99 Luftballoons

[BrettVW]

99 Luftballoons was an extra on American Top 20 this week, and they played the original foreign version rather than the English version.

Up until today, I have never heard this version. I seem to remember this being played as an AT20 Extra in the past, and I am pretty sure they have played the English version. I know my local Hot AC that will occasionally spin the song plays the English version.

I thought it was cool that Casey played the original foreign version. When this was on the chart, what version did AT40 play?

[Matt Cameron]

The German language version is the one that charted in Billboard and on AT40. The English language version was on the B-Side of the 45. Some stations played the English version, but the great majority played the German one. I think this one got up to #2.

[Michael1973]

I seem to recall that during the song's original chart run, Casey would say the entire title in German. This weekend, he said it mostly in English. I also remember him playing the English version once during that time, but I mostly heard the German version on the radio until many years later.

Believe it or not, I still have the album that this song appeared on. (Yes, I said album!)

[mstgator]

At least once during its original chart run, AT40 played a special bilingual mix (there'd be one verse in English, then one in German, back and forth like that). I believe that's also the version they played on the Top 100 of 1984 show.

As for me, I prefer the German version since that's what I heard the most back in 1984 (although all I ever hear on the radio nowadays is the English version).

[nenad]

mstgator said:

At least once during its original chart run, AT40 played a special bilingual mix (there'd be one verse in English, then one in German, back and forth like that). I believe that's also the version they played on the Top 100 of 1984 show.

That's true... I believe the special mix has been played more than once during its chartrun... especially when the song was in the Top 10!
And it was the version playing on the Year End show!

[Scott Lakefield]

Michael1973 said:

I seem to recall that during the song's original chart run, Casey would say the entire title in German. This weekend, he said it mostly in English. I also remember him playing the English version once during that time, but I mostly heard the German version on the radio until many years later.

Believe it or not, I still have the album that this song appeared on. (Yes, I said album!)

He occasionally said the entire title, including the "99" in German. I most often remember him calling the song "Ninety-Nine Luft Balloons," though...but that could just be a foggy memory...