Description
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The story behind the song
“Take My Breath Away” is the name of a love song from the film Top Gun (1986). The song was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, performed by the band Berlin. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.
“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”:
“Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun)” (performed by Berlin)
“Radar Radio” (performed by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo, written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock)
The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 13, 1986 and became number 1 in the UK for four weeks in November 1986.
1986 CBS, a 7320.
“Take My Breath Away” 4:13
“Radar Radio” by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo 3:40
Country Certification Date Sales certified:
Canada Gold October 31, 1986 50,000
France Gold 1987 500,000
UK Gold November 1, 1986 400,000
U.S. Gold May 5, 1992 500,000
The video shows Simpson driving through a southwestern desert. She stops to fill up with petrol, and then arrives at a diner where she watches lovers in motion. The music video peaked at number five on MTVs TRL and spent a total of 12 days on the countdown.
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.
Canadian Singles Chart 10
European Hot 100 Singles 74
French Singles Chart 18
Mexico Top Singles 9
Swedish Singles Chart 43
UK Singles Chart 159
US Billboard Hot 100 20
US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream 8
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play 10
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 23
US Billboard Adult Top 40 29
Country Certification Sales: U.S. Gold 500,000 / Australia Gold 35,000
- Super producer Giorgio Moroder wrote the musical backing to what would become the famous song.Lyricist Tom Whitlock wrote the lyrics while driving home from the studio, and then spent a few hours at home perfecting them.
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What movie was it used in?
It was written specifically for the movie Top Gun, one of the movies that made Tom Cruise a star in 1986.
A demo of the song, sung by a background singer, impressed the film’s director Tony Scott and producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson.
Because of this, they decided to film more romantic scenes between Cruise and co-star Kelly McGillis in order to feature the song.
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Who were Berlin and how did they get involved?
The song was first offered to American new wave band The Motels, who later released their original demo on their compilation album Anthologyland.
Columbia Records suggested other artists, but Moroder thought of the band Berlin, who he had produced the song ‘No More Words’ for.
Whitlock made a few lyrical changes, before Berlin singer Terri Nunn recorded the vocals.
Berlin are an American new wave band, originally formed in California (not Germany!). They had a few hits before ‘Take My Breath Away’, and its members included John Crawford (bass, vocals), Terri Nunn (vocals), David Diamond (keyboards), Ric Olsen (guitar), Matt Reid (keyboards) and Rod Learned (drums).
Moroder has since said that of all the many hits he has had, he is most proud of this song.
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how did it perform in the charts?
Amazingly, it was actually the second single from Top Gun after ‘Danger Zone’ by Kenny Loggins.
It was a UK and US number one hit in 1986, and also topped the charts in Canada, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and Belgium.
It was also the fifth best-selling single of 1986 in the UK
Take My Breath Away lyrics:
Watching every motion
In my foolish lover’s game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shameTurning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and sayTake my breath away
Take my breath awayWatching I keep waiting
Still anticipating love
Never hesitating
To become the fated ones
Turning and returningTo some secret place to find
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say
My loveTake my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraidTake my breath away
Take my breath awayWatching every motion
In this foolish lover’s game
Haunted by the notion
Somewhere there’s a love in flamesTurning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn my way and sayTake my breath away
My love
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