Nena
 

You know I picked up their 99 luftballons CD today because im absolutly infatuated with the song (after seeing it in the extras for Wedding Crashers).

They were a weird act, they would have a sax, your standard new wave synth, but they actually used a degree of funk, I can't think of a better political pop song than 99 Red balloons/99 luftballons. Is it jsut me that appreciates this song this much?

Its addressed Cold War war mongering in the 80's, showed us the life that your average west german would have faced then.

Just discuss the song I guess, maybe the band, and heres another question; Do you think the poppy nature of the song dilutes the poltical message or do you think its "easy to swallow" nature helps give it mass appeal?

every song is better in German, if you doubt this listen to Wizo

The poppy nature of the song has diluted the strong political message. 99 Luftballoons has always been popular in nightclubs and at 2am you aren't really listening to the words or having deep political conversations with the guy next to you on the dance floor.

but at least people heard it.

The balance is, it got out there yes but was it passed off to easily once it was out there?

I'd say the part that diluted the political message was the fact that it was in GERMAN!

But then again, there is an English version. If anything, I think the idea that a pop song is easier to pass off as carrying any kind of message is that a large percentage of people who listen to pop music a) don't really pay attention to any messages in their music, since most pop music doesn't really have much of a message, and b) are generally less interested in the world around them.

People who are more idealistic and hell-bent on changing the world tend to listen to music that is, well... revolutionary. Like punk. Or something.

But a cool song, and it's inspired some pretty good covers.

I don't know that we should consider its german origin that dehibilitating. I mean, there are quite a few countries that sprechen sie duetch. Sorry I havn't had german in a while.