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
Amerika
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Falco 3 Iso
America
Die Story is jene,
Das weiß doch Jedermann
Das liegt doch auf der Hand
Es war mit Bock und Roll Musik
Nicht immer leicht in diesem Land
(Weinschorle, Gespritzter)
Das ist mir völlig klar,
Obgleich ich Whiskey zech
Seitdem in USA ich war
Dort hört man "Falco You Are Wonderful"
Ich hab es langsam satt
Wenn ihr meine records
Trotzdem kaufen würdet,
Würde es mich nicht stören
Das typische an mir
Ich bin untypisch ganz und gar
Einmal hoch und einmal tief
Einmal ausgeflippt, dann wieder straight
Ihr werdet mich nehmen müssen wie ich bin
Ich sag es lieber gleich
Zeigt mir den nächsten schlanken Fuß
Und ich bin voll dabei
America wenn ihr mir glauben würdet
Wie man euch vermissen kann
Im "Spiegel" stand es: Wien ist "in"
Und wenn der es nicht weiß wer dann?
Auch wenn Mr. Smith 'ne Glatze hat
Wir verkaufen ihm 'nen Kamm
Der Herr war dick
Das Girl war slick
So denn er lallend fragt
"What's your name?"
I' nehm' zweitausend "Öschis"
Keusch der Madel sagt
Ihr werdet uns nehmen müssen wie wir sind
Wir sagen es lieber gleich
Zeigt uns den nächsten Präsidenten
Und wir sind voll dabei
Oder auch nicht
Dialog zwischen einen Touristen und
einem Würstchenhändler.
Tourist: "I would like to have
That wonderful Wiener Schnitzel"
Würstchenhändler: (Sich an seine Frau wendend)
"Gib ihm doch mal 100 g Wurst im Brötchen"
Tourist: (schmatzend zu beiden)
"Yeah, that's really great"
Würstchenhändler: (sich seiner Sache sicher)
"Aber das ist doch klar,
Der Herr, das macht hundert,
Nein nicht Dollars sondern Schilling (Öschis),
Wir wollen es ja nicht übertreiben.
America...
La la la
La la
La la
In Falco's song "Amerika," he shares his experiences as an Austrian musician trying to make it big in America. He starts by acknowledging that his story is a common one - many artists before him have tried and faced difficulties. Throughout the song, Falco references his use of white wine with soda, a popular drink combination in Austria called "gespritzter," and how it's a part of who he is. He also mentions that even though he drinks whiskey now that he's in the USA, he is tired of hearing people tell him how wonderful he is as an artist. He expresses his desire for people to continue buying his records, but also acknowledges that it wouldn't bother him if they didn't.
Falco goes on to describe himself as atypical, and someone who can be unpredictable with their behavior. He challenges his audience to take him as he is, for better or for worse, and to show him their next leader so that he can decide whether or not to be on board. He then draws a comparison between Austria and America, citing an article in "Der Spiegel" which praised Vienna as being in fashion. He also references an encounter with a man and a woman, where the man was overweight and the woman was slim, and how he offered to buy the woman 2000 Austrian schillings for sex. The woman declined, but Falco celebrates his own unpredictability in the situation.
Overall, "Amerika" is a commentary on trying to achieve success as an artist, and how the experience can be deeply tied to one's own identity. Falco's experiences in America have made him question his own relationship to his homeland, as well as the music industry itself. It's a reflection on the highs and lows of pursuing one's dreams in a foreign country.
Line by Line Meaning
Die Story is jene,
The story is this one,
Das weiß doch Jedermann
Everybody knows that,
Das liegt doch auf der Hand
It's obvious,
Es war mit Bock und Roll Musik
It was with bock and roll music,
Nicht immer leicht in diesem Land
Not always easy in this country,
Was in mir sitzt ist weiß gespritzt
What's inside me is white seltzer (spritz),
(Weinschorle, Gespritzter)
(Wine spritzer, seltzer mixed with wine),
Das ist mir völlig klar,
That's totally clear to me,
Obgleich ich Whiskey zech
Even though I drink whiskey,
Seitdem in USA ich war
Since I've been in the USA,
Dort hört man "Falco You Are Wonderful"
There they hear "Falco, you are wonderful",
Ich hab es langsam satt
I'm slowly fed up with it,
Wenn ihr meine records
Even if you buy my records,
Trotzdem kaufen würdet,
It wouldn't bother me,
Würde es mich nicht stören
I'd still be indifferent,
Das typische an mir
The typical thing about me,
Ich bin untypisch ganz und gar
Is that I'm atypical, completely,
Einmal hoch und einmal tief
Sometimes high and sometimes low,
Einmal ausgeflippt, dann wieder straight
Sometimes crazy, then straight again,
Ihr werdet mich nehmen müssen wie ich bin
You'll have to take me as I am,
Ich sag es lieber gleich
I'd rather say it straight away,
Zeigt mir den nächsten schlanken Fuß
Point me to the next slim chance,
Und ich bin voll dabei
And I'm all in,
America wenn ihr mir glauben würdet
America, if you would believe me,
Wie man euch vermissen kann
How much one can miss you,
Im "Spiegel" stand es: Wien ist "in"
In the "Spiegel" it said: Vienna is "in",
Und wenn der es nicht weiß wer dann?
And if he doesn't know, who does?
Auch wenn Mr. Smith 'ne Glatze hat
Even if Mr. Smith is bald,
Wir verkaufen ihm 'nen Kamm
We'll sell him a comb,
Der Herr war dick
The man was fat,
Das Girl war slick
The girl was slick,
So denn er lallend fragt
So he asks drunkenly,
"What's your name?"
"What's your name?",
I' nehm' zweitausend "Öschis"
"I'll take two thousand "Öschis"",
Keusch der Madel sagt
The girl says chastely,
Ihr werdet uns nehmen müssen wie wir sind
You'll have to take us as we are,
Wir sagen es lieber gleich
We'd rather say it straight away,
Zeigt uns den nächsten Präsidenten
Show us the next president,
Und wir sind voll dabei
And we're all in,
Oder auch nicht
Or not,
Dialog zwischen einen Touristen und
Dialogue between a tourist and,
einem Würstchenhändler.
a sausage vendor.
Tourist: "I would like to have
Tourist: "I would like to have
That wonderful Wiener Schnitzel"
That wonderful Wiener Schnitzel,"
Würstchenhändler: (Sich an seine Frau wendend)
Sausage vendor: (Turning to his wife),
"Gib ihm doch mal 100 g Wurst im Brötchen"
"Give him 100 g of sausage in a bun,"
Tourist: (schmatzend zu beiden)
Tourist: (munching to both),
"Yeah, that's really great"
"Yeah, that's really great"
Würstchenhändler: (sich seiner Sache sicher)
Sausage vendor: (confident in his decision),
"Aber das ist doch klar,
"But that's clear,
Der Herr, das macht hundert,
For the gentleman, that's one hundred,
Nein nicht Dollars sondern Schilling (Öschis),
No, not dollars, but schillings (Öschis),
Wir wollen es ja nicht übertreiben.
We don't want to overdo it."
America...
America...
La la la
La la la
La la
La la
La la
La la
Contributed by Luke K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@notimptoknow4215
Its an analogy for US-austrian political friendship, with a bunch of selfdeprecating elements in it as not to be seen as too radical of a song. :)
Read the translation a few postings above - here are a few excerpts:
Everyone knows that it wasnt always easy with irish and rock and roll music in this country... (Reference to the occupation after the second world war, and what developed out of it.)
What I like is white spritzer (white wine with soda - stands for, what I like is Austria/austrian mentality), that's crystal clear to me
Even though I get hammered on whisky (stand in for being depressed... ;) White whine with soda is light comparatively, and not used by depressed people to drown their sorrows... ;) ) since I have been to the USA
There they say "Falco you are wonderful", come on, start liking me already (what they say is not what they mean - but stated as a very soft blow)
If you would buy my records regardless, I wouldn't mind (thats an actual call back to his professional life, and a callback to the vailed criticism that was made, that the relationship between the US and austria had been ambivalent.. Thats Falco the poet... :) )
The typical about me is, I am atypical entirely (= bravado :)),
Sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes spritzed (drunk, or acting drunk) then clear/sober again (again, double meaning. :) As in I'm telling you the truth but I'm doing it from behind a secure vail of acting drunk. Also the situation is depressing (for me). :) )
You will have to take it from me, how I am, I better tell you now (= bravado :) )
Show me the next lean (naked) leg (= women down to have sexual relations), then maybe I'll be with you there live
Play on Reagan (US President), come on - lalala
The "Spiegel"(Germanys prime weekly news magazine) said: Vienna is ahead, if they don't know, who does (The public sentiment more so than the Spiegel usually... ;) As in Falco is down with open political secrets/the rumor mill on the streets :) Also putting down the importance of Vienna. :) )
If Mr. Smith (the Americans) is bald, we (the Viennese) will sell him a comb
The gentleman was fat, the girl was slick, when then he asked her babbling - "What's your name?", "I want two thousand" innocently the girl said
You will have to take it from us (/and take us), how we are, we better tell you right now
Show us the next (US) president and we'll be there live - or maybe not
America, ... would you believe me how much one guy is able to miss you? (Sarcastic, and then also not sarcastic - because being number one in the US charts was the highest professional achievement in his career. :) Again, double meaning. :) )
(Still in the voice of the american tourist:) I would like to have that wonderful Wiener Schnitzel
(Viennese:) Go give him ten dekagram Polish (cheap (but good) sausage) into a Wachauer (local kind of sandwich bread)
(Still in the voice of the american tourist:) Yeah, that's really great
(Viennese:) I know already, that's a hundred. Nono, schillings not dollars, let's not exaggerate (100 Schillings is about 10-20 times as much as the sandwich should've cost, 100 Dollars would have been 100 times as much... :))
America ... La la la - la la - la la
@RwBguardian
Well
The story is like that, everyone knows that, because it's obvious
It wasn't always easy with bagpipe and roll music in this country
What I like is white spritzer*, that's crystal clear to me
Even though I get hammered on whisky since I was in the USA
There they say "Falco you are wonderful", come on, start liking me
If you would buy my records regardless, I wouldn't mind
The typical about me is, I am untypical, not at all
Sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes sptirzed then clear again
You will have to take it from me, how I am, I better tell you now
Show me the next lean leg, then maybe I'll be there live
America, if you would believe me, how you can be missed
America, if you would believe me, how you can be missed
Play on Reagan, come on - lalala
The "Spiegel"** said: Vienna is ahead, if they don't know it, who will
If Mr. Smith is bald, we will sell him a comb
The gentleman was fat, the girl slick, then he asked babbling:
"What's your name?", "I want two thousand" innocently said the girl
You will have to take it from us, how we are, we better tell you now
Show us the next president and we'll be there live - or maybe not
America, ...
I would like to have that wonderful Wiener Schnitzel
Go give him ten dekagram Polish (sausages) in a Wachauer***
Yeah, that's really great
I know already, that's a hundred. Nono, schillings not dollars, let's not exaggerate
America ... La la la - la la - la la
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/america-america.html-8
@68holger
Der beste Sänger den Österreich hervorgebracht hat
@jemmounicat1620
Auf den Punkt gebracht 😉
@gerhardriedmann4087
Auch 40 Jahre später, einfach toll!!!
@matthiasheilig2132
Fakt
@stephanpaudler1332
Ist so , wir wuchsen in der geilsten Zeit ever auf ….und wussten es nicht
@HoboHeaven
So underrated. Der Text ist der Hammer, hau mich jedesmal weg^^
@user-jj4pr6iv8j
großartiger österreichischer Künstler - einfach unique !!!!
@Hammern28
This song is just awesome. RIP Falco!
@reneprucha7054
Da geht mir mein Herz auf bei dieser Musik.
@danielfalk3450
Jawooi