Song of the Day #6,625: ‘Take My Breath Away’ – Berlin

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.

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Song of the Day #6,587: ‘Danger Zone’ – Kenny Loggins

The week of July 19, 1986, found a trio of songs atop the Billboard Hot 100 that I’ve already covered: Genesis’ ‘Invisible Touch,’ Peter Gabriel’s ‘Sledgehammer,’ and Janet Jackson’s ‘Nasty.’

At #4 that week was Kenny Loggins’ ‘Danger Zone,’ the first of eight singles from the blockbuster soundtrack to the blockbuster movie Top Gun. Second single ‘Take My Breath Away,’ by Berlin, ended up making the bigger splash, reaching #1 and winning the Academy Award for Best Song. But this one was no slouch, peaking at #2 later that July.

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