Nena: 99 Luftballoons

[V] rewind to 1998 with Jane Gazzo

It’s hard to believe a song sung entirely in German could stay Number 1 on the Australian pop charts for five consecutive weeks – but then this was 1984 and in a musical world filled with gender benders, outrageous fashion and flamboyance; anything was possible. In fact, Nena travelled the world on the strings of her balloons as the song reached the top spot in Europe, UK and Canada. Her performances on both Countdown here in Oz and British music TV even caused a minor sensation as she had (gasp!) hairy armpits which was not the norm amongst the female popstars du jour. Nena was neither glamourous nor remarkable (and a little hairy), but as she walked her way through ‘nuclear ravished’ countryside wearing her letterman jacket and blue jeans in the 99 Luftballoon video, kicking the odd balloon here and there, we couldn’t help but be mesmerised by this cute German frauline. Perhaps even more captivating was her hot Euro backing band – anyone remember the pouting blonde keyboard player wearing orange scarf and leather jacket? He had me frothing my bratwurst.