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
Brillantin' Brutal'
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zeichen der Zeit, verschont uns bloß
Wo wir sind, ist vorne, sind wir hinten
Dann ist hinten vorne, schonungslos
Und was hier jeder weiß
Dazu ist es immer noch zu heiß
No plastic money an der Bar
Was seh' ich, oh lala, wunderbar
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Wir tanzen wieder Brillantin' Brutal'
Still talking 'bout software, hardware
Going nowhere, hatten wir doch schon
Heiß von Pelz umkleidet, jeder Herz erleidet Schmerz
Ist das der Liebe Lohn?
Und was hier jeder weiß
Lust und Luxus nehmen ihren Preis
Accept no credit cards an der Bar
Was seh' ich, oh lala, wunderbar
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Bist du der Schüssehall im Club Fatal?
Get it up, don't give it up
Ich seh' deutlich einen neuen Fall
Get it up, don't give it up
Im Fall der Fälle Brillantin' Brutal'
Ancora coca co, ancora cora coca
Ancora coca co, coca
Ancora coca co, ancora cora coca
What's the last word they said, man? Alright
Hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Bist du der Schüssehall im Club Fatal?
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Bist du der Schüssehall im Club Fatal?
Play again, c'mon Sam
Let us hear that tune, play
Brutal', Brutal'
The lyrics of Falco's song "Brillantin' Brutal'" are talking about the current era, mentioning the signs of time and its effects on people's lives. The first stanza talks about confusion about being in front or at the back as everything seems to be changing constantly. The second stanza talks about the software and hardware, which is a reference to how technology is always advancing and leaving people behind. They also mention how people are going nowhere and how love comes at a price. In both stanzas, there's a mention of "no plastic money credit cards at the bar," which means that people haven't fully accepted the idea of paying with plastic money.
The third stanza talks about the desire for luxury but also the consequences that come with it. The lines "get it up, don't give it up, ich seh' deutlich einen neuen Fall" refer to the willingness to take risks in order to achieve success. Falco warns us that even high-end luxury has a price that we have to pay. The chorus is an invitation to everyone to dance and enjoy the moment because life is full of undefined situations, and one needs to stay ahead of the game to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Are they talking 'bout their inside outside
Are they discussing their inner feelings externally?
Zeichen der Zeit, verschont uns bloß
Signs of the times, spare us please
Wo wir sind, ist vorne, sind wir hinten
Wherever we are, we are leading, even when we are behind
Dann ist hinten vorne, schonungslos
Then behind becomes ahead, mercilessly
Und was hier jeder weiß
And what everyone knows here
Dazu ist es immer noch zu heiß
It's still too hot to say
No plastic money an der Bar
No credit cards accepted at the bar
Was seh' ich, oh lala, wunderbar
What do I see, oh lala, wonderful
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Raise your leg, step inside
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Our dance must be the next one
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Play it again, Sam, do it again
Wir tanzen wieder Brillantin' Brutal'
We'll dance Brillantin' Brutal' again
Still talking 'bout software, hardware
Still talking about technology
Going nowhere, hatten wir doch schon
Going nowhere, we've been there before
Heiß von Pelz umkleidet, jeder Herz erleidet Schmerz
Dressed warmly in fur, every heart suffers pain
Ist das der Liebe Lohn?
Is this the reward of love?
Lust und Luxus nehmen ihren Preis
Pleasure and luxury come at a price
Accept no credit cards an der Bar
No credit cards accepted at the bar
Bist du der Schüssehall im Club Fatal?
Are you the shooting gallery in Club Fatal?
Get it up, don't give it up
Get excited, don't give up
Ich seh' deutlich einen neuen Fall
I clearly see a new case
Im Fall der Fälle Brillantin' Brutal'
In case of emergency, Brillantin' Brutal'
Ancora coca co, ancora cora coca
Still cocaine, still cora cocaine
What's the last word they said, man? Alright
What was the last thing they said, man? Alright
Play again, c'mon Sam
Play it again, come on Sam
Let us hear that tune, play
Let us hear that song, play
Brutal', Brutal'
Brutal', Brutal'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johann Hoelzel, Robert Ponger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thecatsarealright
Roughly translated:
I've been talking 'bout inside outside
Signs of the times, spare us that
Where we're at, is the top, if we're at the bottom
Then the bottom is up, mercilessly
And what everyone knows around here
It is still too hot for that
No plastic money at the bar
What do I see, oh la la, wonderful
Raise your leg, step inside
Our dance, it must be the next one
Play again, Sam, do it again
Again we're dancing Brillantin' Brutal'
Still talking 'bout software, hardware
Going nowhere, it's all been there before
Hot, dressed in fur
Every heart must suffer pain, is that the price of love?
And what everyone knows around here
Lust and luxury will take their price
Accept no credit cards at the bar
What do I see, oh la la, wonderful
Raise your leg, step inside
Our dance, it must be the next one
Play again, Sam, do it again
Do you want shots to ring out at Club Fatal?
Get it up, don't give it up
I clearly see a new case
Get it up, don't give it up
In any case Brillantin' Brutal'
Ancora coca, co-, ancora cora, coca
Ancora coca, co-, coca
Ancora coca, co-, ancora -cora coca
What's the last word they said, man?
Alright
Raise your leg, step inside
Our dance, it must be the next one
Play again, Sam, do it again
Do you want shots to ring out at Club Fatal?
Play again
C'mon Sam
Let us hear that tune
Do it again, play
Brutal'
Brutal'
@gumpygumperson4777
I've been talking 'bout inside outside
Zeichen der Zeit verschont uns bloß
Wo wir sind, ist vorne, sind wir hinten
Dann ist hinten vorne, schonungslos
Und was hier jeder weiß
Dazu ist es immer noch zu heiß
No plastic money an der Bar
Was seh ich, oh la la, wunderbar
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Wir tanzen wieder Brillantin' Brutal'
Still talking 'bout software, hardware
Going nowhere hatten wir doch schon
Heiß von Pelz umkleidet
Jedes Herz erleidet Schmerz, ist das der Liebe Lohn
Und was hier jeder weiß
Lust und Luxus nehmen ihren Preis
Accept no credit cards an der Bar
Was seh ich oh la la, wunderbar
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Willst du der Schüsse hall im Club Fatal
Get it up, don't give it up
Ich seh deutlich einen neuen Fall
Get it up, don't give it up
Im Fall der Fälle Brillantin' Brutal'
Ancora coca, co-, ancora cora, coca
Ancora coca, co-, coca
Ancora coca, co-, ancora -cora coca
What's the last word they said, man?
Alright
Hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Willst du der Schüsse hall im Club Fatal
Nehmen Sie hoch das Bein, treten Sie ein
Unser Tanz, er muss der nächste sein
Play again, Sam, mach's nochmal
Willst du der Schüsse hall im Club Fatal
Play again
C'mon Sam
Let us hear that tune
Do it again, play
Brutal'
Brutal'
@patrickpichler5205
2023 auch noch jemand hier bei der Legende?
@politischerbeobachter6854
Sowieso!
@patrickpichler5205
@@politischerbeobachter6854 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
@AidaAidaAmir
His voice is amazing!
@Dano-YouTube
2024 ❤
@stranger.2229
für immer
@thomastrendl4357
Exaltiert, Arrogant, Genial. Ich bin 1963 geboren und mit seinen Songs/Hits als junger Mensch aufgewachsen-eine geniale Zeit! Hans was everywere on tune! Auch er machte meine Teens- u. Twenszeit zu einem Erlebnis! Thanks a lot !!!
@model.railway
2024 noch wer bei der Legende
@alexanderpolisadov2451
Die Musikvideos (auch dieses) von Falco sagen, dass er nicht nur ein Super-Musiker war, aber auch ein verdammt guter Schauspieler!
@hansideimel3907
Du darfst aber nicht vergessen das dolecal &rossacher damals die besten ihres Faches waren . Umsonst haben queen nicht mit ihnen gedreht