Hive Open Mic #131 - 99 Luftballons (Nena) - My National Anthem
This week's theme Orgullo Patrio, or "National/Homeland Pride", is a bit of a tough one for me.
As you probably know was I born in Hamburg in Northern Germany, and I can't say I grew up with much National Pride as such, and really consider myself more of a proud European.
A lot of our school curriculum in the 70s was about the Nazi era, rightly so, of course. However, that also meant that a lot of our history before the 20th century, wasn't covered as much as it should have been.
One reason was, and still is, that Hitler hijacked a lot of traditional stuff for his own causes, which has left a stain on some material, that was originally quite innocent.
However, since I've moved to the UK many years ago things have changed a bit and the younger generation feels more comfortable with waving German flags as the distance to the 1930s grows. That is good, as long as they still know what happened in the past for it not to be repeated. I'm afraid that I hear stories, where kids have no idea about it or even care.
The Song
Having said all of the above though, the theme gives me the opportunity to sing another song in German, which is a bit of an anti-war song, so works for me. Nena's song "99 Luftballons" from 1983 was part of the "Neue Deutsche Welle" (New German Wave), when songs sung in German gained incredible popularity; some of them had been transferred into other languages, like this one, or "Major Tom" by Peter Schilling
The song was a bit of protest song against the Cold War; the fear of an atomic war was very present, more so for us living in the middle of Europe.
Seems we're there again looking at what's going on in the world right now.
Anyway, I hope you like this short and purely acoustic version.
Lyrics
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und, dass so was von so was kommt
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei waren dort am Horizont
Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Source
Then I'll sing a song for you
Of ninety-nine balloons
On their way to the horizon
Maybe you're thinking of me right now
Then I'll sing a song for you
Of ninety-nine balloons
And that something like that
comes from something like that
Ninety nine balloons
On their way to the horizon
Thought to be UFOs from space
That's why a general sent
'A squadron behind
to sound the alarm if that were the case
But on the horizon were
Only ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine jet planes
Everyone was a great warrior
Thought they were Captain Krik
There was a big fireworks display
the neighbours did not get this
And immediately got angry
But really they only shot
at ninety-nine balloons
Ninety-nine Ministers of War
Matchstick and jerrycans
Thought they were smart people
smelled a big fortune
They called war and wanted power
Man, who would have thought about that
That it will come to this
Because of ninety-nine balloons
Because of ninety-nine balloons
Ninety nine balloons
Ninety-nine years of war
leaves no room for winners
There are no more ministers of war
And no jet planes either
Today I do my rounds
See the world in ruins
Found a balloon
Think of you and let it fly
Translated using Google Translator and amended where needed
Anna, independently of those you mention from your country, you are a worthy representative of it and you always fill our hearts with joy when we hear you play and sing; you are a great example for these new generations and for any European. No matter the history, I understand that humanity has a concept that can distort everything, but I know that like you, there are many people from your country that with great pride leave the name of Germany high.
Your work has been beautiful Anna, I loved that you brought this great classic of music that has traveled the world and with which I grew up, plus your version was very spectacular 😍.... ahhh without leaving behind the editing of your video that I liked very much dear friend 🌹💖!!!!
You are great and I thank you for rocking the world stage at the Hive Open Mic once again, we are waiting for you next week again ¡You Rock! 🙌😀💛
Oh, Fernando!
You write the most beautiful stuff! 🌹
This filled my heart with pride in so many ways! Thank you, my friend! 😍
Anna you are always welcome 🌹💖, hope you have a nice day, see you this next week... You Rockkk!!! 👍😉🔥🎙️🎸🎶❤️🌟🥂💥💫💯
🌹😃
Thank you for sharing this post on HIVE!
Your content got selected by our fellow curator hafizullah & you received a little thank you upvote from our non-profit curation initiative. Your post will be featured in one of our recurring curation compilations which is aiming to offer you a stage to widen your audience within the DIY scene of Hive.
Next time make sure to post / cross-post your creation within the DIYHub community on HIVE and you will receive a higher upvote!
Stay creative & hive on!
Amiga tu voz es hermosa, y la guitarra se escucho genial me gustó mucho
¡Muchas gracias amiga!
Siempre es un placer verte por aquí!! 😍
Very good song I like the rhythm, I've listened to it a few times. I think you sing it very well, I like that besides singing you also play the guitar.
Lately I have noticed that there is a lot of talent in Hive, this community is growing a lot, I'm very happy about this.
Thank you so much!
Yes, there are loads of talented people here!
And I'm grateful to be part of it! 😀
Thanks for listening, that's brilliant!
I never knew that the lyrics of the song have such a beautiful meaning! I used to only enjoy it as rhythm and melodies! Great cover from you! 99 bravo!
And 99 thanks back to you! 😂🤣
Yes, it's quite moving in places.. makes me want to get tissues out sometimes,
but that might also be a nostalgic thing for me.. haha
Glad you like it my friend!! 😃
That's awesome, I love the way you handles the guitar. Nice voice by the way
Thank you very much! Glad you like it!
Anna/Anke - I just came back from a visit to Hamburg about 6 weeks ago and I really liked it there. I did see that they are still planning to make a new memorial to WW2 at a place that used to be a station where they would send people off to Concentration Camps...
I think as the years go by, many many countries have some points in their histories which are horrendous and hopefully we can bounce back from. It is always so much harder to build than to destroy.
I loved the song. I'm quite familiar with the English version and didn't know that it is derived from a German original!
It is unfortunate that history marks us in such a way that we do not feel the pride of being born in a certain country. Although I understand it perfectly, life changes and although history is not forgotten, it makes us grow as individuals and as a society, which today would not dare to do as much damage as our ancestors did. Thank you for sharing this song on the Hive Open Mic and also for telling us where you come from and how it makes you feel. Greetings and respect to you and your country.
You're absolutely right, things are changing, we are changing all the time, and Germany is certainly seen differently now in the world.
I'm only reflecting on my own history, how I grew up..
But it certainly is time to move on..
Thank you so much for giving this is a listen!
Woooow I love this oneeee!
I like a Lot your interpretation
Hey, there my friend!!
Hope, you're keeping well!
Glad you like it; think you might like to learn it for your trip to Germany one day.. 😉
Always very nice to see you here!!
Ohh thanks a Lot. Yeah yesterday I was watching a Youtube podcast and they was in Germany in a tour and interview an actres for My country that lives there and have a Youtube channel speaking about Germany and how we can travel there and others very cool advices lol and I was thinking like wow I must travel there lol her channel
Amazing your vídeo and this song it's awesome I knew the German song before the English new age famous cover. And your voice it's very beautiful I really enjoy it. I make this week an Openmic very cool because in the 70s a guy from Germany: Vytas Brenner, comes to Venezuela and lives here a Lot of years (he pass away not too much years ago in Salzburg) and he was a very famous famous artist here, músician and he mix prog rock like Yes, Génesis but with folcklorical autoctonal Venezuelan músic so, I make a tribute to his músic this time.
I hope that I really can travel there. The crisis here sucks a Lot and this country it's worst everyday. It's depressing but the music saves me
Wow, my friend, this is amazing! Yes, you must!
It'll be a great experience!
And who knows, maybe you'll settle there? That would be cool, wouldn't it?
Do you have an area in Germany that you like particularly?
I'm from the North of the country, Hamburg, about 2 hours drive from the Danish border, the flatter bit. The mountains are more in the Southern parts.
Hope, you're keeping well! Have a lovely week and I'm looking forward to your tribute recording!
Yeah for me Will be Amazing to live in Germany for shure
Hamburg it's amazing
I like that place because the Beatles (and theirs history over there)
I wanna visit Berlin, Frankfurt and Badén Badén (for being in Schwarzwald). Thanks a Lot for watch the vídeo. I feel that it's very freak and Experimental. I put some Vytas Brenner vídeo links in My post if someone wanna listen his músic
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@steevc(2/5) tipped @anna-newkey (x1)
Please vote for pizza.witness!
What a great choice Anke. It's good to hear you sing in German.
I understand how you feel to some degree I think.
It's hard to be proud of some of the things our own nations did in the past and some so called 'patriotic' English songs are about conquering other nations. I think war shouldn't ever be glorified.
Your absolutely right, war should never be glorified..
Still, there seems to be a lot of that stuff in the media.. :(
Thank you, Barbara! It's fun to do some stuff in German for a change!
Hive is excellent for that, because of the translation I can put up
for the interested people... lol
x
I remember when the English version came out. I can just about understand the German original. Was fun to hear you do this at the pub this week. I really ought to check out more songs by Nena.
!PIZZA
Thank you, Steve!
Watch this one
Not sure about the 'remix'. I liked the original song. That's the one I first heard at the end of the series Dark with just Nena
!BEER
Yes, I know, but I like the friendship between them..
Makes it special for me.. But her original is better, they should have recorded it like that together, all with the leather outfit, of course.. 😄
View or trade
BEER.Hey @anna-newkey, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @steevc for you. Enjoy it!Did you know that you can use BEER at dCity game to **buy dCity NFT cards** to rule the world.
I loved the message and energy of the English version, but then I heard the original language one and it's been my go to version ever since.
Thanks for posting
I'm so glad to hear that!
To be honest, I never thought the English version worked very well...
Thanks so much for listening!