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
Helden von Heute
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wir haben den Fuß am Gas
Und die Mode fest im Griff
Uns entgeht kein letzter Schrei
Unser Outfit hat den neuesten Schliff
Jetzt den Pfiff (hurra!)
Unsere Schwestern kauften gestern
Sie sagen die wären extrem bequem
Und außerdem wären sie wunderschön
Sorgen, nein, nein, haben wir keine
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Was für ein modisches Weltbild
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Was für ein herrliches Leben
Mein Leben, dein Leben, unser Leben
Hi life spleen
Sag, ist das schön, so schön
Hi life spleen
No one, no way
No one, no way
No one, no no no no
No one, no way
No one, no way
No one, no no no no
Wir erfinden immer neue Spiele
Spiele gibt's zu spielen viele
Brot und Spiele san gefragt
„No Future“ extrem angesagt
New wave, new wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave, new wave
Ja, new wave ist heut das Wort
Für „Nix besseres mehr zu tun
Als den Dingen nachzurennen
Die schon gestern waren verloren, wirst sehen!“
Sorgen? Ja, ja, ham ma morgen
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Wir haben das richtige Weltbild
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Wir sein ab heit voll dabei
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Wir haben den Blick in der Zukunft
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Wir san die Helden von heit
Von heit
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden von heit
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden von heit
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden von heit
The song "Helden von Heute" by Falco is a reflection of the youth culture of the 1980s, filled with references to fashion, music, and pop culture. The lyrics describe a group of young people who are driving fast with their foot on the gas, dressed in the latest fashion trends and always on the lookout for the newest style. The group is carefree and doesn't have any worries, living their lives to the fullest.
The second verse of the song speaks to the ever-changing trends and fads of the time, with the mention of "new wave" and "no future" becoming popular catchphrases. The youths in the song are constantly inventing new games and indulging in "bread and circuses," maintaining a sense of excitement and hedonism in their lives. Despite the mention of potential worries in the future, the song ends on a note of confidence and bravado, with the chorus declaring that they are the heroes of today that everyone is waiting for.
Overall, "Helden von Heute" encapsulates the spirit of the '80s youth culture in Europe, with its emphasis on fashion, music, and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Wir haben den Fuß am Gas
We are moving quickly and relentlessly towards our goals
Und die Mode fest im Griff
We have a tight hold on the latest fashion trends
Uns entgeht kein letzter Schrei
We are always up to date with the newest trends
Unser Outfit hat den neuesten Schliff
Our outfit is perfectly styled with the latest fashion accessories
Jetzt den Pfiff (hurra!)
We add the finishing touch to our outfit to make it stand out
Unsere Schwestern kauften gestern
Our sisters bought yesterday
Kostüme wie im Western
Costumes like those in Western movies
Sie sagen die wären extrem bequem
They claim that the costumes are extremely comfortable
Und außerdem wären sie wunderschön
And also they are incredibly beautiful
Sorgen, nein, nein, haben wir keine
We don't have any worries
Wir erfinden immer neue Spiele
We are always coming up with new games
Spiele gibt's zu spielen viele
There are many games to play
Brot und Spiele san gefragt
Bread and circuses are in high demand
„No Future“ extrem angesagt
The idea of 'no future' is very popular
New wave, new wave, new wave, new wave
The 'new wave' movement is very prevalent
Ja, new wave ist heut das Wort
Yes, 'new wave' is the word of the day
Für „Nix besseres mehr zu tun
For 'having nothing better to do
Als den Dingen nachzurennen
Than to run after things
Die schon gestern waren verloren, wirst sehen!“
That were lost yesterday, you'll see!
Sorgen? Ja, ja, ham ma morgen
Worries? Yes, yes, we'll have them tomorrow
Wer sind die Helden von heute?
Who are the heroes of today?
Wir sind die Helden von heute!
We are the heroes of today!
Alles wartet
Everyone is waiting
Alles wartet auf die Helden von heit
Everyone is waiting for the heroes of today
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johann Hoelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arnela6786
One, two, stress, four
Wir haben den Fuß am Gas
Und die Mode fest im Griff
Uns entgeht kein letzter Schrei
Unser Outfit hat den neuesten Schliff
Jetzt den Pfiff
Drei, vier, Hurra
Unsere Schwestern kauften gestern
Kostüme wie im Western
Sie sagen, die wären extrem bequem
Und außerdem wären's wunderschön
Sorgen, nana, hamma ka
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Was für a modisches Weltbild
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Was für ein herrliches Leb'n
Mein Leb'n, dein Leb'n, unser Leben
Hi Life Spleen
Sag, ist des schön, so schön
Hi Life Spleen
Wir erfinden immer neue Spiele
Spiele gibt's zu spielen viele
Brot und Spiele san gefragt
"No future" extrem angesagt
New wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave
New wave, new wave, new wave
Ja "new wave" ist heut des Wort
Für nix besseres mehr zu tun
Als den Dingen nachzurennen
Die schon gestern war'n verloren
Wirst seh'n
Sorgen, ja, ja, hamma morgen
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Wir haben das richtige Weltbild
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Wir san ab heut voll dabei
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Wir hab'n den Blick in der Zukunft, ha
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Wir san die Helden von heut
Von heut
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden
Von heut
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden
Von heut
Alles wartet
Alles wartet auf die Helden
Von heut
Alles wartet
Prevedi na hrvatski
@herlindehorvath7022
Falco UNVERGESSEN auch im Jahr 2024
@Ein_Mensch693
Fr😢🕯🕊 R.I.P FALCO
@christineriegler5854
Der Einzige, der Rap rüber bringen konnte. 💕🌹
@Biloxie2002
This Guy has stage presence you don't see anymore nowadays ...
What a cool dude all the way 👍
@tmx6972
Bowie inside:. FALCO is 👑
@carmen2786
Falco fehlt 😢 RIP 🕯 lieber Falco ❤ Du wirst immer unvergessen bleiben 🌹
@yvonnei.4333
Er war der erste deutschsprachige rapper 🙏 einfach eine große Legende und genie ❤️😍👑
@radkadimitrova6073
❤️❤️❤️🌹🌹💖💖💖
@Nicole-pi4sx
„Wir sind die Helden von heut!!!“ ☝🏼🥰
@supermax6401
@@Nicole-pi4sx die san scho alle hin... Leider