But I, like other people in my generation, don’t trust any of the systems that are meant to help me (ACAB, anyone?). As someone in my early twenties in the midst of a political hellscape and international pandemic, I feel an intense longing to collaborate and make lasting change. Drummer Evan Sult described how the song is reminiscent of being young and wanting to be a part of something bigger than yourself while simultaneously feeling skeptical of both the groups around you and your own potential. It’s specific to its time, but the judgments the band holds against their peers still hold true for the youth of today. There are plenty of one-hit wonders that question systems of power, but this song is actually a critique of how Seattle grunge counterculture became mainstream and “commodified” during the 1990s. “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger (1997, Billboard #32 ): The tone of this song is so much fun, and I could scream along to the chorus all day long.

The line that resonates the most with me is “99 Jahre Krieg Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger,” or “99 years of war left no place for winners.” While anti-war people are often accused of being unpatriotic, does a country really “win” when they spend years wreaking havoc and sacrificing soldiers for the sake of political gain? Obviously these issues are more complex than a weekly blog post can dissect, but I always love seeing the world embrace art with a message beyond the typical “let’s dance and fall in love and live in the moment.” This song is a winner both lyrically and melodically in my book! Nena recorded an English version to accommodate their international fans, but sadly the lyrics were completely different, and the song didn’t even chart here in the States. Despite it’s German lyrics, the song resonated with people of all languages and found international success. The song describes a dystopian scenario in which the military mistakes floating balloons for spacecraft, causing war and chaos that destroys the plant. Guitarist Carlo Karges felt inspired to write the lyrics after witnessing the way that a mass of balloons on the horizon resembled UFOs while attending a Rolling Stones Concert.

“99 Luftballons” by Nena (1983, Billboard #2 ): I have been waiting and waiting for the chance to talk about this song, and the time has finally come! I think I can confidently say this is the only non-English Neue Deutsche Welle anti-war song about UFOs in the midst of the Cold War and growing civil unrest in Germany to make the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.

Even my uncle couldn’t do right by the original Brandy. I hope those Brandys had better luck in the romance department. The lack of significance behind the name didn’t stop parents aplenty from naming their children after “Brandy.” In fact, the name Brandy skyrocketed from the 353rd most popular American female name in 1971 to the 82nd most popular name in 1973. But songwriter Elliot Lurie insists that he came up with the song’s plot out of thin air, but named the titular character after his ex-girlfriend Randy popped into his head. Fans even attributed to “Brandy” to a famed real-life New Jersey woman who spent her life waiting on a dishonest sailor who promised he’d return to her.

The structure of the lyrics is reminiscent of a folk tale, sparking many legends about its source material. I can see why she loves “Brandy.” It’s a sweet feel-good song with a compelling story about a woman who is surrounded by sailors who pine after her but cannot commit. My aunt had this single on record when she was a teenager, and she played it so relentlessly that my uncle stole it and threw it out the window.

“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass (1972, Billboard #1): This song has a legacy within my family.

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