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
Junge R Mer
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Der Lorbeerkranz, ein neuer Tanz
Schwingt Rhythmus in die Hüften der Stadt
Man sieht und kennt und sagt sich
Was diese Nacht zu sagen hat
Fragt nicht nach neuen alten Werten
Die Nacht gehört uns bis zum Morgen
Wir spielen jedes Spiel
Lass diese Reise niemals enden
Das Tun kommt aus dem Sein allein
Allein aus Dimensionen, die
Illusionen und Sensationen lohnen
Give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more
Junge Römer - tanzen anders als die anderen
Sie lieben ihre Schwesternliebe lieber als den Rest der Welt
Frag junge Römer - „kennt ihr die Sonne noch?
Sie kennt die Sorgen“
Junge Römer - die Nacht ist jung wie ihr
Vergesst das Morgen
Un ballo nuovo porta ritmo nei fianchi della città
Ci vendiamo, trovimo, chiediamo che cosa si fa
Ma non cercate dei valori, e magari sensazioni
La notte è nostra fino al mattino abbiamo illusion
Non è la fine del viaggio, no, c'è sempre un domani e
Ci sono dimensioni, con illusioni e sensazioni
Give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more
Young romans
Junge
Junge Römer - kennt ihr die Sonne noch?
Die Nacht ist jung wie ihr und doch
Im Land wo jeder Traum gelandet ist - man vergisst
Young romans - there is a night before each day
And that price is still to pay
Never stop this old erosion phantastic voyage
Give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more
The song "Junge Römer" by Falco is about the young Romans who are rebelling against conformity and societal norms. The lyrics refer to the new dance that is sweeping the city and how it embodies a sense of freedom and rebellion. The chorus, "Junge Römer," is a call to the youth to join in the celebration of their own individuality and to reject the constraints of society.
The lyrics encourage the youth to live in the moment, to forget about the past and not worry about the future. The night belongs to them and they are encouraged to indulge in every pleasure that comes their way. The song suggests that life is a journey and it should be enjoyed to the fullest, without any regrets.
The verses of the song are in German, while the chorus is in English, which highlights the international appeal of the song. The use of Italian in the song title and lyrics adds to this sense of globalization, as it suggests a universal experience of youth rebellion and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Der Lorbeerkranz, ein neuer Tanz
The crown of laurel, a new dance
Schwingt Rhythmus in die Hüften der Stadt
Swings rhythm into the hips of the city
Man sieht und kennt und sagt sich
One sees and knows and tells oneself
Was diese Nacht zu sagen hat
What this night has to say
Fragt nicht nach neuen alten Werten
Do not ask for new old values
Seht weißes Licht, seht nur Gefühl
See white light, see only feeling
Die Nacht gehört uns bis zum Morgen
The night belongs to us until morning
Wir spielen jedes Spiel
We play every game
Lass diese Reise niemals enden
Let this journey never end
Das Tun kommt aus dem Sein allein
Action comes from being alone
Allein aus Dimensionen, die
Alone from dimensions that
Illusionen und Sensationen lohnen
Are worth illusions and sensations
Junge Römer - tanzen anders als die anderen
Young Romans - dance differently than the others
Sie lieben ihre Schwesternliebe lieber als den Rest der Welt
They love their sisterly love more than the rest of the world
Frag junge Römer - „kennt ihr die Sonne noch?
Ask young Romans - "do you still know the sun?"
Sie kennt die Sorgen“
She knows the worries
Junge Römer - die Nacht ist jung wie ihr
Young Romans - the night is young like you
Vergesst das Morgen
Forget tomorrow
Un ballo nuovo porta ritmo nei fianchi della città
A new dance brings rhythm to the hips of the city
Ci vendiamo, trovimo, chiediamo che cosa si fa
We sell ourselves, we find, we ask what to do
Ma non cercate dei valori, e magari sensazioni
But do not search for values, and maybe sensations
La notte è nostra fino al mattino abbiamo illusion
The night is ours until morning, we have illusion
Non è la fine del viaggio, no, c'è sempre un domani e
It is not the end of the journey, no, there is always a tomorrow, and
Ci sono dimensioni, con illusioni e sensazioni
There are dimensions, with illusions and sensations
Junge Römer - kennt ihr die Sonne noch?
Young Romans - do you still know the sun?
Die Nacht ist jung wie ihr und doch
The night is young like you and yet
Im Land wo jeder Traum gelandet ist - man vergisst
In the land where every dream has landed - one forgets
Young romans - there is a night before each day
Young Romans - there is a night before each day
And that price is still to pay
And that price is still to pay
Never stop this old erosion phantastic voyage
Never stop this old erosion fantastic voyage
Give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more
Give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more, give me more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Ponger, Johann Hoelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikekaraoke
@@steffischander8289 Hey Steff, yes I did indeed enjoy + really enjoyed my holidays in Germany-still do. 😁
Yea exactly-why the lol in the Modern Talking one?? 🤔
Is it Dieter Bohlen with his very cheesy grin and fist pumps during performances and in music videos. 😂✊🏻
Ah "Grauzone" were good, but prefer Hubert Kah!
Yea D.A.F also like, I did mention Tangerine Dream in my list- I could of gone on and on so made myself top why put etc. lol
Well def come to England when you can, where would you like to visit and why??
As I said last time went to Germany stayed in Cologne for few days. Then went to one of my fav Theme Parks in the world-Europa Park!
Are you a Theme/Water Park girl?? ❤
@Demonhunter71717
Diese Magische Atmosphähre die das Lied ausstrahlt ist einmalig. Ruhe in Frieden Falco
@NikolausBachinger-hm9nw
Und gute Aufnahme 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@Claudiandrea49
❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
@Udo_aus_OWL
Falco ist einfach ein Gesamtkunstwerk! Er war seiner Zeit weit voraus........
@maxaut_tco9046
Wäre auch heutzutage ein Nummer 1 Hit! Ein zeitloses Meisterwerk.
@King0neEurope
Was heißt auch...der ist damals ziemlich gefloppt :D Aber ich finds auch grandios.
@nwest8274
Stimmt - von Kritikern eigentlich ziemlich gelobt worden, beim "Publikum" trotzdem eher durchgefallen.
Find's aber auch einen seiner besten Songs, weil so "Falco-speziell" irgendwie. Ähnlich wie etwa "Nachtflug" oder "Ganz Wien" u.a. Mit ner anderen Tiefe / Ausstrahlung, dagegen war etwa "Amadeus" nur platt und eher langweilig ( Falco selbst soll es übrigens gehasst haben ) - aber DAS war dann der Nr1-Hit.
@tinakoehler6526
Er hatte eben seinen ganz eigenen Stil.. entweder man mag es oder nicht.. ich finde es grandios ☺️
@michaelmaringer7565
@@nwest8274 Ganz genau
Special,wie auch die von dir andren erwähnten Songs.
Beste Grüße
@michaelmaringer7565
@@tinakoehler6526 💯👏👏👏