sides of that wall knew they were going to be the first to die when Kennedy and Khrushchev decided they had enough. Yes, Russia and China are featured, but they were the oppressors (and their people were victims, too). The real story was Eastern Europe. On a side note, I think that's why 911 hit us so hard. We had just come out of certain destruction into a beautiful world. Then a little reality smacked us upside the head.
My mother and her family lived in Berlin during the Airlift when the Cold War was really heating up. My grandparents had met during WWII (grandfather bomber pilot, grandmother army nurse). My mother's first language was actually German because of it. My grandfather reflected on it as a scary time....having to go through checkpoints...both sides posturing with itchy trigger fingers, et al. Very fragile relationship with the Soviets although they had been part of the Allied forces. That's sort of how Berlin wound up getting cut, separating the East and West. Yes...touching song. Ironic that some of that tension is starting to really heat up again. I remember when the wall came down and everyone was so happy.
The song was about the Berlin wall being torn down. In Germany familys were split. You had part of the family trapped on the other side of the wall. The original vid was all about thevwall. Soneone changed it to be more world involving.
I heard and liked this song a lot before I saw the video. The video definitely added a lot more emotion for me. You should check out “Rock you Like a Hurricane” or “The Zoo” next 😊
1961 was the year the Berlin Wall was built, hence the intro. Some of the best ballads in history have been written by hard rock bands. People ask me what I mean by that and this is one of the first songs I point them to. If you were alive at the time it is impossible not to get emotional when hearing this. It captured the feeling of the entire world. This is a song of peace ... the end of the cold war ... the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Huge Scorpions fan. I believe Hanover Germany. Also Klaus wrote this song I believe after they(A German band) played in Russia and of course the fall of the Berlin Wall
Key references in the lyrics: (1) "Moskva" is the Russian name for both Moscow and a river that runs through Moscow. (2) "Gorky Park" is a major park in Moscow along the Moskva River. (3) "Balalaika" is a Russian guitar-like instrument with a triangular body.
I don't think that anyone born after the fall of the Berlin wall can't appreciate just how important this song was and still is, and the emotions that songs brings. For us who lived through the cold war,, the fall of the Berlin wall was a major historic moment and it means a lot to us.
I was in Germany when the wall fell and this song was played everywhere. It was the end of the cold war and the world was full of hope. And here we go again, so sad. Another beautiful song from them is Send Me an Angel, it's amazing.
So true❤
Thanks for sharing that, did the song come our before or after the wall fell?
I was born in 1982 so I didn't understand anything of what happened at the time, but I remember from my mom that something important just happened.
Ich war da gerade erst geboren, aber es bringt mir jedes mal Tränen in die Augen.
The band wrote this during a visit to Moscow in 1989. The previous year, they became the first hard-rock band to play in Russia, and they returned to play the Moscow Peace Festival.
didn't help much, obviously
Let's not get the people and the communist dictatorship mixed up!@@gentleZenTv
i don't think the song is anti russian!!
Yup, it was the huge deal that the wall came down to open up East Germany and more free travel. Seemed like the start to end communism but we know not totally. Now there is just Germany united.
I think they changed the video from hope to what world is. As this was written as hopeful song.
This songs represents one of the biggest moments in modern history The Berlin wall / The iron curtain coming down
Beautiful post.
And I guess it aged badly regarding todays situation...
@@bugfisch7012 No. I feel like it is still a recent, present moment that is still developing to a positive future.
@@bugfisch7012not really, do more history
@@scotthill1600 I did - Eastern Germany is basicly a failed state with collapsed demographics as well as a complete political degenreration... and we shouldn't even talk about the situation in Russia nor, what it's doing to it's brothers.
It aged badly.
I couldn't get enough of this song when it came out. Over 30 years later and I still get emotional hearing it. Watching the wall come down live on TV is a moment I'll always remember.
I was in the Army in Germany from ‘86-89 in a tank battalion. This song is about the end of the Cold War, the Wall coming down, and the bitter sweet transition from one era to the next. In my 60’s now but this song still brings a tear to my eyes. I never dreamed I would see that change in my lifetime
Badly enough, we had to watch a transition into the other direction these years -.-
I joined a bit later, but '05-'10 FmAufklAbschn 921 + one year 5. Minensuchgeschwader (Heimatnah Kiel) ;)
At least I made the (golden) French-Fries Hut full as Navy Private =D
No it's not.
@@crimsonwizard2560 Well, it actually is. It was recorded in the upcoming of the breakdown of the SU in the height of Perestroika - and the cold war ended with it.
Well, Russia kind of restarted it in the 90's again, but that's another story ;)
I Thank you for your service to our "country"!!! For REAL !!
Reunification of Germany.
When my father was 19, he helped a young man named Wolfgang escape the East German border. He then called Wolfgang’s family and told them in German that their son is free. This song makes me think of that. ❤️
This song touch me deeply, thank you for your reaction. As a Cold Water Veteran I feel a sense of pride and deep sorrow when I hear this. I’ve personally seen the Czechoslovakian border during this time and how great it was to be a small part of making this change. My sorrow comes from the fact that we didn’t learn much as the world is so divided and also now the US is more divided than ever!
USN, 1969-1989. I play this on Xmas eve, it's my present to me.
Same here USMC 1976-1992. My father's first duty station when he joined the Army was West Berlin during the Airlift from '49-'51.
I too am a Cold War Vet who served in West Germany 1981 to 1983. I also served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm I Retired in 2001 after 20 years in the USAF. This song reminds me of my service
Yes. You would think that powers would learn, but they do not. With the US so divided, and being the strongest entity on the planet, for now, their next step could destroy us all. I am not American. I am Canadian. The world right now is a mess. Add Trump to the mix, and, sorry, life as we know it is gone. There are enough dictators right now. He will be another.
lm 54.....and l cry, always, with this song. ( lve seen them 4x....Perfection) America must Stand with Freedom and The Future of the Children. Mine also.
The wall fell November 9th, 1989. I watched it live on ABC's Nightline. I was 27 and even then didn't realize the full impact.
my parents sat me infront the tv and said "watch this its important" and then went to the wall.... i was 6 and thought its a strange new years. (but i also wondered where the animals are when we were on top these "look over the wall" towers ) xD greetings from berlin.
I was 27 also... and had just left the USMC after 8 years on active duty. I was fully aware of the impact and meaning of the fall of the wall and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact - having always had to look at maps of where I was stationed (and where my parents lived) to determine how likely it was to be targeted by the USSR's ICBMs, evacuation routes, and where defensive positions could be sited.
The feeling that all that was all past was immense... but here we are once again, 25 years later and the threats are back.
I'm from Russia, and this is one of my first favorite rock ballads. from the 1990 album ,, Crazy World ,, . at that time I was 14 years old , and the Rock music of the West was just beginning to penetrate to us . This video shows footage from the 1989 concert "Moscow Music Peace Festival", where such familiar bands as Cinderella , Skid Row , Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi well as the Great and Terrible Ozzy Osbourne. So far, these are my favorite bands. .By the way, in 1991 I was at a Monsters of Rock concert, where AC/DC and Metallica were favorites. You made a video from that Enter Sandman concert. you can 't see me there , because I wasn 't near the stage ) . There was no strength to stand on my feet in such a crowd all day . The concert started at noon and ended late at night. when Metallica finished playing , it was already dark , and then after a long pause AC DC began to perform , and they performed , as it seemed to me , almost endlessly . But this infinity was the happiest in my life......I apologize for my English ) . I wrote it through a translator ..You are well done, and the most beautiful couple!!! good luck. With love from Russia! And Happy New Year!! . I wish you happiness and long years of joy, and good rock reactions))
Thank you! All the best to you too!
as a Russian, how do you see the current conflict with Ukraine? Everything about it is so wrong. I really believe it is not the Russian people , how on Earth do you cope?
I was stationed in Germany while in the Air Force from 88-93.... incredible time to be there, the Scorpions were my favorite band in highschool
Send Me An Angel is another awesome ballad of theirs which is quite deep and meaningful too.
As a veteran of the Cold War, 1976-1992, and the son of a veteran who was in West Berlin during the airlift in 1949-1952 this song has a deep meaning for me.
I grew up in East Germany, the former GDR. November 1989, when the Wall came down, was an incredibly exciting and emotional time for all of us in Germany. It was a time of new beginnings, the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany in October 1990. All this was only possible thanks to Gorbachev and his reform policies. Even though there were many hurdles and difficulties and the end of the Cold War was unfortunately not permanent, it is a major milestone in the history of Germany, Russia and Europe.
My brother was in Canadian military and posted to Germany twice . First time when wall was still up and second time after it was taken down . Many people of West Germany were angry that the East Germans were given so much while they were struggling .
The wall was on many heads at this time, but there were also many families who were finally reunited. It was the right path and time will silence even the last doubters.
Yes, I was stationed in Germany from 1986 to 1988, I just missed the wall coming down. I did see some of the border wall when it was east and west Germany.
I was in Germany when the wall came down and it’s correct to say that a lot of West Germans were angry about the wall coming down. It was a crazy time but it was the right thing to do in the long run…it should have never gone up!
Great reaction!! This is such a powerful song/video - I honestly can't help but get a bit misty eyed every time I hear it.. Those of us that witnessed the fall of the Iron Curtain / USSR really felt the impact of this beautiful piece! It was so poignant coming from a German band, whose country, for years, divided East/West, but now the wall was coming down (as shown in the view of Postdammer Platz in the video). They understood the magnitude of what they were creating!
Unfortunately, we could use another 'wind of change' again...let's hope it comes! Peace!
Yes it means so much those of us pre wall coming down folks.
Brings tears to my eyes.
Now Russia is back at it.
😢 🇺🇦
I was lucky enough to be working in Anchorage AK ( 1990s) as medical coverage when they played 2 nights. Klaus is the only one I got to shake hands with, but seeing them play and "behind the scenes" was an experience.
That would have been awesome!
The band comes from Hannover in Germany. They have more fans in the US, Russia and Japan, than in Germany. Wind of Change was insprirated by their concert in the olymic stadium in moscow. they were invited by Michael Gorbatchow, the last chairman of the communist party of the USSR. They felt the wish of change of the sowjet people, later the song becomes the hymn of the reunion of the two german countries. And the rest is musical history.
Thank you for your reaction. I hope you have an pecefull year 2024.
Greatings from Germany.
Other Scorpions songs that are in the ballad type to do Always Somewhere, Send Me an Angel, Holiday, Loving You Sunday Morning. For heavier songs Rock You Like a Hurricane, Big City Nights, No One Like You, The Zoo, Animal Magnetism, The Sails of Charon
Any of those and more. To be honest, I'm burned out on people recommending this song for a reaction. I'm not sure if most of the recommendations are coming from people who are more fans of the song than the band, or just people who think it's the "most accessible" Scorpions song for new listeners. It's almost always this or "Still Loving You", but the Scorpions have so many good songs, and many of them are better than this, in my opinion. Let's broaden our selection, folks! Besides, the feel good message that people like about this song, it didn't really pan out for Russia, did it? ;)
SCORPIONS - " Blackout " 1982 and " Can't Live Without You " are two more super hits from their early Hard Rock years
Scorpions are from Hannover. Greetings from Germany :) And you saw Berlin because they refer to the Berlin Wall falling on November 9th 1989
This song is beautiful, it captures the hope and dreams of peace, its also bittersweet. We are so close to war exploding across the world. That time of peace has slipped away. 💔
This song is The collapse of the USSR.There was a Moscow Peace Festival in 1989.It promoted understanding between the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War[ This song was inspired by the festival.Bands like Motley Crue,Scorpions,Bon Jovi,& Ozzy Osbourne played this festival
Wind of Change was the song my parents first danced to, when they met at the disco, so without it I may wouldnt exist today. 😅😂
If you ever wanna cover some songs of unknown artists, feel free to watch a long to one of my songs 😉 But anyway, keep up the good work! 🙂
The Berlin Wall came down Nov 9, 1989. That was this song’s message.
Hey
I was on the Border at Night on November 89..
I was 18 years old....and that is mooore then Goosebumbs(Gänsehaut)...
Greets from lower saxony 😊
This song is a snapshot of a moment in time. A moment when we, the Human Race, lifted up our eyes, and for the first time in nearly forty years, dared to imagine there might lie anything in our futures, besides nuclear oblivion.
It was such a hopeful time..m peace negotiations with Palestine and Israel, Russia had a new free election,
The whole world was so hopeful...😢
The Wall came down in 89,,, I was there in the Army on border patrol when they began tearing it down,,, I was given a piece of it by a 13 yr old East German girl while she thanked us
Love the Scorpions. Sometimes hard for them to shine with so many great groups and artists at the time but did find their spot. We remember them today in 2024.
" Wind of change" celebrates The End of the Cold War & in particular the Demolition of the Berlin Wall .. !!!
The End of The Cold War meant that We all had been Granted the Gift of Life & a Global Nuclear War had been averted .. !!!
The band Scorpions is from Germany .. !!!
So; the unification of Germany & the cessation of the internal German hostilities were at the time without a doubt what lay closest to their hearts .. !!!
... even though ...
the Arch Enemy indeed had been the Soviet Union .. !!!
Count me in with many others that are requesting "The Zoo" as your next reaction. However, they have many other great songs as well.
Scorpion the band is from Hanover Germany 😮
Best live sounding live Band
Goosebumps!
I love scorpions and bought every album when they dropped. Great band.
I'm glad you said the guitar solo, captures the essence of the song, some other reactors did a live version that skipped it. Thanks for doing the nusic video, great reaction!
Yes I love this band
The Zoo is just another bad ass song from this group you should do
When I learned of Scorpions, I thought them as a hard rock band only. Then I heard this song and was like WAIT, WHAT? This song made me cry the first time I heard it, and it only gets better the more you listen to it. The best part is? It's message never dies. Peace is always something to strive for. Kudos to you all for reacting to this, thanks
Always loved the line,
"Where the children of tomorrow dream 'Awake' "
Love this song so beautiful so powerful ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
One of my favorite songs!!!thanks Phil and Sam 😊
Been a die hard Scorpions fan for a long time, and Klaus' voice still hits me in a very particular way. He never gets mentioned in "great" vocalists but, for me, he can strike a nerve as good as any. This vid reminds me of a new song form a band called Orbit Culture, a very heavy band and a very special band, with their song called While We Serve. The lyrics and video are very sad{and disturbing}and the music is just fire. Hopefully you'll chk out some Orbit Culture in the near future.
Fellow die hard Scorpions fan here. Klaus Meine's voice is so unique, no one can sing just like him. He does get mentioned amongst the "great" vocalists, but not nearly as much as he deserves. That voice cuts right through you. In my opionion he can absolutely hold his own against even a Mercury or Dio. Did you see the live footage of In Trance from 1978 they released on their channel just yesterday? Incredible. ua-cam.com/video/JsLq8HDkqNU/v-deo.html
History, my brother from Canada. Berlin was divided, they show Berlin because the wall was there dividing it between East and West Berlin. I was actually there a year after the wall collapsed, in the military. Went further East and saw fencing in the country area that was still upright, climbed into an old East German army guard tower. Very cool! Great song!
I always say this is a song you can't really truly understand and appreciate unless you lived and knew the times when it came out. There are a lot of songs that give me nostalgia, but this song is tied to an incredible historical event, so whenever I hear it that's all I can really think about.
Beautiful song.
Excellent review to a very powerful song.
Klaus Meine (vocals) of the Scorpions was inspired by the band's first visit to Russia (then, the USSR) in 1988 and again in 1989... It was significant because they are a German band... and their grandparents' generation were the nazis of World War II that invaded Russia and killed 27 million Russians in the onslaught w/ tanks and missiles... And for a German band to come to Russia about 50 yrs later and win over thousands of Russian fans w/ their music in English was a miracle.
When the Scorpions were a local Hanover band in the 1960's, they were huge fans of The Beatles... a band that was banned in the USSR (as was rock n' roll music) in communist countries... For the Scorpions to be allowed to come and perform in the Soviet Union was another sign that things were changing in Europe significantly - even Soviet Premiere Gorbachev was a fan of Scorpions.
And finally, the (re)unification of Germany in 1990 was something to celebrate for Germans who were born and raised on either side of the Berlin wall, unable to reach out to their own people in East Germany (who were under communist rule).
It truly was the end of an era.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. THRILLED to see this reaction!
Scorpions - "The Zoo" 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I agree 100%
How the hell can you be an adult and hear Scorpions for the first time in 2024? How is it even possible?
billions people in the world, not surprising some didn't hear it before
Who are the scorpions?
This is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands. These dudes know how to make good music
Excellent song!
This song reminds me of the time when my country, Latvia, gained independence from the USSR. 1989 was the year we all as nation stood together forming the Baltic Way and protested against the occupation. This song was huge back then and will always be part of the freedom movement.
I so love this song!! Brings back memories from my life, these guys are a great band performing great music!!❤
Thanks for all of your reactions guys!!❤❤
One of those songs! That still makes me feel like I can sleep, without my finger on the trigger!
The song and video are amazing.
GRANDE BANDA
GRANDES BALADAS
GRANDES MUSICAS
Having lived through the era, the song is still very powerful -- especially when you've experienced a little bit of what it was like before Glasnost, and nowhere as much as in Berlin.
I was 17 and on a school trip to (then West-)Berlin, back in 1973. The Youth Hostel we were staying at was in one of the not-so-nice suburbs; when we arrived, the first thing the staff told us was not to go into the park right across the street at night because someone had been knifed to death there just two days ago.
But anyway, we had to take the subway train to get downtown to the sights, and as the train tracks predated the building of the Wall in 1961, some of the stations lay underneath what was then East Berlin -- and not in use. The train would slow down to almost walking speed passing through those stations, and you could clearly see the East German military patrols on the platforms -- teams of two, full combat gear, semi-automatic guns at the ready, and an attack dog at their feet. They were there not only to prevent non-East Germans from getting off the trains but also to make sure that no East German jumped/climbed on to escape the GDR.
This was bad enough during daytime; a deserted, dimly-lit subway station is always depressing, but imagine coming home at night passing through -- spooky is too mild a word to describe those five minutes of slow driving, especially knowing that you were actually passing underneath the Wall and past the Bernauer Strasse, an address that had seen some of the most tragic moments of people making last-ditch attempts to flee almost total isolation by jumping out of 3rd-story windows, using knotted bedsheets ... all the clichés, really, and remembering that this had happened just a little over 10 years earlier.
So yeah, the song brings back a lot of memories. 🙂
I agree with some of the other comments I have read. You did lead a sheltered music life. The Scorpions were near the end of their career, it's true, and they were typically not known for ballads. This era, from 88 - 91, was. Just about every rock band, including my beloved KISS, put out a ballad and had voilah - the biggest hits of their career. Still Loving You was huge also but this far outdid what the band expected. The song was released in 1990 and was monumental in seeing the Berlin Wall go down finally uniting the people of Germany. Epic song.
One of the most profoundly stirring rock songs ever, so much that governments could learn if they would listen to these lyrics.
" Polar Nights " - SCORPIONS 1976 🎸 this song has some of the very best heavy guitar riffs throughout the entire song and those drums too ,so very cool.
It brings tears to ones eyes when you witness just how brutal man has treated one another throughout these dark hallmark moments in history!
the sad thing for me is , it seems we are again at a new circle. humanity never learns. -.-
Back in the early 80s, Klaus lost his voice. He thought his singing career was over, but after two vocal cord surgeries and voice therapy, he came back with his voice as strong as ever.
Great song and reaction,,,,,💥💥💥👍
The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin. It was a physical wall that was guarded; people were killed trying to scale the wall. We were close, like brothers, makes me think of this, and what it must have been like to have been in Berlin when the wall came down. Killer band, killer song. Check out The Zoo.
The Berlin Wall fell in late 1989. The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 and the Russians got out of Germany and Eastern Europe at that time.
Yes, this is a German band, singing about the time around when the wall came down, as well as the demise of the Iron Curtain, which would lead to the reunification of their country. So, yes, this was a song with meaning.
The very first time I heard this was while watching a Filipino cover band in Singapore. They nailed it, (including the whistle) I had been at sea so didn't get to hear it before that.
I LOVE the Scorpions.
I rock with them, but this my favorite song.
10/03/2017 Grand Sierra Resort Reno 😎😎
Such a pretty and powerful song ♥
When this came out, I was 9 going on 10.
I remember hearing it all the time on the radio, back then (even well into '91!).
In fact, I kind of have an inside antic-dote I've kept to myself all these years..
Summer of '90, my parents take us to Bemidji, MN for an overnight hotel stay.
And on the way, naturally, the radio played this tune.
So whenever I hear this song to this very day, I can't help but think of the lyrics..
.. *Take Me, To Bemidji, Minnesota! On a Glory Night* . . .
Even if i was just a teenager back in 89 ,i stillunderstood this song power afterwards.
When you mention the involvement of Russian influence in the song, at one point it seems to say "Let your Balalaika sing what my guitar wants to sing".
A Balalaika is a Russian musical instrument, similar to a guitar, mainly made out of wood.
Yes, she is on spot what she said
Great Scorpions song!
the best one for me: "send me an angel". give this a listen as well.
Great song, Very Moving Song.. ( Send Me An Angel) is another Awesome song to listen to.
I was in Germany when the wall came down. I remember the day very well. I was in Aschaffenburg Germany as an MP. I think they were from Hanau which was just a few miles away from Aschaffenburg.
Berlin wall fell the 9th november 1989, i was at berlin at this moment. Soviet union became Russia in 1991.
The World Wide Live album is a must for anyone who calls themselves rock lovers. All songs are awesome. Adding to the suggestions already made, Dynamite is also a banger. Have a nice day, Phill and Sam.
Thank you for taking on this song. There are some things to this that you had to live through to get. This wasn't a song about politics or economics. It's a song about putting aside our differences in an amazing time. Here's where it gets hard to describe. For decades prior to this, we really believed we were a heartbeat away from ending the world. It's a mindset that thankfully we do not experience now. The 80s have been described as a decade of excess. In part, that's because we would be gone tomorrow, so carpe diem! This song is the best expression that I'm aware of that captures the release of that. To go from horror to flowers in what seemed like a breath is like no other experience.
From the perspective of a European, each side of this emotion was even more intense. After all, that's where the war would start. Specifically, Germany was ground zero. Entire generations on both sides of that wall knew they were going to be the first to die when Kennedy and Khrushchev decided they had enough. Yes, Russia and China are featured, but they were the oppressors (and their people were victims, too). The real story was Eastern Europe.
On a side note, I think that's why 911 hit us so hard. We had just come out of certain destruction into a beautiful world. Then a little reality smacked us upside the head.
My mother and her family lived in Berlin during the Airlift when the Cold War was really heating up. My grandparents had met during WWII (grandfather bomber pilot, grandmother army nurse). My mother's first language was actually German because of it. My grandfather reflected on it as a scary time....having to go through checkpoints...both sides posturing with itchy trigger fingers, et al. Very fragile relationship with the Soviets although they had been part of the Allied forces. That's sort of how Berlin wound up getting cut, separating the East and West. Yes...touching song. Ironic that some of that tension is starting to really heat up again. I remember when the wall came down and everyone was so happy.
One of the most important songs in human history
Old Cold Warrior here. Loved this then, love it now. Thanks.
The song was about the Berlin wall being torn down. In Germany familys were split. You had part of the family trapped on the other side of the wall. The original vid was all about thevwall. Soneone changed it to be more world involving.
I heard and liked this song a lot before I saw the video. The video definitely added a lot more emotion for me. You should check out “Rock you Like a Hurricane” or “The Zoo” next 😊
The Zoo 👍
Big City Lights as well. Three very good suggestions. All from the World Wide Live album.
1961 was the year the Berlin Wall was built, hence the intro.
Some of the best ballads in history have been written by hard rock bands. People ask me what I mean by that and this is one of the first songs I point them to. If you were alive at the time it is impossible not to get emotional when hearing this. It captured the feeling of the entire world.
This is a song of peace ... the end of the cold war ... the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Sails of charon - great guitar.
How much hope we had back than. Not only in Germany but in Europe as a whole. 🙏
Did you guys react to rock you like a hurricane yet? If not that's your next scorpions song to check out
Huge Scorpions fan. I believe Hanover Germany. Also Klaus wrote this song I believe after they(A German band) played in Russia and of course the fall of the Berlin Wall
I LOVE his voice
I did not know they were German. I've been listening to their music since '93. What a song!
The voice at the end is astronaut Sally Ride.
As a Canadian, I'm proud to see our flag! 🇨🇦
1:38: The answer is: Hannover. Actually, the ice hockey team from Hannover is called Scorpions as well.
une belle chanson d'espoir dans ce monde qui devient fou 😪👍
Key references in the lyrics:
(1) "Moskva" is the Russian name for both Moscow and a river that runs through Moscow.
(2) "Gorky Park" is a major park in Moscow along the Moskva River.
(3) "Balalaika" is a Russian guitar-like instrument with a triangular body.
I don't think that anyone born after the fall of the Berlin wall can't appreciate just how important this song was and still is, and the emotions that songs brings. For us who lived through the cold war,, the fall of the Berlin wall was a major historic moment and it means a lot to us.
I remember a lot of the events in this video 1st hand...very nostalgic for me😢👍❤️🎩
Rock You Like A Hurricane and The Zoo are two other awesome songs by the Scorpions.