Misplaced Pages

"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Berlin
from the album Top Gun and Count Three & Pray
B-side	"Radar Radio"
Released	June 1986 (1986-06)
Recorded	1986
Genre	Synth-pop
Length	4:13
Label	Columbia
Composer(s)	Giorgio Moroder
Lyricist(s)	Tom Whitlock
Producer(s)	Giorgio Moroder
Berlin singles chronology
"Dancing in Berlin" (1984) "Take My Breath Away" (1986) "Like Flames" (1987)
Music video
"Take My Breath Away" on YouTube
Audio sample
of "Take My Breath Away" file help

"Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film Top Gun, performed by American new wave band Berlin. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

Background

Italian musician Giorgio Moroder was asked by Jerry Bruckheimer, the co-producer for Top Gun, to write a song for the film. He first wrote "Danger Zone" which was recorded by Kenny Loggins. Happy with the result, Bruckheimer then requested a slower song for a romantic scene. Once Moroder had written the musical backing to what would become "Take My Breath Away", he recorded a demo which featured a distinctive bass sound on a synthesizer that would later be used on the actual recording. Moroder gave the demo to lyricist Tom Whitlock. The two first became acquainted when Whitlock, a mechanic, fixed the brakes on Moroder's Ferrari, and informed him that he was also a lyricist. Whitlock wrote the lyrics while driving home from the studio, and then spent a few hours at home polishing them. A demo of the song, sung by a background singer, impressed director Tony Scott and producers Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who decided to film new romantic scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis to feature the song.

The song was first offered to The Motels, who much later released their original demo, which is fairly similar to Berlin's released version, on their compilation album Anthologyland (2001). Columbia Records suggested some of their signed artists, but eventually Moroder thought of the band Berlin, whose song "No More Words" he had produced. Whitlock made a few changes to the lyrics before Terri Nunn recorded the vocals. Moroder has said that of all the songs he has produced in his career, he is most proud of this song.

Releases and performances

"Take My Breath Away" was the second single from the Top Gun soundtrack album, following Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone", and was released in 1986 as a split single alongside the song "Radar Radio", performed by Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo.

The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium. It later went on to win Best Original Song at the 59th Academy Awards.

"Take My Breath Away" is available on both the original Top Gun soundtrack album and the expanded edition. The song was also featured on Berlin's fourth studio album, Count Three & Pray and, as the band's biggest hit, on several of the band's compilation albums: Best of Berlin 1979–1988, Master Series, Greatest Hits Remixed (which includes a "Mission UK Remix" version), Live: Sacred & Profane, and Metro Greatest Hits. "Take My Breath Away" was one of the few songs not written by Berlin's John Crawford that they had performed on any album up to that point. Following the release of "Take My Breath Away", the band split over different points of view regarding the track: while Nunn viewed it as an opportunity that allowed the band to perform worldwide, Crawford disliked it as it had not been written or composed by any of them. He later said: "None of us had ever heard it. None of us had anything to do with it. I didn't play on it. Nobody played on it. No one wrote it".

"Take My Breath Away" was re-released in the United Kingdom in October 1990 to coincide with the first television showing of Top Gun (by ITV, on the evening of October 6, 1990), as well as Peugeot's television advertising campaign for the 405 model range. The re-release reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2017, ShortList's Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing "one of the greatest key changes in music history".

Music video

The music video features scenes from the film Top Gun intermingled with Berlin's singer Terri Nunn performing the song in blue coveralls, walking between parts of planes in a windy aircraft boneyard (part of the Mojave Air & Space Port) at night. Bandmates John Crawford and Rob Brill are shown relaxing in the yard and then following Nunn.
Nunn's coveralls appear to be scorched (as if her character was in an accident), and where she appears, surrounding electric lights come to life akin to paranormal phenomena associated with ghosts. As her bandmates watch, Nunn is greeted by the ghostly appearance of military airmen of various eras. Nunn and the military men disappear into thin air at the end of the video, indicating they were all ghosts in the boneyard, and a reference to the titular lyric of the song.

The video can be seen occasionally on VH1 Europe's Top 10 Movie Soundtracks program. It was later included on the 2004 Top Gun collector's edition DVD.

Track listings

• 7-inch single

A. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13

B. "Radar Radio" (performed by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo) – 3:40

• UK 12-inch single

A. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13

B1. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (performed by The Righteous Brothers)

B2. "Radar Radio" (performed by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo) – 3:40

• UK 7-inch single (1990)

A. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:11

AA. "Danger Zone" (performed by Kenny Loggins) – 3:35

• UK CD single (1990)

1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:11
2. "Danger Zone" (performed by Kenny Loggins) – 3:35
3. "Hot Summer Nights" (performed by Miami Sound Machine) – 3:34
4. "Top Gun Anthem" (performed by Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens) – 4:02

• UK cassette single (1990)

A1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:11

A2. "Danger Zone" (performed by Kenny Loggins) – 3:35

B1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:11

B2. "Danger Zone" (performed by Kenny Loggins) – 3:35

Charts

Certifications

Jessica Simpson version

"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin (reissue)
Released	March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08)
Length	3:15
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Giorgio Moroder Tom Whitlock
Producer(s)	Billy Mann
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"With You" (2003) "Take My Breath Away" (2004) "Angels" (2004)
Music video
"Take My Breath Away" by Jessica Simpson on YouTube

American singer Jessica Simpson covered "Take My Breath Away" and released it as the third single from the album In This Skin in March 2004. Her version was produced by Billy Mann. Simpson chose to cover this song because she thought that it was the theme song of her relationship with her then-husband, Nick Lachey.

Commercial performance

"Take My Breath Away" reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the top 10 on the Top 40 Tracks and Top 40 Mainstream charts. It also became another number-one single for Simpson on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. On November 7, 2005, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Track listings

• Original 2-track release

1. "Take My Breath Away"
2. "Fly"

• Australian CD single

1. "Take My Breath Away"
2. "With You" (acoustic version)
3. "Take My Breath Away" (Eddie Baez Late Night Club Mix)
4. "Take My Breath Away" (Passengerz Hourglass Mix)
5. "Take My Breath Away" (music video)

• Brazilian promotional CD single

1. "Take My Breath Away"
2. "Take My Breath Away" (Eddie Baez Late Night Club Mix)
3. "Take My Breath Away" (Eddie Baez Late Night Dub Mix)
4. "Take My Breath Away" (Passengerz Hourglass Mix)

Awards and nominations

Charts

Certifications and Sales

Release history

The Shadows version

An instrumental version was recorded by The Shadows for their 1991 album Themes & Dreams. As is typical for the group's cover versions, it features Hank Marvin's lead guitar played to the original vocal melody, with considerable note elongation, echo and whammy bar application.

See also

• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1986
• List of European number-one hits of 1986
• List of number-one singles of 1986 (Ireland)
• List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1986 (U.S.)

References

1. Crawford, Robert (November 10, 2016). "See Craig Campbell's Gripping Cover of Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
2. Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024. The slow-burning synth-pop anthem that made '80s-era swoon-worthy moments synonymous with cinematic romance.
3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. Simpson, Dave (November 16, 2020). "How we made: Take My Breath Away, the Top Gun theme tune by Berlin". The Guardian.
5. ^ "Back to the 80s: Interview with Tom Whitlock, co-writer of 'Take My Breath Away' & more". Kickin' it Old School. March 19, 2014. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
6. "Liner notes of Martha Davis and The Motels: Anthologyland". Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
7. "He felt love with Donna Summer, now its Deja Vu for Giorgio Moroder". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. June 11, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
8. "The 59th Academy Awards (1987) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
9. Pingitore, Silvia (April 1, 2022). "Remember Top Gun's song "Take My Breath Away" in 1986? Exclusive interview with John Crawford of Berlin". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
10. Graham, Stephen (March 1, 2007). "peugeot 405". YouTube. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
11. "The 19 greatest key changes in music history". ShortList. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
12. Top Gun Soundtrack: Take My Breath Away Video http://www.topgunsoundtrack.com/Take_My_Breath_Away.html#Video Archived September 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
13. "Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
14. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
15. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0731." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8219." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
18. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 44. November 8, 1986. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
19. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
20. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single.
21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Take My Breath Away". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
22. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 3, 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Berlin" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
24. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
25. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Top 40 Singles.
26. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away". VG-lista.
27. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
28. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
29. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100.
30. "Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Swiss Singles Chart.
31. ^ "Berlin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
32. "Berlin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
33. "Berlin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
34. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending September 13, 1986". Cash Box. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
36. "Discos más populares de Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón. July 17, 1989. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
37. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. November 10, 1990. p. IV. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
38. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
39. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 29, 1986 – via Imgur.
40. "Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
41. "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
42. "European Hot 100 Singles – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 28. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
43. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
44. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
45. "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. January 24, 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
46. "1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
47. "1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-27. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
48. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
49. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
50. "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
51. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. March 2, 1991. p. 41. ISSN 0265-1548.
52. Copsey, Rob (May 14, 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
53. "Canadian single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Music Canada. October 31, 1986.
54. "Danish single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
55. "French single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BERLIN and click OK. 
56. "Italian single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
57. ^ "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 44. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
58. "British single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". British Phonographic Industry. December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
59. "American single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Recording Industry Association of America. May 5, 1992.
60. "2004 Teen Choice Awards winners list". March 13, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
61. "E! People's Choice Awards". E! Online. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
62. "Britney Wins 4 Groovevolt Music Fashion 2005 Awards - Eternal Allegiance - Celebrity Gossip". Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
63. "Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
64. "Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
65. "Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Ultratop 50.
66. "Canadian Singles Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
67. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1555. May 14, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
68. "Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
69. "Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
70. "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010 (DJ S – The System Of Life)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
71. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
72. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
73. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
74. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
75. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
76. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2004". ARIA. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
77. "Rapports annuels 2004 – Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
78. "The Year in Music 2004: Hot 100 Singles Sales". Billboard. December 25, 2004. p. YE-64. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
79. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 26.
80. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
81. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
82. "Les Singles les plus Vendus de la Décennie (2000-2009)" (in French). Infodisc. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
83. "American single certifications – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Recording Industry Association of America. November 7, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
84. "Record & Radio" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. March 5, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
85. "Take My Breath Away / Fly". Amazon.com. March 13, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
86. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 12th July 2004" (PDF). ARIA. July 12, 2004. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

• 1980s ballads
• 1986 singles
• 1986 songs
• 2004 singles
• Berlin (band) songs
• Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songs
• Best Original Song Golden Globe–winning songs
• Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
• Cashbox number-one singles
• Columbia Records singles
• Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
• European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
• Film theme songs
• The Flying Pickets songs
• Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
• Jessica Simpson songs
• Love themes
• Song recordings produced by Giorgio Moroder
• Songs from Top Gun
• Songs written by Giorgio Moroder
• Songs written by Tom Whitlock
• Synth-pop ballads
• UK singles chart number-one singles