You Didn't Know

This is a section called "You Didn't Know".  Its like a "Did you Know?" section, only we aren't asking.  You definitely don't know this.

Nena - Neun und Neunzig Luftballons

Most people hear this catchy, up-beat pop song and think that the song must be about something fun, like balloons.  These people could not be more wrong.  Directly translated from the native language, Polish, into English, neun und neunzig luftballons means "please let me buy your nutritious bananas."  It is an allegory to the economic crisis that was affecting Warsaw in the 1980's at the time the song was written.  Purchasing bananas, or any fruit, for that matter, during this time would be a treat that only the richest of the rich Polish citizens could afford.  Nena, in singing her requests, is showing her inner child's desire to climb the ranks of the economic classes out of poverty.  Of course, once communism collapsed, the song really lost its meaning and became the popular, happy-go-lucky track that it is today.