Personally I knew this song since I was a kid, and a very funny uncle told me it was English in order to make fun. Haha This and "Rock me Amadeus" from the Austrian singer Falco. Great times. Now I live in Germany and revisited the song as part of my studies. :D Amazed by how deep the lyrics are.
Ganz klar: GTA Vice City, aber auch durch meine Eltern. In Vice City waren glaube ich auch beide Versionen (deutsch und englisch) vertreten. :) Liebe Grüße :D
I remember this song from the radio. They played mostly the English version but sometimes you would here the German version too. I thought it was so cool that it made it's way into the Vice City soundtrack.
Heard this song a lot back in the 80's in the US in both German and English versions. I had a general idea of what it was about, but your analysis nails it down. Really enjoyed your video, so now you need to do one on Rock me Amadeus (ht to Robsilvergun) and Der Komissar to stay with the 80's pop music theme.
America’s relationship with this song has been pretty weird. It was the only songs by Nena to be known in America ,but since we got it in the original German first many people were oblivious to the lyrics and so a peppy song about a nuclear holocaust was played everywhere in the 80’s. In fact in Nena’s own words this is why the English version didn’t take off as well. Even today it’s been used in weird places like a JC Penny’s commercial. This is the kind of thing you would see in a satirical Cold War film. Also I have the International Album (typos included) on vinyl!
I must admit- at 15 years old watching MTV- I was completely oblivious to the meaning (ALL WORDS EXCEPT *99 LUFT BALLOONS*- and I actually had forgotten ABOUT how much I LOVED THIS SONG-- Until my Daughter 14 year old was listening to ""HER OWN MUSIC"- and in a Song by the Jamaican artist "ELEPHANT MAN"- when I clearly heard 99 lift balloons in his remixed INTO his *MODERN DAY REGGAE / R&B/ GENRE?? But.... She is very secure in her identity,style,&choices OF music- MUSICIANS MAKE GREAT MOMS!! She likes PINK FLOYD to PINK- BOB MARLEY to ELEPHANT MAN- ROLLING STONES TO GREENDAY AND LIKE any teenager- SOME MUSIC THAT FEELS LIKE NOISE POLITION-- BUT.....""SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES NENA NOW- And added 99 lift balloons to her song LIST- she played the lyrics version ""AS I CHUCKLED KNOWING IT WAS ALL GERMAN" and although my best friend IN high school had a grandfather explain the song TO US- he didn't translate each word. So...... I am now interested to LISTEN WHAT Elephant MAN was actually singing ABOUT AND if he just liked the beat to remix- or if he is expressing views that are somewhat similar in Modern times?? Time to research "BREAK DOWN BOTH VERSIONS" But I e been told the English version OF THIS- is far from an interpretation- and is not close to accurate. Any suggestions?? I dont have a translator app downloaded on this phone- SO IF ANYONE VAN HELP ME OUT (BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAVE MORE FREE TIME TO DO THE FOOT WORK :P) MUCH OBLIGED and I AM SO GLAD "I" GREW UP IN THE 80's!!
When I was in Year 7 (Sydney Australia) we had a "Language Day" at our school. We studied French, German and Japanese for one term each (we had three terms) and this amazing song was played as part of the German component... it takes me straight back to 1984!!!
I always took it as reference to the anxiety of the cold war causing alarm where none was needed. Militaries on such high alert that 99 balloons flying in their airspace would trigger a full response, and counter response, creating a global destroying nuclear war. That was really a fear at the time.
The song is a very incisive warning about human folly leading to a terminal nuclear war. Nena could not have known it at the time, but on September 26, 1983, all human life nearly came to an end for almost the reasons described in the song. In a state of high alert following dangerous provocations by Ronald Reagan (e.g. stationing Pershing missiles near the periphery of the USSR), a Soviet satellite misinterpreted reflections off the tops of clouds as a US missile strike. The reason this did not trigger a nuclear war is that, with scant time to make a decision, Soviet Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov decided the satellites were issuing a false alarm, and he did not pass the information up the chain of command. And that is why we're alive today. That was hardly the only such brush with death of the human species. See the publication by the Union of Concerned Scientists titled "Close Calls with Nuclear Weapons" for several others.
Also militairy excercises, like the one from NATO later in 1983 triggert almost a nucleaire war. I forgot the name of the excercise, but its the same as the name of the last episode of Deutschland '83.
The stills of the videoclip were made in the Netherlands for the TV show TopPop. With help of the dutch army. Ik met a guy who worked on this video and he told the militairy liked it to work on it, especialy the diesel burning.
2:46 My translation on that verse: "Have you got any time for me?" "In that case I'll sing a song for you" "It's about Ninety-nine Air Balloons" "On their way to the horizon" "Do you maybe think about me just now?" "In that case I'll sing a song for you" "It's about Ninety-nine air balloons" "And the way that something comes from something." "The Ninety-nine air balloons" "Are on their way to the horizon" "They were believed to be UFO's (Unidentified Flying Objects) from outer space" "and Therefore a general sent" "A squadron behind" "To pound the alarm if it would be so" "Yet there on the horizon" "Were only just ninety-nine air balloons" "Ninety-nine of those jet fighters" "Were a great warrior each" "Professing themselves to be Captain-Kirk-like" "And there were big fireworks" "The neighbors understood nothing" "And it felt equally annoying" "And here we shot Ninety-nine Air Ballons" "Up on the horizon" "Ninety-nine ministers of war/war ministers" "[with] Matchsticks and Jennycans" "Professing themselves to be smart wise people" "But already sensed a rich-looking prey of theirs" "They called for war and they wanted power" "Oh man, who would have thought of that?" "And it all comes to this" "All because of those Ninety-nine air balloons." "Through ninety-nine years of war" "There were no winners and were no room left for that" "War ministers no longer exist" "Nor do Jet Fighters" "Here and today I do my rounds" "Whilst seeing the world lie in ruins" "And so I've found an air balloon" "And I think of you, and I let it fly (up/away)"
American here. I was taught it was ultimately about people trying to communicate across the wall between East and West by my German teacher in the late 80s. Art will be seen in many ways by different people and cultures.
The English version of the song, 99 Red Balloons, has significantly different lyrics, and much of the original meaning of the song is lost. I was 12 years old when this song came out. The radio station would sometimes play the English version and sometimes the German version. I didn't understand German at the time, but even back then I preferred the German version.
@@barryhessel6078 yes, and the word "rot" is not anywhere in the original German version of the song. When the English version was written by a UK songwriter and not the band songwriters, he must have been told to deliberately remove the literal translation of "Luft" ("air") balloons and replace it with red balloons. But why? What was the problem with the word "air"? Too close to the word "airship" perhaps? Airships were common during WWII times. Also, the original UFO reference from the German version was removed ("the 99 balloons were mistaken to be UFOs"). Someone in the UK & US governments did not want the English version to mention UFOs or air (ship) balloons. A rather extreme stance to take for a seemingly innocently written song. Very interesting....
@@CarrieLuikens No, that was not the reason it wasn't translated to ait balloons, and the sentence with red was made up. It's very simple and not a conspiracy thing at all. Just that the English word balloon in German is Luftballon. (That differs from Dutch, by the way). If you translate to air balloon, makes no sense, and is incorrect in English, and should be 'hot air balloon' in English. But that word has a whole different meaning, so could not be used either.
Instant sub. This is EXACTLY what I looked for. I especially loved how you gave us the lyrics as a poem; it made German more attractive as a language. Furthermore, your interpret music just as skillfully! Danke schön!
@@rogerexwood6608 Then I will tell you some of my history, Roger. Which you are, of course, free to believe or disbelieve. I started in oil field sales of field services, not actual oil sales, in 1977 at age 27. I continued in that basic line of work until 2016, a total of 39 years. I gave seminars and made calls on engineering and corporate levels all over the world and was asked by my company to go to Russia and open their first district there. (I declined because I was getting ready to retire). Now here's the bottom line. In all those 39 years and in the 100's of thousand's of conversations I had, most with highly educated and intelligent people, I never once heard a single person utter the word "zeitgeist". Edit: And still haven't.
My favorite translation of "Und dass sowas von sowas kommt" is "And from such (these) things do such (these) things come". It's not the way English speakers speak, but it's poetic English and I love it.
Its fascinating to me that. Realy never listened to the english version of this ,nor did I dig out a translation..the fascinating bit is that it’s so clear ,taken the time and politics of the era come through clearly to me as an English only speaker
Soo.... yes I was that kid growing up in the 80's in a place where no english or german was the native language and heard this song on the radio (the only pop/rock foreign language radio station in the region) a couple of times a day in both English and German. I may have memorized the lyrics in English without a clue what was really this song about, until just now thanks to your video.
I just want to point out how I love that you use orchestra versions of Nena's songs as background music, I only realised when irgendwie irgendwo irgendwann came up, but it got me to go back just to listen to the background music!
The English version of this song is very different from the original German version (obviously). The original is actually darker than the one i hear, "99 years of war" sent a shiver down my spine. Anyway great video 👌
Thanks for translating. The lyrics in the already-done English version (99 Red Balloons) are often very different to those in 99 Luftballons so this is still really helpful. I much prefer the lyrics in this version as the ones in 99 Red Balloons just aren't as good or meaningful as the original German
Very interesting analysis of the song. Great video! :) This song is very famous and often played on the Radio. The English version of the song is actually played very rarely here. It is mostly only played in German. I prefer the German version, it is way better.
Lyrics To 99 Red Balloons Go By. You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got. Set them free at the break of dawn, Till' one by one, they were gone. Back at base, bugs in software, flash the message, somethings out Floating in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x34. 99 Red balloons floating in the summer sky, Panic bells it's red alert. There's something here from somewhere else. The war machine springs to life, opens up one eager eye. Focusing it on the sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x9. 99 decision street, 99 minister's meet. To worry, worry, super scurry, call the troops out in a hurry. This is what we've waited for, this is it boys, this is war. The president is on the line, as 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x31. 99 knights of the air ride super high tech jet fighters. Everyone's a superhero, everyones a Captain Good. With Orders to identify, to clarify, and classify. Scramble in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x6. As 99 red balloons go byyyyyyyyyyy!. 99 dreams I have had, in every one, a red balloon. It's all over and I'm standing pretty, in this dust that was a city. If I could find a souvenier, just to prove the world was here. And here is a red balloon, I think of you and let it go. Hope you liked this?
Thanks for a great video and that you read the German lyrics so clearly. Makes it easier for me as a non German speaker to mimic :) I´m wondering if you could to a video like this with Nur Geträumt by Blümchen?
Der Kommissar is my favorit. I would sing 99 luftballons at bars during kareoke. Great song. "I'm going to translate it into English" uSeS aMeRiCaN fLaG!
this discreption actually makes better sense then what my cousin told me when we was little kids in the late 80s. she told me it was about some German kids that where killed during world war 2 in an accidental bombing or something. being young and not really knowing anything about world war 2 at the time (because in America we don't really learn about it until 7th grade before that we just read Anne Frank's diary or Number the Stars.) but after growing up and see more to life this makes better sense. cool cause this is one of my favorite songs and my first introduction to German anything lol.
Thank you Dave you’ve read my mind, because i found this song a few weeks ago watching Tracey Ullman as Merkel. And I’ve watched the original video and song, and the English version. It’s great that you gave as an insight and the story behind it.
4:28 I'd rather translate "Zeitgeist" to "Time spirit" or "Time mind". "Geist" is not only the spooky "Ghost" but also the mind, the spirit, the brain. "Futter für den Geist.." ".. sagte er im Geist .."
Both versions of the song are wonderful, but I like the German one more. Funny story: Every time I go to Smith's (a supermarket), without fail, at some point during my visit, I hear it on their radio. It's true! 😃
I know this from its release. In 1983 tensions between the east and the west were high. Two incidents took place that might have triggerd WW3. One was a computer error. The second was a NATO exercise. Basis for the german tv serie Deutschland 83. By the way. The stills from the video clip. Are from a recording of the Dutch popmusic show. Toppop. The scenes were shot on militairy exercise grounds in the Netherlands with the help of the duch army. They did like to make those fireblast with diesel.
Pretty sure we danced to it in the bars of Vail, Colorado, back then... 😂🎉❤ and I see it as a brilliant anti-nuke anthem... Danke sehr und lassen fliegen... 🔥
Lyrics To 99 Red Balloons Go By. You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got. Set them free at the break of dawn, Till' one by one, they were gone. Back at base, bugs in software, flash the message, somethings out Floating in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x34. 99 Red balloons floating in the summer sky, Panic bells it's red alert. There's something here from somewhere else. The war machine springs to life, opens up one eager eye. Focusing it on the sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x9. 99 decision street, 99 minister's meet. To worry, worry, super scurry, call the troops out in a hurry. This is what we've waited for, this is it boys, this is war. The president is on the line, as 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x31. 99 knights of the air ride super high tech jet fighters. Everyone's a superhero, everyones a Captain Good. With Orders to identify, to clarify, and classify. Scramble in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x6. As 99 red balloons go byyyyyyyyyyy!. 99 dreams I have had, in every one, a red balloon. It's all over and I'm standing pretty, in this dust that was a city. If I could find a souvenier, just to prove the world was here. And here is a red balloon, I think of you and let it go.
It’s funny you say put the song on the other screen, as if we’re not already pretty familiar with the songs/videos already 😂😂 (at least me..) sort of why we‘re here and everything :P A while ago someone told me that the overall theme of the song is essentially everybody calm down, and judging by the story it tells in a sort of “this is what can happen when everyone’s freaking out” sort of mindset, it definitely saves accurate :P
This song is up there with Fight Fire With Fire (by Metallica if you don't know) from the time period. One of the most/best GenX songs ever., and touches me in the feels to this day.
Very nice VlogDave. There is a well documented history during this period of time, and Nena captured the Angst of the period. There is an excellent TV series entitled "Deutschland 83" which really captures the tension and real possibility of conflict during that time. Anyone interested in reading some historical context can read about "Able Archer" as well.
I was hoping you'd also discuss how the English version by Kevin McAlea compares with the original German. Let me compare them then and talk about it as an extension or sequel to your video. Cheers!
@@DefinitelyGerman Compared the two in my review of "99 Luftballons" and NENA. Video is on my channel. Can't post links. Would appreciate if you can check it out.
To be accurate, one of the most popular german song in german language. There are much more popular songs and singers people forget are germans, like Scorpions and Sandra. Germany have many shameful and horrific past. But musically speaking, from classical to modern music, they all show deep emotions. May it be martial rythm, despair or hopes. Let us remind that many military songs take from its rythms or meanings.
Always loved this song as a kid. In England we werecalways aware of what a war with the Russians would be. Total apocalypse. No winners. But I guess that's just me . Any way how about some stuff on xmal duetschland
O whom has not seen in the still of the night A dark dangerous sight that one's never encountered Such sharp claws and sharp teeth plus a big jaw that bites. It was so ominous not even a sound was heard . That was a demon. And it was fiendish. Yet there were times when we dragged it out of this land. The hunt just keeps going, I see it inside My heart tells me "I must go on hunting tonight!"
in the music video nena walks through a forrest in the end but the song ends with nena walking through the devistated ruins of the world then finding a red balloon
I'm a writer on history and the Cold War. Do you mind if I repair your English translations? I can't speak German, so I would only try to improve YOUR German-to-English translation. Let me know...
40 years on, this song is as relatable as it was in 1983. FOX news and US conservatives are sounding the alarms. The Chinese government set the trap, the Americans took to bait.
I have never heard the German version in the USA. I will search for it on youtube. I find this video to be extremely educational for me. We Americans do not know much about Germans even in 2018. Which is sad because all of the deaths from WW2 might have been avoided.
Nena is the greatest new wave singer of that era. I have to think that if that song had been properly translated, she would have become an international superstar. Who came up with that nonsensical "toy shop" lyrics anyway? The English version makes absolutely no sense. Everyone I have ever talked to, even if they don't know a word of German thinks the German version is way better.
I have always loved the gorgeous Nena, and remembered her first appearance on the British TV show Top of the Pops, she had hairy armpits, as German girls did in those days, here next appearance, she had shaved, pity.
I've caught on to the fact that the lyrics were different when reading the lyrics in German and listening. I felt there was so much more to say in the German song than in the American version. So many people do come off as oblivious to what the German song is saying. I found it bothersome or annoying to a degree. I hear people here in America thinking they know it all about the translation just because they listen to both versions.
I wonder: How many of you guys actually know this song since the 80s and who learned about it while playing GTA Vice City? :D
Personally I knew this song since I was a kid, and a very funny uncle told me it was English in order to make fun. Haha This and "Rock me Amadeus" from the Austrian singer Falco. Great times. Now I live in Germany and revisited the song as part of my studies. :D Amazed by how deep the lyrics are.
Ganz klar: GTA Vice City, aber auch durch meine Eltern. In Vice City waren glaube ich auch beide Versionen (deutsch und englisch) vertreten. :) Liebe Grüße :D
I remember this song from the radio. They played mostly the English version but sometimes you would here the German version too. I thought it was so cool that it made it's way into the Vice City soundtrack.
Heard this song a lot back in the 80's in the US in both German and English versions. I had a general idea of what it was about, but your analysis nails it down. Really enjoyed your video, so now you need to do one on Rock me Amadeus (ht to Robsilvergun) and Der Komissar to stay with the 80's pop music theme.
I knew it as a child and was reminded of it again on scrubs after many years of not hearing it. :)
America’s relationship with this song has been pretty weird. It was the only songs by Nena to be known in America ,but since we got it in the original German first many people were oblivious to the lyrics and so a peppy song about a nuclear holocaust was played everywhere in the 80’s. In fact in Nena’s own words this is why the English version didn’t take off as well. Even today it’s been used in weird places like a JC Penny’s commercial. This is the kind of thing you would see in a satirical Cold War film.
Also I have the International Album (typos included) on vinyl!
very good informative comment , thank you .
I must admit- at 15 years old watching MTV- I was completely oblivious to the meaning (ALL WORDS EXCEPT *99 LUFT BALLOONS*- and I actually had forgotten ABOUT how much I LOVED THIS SONG-- Until my Daughter 14 year old was listening to ""HER OWN MUSIC"- and in a Song by the Jamaican artist "ELEPHANT MAN"- when I clearly heard 99 lift balloons in his remixed INTO his *MODERN DAY REGGAE / R&B/ GENRE?? But....
She is very secure in her identity,style,&choices OF music- MUSICIANS MAKE GREAT MOMS!! She likes PINK FLOYD to PINK- BOB MARLEY to ELEPHANT MAN- ROLLING STONES TO GREENDAY AND LIKE any teenager- SOME MUSIC THAT FEELS LIKE NOISE POLITION-- BUT.....""SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES NENA NOW- And added 99 lift balloons to her song LIST- she played the lyrics version ""AS I CHUCKLED KNOWING IT WAS ALL GERMAN" and although my best friend IN high school had a grandfather explain the song TO US- he didn't translate each word. So...... I am now interested to LISTEN WHAT Elephant MAN was actually singing ABOUT AND if he just liked the beat to remix- or if he is expressing views that are somewhat similar in Modern times?? Time to research "BREAK DOWN BOTH VERSIONS" But I e been told the English version OF THIS- is far from an interpretation- and is not close to accurate. Any suggestions?? I dont have a translator app downloaded on this phone- SO IF ANYONE VAN HELP ME OUT (BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAVE MORE FREE TIME TO DO THE FOOT WORK :P) MUCH OBLIGED and I AM SO GLAD "I" GREW UP IN THE 80's!!
@@jenniferpritchard144 Van Halen to Mozart?
I like both its pretty good.
@@jenniferpritchard144 (um, you know this is what the video is all about?)
One of the happiest scary songs ever!
And Pumped up Kicks to
Ikr
Indeed 🤪
@@kalakalboy5272 frrr lol I used to love that song (I still like it but I don't love it lol)
When I was in Year 7 (Sydney Australia) we had a "Language Day" at our school. We studied French, German and Japanese for one term each (we had three terms) and this amazing song was played as part of the German component... it takes me straight back to 1984!!!
I always took it as reference to the anxiety of the cold war causing alarm where none was needed. Militaries on such high alert that 99 balloons flying in their airspace would trigger a full response, and counter response, creating a global destroying nuclear war.
That was really a fear at the time.
@@casemcdonald2152 it’s a real fear in 2024 also
The song is a very incisive warning about human folly leading to a terminal nuclear war. Nena could not have known it at the time, but on September 26, 1983, all human life nearly came to an end for almost the reasons described in the song.
In a state of high alert following dangerous provocations by Ronald Reagan (e.g. stationing Pershing missiles near the periphery of the USSR), a Soviet satellite misinterpreted reflections off the tops of clouds as a US missile strike. The reason this did not trigger a nuclear war is that, with scant time to make a decision, Soviet Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov decided the satellites were issuing a false alarm, and he did not pass the information up the chain of command.
And that is why we're alive today.
That was hardly the only such brush with death of the human species. See the publication by the Union of Concerned Scientists titled "Close Calls with Nuclear Weapons" for several others.
;-;
Also militairy excercises, like the one from NATO later in 1983 triggert almost a nucleaire war. I forgot the name of the excercise, but its the same as the name of the last episode of Deutschland '83.
The stills of the videoclip were made in the Netherlands for the TV show TopPop. With help of the dutch army. Ik met a guy who worked on this video and he told the militairy liked it to work on it, especialy the diesel burning.
@@derpeek Able Archer
Wow. Thank you guys for the history lessons, truly 💪
2:46 My translation on that verse:
"Have you got any time for me?"
"In that case I'll sing a song for you"
"It's about Ninety-nine Air Balloons"
"On their way to the horizon"
"Do you maybe think about me just now?"
"In that case I'll sing a song for you"
"It's about Ninety-nine air balloons"
"And the way that something comes from something."
"The Ninety-nine air balloons"
"Are on their way to the horizon"
"They were believed to be UFO's (Unidentified Flying Objects) from outer space"
"and Therefore a general sent"
"A squadron behind"
"To pound the alarm if it would be so"
"Yet there on the horizon"
"Were only just ninety-nine air balloons"
"Ninety-nine of those jet fighters"
"Were a great warrior each"
"Professing themselves to be Captain-Kirk-like"
"And there were big fireworks"
"The neighbors understood nothing"
"And it felt equally annoying"
"And here we shot Ninety-nine Air Ballons"
"Up on the horizon"
"Ninety-nine ministers of war/war ministers"
"[with] Matchsticks and Jennycans"
"Professing themselves to be smart wise people"
"But already sensed a rich-looking prey of theirs"
"They called for war and they wanted power"
"Oh man, who would have thought of that?"
"And it all comes to this"
"All because of those Ninety-nine air balloons."
"Through ninety-nine years of war"
"There were no winners and were no room left for that"
"War ministers no longer exist"
"Nor do Jet Fighters"
"Here and today I do my rounds"
"Whilst seeing the world lie in ruins"
"And so I've found an air balloon"
"And I think of you, and I let it fly (up/away)"
"Matchsticks and Jennycans" makes more sense, thank you.
American here. I was taught it was ultimately about people trying to communicate across the wall between East and West by my German teacher in the late 80s. Art will be seen in many ways by different people and cultures.
...and that is a strong suit of art and lyrics, I think! :)
I agree
The English version of the song, 99 Red Balloons, has significantly different lyrics, and much of the original meaning of the song is lost. I was 12 years old when this song came out. The radio station would sometimes play the English version and sometimes the German version. I didn't understand German at the time, but even back then I preferred the German version.
Me too.
Also the word red is rot in German.
I preferred the English version it fit the cold war at that time. I was the in Germany facing off the Soviets across the Fulda Gap.
@@barryhessel6078 yes, and the word "rot" is not anywhere in the original German version of the song. When the English version was written by a UK songwriter and not the band songwriters, he must have been told to deliberately remove the literal translation of "Luft" ("air") balloons and replace it with red balloons. But why? What was the problem with the word "air"? Too close to the word "airship" perhaps? Airships were common during WWII times. Also, the original UFO reference from the German version was removed ("the 99 balloons were mistaken to be UFOs"). Someone in the UK & US governments did not want the English version to mention UFOs or air (ship) balloons. A rather extreme stance to take for a seemingly innocently written song. Very interesting....
@@CarrieLuikens No, that was not the reason it wasn't translated to ait balloons, and the sentence with red was made up. It's very simple and not a conspiracy thing at all.
Just that the English word balloon in German is Luftballon. (That differs from Dutch, by the way). If you translate to air balloon, makes no sense, and is incorrect in English, and should be 'hot air balloon' in English. But that word has a whole different meaning, so could not be used either.
Grossartige Interpretation für Leute die weder die Sprache verstehen, noch die Zeit miterlebt haben. Danke!
Instant sub. This is EXACTLY what I looked for.
I especially loved how you gave us the lyrics as a poem; it made German more attractive as a language. Furthermore, your interpret music just as skillfully!
Danke schön!
Yes, "der Zeitgeist" literally translates to "the timeghost", but the actual translation is more correctly stated as "the spirit of the times".
True. I prefer giving literal translations in these situations though, because it directly shows the components of the loan word in question.
Not really necessary to translate ‘zeitgeist’ ....one of the few German words in regular English use
Roger Exwood
Unless you're one of the Trump cult.....you know, an illiterate jackass!
@@dr.OgataSerizawa Is there a place anyone can go that TDS isn't present.....Really take your head out of UR A Sheep!
@@rogerexwood6608 Then I will tell you some of my history, Roger. Which you are, of course, free to believe or disbelieve. I started in oil field sales of field services, not actual oil sales, in 1977 at age 27. I continued in that basic line of work until 2016, a total of 39 years. I gave seminars and made calls on engineering and corporate levels all over the world and was asked by my company to go to Russia and open their first district there. (I declined because I was getting ready to retire). Now here's the bottom line. In all those 39 years and in the 100's of thousand's of conversations I had, most with highly educated and intelligent people, I never once heard a single person utter the word "zeitgeist". Edit: And still haven't.
My favorite translation of "Und dass sowas von sowas kommt" is "And from such (these) things do such (these) things come". It's not the way English speakers speak, but it's poetic English and I love it.
OMG Dave!! Yes!! I've heard this German song on the radio here in the US many times!! Thanks for sharing
Its fascinating to me that. Realy never listened to the english version of this ,nor did I dig out a translation..the fascinating bit is that it’s so clear ,taken the time and politics of the era come through clearly to me as an English only speaker
Soo.... yes I was that kid growing up in the 80's in a place where no english or german was the native language and heard this song on the radio (the only pop/rock foreign language radio station in the region) a couple of times a day in both English and German. I may have memorized the lyrics in English without a clue what was really this song about, until just now thanks to your video.
I just want to point out how I love that you use orchestra versions of Nena's songs as background music, I only realised when irgendwie irgendwo irgendwann came up, but it got me to go back just to listen to the background music!
The English version of this song is very different from the original German version (obviously). The original is actually darker than the one i hear, "99 years of war" sent a shiver down my spine. Anyway great video 👌
I actually like this song
I have actually listened to German pop music from the 80s from groups like CC Catch, Modern talking, alphaville, and really dig it
I liked this song so much that I bought the 45 record(one side is English the other German) and also bought the sheet music.
Thanks for translating. The lyrics in the already-done English version (99 Red Balloons) are often very different to those in 99 Luftballons so this is still really helpful. I much prefer the lyrics in this version as the ones in 99 Red Balloons just aren't as good or meaningful as the original German
Du bist ein neues Follower bekommen. Ich! Liebe Grüße aus Polen ;)
Very interesting analysis of the song. Great video! :) This song is very famous and often played on the Radio. The English version of the song is actually played very rarely here. It is mostly only played in German. I prefer the German version, it is way better.
Where is “here”?
@@dr.OgataSerizawa The US.
Beautiful interpretation, but historically pertinent and likely accurate. Love it!
Lyrics To 99 Red Balloons Go By.
You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got. Set them free at the break of dawn, Till' one by one, they were gone. Back at base, bugs in software, flash the message, somethings out Floating in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x34. 99 Red balloons floating in the summer sky, Panic bells it's red alert. There's something here from somewhere else. The war machine springs to life, opens up one eager eye. Focusing it on the sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x9. 99 decision street, 99 minister's meet. To worry, worry, super scurry, call the troops out in a hurry. This is what we've waited for, this is it boys, this is war. The president is on the line, as 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x31. 99 knights of the air ride super high tech jet fighters. Everyone's a superhero, everyones a Captain Good. With Orders to identify, to clarify, and classify. Scramble in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x6. As 99 red balloons go byyyyyyyyyyy!. 99 dreams I have had, in every one, a red balloon. It's all over and I'm standing pretty, in this dust that was a city. If I could find a souvenier, just to prove the world was here. And here is a red balloon, I think of you and let it go. Hope you liked this?
This was AWESOME! I missed out on so much as a kid only knowing the English! Thank you!
Thanks for a great video and that you read the German lyrics so clearly. Makes it easier for me as a non German speaker to mimic :)
I´m wondering if you could to a video like this with Nur Geträumt by Blümchen?
Der Kommissar is my favorit. I would sing 99 luftballons at bars during kareoke. Great song.
"I'm going to translate it into English"
uSeS aMeRiCaN fLaG!
Zeitgeist - lit. "time spirit". Spirit of the time. Geist can mean "ghost" but also "spirit".
this discreption actually makes better sense then what my cousin told me when we was little kids in the late 80s. she told me it was about some German kids that where killed during world war 2 in an accidental bombing or something. being young and not really knowing anything about world war 2 at the time (because in America we don't really learn about it until 7th grade before that we just read Anne Frank's diary or Number the Stars.) but after growing up and see more to life this makes better sense. cool cause this is one of my favorite songs and my first introduction to German anything lol.
Most recognizable bass line EVER!
Thank you Dave you’ve read my mind, because i found this song a few weeks ago watching Tracey Ullman as Merkel. And I’ve watched the original video and song, and the English version. It’s great that you gave as an insight and the story behind it.
All I know is I can sing this song from beginning to end and people think I'm a rocket scientist 🤪🤯🤩🦄🦄🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lol i bet you can 😏
I'm German and I always swallow some words of it lol. It's a nice song to learn German. Still one of the best and not cringey German songs ^^
I'm not even 3 minutes in and I already love your video! Great production and thank you so much! Music is everything .
Blue Skies Truth Radio
Thank you for explaining the song. Appreciate your commentary 🎈
Thank you, Mark!
I liked it right away, and as A Star Trek fan, was pleasantly surprised to hear Captain Kirk mentioned...
So appropriate for the weather balloon news cycle this week
Watched this live on TV while at university in London in 1984
Yea it’s ‘poppy’ but it is so beautiful
Appreciate your interpretation of the song. Good job!
This song sounds like it's about Stanisal Petrov. Really cool story. Never knew that song was so close to it.😅....🤔
Der Kommissar is my favorit. I would sing 99 luftballons at bars during kareoke. Great song.
Takes me back. Excellent song
now i know how to pronounce the words instead of making up stuff in my head and for that I thank you lol
4:28 I'd rather translate "Zeitgeist" to "Time spirit" or "Time mind". "Geist" is not only the spooky "Ghost" but also the mind, the spirit, the brain. "Futter für den Geist.." ".. sagte er im Geist .."
Both versions of the song are wonderful, but I like the German one more. Funny story: Every time I go to Smith's (a supermarket), without fail, at some point during my visit, I hear it on their radio. It's true! 😃
Nice story! :D
Karma , just Karma ....
I know this from its release. In 1983 tensions between the east and the west were high. Two incidents took place that might have triggerd WW3. One was a computer error. The second was a NATO exercise. Basis for the german tv serie Deutschland 83.
By the way. The stills from the video clip. Are from a recording of the Dutch popmusic show. Toppop. The scenes were shot on militairy exercise grounds in the Netherlands with the help of the duch army. They did like to make those fireblast with diesel.
Pretty sure we danced to it in the bars of Vail, Colorado, back then... 😂🎉❤ and I see it as a brilliant anti-nuke anthem...
Danke sehr und lassen fliegen... 🔥
"I'm going to translate it into English"
uSeS aMeRiCaN fLaG!
YeS, bEcAuSe mY mAiN aUdiEnCe Is AmErIcAn, AnD bEcAuSe I cAn. :3
oH tHaT mAkEs A lOt MoRe SeNsE! gReAt ViDeO bTw. :D
Oof
Lyrics To 99 Red Balloons Go By.
You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got. Set them free at the break of dawn, Till' one by one, they were gone. Back at base, bugs in software, flash the message, somethings out Floating in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x34. 99 Red balloons floating in the summer sky, Panic bells it's red alert. There's something here from somewhere else. The war machine springs to life, opens up one eager eye. Focusing it on the sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x9. 99 decision street, 99 minister's meet. To worry, worry, super scurry, call the troops out in a hurry. This is what we've waited for, this is it boys, this is war. The president is on the line, as 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x31. 99 knights of the air ride super high tech jet fighters. Everyone's a superhero, everyones a Captain Good. With Orders to identify, to clarify, and classify. Scramble in the summer sky, 99 red balloons go by. ~Music~ x6. As 99 red balloons go byyyyyyyyyyy!. 99 dreams I have had, in every one, a red balloon. It's all over and I'm standing pretty, in this dust that was a city. If I could find a souvenier, just to prove the world was here. And here is a red balloon, I think of you and let it go.
What do you mean?
Yeah I'm loaded and have computers everywhere to watch both videos. Lol. I was actually just looking for the original song.
I am really grateful to see your video.
We live in a similar time now.
Your videos are so amazing Dave!! :D
It’s funny you say put the song on the other screen, as if we’re not already pretty familiar with the songs/videos already 😂😂 (at least me..) sort of why we‘re here and everything :P
A while ago someone told me that the overall theme of the song is essentially everybody calm down, and judging by the story it tells in a sort of “this is what can happen when everyone’s freaking out” sort of mindset, it definitely saves accurate :P
It's one of those songs that sounds happy, but when you really pay attention to the lyrics is actually kind of sad.
I love your voice, it’s so cool and smooth.
2022 brings the aroma of this song right back.
We definitely lived in uncertain scary times back then. Great video, Dave.
We do again now.
@@gabe6550 and again now 🥴
Anyone else see the humor in translating benzinkanister into "Jerry" cans? No? Just me? ok... lol
Mind elaborating?
I just discovered it like yesterday, I love it.
Dave Danke! The English version is so far removed from the meaning of the song! I am going to sing and record the closer literal lyrics one day !
SO GOOD
Hey Vlogdave. I'd love to hear your analysis of Nina Hagen song, "Zwischen Erfurt und Gera". Thanks
This song is up there with Fight Fire With Fire (by Metallica if you don't know) from the time period. One of the most/best GenX songs ever., and touches me in the feels to this day.
Yep, I know that song as well. Really love 80s songs in general, many evergreen gems from that time frame 💪
Very nice VlogDave. There is a well documented history during this period of time, and Nena captured the Angst of the period. There is an excellent TV series entitled "Deutschland 83" which really captures the tension and real possibility of conflict during that time. Anyone interested in reading some historical context can read about "Able Archer" as well.
I was hoping you'd also discuss how the English version by Kevin McAlea compares with the original German. Let me compare them then and talk about it as an extension or sequel to your video. Cheers!
Feel free to do so! :)
@@DefinitelyGerman Compared the two in my review of "99 Luftballons" and NENA. Video is on my channel. Can't post links. Would appreciate if you can check it out.
To be accurate, one of the most popular german song in german language. There are much more popular songs and singers people forget are germans, like Scorpions and Sandra. Germany have many shameful and horrific past. But musically speaking, from classical to modern music, they all show deep emotions. May it be martial rythm, despair or hopes. Let us remind that many military songs take from its rythms or meanings.
Did you know that this song is also released in 1983. The year when nuclear war is almost happen.
Neunundneunzig Luftballons is the best Deutsche song I’ve heard, that’s about as much German I know
Hmm..actually interesting to know.
“Pumped up kicks has entered the chat” “Hey yaa has entered the chat”
I love Nena, so much!!!!
Hi I have a doubt, in the first line never say "to spare", is this a verry personal traduction from You???
Touzand dankes buddy. :)
Always loved this song as a kid. In England we werecalways aware of what a war with the Russians would be. Total apocalypse. No winners. But I guess that's just me . Any way how about some stuff on xmal duetschland
Could be a love Song.I always liked this song,MTV had just started ,early 80 s
I still have the single, and lp of this band 🥰🥰🥰🥰
O whom has not seen in the still of the night
A dark dangerous sight that one's never encountered
Such sharp claws and sharp teeth plus a big jaw that bites.
It was so ominous not even a sound was heard .
That was a demon. And it was fiendish.
Yet there were times when we dragged it out of this land.
The hunt just keeps going, I see it inside
My heart tells me "I must go on hunting tonight!"
in the music video nena walks through a forrest in the end but the song ends with nena walking through the devistated ruins of the world then finding a red balloon
I'm a writer on history and the Cold War. Do you mind if I repair your English translations? I can't speak German, so I would only try to improve YOUR German-to-English translation. Let me know...
Hi Bill, feel free to go ahead!
I hope you still enjoyed the video though.
All the best from Germany!
Atomic Blonde Version??? Please assist... Darker shortened (see atomic blonde 99 luftballons)
I LOVE thiss songg
I am a NVA collector and my West German neighbor was stumped by the word "Dederonhaltig". I feel it meant impregnated by _?
Always wondered what the song meant.
40 years on, this song is as relatable as it was in 1983. FOX news and US conservatives are sounding the alarms.
The Chinese government set the trap, the Americans took to bait.
This song reminds me of ET every time I hear it, The lost true love of my life...
I have never heard the German version in the USA. I will search for it on youtube. I find this video to be extremely educational for me. We Americans do not know much about Germans even in 2018. Which is sad because all of the deaths from WW2 might have been avoided.
Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed it!
Feel free to recommend my channel, if you want to. :)
Cheers from Germany!
*edit: “Some” Americans don’t know much about Germans or Germany today
How about The Beatles Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand oder Halber Mensch by Einstürzende Neubauten?
♡
If you're bilingual, what language do you think in?
Trilingual here , we can think in any of the languages it is easier in
Always thought it simply meant something that a person had and let float away and will never come back now matter how much they wish it would.
Lol even the English version talks of possible impending war
Never played GTA. I also don't think I've ever heard the English version of this song ... hmm, gonna go check that out now.
Your missing out lol
Love that song.
Nena is the greatest new wave singer of that era. I have to think that if that song had been properly translated, she would have become an international superstar. Who came up with that nonsensical "toy shop" lyrics anyway? The English version makes absolutely no sense. Everyone I have ever talked to, even if they don't know a word of German thinks the German version is way better.
It does make sense actually. It may use different words than the actual translation would be but the whole idea is the same
You know what's next: "Der Kommisar" (Not the "Don't Turn Around" version by After The Fire, the one version before that one!!!!)
The one by FALCO?
@@Katz1964 Yes, that one!
@@archdukebigdogkoopa3821 Love FALCO❤️ may he rip!
@@Katz1964 Yeah, IKR? RIP forever...
Did anybody else in the 80’s think this was a French song
Der Kommissar by Falco please
I have always loved the gorgeous Nena, and remembered her first appearance on the British TV show Top of the Pops, she had hairy armpits, as German girls did in those days, here next appearance, she had shaved, pity.
I've caught on to the fact that the lyrics were different when reading the lyrics in German and listening. I felt there was so much more to say in the German song than in the American version. So many people do come off as oblivious to what the German song is saying. I found it bothersome or annoying to a degree. I hear people here in America thinking they know it all about the translation just because they listen to both versions.
There is a parody of that song, which is appropiate to role plays: "99 kleine Orks".