July 5, 2010, at 8:35 amThe song you know as “99 Red Balloons” from the epic comedy Wedding Crashers, is actually a german protest song called “99 Luftballoons”. After Being released in West Germany is 1983, Luftballoons immediately reached the #1 spot that year. Later released in the UK in 1984, the English version topped the UK Singles Chart and the German version made it to #2 on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Contrary to popular belief Luftballoons does not translate into red balloons, this mistake was made by Amrican DJ’s when the song first came out. A Luftballoon is a colorful toy balloon however the song tells the story of of 99 balloons floating into the air, triggering a nuclear reaction by military forces. Nena never had another hit single after Luftballoons and is considered to be a very successful one hit wonder artist.
