Historical Significance- 99 Red Balloons

The original '99 Red Balloons' was sang by the artist Nena in 1984. Nena was born in Hagen, Germany and the song was titled '99 Luftballoons' in German but the English translation is '99 Red Balloons.' There has been many covers made by English artists of this song and I will be posting a cover by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, a punk cover band, since that's the only version that I have on my computer at the moment, and I certainly wouldn't want to be doing any illegal file sharing, plus, I don't know how many people would understand the original version in German anyways. (I will post an English translation of the lyrics at the end of my post so no one has to go digging for them if they don't already know them). So '99 Red Balloons' is an anti-war song and could be more specifically an anti-cold war song. Germany was the country that was stuck inbetween the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, during this period of tension and conflict. I found the following opinion online while searching around about this song: "The fact that this person and her friend release 99 red balloons into the sky and a programming malfunction (bugs in the software) perceives it as a threat is a reference to the neurotic attitudes of the 'superpowers' during the cold war. All throughout the song there is a crisis happening all the while these 99 red balloons innocently float above everyone. The end of the song is the result of a nuclear holocaust caused by the reactionary decisions of the leaders in the world. Supremely melancholy, bittersweet and on the right track, no matter whether some of the lyrics are a bit blown out of proportion" (www.songmeanings.net). I find that, judging by the lyrics, the previous quote does seem to be an accurate description of this song and it's historical significance; since that person articulated their interpretation of the song better than I probably could, I will let those words speak for my thoughts as well. Direct English translation: If you have some time for me Then I'll sing a song for you About 99 balloons On their way to the horizon Perhaps you think of me a bit Then I'll sing a song for you About 99 balloons And that something [the war] comes from such a thing [the balloons] 99 balloons On their way to the horizon Seemed like UFOs from space So a general sent A flying squad out there To raise the alarm if it were true Yet there on the horizon were Only 99 balloons 99 jet hunters Each one was a great warrior Thought that there were Captain Kirk There were great fireworks The neighbors didn't understand anything And felt immediately "pissed off"/provoked Yet there they shot on the horizon At 99 balloons 99 war ministers Matches and petrol cans Thought that they were clever people Already smelled greasy loot Shouted: War, and wanted power Man, who would have thought That one day it would come to this Because of 99 balloons 99 years of war Don't leave a place for victors There are no ministers any more No jet engines either Today I'm doing my rounds Seeing the world lying in ruins Found a balloons Think of you and let it fly