Oh so 80s. Listen and get images of flying fighter jets and Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.
But aside from their contribution to one of the biggest blockbusters of the era, that was it for Berlin right? Not quite.
Despite the name, none of the members of Berlin were from Germany. They formed in Orange County California. Lead singer Terri Nunn had tried to pursue an acting career at one point, even auditioning for the role of Leia Organa in Star Wars (“Han You take my breath awaaaay” “Luke I think Leia’s lost that lovin feelin again”. “I HATE when that happens!”).
Berlin’s first song to get real attention was 1982’s “Sex (I’m A…)”
Not surprisingly, quite a few radio stations chose not to play the song. Although I wonder how many of them later played Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up”.
1983’s “The Metro” was their first song to make it on to the Billboard charts at 58.
“Masquerade” stalled at 82.
But 1984’s “No More Words” made it into the Top 40 at 23. Like “Take My Breath Away” it was also featured in a movie. 1985’s “Vision Quest” starring Matthew Modine, Ronny Cox and Linda Fiorentino.
Then came “Take My Breath Away”. After that, 1987’s “Like Flames” became Berlin’s final chart entry (like “Masquerade” it too stalled at 82.)
So Berlin had a few hits aside from “Take My Breath Away”. But the bulk of those were more new wave than pop. Today, “Take My Breath Away” is the only one that gets much airplay on adult contemporary and oldies stations. Hence, Berlin’s erroneous reputation as a one-hit wonder.
More Nope, Not a One Hit Wonder
Berlin was an indispensable little piece of the 1980s, and most of their output still holds up. If a non-believer asks what was so exciting about the synth pop of the era, Berlin is one of the answers, especially with songs like “Sex (I’m A…)” and “The Metro.” “Sex (I’m a…)” actually had a high enough profile at the time, that Weird Al included lines from it as part of his annual pop/polka mash-up “Polkas on 45.” You can hear that part a little less than a minute in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkNHHh9jmyQ “Like Flames” was their last chart entry mostly because the… Read more »
I love it when I come on here and find someone has posted something new for me to read!
I seem to recall a VH-1 program detailing some of the behind the scenes details on the band. If I remember correctly, the success of TMBA helped break up the band. Nunn wanted to continue working in that style and other members of the band did not.
What’s interesting is that Terri Nunn’s audition for Star Wars is actually available for viewing on Youtube. She auditioned in 1976 opposite Harrison Ford. Not sure if it’s very relevant regarding Berlin, but it might be fun to post in the article nonetheless.
here it is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXy59jMqOsc
she doesn’t seem to know her lines very well. she keeps prefacing her lines with “okay” “well,” and “now.”
In fairness, I doubt think anyone but George Lucas understood any of the dialogue until after the movie was released.
OMG Harrison Ford…
Swoon….thud….
My wife doesn’t “get” Ford. She calls him “that old man”.
Cause I’m a whole lot older than your wife… and after all, he is 70 now. I had forgotten just how hot he was back in the day. The clip was mesmerizing. swoon….thud
I don’t want to be too critical of this post, as usually I’m a fan, but it’s not up to the usual standard. Berlin has quite an interesting story, which lebeau has touched on. The above is really just a list of clips available on you tube.
I like Berlin, especially their early New Wave (“A Matter of Time” is a fantasic song, I believe). Like another New Wave band with a female singer (Missing Persons), I think this band is overlooked. On another note: anyone aware that Terri Nunn posed nude for Penthouse when she was 16?
And here’s another memory from a living legend, it’s so early 80s and so MTV… charted in the UK but I’m not sure if it was ever Top 40 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwTsuBYVGqY
Sorry, I didn’t know the link wouldn’t play, but if you click on the top right area of the screen, it will.