Nena
“There's never been a why in my life.”
Nena (born Gabriele Susanne Kerner on March 24, 1960) is a German singer, songwriter, and actress who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist of the new wave band Nena. Born in Hagen, West Germany, she acquired the nickname 'Nena' (based on 'nena', meaning 'little girl' in Spanish) during a childhood family vacation in Spain, adopting it as her professional stage name early in her career.
In 1982, alongside guitarist Carlo Karges, keyboardist Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, bassist Jürgen Dehmel, and drummer Rolf Brendel, she formed the pop-rock band Nena. The group instantly rose to international prominence with their 1983 anti-war synth-pop anthem '99 Luftballons.' Driven by its infectious rhythm, distinctive bassline, and poignant lyrics addressing Cold War-era anxieties, the track became a massive worldwide sensation. It topped the charts across Europe, Australia, and Canada, while reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, a historic achievement for a German-language song. The English-language adaptation, '99 Red Balloons,' topped the charts in the United Kingdom, cementing Nena's status as a global pop culture icon of the 1980s.
Following the band's dissolution in 1987, Nena launched a highly successful solo career, debuting with her 1989 album 'Wunder gescheh'n' (Miracles Happen), written during a time of personal tragedy and hope. She experienced a massive career renaissance in 2002 with the multi-platinum release 'Nena feat. Nena,' which featured modern re-recordings of her classic hits and a highly successful duet with British pop star Kim Wilde on 'Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime.' Over her decades-long career, Nena has sold over 25 million records worldwide, remaining one of the most successful and enduring German pop artists in history, celebrated for her energetic live performances and distinctive vocal style.
Appearances on Soundtrack Wiki
- Atomic Blonde (2017)
- 'Rivals' (2026)
Genres & Styles
Main Discography
- Nena (1983)
- ? (Fragezeichen) (1984)
- Feuer und Flamme (1985)
- Eisbrecher (1986)
- Wunder gescheh'n (1989)
- Nena feat. Nena (2002)
- Licht (2020)
Similar Artists
- David Bowie
- Kim Wilde
- Falco
- Alphaville
- Peter Schilling
- New Order
Awards
- Echo Music Prize for Best National Female Artist (1990, 1994, 2003)
- Goldene Kamera Award for Outstanding National Pop Artist (2003)
- Comet Award for Lifetime Achievement (2010)
- Echo Music Prize for Artist of the Year (band category, 1984)
Trivia
She acquired the lifelong nickname 'Nena' (Spanish for 'little girl') at the age of three during a family vacation to Spain, and it has been her primary name in personal and professional life ever since.
Her massive global hit '99 Luftballons' was inspired by the band's guitarist, Carlo Karges, who watched balloons being released at a June 1982 Rolling Stones concert in West Berlin and wondered how military forces might react if they drifted over the Berlin Wall.
Nena experienced a huge career resurgence in 2002 when she re-recorded 'Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime' as a bilingual duet with British pop singer Kim Wilde, which went on to become a massive chart-topping hit across Europe.
An active voice in alternative education, Nena co-founded the Neue Schule Hamburg in 2007, a democratic school based on the Sudbury model where children are free to choose their own activities and learning paths.