Built on bright melodies and smart, sparing use of guitars, the group's sound generated moderate success until a departure soundtrack ballad landed the band at the top of the charts. The track's cascading synthesizers and pulsing beats manage to blossom into a solid rock-oriented arrangement during the bridge and chorus. Though a calculated attempt to fit the popular synthesizer-based sound of the era, this 1982 single represents Berlin's first, most confident foray into national prominence. A compressed lineup of their most accomplished material is definitely the best way in which to enjoy Berlin, avoiding all the inessentials that crept through their albums. Crawford and Nunn both remain sadly unheralded as major '80s music figures, but it's not because the quality of their best work belongs in the shadows of more popular or longer-lasting contemporaries. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Released initially as the B-side to a 1981 version of "The Metro," this track serves also an anchoring album cut from Pleasure Victim. Berlin's electro-pop sound is salvaged only by the enduring and assertive voice of Terri Nunn, which is why The Best of Berlin is the most preferable place to hear this Los Angeles-based group's music. For this, a lesser-performing single from Love Life, Nunn's confident and even aggressive vocal stylings help to balance out the ethereal keyboard lines that would otherwise come off as excessively frothy. Unfortunately, the massive success of that hit song took the attention completely away from Berlin's ensemble essence and ultimately led to an early end to the group. Ich hab’ so Heimweh nach dem Kurfürstendamm wurde 1949 mit Viktor de Kowa als Sänger separat veröffentlicht, bekannter in der Interpretation von Hilde Knef (1963). Nevertheless, a closer look at the original band's final album reveals fine tracks like this one that show Crawford should have always been more appreciated. Some fans will undoubtedly argue that this lead-off single from 1984's reigns supreme as Berlin's finest moment, and that position certainly has plenty of merits. However, the friction resulting from so many musical ideas only works with the aid of Nunn's ability to master presentation. Sorting is after the year of publication (in brackets). Unfortunately, that also meant the end was near, but here's a chronological look at the best Berlin songs of the period. Crawford was one of the decade's best ensemble songwriters when it comes to showcasing and exploring both melodic and anti-melodic impulses. Also, Nunn's importance as a female rock singer for the ages makes its point throughout an exciting arrangement that once again nails balance and precision. Songs like "For All Tomorrow's Lies" and "Blowin' Sky High" could compete with anything Soft Cell or A Flock of Seagulls spouted at the time, and the range of Nunn's vocals elevated most of Berlin's efforts above the norm of the run-of-the-mill synthesizer glitz, but only marginally. Berlin's '80s poignancy provided some rather palatable music, even if the charts didn't say so. Crawford may not have contributed to the composition of this richly layered single, but it is nevertheless highly representative of Berlin's strengths as a versatile mainstream pop/rock band. The band had formed at the end of the previous decade with Nunn at the helm, but her temporary pursuit of an acting career caused a momentum break in the band's early career. The emphasis on style over substance at times defined the music of the '80s, but in the case of Berlin, the songcraft and musical depth usually avoid the dated, sometimes shallow characteristics of some new wave. Berlin Super 80 (Music Underground West Berlin 1978 - 1984), (DVD-V, Comp, PAL + CD, Comp + Box, Ltd, Dig), (DVD-V, Comp, NTSC + CD, Comp + Box, Ltd, Num), Berlin Super 80 (Music & Film Underground West Berlin 1978 - 1984), Buy Vinyl, Matrix / Runout (Etching Side A): RADIKAL - INTENSIVE / CDHW 065-1 A / SST, Matrix / Runout (Etching Side B): HIPPIE - SHIT / CDHW 065-1 B / SST, Matrix / Runout (Etching Side C): TONI'S HEXENSCHUSS / CDHW 065-1 C / SST, Matrix / Runout (Etching Side D): BERLIN SUPER 2005 / CDHW 065-1 D / SST. The synth-soaked punch of "No More Words" from 1984's Love Life album and the week-long number one ballad "Take My Breath Away" from the film Top Gun are the album's high points, while the other tracks are made up of clean and bright techno pop/rock with heavy emphasis stemming from three different keyboard players employed throughout the band's career. This list of songs about Berlin is an addition to the main article Music in Berlin and contains any songs about or involving the city of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Perhaps Berlin reached its melodic peak and most appropriately balanced career point with this, its second charting single from 1982's EP Pleasure Victim. Built on bright melodies and smart, sparing use of guitars, the group's sound generated moderate success until a departure soundtrack ballad landed the band at the top of the charts. The group re-recorded its debut, Information, with an alternate female lead singer, but the edgy thematic boldness of "Sex" served as the true introduction to Berlin's core lineup. By using LiveAbout, you accept our, Top Jefferson Starship and Starship Songs of the '80s, Top '80s Songs of Australian Mainstream Rock Band INXS, The 8 Top Spandau Ballet Hits From the '80s, Top '80s Songs from the Revamped Lineup of Classic Rock Band Yes. For example, even as "Sex (I'm a...)" constantly bucks structural pop music conventions, Crawford turns around and deftly crafts a satisfying emotional narrative that stresses the importance of hooks at just the right places. Devoid of guitars, the song focused instead on throbbing synth and the vocal interplay of Crawford and Nunn. This is a delicate feat given the somewhat frenzied and chaotic arrangements that sometimes prevail in a typical Berlin track. However, because that ballad actually has very little to do with the organic sound of Berlin, the act of skipping over the group's biggest hit seems wiser than it does dismissive. After all, this is a band that continued to promote internal songwriting on its final full-length releases, which means that some of the group's strongest work appears on 1986's. Berlin's '80s poignancy provided some rather palatable music, even if the charts didn't say so. Up to 1945. '80s synth-pop/new wave band Berlin delivered a number of classic tunes of the era, establishing a powerhouse combination of the main songwriter John Crawford and alluring frontwoman Terri Nunn. Songs like "For All Tomorrow's Lies" and "Blowin' Sky High" could compete with anything Soft Cell or A Flock of Seagulls spouted at the time, and the range of Nunn 's vocals elevated most of Berlin 's efforts above the norm of the run-of-the-mill synthesizer glitz, but only marginally. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2005 Vinyl release of Berlin Super 80 (Music Underground West Berlin 1978 - 1984) on Discogs. Ultimately, this is one of Crawford's finest story songs that also belongs in any conversation regarding the finest mid-tempo pop/rock songs of the '80s. Once again projecting a full-bodied sound of complexity and emotional conflict, this tune also amps up the electric guitar to make it much more difficult for detractors to dismiss Berlin purely as synth-based fluff. Of course, anyone looking for a serious discussion of Berlin's later years automatically expects an immediate focus on the chart-topping American hit "Take My Breath Away," which anchored the soundtrack so memorable. A fuller, more guitar-oriented mainstream sound didn't necessarily mean the group was running out of ideas, and this arena rock-oriented track proves that there was far more to late-period Berlin than the ubiquitous single "Take My Breath Away." Nunn's breathy lead vocals help cut through the mechanized feel of the verses and bring some genuine passion to the proceedings. This is music that holds up very well 30-plus years after its release, mostly because the ensemble that performs it contains talented individuals that consistently elevate one another's work within the band construct. (1) Das Albumcover ist undatiert, die Platte muss aber nach der 1949 erfolgten Bestimmung von Bonn als Parlaments- und Regierungssitz entstanden sein (siehe das Lied Berlin ist auch ’ne schöne Stadt – genau wie Bonn). Credit must go to the collaborative efforts of guitarist David Diamond, who certainly helped force a singular dynamic as co-writer. '80s synth-pop/new wave band Berlin delivered a number of classic tunes of the era, establishing a powerhouse combination of the main songwriter John Crawford and alluring frontwoman Terri Nunn. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience.