Take My Breath Away

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.

The song was originally offered to The Motels; they released their original demo on their compilation album Anthologyland. 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. Moroder said that he is most proud of this song, of all the other hits he has had in his career.

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.

"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.

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. 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.

Personnel

Additional Personnel

Track listings

1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13
2. "Radar Radio" by Giorgio Moroder featuring Joe Pizzulo – 3:40

1. "Take My Breath Away" – 4:13
2. "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins – 3:36

Jessica Simpson cover version

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 US 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

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.

Other cover versions