99 Red Balloons – Nena

Nena took this track to the top of the UK singles chart for three weeks in 1984.

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This week in 1994, 99 red balloons by Nena replaced Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood at the top of the UK singles chart. It had entered the top 40 three weeks previously at number 31 and broke into the top 10 two weeks later.

The song spent three weeks at number 1 and then made way for Hello by Lionel Richie. It stayed in the top 10 for one more week, at number 2, and then dropped into the lower top 40 for the final three weeks of its chart life.

99 red balloons was released on the Epic record label and was the only UK number 1 hit for Nena. It was taken from the album Nena, which peaked at number 31 in the UK album chart later in 1984. The single was certified gold and was a English version of the German original, 99 Luftballons, although not a direct translation.

More music from Nena

 

More number ones from 1984

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 3 March 1984

1. 99 red balloons – Nena

2. Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

3. Joanna / Tonight – Kool and the Gang

4. Wouldn’t it be good – Nik Kershaw

5. Doctor doctor – Thompson Twins

6. Somebody’s watching me – Rockwell

7. Radio ga ga – Queen

8. An innocent man – Billy Joel

9. My ever changing moods – Style Council

10. Run runaway – Slade