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
Emotional
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the soul
Gimme that soul
(Ooh he's emotional)
(He's an emotional man)
I sacrify the day
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
(Watch him break down and cry)
Hey, watch me break down and cry
Hey, watch me cry
Hear me, babe
Was soll ich dir noch sagen?
Es ist doch alles schon gesagt
Ohne uns sind wir die Hälfte wert
Wir gehen vorbei und sehen es nicht
(He's a desperate man in a world so cold)
Und du weißt, ich habe ein Herz wie ein Löwe
(He's just longing for a woman to hold)
Und das Herz geht so lang zum Messer bis es sticht
Do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
(Watch him break down and cry)
Hey, watch me break down and cry
Hey, watch me cry
Still hear me, babe
Ich weiß, dass die Frau, die mich erträgt noch nicht geboren ist
Aber ich bitte dich, komm' zur Welt
(He's a desperate man in a world so cold)
Und du weißt, ich habe ein Herz wie ein Löwe
(He's just longing for a woman to hold)
Und wenn du willst, dann geh' ich down on my knees and pray to
The spirits above, do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
(Watch him break down and cry)
Hey, watch me break down and cry
Hey, the tears in my eyes have got to cry cry
The tears in my eyes have got to cry cry
The tears in my eyes have got to cry cry
Now watch me break down and cry
Watch me break down and cry
And pray to the spirits above and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
(Watch him break down and cry)
Hear me, babe, was soll ich dir noch sagen
(Cry) es ist doch alles schon gesagt, siagst eh wo i bin
(Cry) can't you see I'm down on my knees
But I'll tell you something (cry)
Wenn ned, wenn ned, dann ned
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
(Watch him break down and cry)
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had my woman right
I swear I'm gonna find you tonight
(Ooh he's emotional)
I'm so emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I swear I'm gonna find you tonight
I swear I'm gonna find you tonight
The lyrics of Falco's song "Emotional" express the yearning for love and the desperation of a man who believes that he will never find the woman who can truly understand him. The repetition of "he's emotional" emphasizes his vulnerability and sensitivity, while the line "watch him break down and cry" suggests that he is not afraid to show his emotions. He sacrifices his day and blesses the night, hoping that the woman he is looking for will come to him. The lyrics "I had my woman right here, I had her in the palm of my hand" suggest that he has had love before, but it was fleeting and he wants it again.
The second verse adds more clarity to his emotions, as he believes that the woman who can tolerate him and his high-strung emotions has not been born yet. However, he still prays to the spirits above, longing for the perfect woman to come into his life. The desperation in his voice is palpable, as he utters the line "Wenn ned, wenn ned, dann ned" (if not, then not). He is willing to put himself out there, but he understands that rejection may be the outcome.
Overall, "Emotional" is a powerful commentary on the human need for love and the emotional turmoil that can come with it. Falco captures the rawness of these feelings and presents them in a way that is both unique and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh yeah yeah yeah
The song begins with a soulful exclamation setting the emotional tone for the rest of the lyrics.
Here comes the soul
The singer's soul is about to take center stage in the song.
Gimme that soul
The singer is asking for his soul, which is filled with emotions, to be expressed through his music.
(Ooh he's emotional)
The singer is very emotional, and his feelings manifest through the lyrics of this song.
(He's an emotional man)
The singer is a very emotional person and his feelings drive his actions.
I sacrify the day
The singer is willing to give up his day to be with the person he loves.
Want you to come and do me
The singer is longing for his lover to come to him and be intimate with him.
And bless the night
The singer wants his lover's presence to bless the night and make it special.
(He's got tears in his eyes)
The singer is crying because of the emotions he feels for his lover.
(Watch him break down and cry)
The singer is breaking down emotionally and crying because of his intense feelings for his lover.
Hey, watch me break down and cry
The singer is openly expressing his emotions, encouraging others to watch him break down and cry.
Hear me, babe
The singer is addressing his lover, asking her to listen and understand his emotions.
Was soll ich dir noch sagen?
The singer is asking what he should say to his lover because everything he needs to express has already been said.
Es ist doch alles schon gesagt
Everything that needs to be said has already been said, but the singer still has feelings he needs to express.
Ohne uns sind wir die Hälfte wert
Without their relationship, neither the singer nor his lover are complete.
Wir gehen vorbei und sehen es nicht
Despite the intensity of their love, the singer and his lover are sometimes unable to see the bigger picture of their relationship.
(He's a desperate man in a world so cold)
The singer is a desperate man in a world which is not as warm and loving as he would like it to be.
Und du weißt, ich habe ein Herz wie ein Löwe
The singer has a heart as brave and strong as a lion's, which is why he is so emotional and passionate about love.
(He's just longing for a woman to hold)
The singer is longing for the physical touch and presence of his beloved.
Und das Herz geht so lang zum Messer bis es sticht
The singer's heart yearns for love and affection so badly that it feels like it will be cut open until it gets what it desires.
I'm so emotional
The singer is so full of emotions that he feels every little thing very deeply.
I had my woman right here
The singer used to have his lover very close to him.
I had her in the palm of my hand
The singer used to have complete control over his lover's presence and affection.
Still hear me, babe
The singer is still speaking to his lover and hoping that she can hear his words and feel his emotions.
Ich weiß, dass die Frau, die mich erträgt noch nicht geboren ist
The singer believes that the woman who can handle his intense emotions and passion has not yet been born.
Aber ich bitte dich, komm' zur Welt
The singer is asking his lover to come into the world and be the one who can handle his feelings.
Und wenn du willst, dann geh' ich down on my knees and pray to
The singer is willing to do anything for his lover, including getting down on his knees and praying.
The spirits above, do me
The singer is calling on the spirits above to bless his relationship with his lover.
The tears in my eyes have got to cry cry
The singer's emotions and tears can no longer be held back, and they need to be expressed.
Now watch me break down and cry
The singer is openly expressing his emotions and is inviting his audience to watch as he breaks down and cries.
I swear I'm gonna find you tonight
The singer is determined to find his lover and make things right between them, no matter what it takes.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johann Hoelzel, Robert Bolland, Ferdinand Bolland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@connysensi4953
Here comes the soul
Gimme that soul
(Ooh he's emotional
He's an emotional man)
Sacrify the day
Want you to come and do me
And bless the night
(Ooh he's emotional
He's an emotional man)
He's got tears in his eyes
Watch him break down and cry
Watch me cry
Hear me babe
Was soll ich Dir noch sagen
Es ist doch alles schon gesagt
Ohne uns sind wir die Hälfte wert
Wir geh'n vorbei und seh'n es nicht
(He's a desperate man in a world so cold)
Und du weißt, ich habe ein Herz wie ein Löwe
(He's just longing for a woman to hold)
Und das Herz geht so lange zum Messer bis es sticht
Do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
(He's an emotional man)
So emotional
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
So emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
Watch him break down and cry
Watch me cry
Still hear me babe
Ich weiß, dass die Frau die mich erträgt noch nicht geboren ist
Aber ich bitte dich, komm' zur Welt
(He's a desperate man in a world so cold)
Und du weißt, ich habe ein Herz wie ein Löwe
(He's just longing for a woman to hold)
Und wenn Du willst, dann geh' ich down on my knees and pray to
The spirits above, do me
So emotional
(He's an emotional man)
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
So emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
Watch him break down and cry
Cry -
Watch me break down and cry
Tears in my eyes I've got to cry cry
Tears in my eyes I've got to cry cry
Watch me break down and cry
And pray to the spirits above and do me
Do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
(He's an emotional man)
So emotional
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
So emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
Watch him break down and cry
Watch me cry
- Hear me babe, was soll ich dir noch sagen
(Cry) - Es ist doch alles schon gesagt, du siehst ja wo ich bin
(Cry) - Can't you see I'm down on my knees
(Cry) - But I'll tell you something wenn nicht, dann nicht
So emotional
I had my woman right here
I had her in the palm of my hand
Want you to come and do me
(Ooh he's emotional)
So emotional
(He's an emotional man)
(He's got tears in his eyes)
Watch him break down and cry
Watch me cry
@wernerpfundner9380
Warum das Lied kein Welthit wurde verstehe ich bis heute nicht! Werde ich nie verstehen
@ulrike751
Ich kann es auch nicht verstehen, er ist umwerfend und ich besuche ihn jedes Jahr am Grab und gehe ins Fassl, ich liebe ihn ❤
@christians.1982
Ja, Alles dabei für einen Welthit😊
@rondotcom1426
Dafür war Rock me Amadeus mal auf Platz 1 in USA ..quasi Ausgleich
@wbaumschlager
Hut ab. Der Song ist 35 Jahre alt und immer noch so frisch, dass er im Grunde jederzeit die Charts stürmen könnte.
@generalmartok
Eine Legende unser Hans.
Ruhe in Frieden Falke, in deiner Musik lebst du weiter.
Hallo an alle Falco Fans aus der Stadt des Falken Wien
@ThomasRiedl-bu3yg
... dieser grossartige beschreibt so manche problematische Beziihung
@kmpourjahanichello.atmailb3225
Aus heutiger Sicht noch viel besser als damals...den genialen Sarkasmus und den geistigen Level behind the mind hat damals kaum einer mitgekriegt...ein absolutes Juwel...
@rondotcom1426
R.I.P. Johann H. aka Falco ....bist immer noch ein Hero für mich persönlich!!!!!!
@vanessaxyz7671
Dieses Lied erzeugt einfach Gänsehaut. Ich glaube dass in dem Fall mal etwas Hans durchgeblitzt hat und etwas weniger Falco. Ich hätte ihm alles Glück der Welt gegönnt. Ich glaube dass die richtige Person ihn von den Drogen wegbekommen hätte. Ich glaube ich kann für viel sprechen wenn ich sage dass er auch 2022 noch schmerzlich vermisst wird🥺