#4: “99 Luftballons” by Nena (1983)
Whoever says we Americans aren’t open-minded to the influence of other cultures in our popular media mustn’t have been around in the 80s to witness the success of the German-language song “99 Luftballons” by the band Nena. Themes of anti-war and the desire to be free resonated with audiences worldwide. And while Nena continued to enjoy success in Germany, this was their only smash hit stateside.
