Berlin is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
new waveNew Wave is a genre of rock and pop music that emerged in in the middle to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, and...
musical band, featuring female lead singer
Terri NunnTerri Nunn is an American singer and actress.Nunn joined the New Wave, techno-pop band Berlin in 1979, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band...
.
Berlin was formed in
Orange CountyOrange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,846,293, though a July 2008 estimate placed the population at 3,010,759, making it the second most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
in the late 1970s. Their first single, "A Matter of Time," was released in 1980 on
I.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
and featured replacement vocalist Virginia Macolino on lead vocals after
Terri NunnTerri Nunn is an American singer and actress.Nunn joined the New Wave, techno-pop band Berlin in 1979, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band...
had temporarily left the band to pursue an acting career (Nunn at one point auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in the movie
Star WarsStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released simply as Star Wars, is an American 1977 space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It was the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films continue the story, while a prequel trilogy contributes...
).
Berlin is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
new waveNew Wave is a genre of rock and pop music that emerged in in the middle to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, and...
musical band, featuring female lead singer
Terri NunnTerri Nunn is an American singer and actress.Nunn joined the New Wave, techno-pop band Berlin in 1979, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band...
.
History
Berlin was formed in
Orange CountyOrange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,846,293, though a July 2008 estimate placed the population at 3,010,759, making it the second most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
in the late 1970s. Their first single, "A Matter of Time," was released in 1980 on
I.R.S. RecordsI.R.S. Records was a record label, started in the United States in 1979 by Miles Copeland III along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso. Miles was also the manager of Wishbone Ash, The Police, and later, Sting, as well as other bands. I.R.S. was the sister label of Copeland's Illegal Records .I.R.S...
and featured replacement vocalist Virginia Macolino on lead vocals after
Terri NunnTerri Nunn is an American singer and actress.Nunn joined the New Wave, techno-pop band Berlin in 1979, but temporarily left the band the following year to pursue an acting career. In 1981, Nunn rejoined the group as the lead vocalist and would soon forge her recording career with the band...
had temporarily left the band to pursue an acting career (Nunn at one point auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in the movie
Star WarsStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released simply as Star Wars, is an American 1977 space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It was the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films continue the story, while a prequel trilogy contributes...
). They were then signed to independent label
Enigma RecordsEnigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, from which it split off in 1985 to become its own company....
where they had their first significant hit: the controversial synth-driven "Sex (I'm A...)" (1982), which was banned by some radio stations due to its graphic lyrics. Later they had two other hits: "
The Metro"The Metro" is a New Wave song written by John Crawford for his band, Berlin. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including System of a Down and John Frusciante....
" and "No More Words", whose subsequent video saw Terri Nunn and bandmates re-enact a
Bonnie and ClydeBonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were well known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who, with their gang, traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression. Their exploits were known nationwide...
-style car chase and shoot-out. "
Take My Breath Away"Take My Breath Away" is the name of a love song from the film Top Gun . The song was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, performed by the band Berlin...
" (from the movie
Top GunTop Gun is a 1986 movie that was directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, in association with the Paramount Pictures company...
) became their best-selling single in 1986 and a huge international hit, but also their last hit.
Aside from Nunn, the core members of the band were founding member
John CrawfordJohn Crawford is a singer/songwriter whose efforts with the band Berlin were an essential part of their rise to fame in the early 1980s. Crawford's career as a musician began in junior high after breaking his leg during a basketball game...
(primary songwriter, bass guitar and synthesizer), and David Diamond (Synthesizer & guitar). Other members of the band included Ric Olsen (lead guitar), Matt Reid (synthesizer), Rob Brill (drums: 1982–1987) and Rod Learned (drums: 1979–1982). Berlin's breakout EP, 1982's
Pleasure Victim, featured core members Nunn, Crawford, and Diamond, as well as drummer, synthesist and producer Dan Van Patten and guitarist Chris Ruiz-Velasco, the latter two founding members along with Crawford. As
Pleasure Victim took off, however, Van Patten and Ruiz-Velasco parted ways with Nunn, Crawford, and Diamond. Berlin officially disbanded in 1987, partly due to the lack of success of their album
Count Three & PrayCount Three & Pray is an album by the New Wave band Berlin released in 1986. It featured the hit single "Take My Breath Away".-Track listing:#"Will I Ever Understand You" 4:42#"You Don't Know" 4:28#"Like Flames" 5:07...
despite the success of "Take My Breath Away". Nunn retained the legal rights to usage of the band's name after legal wranglings with the founding member of the group, John Crawford. Nunn recreated Berlin (with a new lineup of musicians) in 1999.
In 2000–2001 Berlin contributed to several artist
tribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
s. The only track to make it on to a full Berlin release is a cover of
Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
's "The Dope Show", which is included on Berlin's
4play album as well as the Marilyn Manson tribute album
Anonymous Messiah (2001, Vitamin Records). Other tributes include material by
MadonnaMadonna is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance...
and
BlondieBlondie is an American rock band founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American new wave and punk rock scenes of the mid 1970s...
.
The classic version of Berlin was featured on the
VH1VH1 is an American cable television network based in New York City...
show,
Bands ReunitedBands Reunited was a television program produced by VH1 in 2004. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the show documented the attempted reuniting of a formerly popular musical ensemble for a special concert in either London or Los Angeles....
where all members (except for Rob Brill) agreed to not only reunite as friends but as a band. They played one show at The Roxy in California to a sold-out crowd.
Discography
- Information (1980)
- Pleasure Victim
Pleasure Victim was the second, gold-certified studio album by the American New Wave band Berlin, released in 1982. The singles from this recording were "Sex ", followed by "The Metro" , and "Masquerade". Pleasure Victim is often listed as being an EP album, although it is uncertain if seven songs...
(1982, Enigma RecordsEnigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, from which it split off in 1985 to become its own company....
re-released on Geffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
in 1983) #30 US
- Love Life
-Track listing:All song s by John Crawford unless noted.#"When We Make Love" - 4:59#"Touch" - 3:17 #"Beg, Steal or Borrow" - 3:55#"Now It's My Turn" - 4:11#"Dancing in Berlin" - 4:03#"Rumor of Love" - 4:21...
(1984) #28 US, #55 AUS
- Count Three & Pray
Count Three & Pray is an album by the New Wave band Berlin released in 1986. It featured the hit single "Take My Breath Away".-Track listing:#"Will I Ever Understand You" 4:42#"You Don't Know" 4:28#"Like Flames" 5:07...
(1986) #62 US, #38 AUS
- Dancing in Berlin (1987)
- Best Of Berlin 1979-1988 (1988)
- Master Series
Master Series is the title of a line of greatest hits albums, released in European countries primarily by PolyGram International, as well as A&M Records, Deram Records, FFRR Records, Mercury Records, and Polydor Records...
(1997)
- Fall Into Heaven (1999)
- Fall Into Heaven 2 (1999)
- Greatest Hits Remixed (2000)
- LIVE: Sacred & Profane (2000)
- Voyeur (2002)
- 4Play (2005)
- Terri Nunn & Berlin: All The Way In (2009)
Singles
From
Information :
- "A Matter of Time" (1980)
- "Fascination" (1980)
From
Pleasure Victim :
- "Tell Me Why" (1981)
- "Sex (I'm A...)" (1982) #62 US, #5 Canada, #81 Australia (Double A side with 'The Metro')
- "The Metro
"The Metro" is a New Wave song written by John Crawford for his band, Berlin. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including System of a Down and John Frusciante....
" (1983) #58 US, #81 Australia (Double A side with 'Sex (I'm A...)')
- "Masquerade" (1983) #82 US
From
Love Life :
- "No More Words" (1984) #23 US, #1 NZ, #23 AUS
- "Now It's My Turn" (1984) #74 US
- "Dancing In Berlin" (1984) #12 NZ, #39 AUS
- "Touch" (1985)
From
Count Three and Pray :
- "Take My Breath Away
"Take My Breath Away" is the name of a love song from the film Top Gun . The song was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, performed by the band Berlin...
" (1986) #1 BelgiumThe Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...
, #1 US, #1 UK, #2 AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
, #4 AustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.3 million people in Central Europe. It borders both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west...
, #2 FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
, #3 GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
, #1 IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
, #5 ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
, #1 NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
, #4 NorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty...
, #2 South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
, #2 SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
, #2 SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
- "Like Flames" (1986) #82 US, #47 UK, #36 Germany, #18 Australia #14 Netherlands
- "You Don't Know" (1986) #39 UK
- "Pink and Velvet" (1986)
From
Voyeur :
- "Blink of an Eye" (2002)
- "With a Touch" (2003)
In the UK, "Take My Breath Away" was re-released twice: in 1988, it charted at #52, and in 1990, it reached #3.
"No More Words" was also included as the B-side of
MadonnaMadonna is an American recording artist, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977, for a career in modern dance...
's #1 hit of 1985, "
Crazy for You"Crazy for You" is a single by American singer-songwriter Madonna for the 1985 film Vision Quest. It also appears remixed on the 1990 compilation album The Immaculate Collection and was re-released on February 24, 1991 by Sire Records to promote the album...
". Both songs were part of the soundtrack for the film
Vision QuestVision Quest is a 1985 coming of age drama starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino and Ronny Cox. It is based on the novel of the same name by author Terry Davis. In some countries it was released as Crazy For You to market on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song...
. Nonetheless, "No More Words" is not included in the soundtrack album.
External links