When it came to fodder for pop and rock broadsides, Vietnam had a high profile, but broader-ranging Cold War anxieties had wormed their way into rock 'n' roll years before most songwriters had heard ...

Nena's 1983 hit '99 Luftballons' is a unique pop song. It combines Cold War fears with a joyful sound. The German lyrics describe a conflict triggered by balloons mistaken for UFOs. This leads to a ...

Nena Woolworth is sitting cross-legged on the floor of her Napa Valley home, gesturing to an alter piled with icons, heirlooms, and dollar-store prayer candles. “I call this the shaman shack,” she ...