Berlin “The Metro” charted

The Metro Berlin

Writer(s): John Crawford (see lyrics here) Released: 1981 First Charted: May 28, 1983 Peak: 58 US, 50 CB, 2 CO, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 11.6 video, 12.17 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Berlin formed in Los Angeles in 1976 as the Toys. Two years later, they changed their name to Berlin. They had no connections to the German capital, but thought the name made them sound more European and exotic. They scrapped original singer Tyson A. Cobb and after a brief stint with Toni Childs at the helm, settled on Terri Nunn as the lead singer. She left to pursue acting and the band released the 1980 album Information with Virginia Macolino on vocals. Nunn rejoined the group in 1980 and Enigma Records released the singles “Tell Me Why” and “The Metro” in 1981. A full EP, Pleasure Victim, followed in 1982 which featured a remixed version of “The Metro.” Geffen Records then signed the band and re-released the album in early 1983, promoted by the single “Sex (I’m A…).” That song reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was followed by the re-release of “The Metro.” This time the song charted, hitting #58. While radio stations didn’t give the song a lot of attention, it had heavy rotation on MTV. The video gave them an attractive female to show alongside their largely male-dominated playlist. She was exhausted from shooting the subway scene repeatedly and broke down in tears. They used the footage in the video. As far as the song, Nunn said it “defined us and defined that period of music.” WK The recording has in fact, become known for “epitomizing the new wave genre.” WK The band’s bass player, John Crawford, wrote the song about a woman riding the Metro, the underground train system in Paris, to see an ex-love. “The moments of this meeting and the lead up to it are etched in her memory, as she recalls the train ride in vivid detail, including the soldier sleeping next to her.” SF Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 10/2/2022.