Take My Breath Away

This article is about the Berlin song. For other uses, see Take My Breath Away (disambiguation).
"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Berlin
from the album Top Gun soundtrack and Count Three & Pray
B-side "Radar Radio"
Released June 15, 1986
Format
Recorded 1986
Genre Synthpop
Length 4:15
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder
Certification Gold (US)
Berlin singles chronology
"Dancing in Berlin"
(1984)		 "Take My Breath Away"
(1986)		 "Like Flames"
(1986)
"Take My Breath Away"
A sample of Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun soundtrack and Count Three & Pray
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"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.

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

Peak positions

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 1
Canada (RPM)[9] 2
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 15
France (SNEP)[12] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 1
Italy (FIMI)[15] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 4
Norway (VG-lista)[18] 4
Spain (AFYVE)[19] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[23] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[23] 3
Chart (1988) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[24] 52
Chart (1990) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[14] 7
UK Singles Chart[25] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 27

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Gold 50,000
France (SNEP)[27] Gold 500,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[29] Gold 500,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Jessica Simpson cover version

"Take My Breath Away"
Single by Jessica Simpson
from the album In This Skin: Collector's Edition
Released March 7, 2004[30]
Format CD single
Recorded 2004
Genre
Length 3:15
Label Columbia
Producer(s) Billy Mann
Certification
  • Gold
  • Platinum
Jessica Simpson singles chronology
"With You"
(2003)		 "Take My Breath Away"
(2004)		 "Angels"
(2004)
Audio sample
file info · help

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 U.S. 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

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Love Song "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[31]
2005 People's Choice Awards Favorite Remake "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[32]
Groovevolt Music and Fashion Awards Best Song Performance – Female "Take My Breath Away" Nominated[33]

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

Weekly charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[35] 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 32
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[37] 10
France (SNEP)[38] 18
Italy (FIMI)[39] 41
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 43
UK (Official Charts Company)[41] 159
Ukraine (FDR Charts)[42] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 20
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[45] 10
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 29
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[47] 23
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[48] 16

Year-end charts

Country Position
Australian Singles Chart[49] 99
Belgium Ultratop Singles[50] 58
US Hot 100 Singles Sales[51] 11

Certifications

Country Certification
U.S. Gold
Australia[52] Gold

Other cover versions

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 136. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. 1 2 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. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  10. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  11. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  12. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. ↑ "Musicline.de – Berlin Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  14. 1 2 Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  15. ↑ Italian Single Chart HitparadeItalia . Retrieved November 3, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Berlin search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  17. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". VG-lista.
  19. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  20. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100.
  21. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. ↑ "Berlin: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  23. 1 2 Billboard Allmusic.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  24. ↑ "Take My Breath Away" (1988 release), UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  25. ↑ "Take My Breath Away" (1990 release), UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  26. ↑ Canada certifications "Canadian single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Music Canada.
  27. ↑ French certifications "French single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BERLIN and click OK
  28. ↑ UK certifications "British single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Take My Breath Away in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Click Search
  29. ↑ U.S. certifications "American single certifications – Berlin – Take My Breath Away". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  30. ↑ "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: CHR/Top 40". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. 2004-03-07. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  31. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080313200459/http://www.moono.com/news/news00420.html
  32. ↑ http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/index.jsp?year=2005
  33. ↑ http://www.eternal-allegiance.com/showthread.php?t=80009
  34. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  35. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  36. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  37. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  38. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  39. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  40. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Take My Breath Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  41. ↑ " "Chart Log UK - DJ S – The System Of Life" Check |url= value (help). Zobbel.de. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  42. ↑ "ФДР - Радіо - Розсилки". Fdr.com.ua. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  43. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  44. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  45. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  46. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  47. ↑ "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Jessica Simpson. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  48. ↑ "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. 2004-05-15. Archived from the original on 2004-05-15.
  49. ↑ Australian Recording Industry Association (2004). "ARIA Annual Chart". Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  50. ↑ Ultratop (2004). "Ultratop Annual". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  51. ↑ Billboard.BIZ (2004). "Year End Chart". Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  52. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-23.

External links

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
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