NENA
99 LUFTBALLONS OVER AMERICA: GERMANYโS QUEEN OF ROCK ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER AMERICAN TOUR
NENA coming to America: itโs one of the great unrequited love stories of pop culture history. โ99 Luftballonsโ was the first German-language song to enter the US charts since Marlene Dietrich, yet although the pop queen toured all over the world, she never made it over to the US to perform. NENA has continued to rule the charts in Germany with sixteen studio albums and countless hits, and now is finally her time to take America by storm.
In the 33 years since it was released, NENAโs โ99 Luftballonsโ (โ99 Red Balloonsโ) has had an unmatchable impact on popular and music culture.ย Although NENA never stopped making music โ sheโs had a three-and-a-half decade career of hits and 16 studio albums behind her in Germany – and has toured in countries as far as Japan, NENA never got to tour the US. Itโs one of those flukes in music history where what should have happened didnโt happen. But in NENAโs own words, โโฆnowโs the right time. Itโs always now!…When you want to do something and it just doesnโt happen, you shouldnโt be sad or disappointed because, well, 35 years later, it happens! Itโs perfect timing.โ
At the heart of NENA is a rockโnโroller with unbeatable stage presence and energy to spare, whether sheโs playing to regularly sold-out crowds at the biggest arenas or more intimate club venues. Just take a listen to NENAโs latest outing โ the excellent, energetic and rocking live album Live at SO36, recorded during a within-minutes sold-out concert at the famed Berlin club SO36. The opening rocking riffs of โNoch Einmalโ NENA struck on her Telecaster sent out a shockwave of energy that carries through an entire night. From pure rockers to new-wave favorites to the touching ballads that fans sing along word-for-word, NENA can electrify a crowd with her incomparable, instantly recognizable voice and her own brand of rockโnโroll that includes influences of The Ramones, Blondie, and Talking Heads, among many others. The dancing never lets up with NENA until the lights finally go on at the end of the night. Thatโs what NENA is going to ultimately bring to the US โ an amazing live energy that can shake an entire audience to its core.
Sheโs captured the hearts of Germany: her numerous top ten hits and 25 million sold records are proof of that. Now itโs time to share that with America. NENAโs most recent studio album, Oldschool, is the perfect fusion of her constant drive for artistic development and genuine authenticity. Produced and co-written by German hip-hop superstar Samy Deluxe, it blisters with a sense of immediacy and newness while especially playing lyrically with references to her past.
NENA has never been a nostalgia act; she still delivers onstage an exhilarating mix of her amazing and expansive discography. With that much spark, itโs a recipe for an utterly mind-blowing evening. American fans that missed the opportunity to see NENA when they were first introduced to her now have that chance. To paraphrase her latest single, thereโs no time like โGenau jetztโ (right now).
NENA will be playing San Francisco on September 30, Los Angeles on October 2, and New York City on October 4.
Tour Dates
Sept 30 โ SAN FRANCISCO โ Regency Ballroom
Oct 2 โ LOS ANGELES โ The Regent Theater
Oct 4 โ NEW YORK CITY โ PlayStation Theater