99 Luftballons (99 Red Balloons)

Originally written by a German Band Nena as a protest against Nuclear Strike, the 99 Luftballons is more commonly known in English as the “99 Red Balloons“, a song written by Kevin McAlea, which is not a direct translation of the German lyrics. Considered as one of the most famous songs when it comes to Balloons in the 1980s, the 99 Luftballoons literally translates to “Ninety-Nine Air Balloons”. However, the correct conversion of the German term is only “Ninety-Nine Balloons” even though the German word “Luft” means “Air” in English. According to the experts, “Air” is not part of the translation because it is understandable that it is needed to inflate the Balloons similar to Hydrogen & Helium.

99 Red Balloons

Can be used as a decoration for a corporate event, band or stage performance and can even be part of a birthday party package, Red Balloons means life and love. It is also great for weddings, valentines day and debut motif.

Popularized as a cover by the band Goldfinger in 2000, the 99 Red Balloons song is a hit-maker in the United States, Australia and other parts of the world. Topped the charts just a few weeks after launch, the song is part of the album Stomping Ground, and gained popularity after featuring in the film EuroTrip, a film featuring teenagers traveling around Europe.

For those who enjoyed the rhythm of this song, it is time for you to refresh the fun memories singing this song. Even though most of you do not understand the German part of the lyrics, you still sang it out loud with your friends. Now you know why part of the song is in a different language simply because the original is made by Germans

Recently, Andrew Huang, a prolific music-maker from Toronto, Ontario made a hit video of the song playing with no instruments nor words, just red balloons. He is possibly of Asian descent and he is one of the best music geniuses of this generation. He plays many instruments and many styles of music. His most recent music video (launched just 4 days ago) got an instant hit with already 1,784,814 views as of this writing. Please check his video below.

Video of 99 Luftballons by Nena (1984)

Video of 99 Red Balloons by Goldfinger (2000)

Video of 99 Red Balloons by Andrew Huang (2014)

Lyrics of 99 Red Balloons

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
‘Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, “Something’s out there”
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by.

99 red balloons floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it’s red alert
There’s something here from somewhere else
The war machine, it springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As 99 red balloons go by.

99 Decision Street, 99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super-scurry
Call out the troops now 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.

99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballons

99 dreams I have had
In every one a red balloon
It’s all over and I’m standin’ pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here…
And here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go.

For the children, everywhere.