Nena at 64: A Look at the enduring legacy of the '99 Luftballons' Star
In the 1980s, the song "99 Luftballons" captivated listeners worldwide, and its performer, German singer Nena, is still on tour. What does she look like today?
27 April 2024 13:12
The 1980s was a particularly colourful era in pop culture, especially in music. Songs that topped the global charts have become timeless hits, still enjoyed on radio stations and by new generations. This vibrant decade is often associated with the music of bands like A-ha, Alphaville, Wham!, and Modern Talking. Among these, Nena's voice especially captured listeners' hearts.
Her hit was hummed by the whole world. What does Nena look like today?
Nena, born Gabrielle Susanne Kerner, began her career with the German band The Stripes. After their breakup and only one album release, Nena's talent caught the attention of industry insiders. CBS Records offered her a contract on the condition that she move to Berlin and sing in German. She relocated with The Stripes' drummer, Rolf Brendel. Together with Brendel and other musicians, she formed the band Nena.
The band's debut single in 1982, "Nur geträumt," was a commercial hit in Germany. Their debut album, "Nena," included their biggest hit, "99 Luftballons" ("99 Balloons").
The song became an international success, topping charts in Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK and reaching second place on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart. The English version, "99 Red Balloons," also gained widespread popularity. In 1987, the band Nena disbanded, and Nena embarked on a solo career.
With 13 studio albums to her name, Nena, now 64, remains active in the music industry, having released her latest album in 2020. For over a decade, her albums have been released through her own label, The Laugh & Peas Company. Additionally, she continues to tour, with upcoming performances announced through November.
Beyond performing, Nena has appeared in films and voiced several animated characters. She coached on Germany's "The Voice" for three seasons and served as a jury member on "The Voice Kids." Personally, Nena had three children with actor Benedict Freitag, tragically losing one at just under a year old. She has been in a relationship with Philipp Palm for over 30 years, and they have two children.
See what the singer looks like today.
