“99 Red Balloons” (German: “99 Luftballons”) is a song by the German band Nena. It was originally published in German in 1983 as “99 Luftballons” and later re-recorded in English.

The lyrics tell the story of 99 red balloons that float into the air and are mistaken for enemy aircraft by the armed forces, leading to a chain reaction of events that ultimately leads to conflict.

The song was a big hit in many countries and is one of the best-known songs of the 1980s. The song became an international success and remains a classic of the 1980s.