Berlin Songs Ranked
Berlin is an American new wave band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained commercial success in the 1980s with singles including “Sex (I’m A…)”, “The Metro”, “No More Words” and the chart-topping “Take My Breath Away” from the 1986 film Top Gun. The best-known lineup consisted of singer Terri Nunn, bass guitarist and vocalist John Crawford, keyboardist David Diamond, guitarist Ric Olsen, keyboardist Matt Reid, and drummer Rod Learned. Here are all of Berlin songs ranked.
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15. Blowin’ Sky High (Best of Berlin 1979–1988, 1988)
“I had to go and learn this song on my guitar. What a great tune. Terri Nunn never fails to arouse me.I have liked a few songs from Berlin and this is one that I definitely like that I feel doesn’t get any attention. Some elements I really like in this song. The voice, the melodies Terri Nun sings, the chorus I think is very catchy. I also really like when she really belts out some powered high notes.”
14. A Matter of Time (Information, 1980)
“Love it it was a great song. She was an actress prior to starting band Metro with John. She tried out for Star Wars as Princess Lea its on youtube.”
13. Fascination (Information, 1980)
“I enjoy this album for its quirkiness. Its synth driven and lyrics are typical for that early era – robots, isolation, mind control. While Terri was busy in Hollywood, Virginia Macolino stepped in and laid down the vocals. Though her vocal cords are not as strong as Terri, she does a solid job. Overload is a fun song with engaging synth lines and vocals.”
12. Now It’s My Turn (Love Life, 1984)
“I ran across this song a few days ago, played it, loved it in the 70s, love it now. The beat, the lyrics, and the sound could fit right in with today’s music. I like the way Terri Nunn showcases her broad range of vocals.”
See more: Berlin Albums Ranked
11. Tell Me Why (Pleasure Victim, 1982)
“Not only is this the best Berlin album by quite a distance, but also one of the very best new wave albums period. I spent a good number of years obsessed with it, as well as sex goddess / lead singer Terri Nunn and how the liner notes on the inside of the album credits her with “BJs.””
10. You Don’t Know (Count Three & Pray, 1986)
“Some squealy guitar and random orchestra hits punctuate this one, which sounds a bit like a darker “No More Words”. I’ve always liked it, but I do think it would’ve benefitted from less-cluttered production.”
9. Pleasure Victim (Pleasure Victim, 1982)
“Pleasure Victim,” as if the title didn’t clue you in, is a peek into the seedy, sleazy, sex-soaked side of new wave; the band hail from L.A. and wholly embrace those new-fangled synthesizers and boy, is this thing dripping in early ’80s cheap n’ nasty synth tones.”
8. Animal (Animal, 2013)
“I did not realize how much I missed the lovely voice that is Teri Nunn! She is at top form here! I have been a fan since the Pleasure Victim album and have all of them. I was lucky to see them once in the late 80’s and at the end Terri left the stage and walked up the aisle and us happy fans were very grateful.”
7. Masquerade (Pleasure Victim, 1982)
“One of their best atmospheric numbers. Terri gets a bit weak in the high notes (“So we reach for tomorrow…”), but the music carries it through”
6. Dancing in Berlin (Love Life, 1984)
“Terri herself had improved dramatically as a singer since Pleasure Victim, varying her tone to fit the lyrics. Forceful, steamy, tantalizing, playful, she’s on her game.”
See more: U2 Albums Ranked
5. Sex (I’m A…) (Pleasure Victim, 1982)
“I think it’s a statement about human sexuality. The male voice keeps saying “I’m a man” and the female voice says she is different things. It’s saying that a man is a man and not defined by his sexuality, and a woman is defined by how a man perceives her during sex. She can be his “babe”, a hooker, etc., but he is just a man.”
4. Take My Breath Away (Count Three & Pray, 1986)
“Surely one of the outstanding pop songs of the 1980s. It is romantic, and even erotic, without being at all sleazy: hardly an easy feat to pull off. The whole thing just kind of floats there sensually on a cloud of synths.”
3. Like Flames (Count Three & Pray, 1986)
“I don’t know if this was a hit in any territory, but it definitely wasn’t here in the States. Better than any of the hits they did have here, though. I used to own Love Life but got rid of it because there was nothing on it worth having. “Like Flames” is easily better than anything on that album. “
2. No More Words (Love Life, 1984)
“I can’t claim to be a Berlin fan, but they did great on this one. The hooks fit together great, Terri’s vocals and attitude are both on point, and if the lyrics aren’t anything you haven’t heard before, I’m totally on board with more “actions not words” declarations in my popular music.”
1. The Metro (Pleasure Victim, 1982)
“I love this. I’m mad for this kind of new (old) wave, it’s the best kind of 80s music, no synths no kitsch. Love the vocals, this band is top class. A band that often didn’t quite succeed at what they were aiming for. Here, they did.”
