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This article is about the Berlin song. For other uses, see Take My Breath Away (disambiguation).

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"Take My Breath Away"
File:Berlin - Take My Breath Away Single Cover.jpg
Song by Berlin
from the album Top Gun (soundtrack) and Count Three & Pray
B-side"Radar Radio"
ReleasedJune 15, 1986
Recorded1986
Length4:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Giorgio Moroder
  • Tom Whitlock[1]
Producer(s)Giorgio Moroder

"Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the film Top Gun, performed by the band Berlin.[1] It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song,[1] as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

Recording[]

Once Giorgio Moroder wrote the musical backing to what would become "Take My Breath Away", lyricist Tom Whitlock wrote the lyrics driving home from the studio, and then spent a few hours at home polishing them. The demo done with a background singer impressed director Tony Scott and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who decided to film more romantic scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis to feature the song.[2]

The song was originally offered to The Motels; they released their original demo on their compilation album Anthologyland.[3] Columbia Records suggested some of their signed artists, but eventually Moroder thought of the band Berlin, whose hit song "No More Words" he had produced. Whitlock did a few lyrical changes before Terri Nunn recorded the vocals.[2] Moroder said that he is most proud of this song, of all the other hits he has had in his career.[4]

Releases and performances[]

"Take My Breath Away" was the first single from the Top Gun soundtrack album and was released in 1986 as a split single alongside the song "Radar Radio":

  1. "Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun)" (performed by Berlin)
  2. "Radar Radio" (performed by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo, written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock)

The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the charts in Canada, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Belgium.[1]

"Take My Breath Away" is available on both the original Top Gun soundtrack album and the expanded edition. The song was also featured in several of the band's best-of and remix 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 only songs not written by Berlin's John Crawford that they had performed on any album up to that point.

"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 new television advertising campaign for the 405 model range. The re-release reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.[5]

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 pieces 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 Terri.[6] This video clip can be seen occasionally in VH1 Europe's Top 10 Movie Soundtracks program. This video was re-released within the 2004 Top Gun DVD Collector's Edition.

Personnel[]

  • Terri Nunn: vocals
  • Ric Olsen: lead guitar
  • David Diamond: rhythm guitars
  • Matt Reid: synthesizers, keyboards
  • John Crawford: bass
  • Rob Brill: drums, percussion

Additional Personnel[]

  • Luís Jardim, Osamu Kitajima, Masakazu Yoshizawa: percussion
  • Richard Niles: orchestral arrangements
  • Art Damage Choir, John Batdorf, William Batstone, Lance Ellington, George Merrill, Tessa Niles: additional backing vocals

Track listings[]

12"
  1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13
  2. "Radar Radio" by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo – 3:40
UK release
  1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13
  2. "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins – 3:36

Charts and sales[]

Jessica Simpson cover version[]

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"Take My Breath Away"
File:Jessicasimpson single takemybreathaway.jpg
Song by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin: Collector's Edition
ReleasedMarch 7, 2004[31]
Recorded2004
Genre
Length3:15
LabelColumbia
Producer(s)Billy Mann
Template:Audiosample Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
Music video
"Take My Breath Away" on Youtube.com

American singer Jessica Simpson covered "Take My Breath Away" and released it as the third single from the album In This Skin in 2004. Her version was produced by Billy Mann. Simpson chose to cover this song because she felt that it was the theme song of her relationship with her then husband, Nick Lachey. Simpson's version was also included on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 16 (from the US Now! series). The remix is seen on Much Dance 2005. It also received heavy airplay on Mainstream Urban stations.

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" [Video]

Brazilian Promo 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]

Remixes and other versions[]

  • "Take My Breath Away" [Album Version]
  • "Take My Breath Away" [Eddie Baez Night Dub Mix]
  • "Take My Breath Away" [Orangefuzzz Club Mix]
  • "Take My Breath Away" [Passengerz Hourglass Mix]
  • "Take My Breath Away" [Eddie Baez Late Night Club Mix]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Love Song "Take My Breath Away" Nominated

[32]

2005 People's Choice Awards Favorite Remake "Take My Breath Away" Nominated

[33]

Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards Best Song Performance – Female "Take My Breath Away" Nominated

[34]

Chart performance and certifications[]

"Take My Breath Away" became a number-twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as a top ten hit on the Top 40 Tracks and the Top 40 Mainstream charts. The song also became another number-one hit for Simpson on the Hot 100 Singles Sales. Although the song did not break records of any sorts, it performed decently on the other tracks it charted on: the Adult Top 40, the Adult Contemporary, the Hot 100 Airplay, the Hot Dance Club Play, and the Hot Digital Tracks. In late 2005 it received a gold certification by the RIAA.

Charts[]

Other cover versions[]

  • Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam covered the cantonese version of the songs "Passion (激情)" on her third album in 1987.
  • Sodda Club featuring Hannah Alethea's cover of the song reached #16 in the UK Singles Chart in 2002.[1]
  • Bimbo Jones produced his own electronica version of the track with singer Sylvia Tosun taking on the vocals. Chris Banuchi directed a music video for this cover of "Take My Breath Away" and released it on July 9, 2015.
  • A cover by My Morning Jacket is included on the second volume of their Early Recordings compilation.

See also[]

  • List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles 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[]

  • Top Gun Soundtrack Extended Edition Booklet

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Back to the 80s: Interview with Tom Whitlock, co-writer of 'Take My Breath Away' & more – Kickin' it Old School
  3. "Liner notes of Martha Davis and The Motels: Anthologyland".
  4. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4253475.htm
  5. 1 maart 2007. "peugeot 405". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  6. Top Gun Soundtrack: Take My Breath Away Video http://www.topgunsoundtrack.com/Take_My_Breath_Away.html#Video
  7. "australian-charts.com - Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  11. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  12. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  13. "Lescharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single.
  14. "Musicline.de – Berlin Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  16. Italian Single Chart HitparadeItalia . Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Berlin" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  18. "Charts.nz – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Top 40 Singles.
  19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". VG-lista.
  20. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. "Berlin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  24. 24.0 24.1 Billboard Allmusic.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  25. "Take My Breath Away" (1988 release), UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  26. "Take My Breath Away" (1990 release), UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  27. Canada certifications [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help). Music Canada. URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  28. French certifications [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help) (in French). InfoDisc. URL–wikilink conflict (help) Select BERLIN and click OK. 
  29. UK certifications [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help). British Phonographic Industry. URL–wikilink conflict (help) Select singles in the Format field. Type Take My Breath Away in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  30. U.S. certifications [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help). Recording Industry Association of America. URL–wikilink conflict (help) If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  31. "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: CHR/Top 40". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. 2004-03-07. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  32. http://web.archive.org/web/20080313200459/http://www.moono.com/news/news00420.html
  33. http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2005
  34. http://www.eternal-allegiance.com/showthread.php?t=80009
  35. "Australian-charts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  36. "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  37. "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  38. "Canadian Singles Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  39. "Lescharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  40. "Italiancharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  41. "Jessica Simpson - Take My Breath Away Tokyo Hot 100 - Search: 2004-06-03". Oricon. 2004-06-03. Retrieved October 8, 2016. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  42. "Swedishcharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  43. "Chart Log UK - DJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  44. "ФДР - Радіо - Розсилки". Fdr.com.ua. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  45. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  46. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  47. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  48. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  49. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  50. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. 2004-05-15. |archive-url= is malformed: flag (help)
  51. Australian Recording Industry Association (2004). "ARIA Annual Chart". Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  52. Ultratop (2004). "Ultratop Annual". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  53. Billboard.BIZ (2004). "Year End Chart". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  54. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-23.

External links[]

  • Template:MetroLyrics song
Preceded by
"Venus" by Bananarama
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
September 6, 1986 – September 13, 1986
Succeeded by
"Stuck with You" by Huey Lewis and the News
Preceded by
"Every Loser Wins" by Nick Berry
UK number one single
8 November 1986
(for three weeks)
Succeeded by
"The Final Countdown" by Europe

Template:Berlin (band) Template:Top Gun soundtrack Template:AcademyAwardBestOriginalSong 1981–1990 Template:Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1980–1999

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