He is the only artist to score a #1 Hit in the U.S. with a German language song, and his albums and singles have sold about 60 million copies worldwide.
Early Years
Born in Vienna, studying at the Vienna Music Conservatory in 1977 which he left after one semester to pursue a career in music, he lived for a short time in West Berlin while singing in a jazz-rock band. When he returned to Vienna he was calling himself "Falco," reportedly in tribute to the East German ski jumper Falko Weißpflog, and playing in the Austrian bands Spinning Wheel and Hallucination Company. En route to becoming an international rock star in his own right, he was bass player in the Austrian hard rock-punk rock band Drahdiwaberl (from 1978 until 1983). With Drahdiwaberl he wrote and performed the song "Ganz Wien" which he would also include on his debut solo album Einzelhaft.
Individual success
Falco's first hit was "Der Kommissar" from the 1982 album Einzelhaft. A German language song about drug consumption that combines rap verses with a sung chorus, Falco's record was a number-one success in many countries but failed to break big in the U.S. The song, however, would prove to have a life of its own in two English-language versions. British Rock band After the Fire recorded an English cover version, loosely based on Falco's lyrics and also called "Der Kommissar" (with "uh-oh" and "alles klar Herr Kommissar" the only other lyrics held over from the original). This time, the song shot to number three in the United States (their only major hit there) in 1983, though it failed to crack the UK Top 40. The band - who had been together more than a decade - broke up almost immediately thereafter. That same year, American singer Laura Branigan recorded a version of the song with new English lyrics, under the title "Deep in the Dark" on her album Branigan 2.
After a second album, Junge Roemer, failed to provide a repeat to his debut single's success (outside of Austria and Germany, where the album topped the charts), Falco began to experiment with English lyrics in an effort to broaden his appeal, and chose a new production team. The result would be the most popular album and single of his career.
Falco recorded "Rock Me Amadeus" inspired in part by the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, and the song became a worldwide hit in 1986. This time, his record reached #1 in the U.S. and UK, bringing him the success that had eluded him in that major market a few years earlier. The song remained in the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and his album, Falco 3, fittingly peaked at the number three position on the Billboard album charts. Unheard of at the time for a white performer, much less a European one, the Austrian rapper's single climbed to the upper reaches of the Billboard Top R&B Singles Chart (only a few years earlier called the "Black Singles" chart), peaking at number 6. Falco 3 peaked at number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Ultimately, "Rock Me Amadeus" went to the #1 spot in over a dozen countries including the Soviet Union and Japan. Follow-up single "Vienna Calling" was another international pop hit, peaking at #18 of the Billboard Charts and #17 on the U.S. Cash Box Charts in 1986. A double A-side 12" single featuring remixes of those two hits peaked at #4 on the U.S. Dance/Disco charts.
"Jeanny" the third release from the album Falco 3, brought the performer back to the top of the charts across Europe. Highly controversial when it was released in Germany and the Netherlands, the story of "Jeanny" was told from the point of view of a rapist and possible murderer. Several DJs and radio stations refused to play the ballad, which was ignored in the U.S., although it became a huge hit in many European countries, and inspired two sequels on later albums.
In 1986, the album Emotional was released, produced by Rob and Ferdi Bolland (Bolland & Bolland). On the Album were "Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, Ein Jahr danach)" and the song "Kamikaze Cappa" which was written as a tribute to the late photojournalist Robert Capa. "The Sound of Musik" was another international success, and a Top 20 U.S. Dance hit, though he failed to make the U.S. pop charts. He also went on "Emotional-Tour" which was a world tour where he ended up in Japan at 1987. In 1987, he sang a duet with Brigitte Nielsen "Body Next to Body" and the single was a Top 10 hit in the Germanic countries. The Album Wiener Blut was released in 1988 but it did not get much publicity outside Germany and Austria.
After "Jeanny," there were a number of European hits, but Falco was rarely heard in the U.S. and the UK. His 1992 U.S. comeback attempt, the album Nachtflug with the song "Titanic" won a number of awards, but failed to chart in America.
Death
Falco died of severe injuries received from a collision with a bus in his Mitsubishi Pajero near the city of Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic on 6 February 1998, just two weeks before his 41st birthday. While it was initially reported that the autopsy showed high blood levels of alcohol and cocaine, this was disputed. At the time of his death, he was working on a comeback into the music world.
He was buried in the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) in Vienna, Austria.
Years active: 1974 -1998
Amadeus
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Er war ein Punker
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden denn er trank
Und jede rief
Come and rock me Amadeus
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
Er war ein Rockidol
Und alles rief
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Ey
Es war um siebzehn hundert achtzig
Und es war in Wien
No plastic money anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
Woher die Schulden kamen
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Genau das war sein Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War ein Rockidol
Und alles ruft
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus
The lyrics to Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus" depict the life of a punk rockstar, Amadeus, who lived in the city of Vienna in the late 1700s. Despite his alcoholism and mounting debts, he was loved by all the women and had achieved superstar status thanks to his virtuosity in music. The chorus repeatedly calls for Amadeus to "rock me," indicating his magnetic appeal and sexual prowess.
The lyrics draw a parallel between Amadeus and the popular image of a rock 'n roll idol, emphasizing the similarities between the two despite the vast difference in eras. The mentioning of "no plastic money anymore" and "die Banken gegen ihn" also allude to Amadeus's financial struggles, which is a common theme among musicians regardless of what era they came from.
Overall, "Rock Me Amadeus" is a catchy and upbeat song that celebrates the life of a music icon and his wild, rockstar lifestyle. The chorus is particularly memorable and it's likely one of the reasons this song has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock me all the time to the top
I want to be constantly entertained and thrilled to the maximum level.
Er war ein Punker
He was a rebellious and free-spirited person who did not conform to society's expectations.
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
He lived in a bustling, urban metropolis filled with opportunities and excitement.
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
Specifically, he lived in Vienna, Austria, a place with a rich history in art and culture.
Wo er alles tat
He did whatever he wanted in this city without any limitations.
Er hatte Schulden denn er trank
He owed money because of his love for alcohol, which was a vice that he couldn't resist.
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Despite his flaws, all the women adored him and couldn't resist his charm.
Und jede rief
Every woman wanted to be with him and called out for him.
Come and rock me Amadeus
They wanted him to entertain and thrill them just like the famous composer Amadeus Mozart did with his music.
Er war Superstar
He was a major celebrity who was famous and well-known to everyone.
Er war populär
He was well-liked and popular with the masses.
Er war so exaltiert
He was filled with passion and enthusiasm for everything he did.
Because er hatte Flair
His unique style and personality made him stand out from others and gave him an edge.
Er war ein Virtuose
He was an expert and highly skilled in his craft.
Er war ein Rockidol
He was a huge icon and influencer in the world of rock music.
Und alles rief
Everyone called out for him because of his incredible talent and charisma.
Ey
Hey!
Es war um siebzehn hundert achtzig
The story took place in the year 1780.
Und es war in Wien
As previously mentioned, it happened in Vienna, Austria.
No plastic money anymore
During this time, credit cards and other electronic forms of payment did not exist and people had to rely on cash and other physical forms of currency.
Die Banken gegen ihn
The banks were not on his side and were not willing to lend him money or help him financially.
Woher die Schulden kamen
Everyone knew that his debts came from his love for drinking and partying.
War wohl jedermann bekannt
It was common knowledge and widely accepted that he was in a lot of debt because of his lifestyle.
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
He was a ladies' man and had many female admirers.
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Women loved his rebellious and carefree attitude.
Und alles ruft
Everyone called out for him and wanted to be with him because of his fame and reputation.
Amadeus
Referring to Amadeus Mozart, a famous composer known for his innovative music and style.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., AUSTINTATIOUS TUNES
Written by: FERDINAND D. BOLLAND, ROBERT J. BOLLAND, . FALCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shawnbennet432
Dude rapping in German in the 80's...epic.
@sunplaying2273
Dude la enn malad🤘
@lessgo5214
Yeah. German Rap nowadays is trash.
@t.vampiro4800
He's singing about hot sauce
@lessgo5214
@@t.vampiro4800 Austrias musician
@t.vampiro4800
@@lessgo5214 I'm gonna pretend that's not true. I say tapatio. 🤣
@horsepower523
Eminem: I'm the best rapper ever
Falco: Hold my Apfelstrudel
@moonstruckmisfit3525
LMFAO
@theycallmejens4980
Kaiserschmarn*
@Wiena-ce2nm
@@theycallmejens4980 Wiener schmakal