Berlin’s ‘Take My Breath Away’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 the week of September 13, 1986, reaching #1 for the first and only time in the new wave band’s career. It spent one week atop the chart.

‘Take My Breath Away’ was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the Top Gun soundtrack. It was the second single released from that juggernaut of a collection, following Kenny Loggins’ ‘Danger Zone‘ (also written by Moroder and Whitlock). Director Tony Scott and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson liked the song so much they added additional love scenes to the film in order to feature it.

Music lovers and filmgoers alike approved — the song won Best Original Song at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

The track was originally offered to another new wave band, The Motels, who recorded a demo featuring Moroder’s music and a passionate lead vocal by Martha Davis. Had they recorded the official version, I bet it would have topped ‘Only the Lonely’ and ‘Suddenly Last Summer’ as their biggest hit.

It certainly worked out for Berlin, giving them the only top ten hit of their career. Lead singer Teri Nunn was thrilled with the results, while primary songwriter John Crawford resented that a song written by somebody else on which the band barely appeared would be their best-known release.

Old songs. Great memories.
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