Take My Breath Away

"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.[2] It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song,[2] as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Berlin
from the album Top Gun
and Count Three & Pray
B-side"Radar Radio"
ReleasedJune 15, 1986 (1986-06-15)
Recorded1986
GenreSynth-pop[1]
Length4:13
LabelColumbia
Composer(s)Giorgio Moroder
Lyricist(s)Tom Whitlock[2]
Producer(s)Giorgio Moroder
Berlin singles chronology
"Dancing in Berlin"
(1984)
"Take My Breath Away"
(1986)
"Like Flames"
(1987)

Background

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 synthesiser that would later be used on the actual recording. Moroder gave the demo to lyricist Tom Whitlock. Moroder first became acquainted Whitlock after Whitlock who was a mechanic fixed his Ferrari that had brake trouble parked at the studio, and informed him that he was also lyricist.[3] 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 Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who decided to film new romantic scenes between Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis to feature the song.[4]

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).[5] 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.[4] Moroder has said that of all the songs he has produced in his career, he is most proud of this song.[6]

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.[2]

"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.

"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.[7]

In 2017, ShortList's Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing "one of the greatest key changes in music history".[8]

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.[9] 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

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[46] Gold 500,000*
Portugal (AFP)[47] Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Jessica Simpson cover version

"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin
ReleasedMarch 7, 2004[50]
Recorded2004
Genre
Length3:15
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Billy Mann
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"With You"
(2003)
"Take My Breath Away"
(2004)
"Angels"
(2004)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
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 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

Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Love Song "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[51]
2005 People's Choice Awards Favorite Remake "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[52]
Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards Best Song Performance – Female "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[53]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[70] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[71] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. Crawford, Robert (November 10, 2016). "See Craig Campbell's Gripping Cover of Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. Simpson, Dave (16 November 2020). "How we made: Take My Breath Away, the Top Gun theme tune by Berlin". The Guardian.
  4. "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.
  5. "Liner notes of Martha Davis and The Motels: Anthologyland". Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  6. "He felt love with Donna Summer, now its Deja Vu for Giorgio Moroder". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. June 11, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  7. 1 maart 2007. "peugeot 405". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  8. "The 19 greatest key changes in music history". ShortList. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  9. Top Gun Soundtrack: Take My Breath Away Video http://www.topgunsoundtrack.com/Take_My_Breath_Away.html#Video
  10. "Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0731." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  14. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8219." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  15. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3 no. 44. November 8, 1986. p. 18. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved March 6, 2020 via American Radio History.
  16. 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.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single.
  18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Take My Breath Away". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  21. "Charts.nz – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Top 40 Singles.
  22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". VG-lista.
  23. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  24. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100.
  26. "Swisscharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. "Berlin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  28. "Berlin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  29. "Berlin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  30. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending September 13, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  31. "Offiziellecharts.de – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  32. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 45. November 10, 1990. p. IV. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved March 6, 2020 via American Radio History.
  33. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report (650). December 29, 1986. Retrieved March 6, 2020 via Imgur.
  34. "Jaaroverzichten 1986 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  35. "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45 no. 14. December 27, 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved December 26, 2016 via Library and Archives Canada.
  36. "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. Retrieved March 6, 2020 via American Radio History.
  37. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  39. "Top Hits of 1986". everyHit.com. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  40. "1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98 no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 6, 2020 via Google Books.
  41. "1986 The Year in Music & Video – Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98 no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 7, 2020 via Google Books.
  42. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 27, 1986. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  43. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  44. "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4 no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved March 7, 2020 via American Radio History.
  45. "Canadian single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Music Canada. October 31, 1986.
  46. "French single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BERLIN and click OK. 
  47. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4 no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 44. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved March 22, 2020 via American Radio History.
  48. "British single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". British Phonographic Industry. November 1, 1986. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Take My Breath Away in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  49. "American single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Recording Industry Association of America. May 5, 1992. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  50. "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: CHR/Top 40". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. 2004-03-07. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  51. https://web.archive.org/web/20080313200459/http://www.moono.com/news/news00420.html
  52. http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2005
  53. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2014-11-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  54. "Australian-charts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  55. "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  56. "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  57. "Canadian Singles Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  58. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1555. May 14, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  59. "Lescharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  60. "Swedishcharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  61. "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010 (DJ S – The System Of Life)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  62. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  63. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  64. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  65. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  66. "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  67. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. May 15, 2004. Archived from the original on July 16, 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  68. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2004". Australian Recording Industry Association. 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  69. "Rapports Annuels 2004 – Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  70. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  71. "American single certifications – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Recording Industry Association of America. November 7, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.