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
Macho Macho
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Da-da-di-da, da-di-da, da-di-da
Da-da-di-da, da-di-da, da-di-da (Falco, Falco, Falco) (yeah)
Falco, Falco, Falco, RIO
Baby, ja, du weißt, ich werd' mal ganz, ganz groß
Shows von Wien bis Prag und auch in Tokyo
Keine Zeit für Haters oder Interviews
Nenn mich den König der eighties
Seh' nur schwarz, doch neuer Mercedes
Oh, genug Para in der Bank, bin sorgenlos
Oh, Macho, Macho
Oh, Jeanny, Falco
Macho, Macho
I don't like your style
Macho Macho
You'll be floatin' on the river Nile
Macho Macho
So get down on your knees and pray
Macho Macho
I'm gonna blow your Macho Macho mind away
Von der Kleinstadt in den Großstadtdschungel (Großstadtdschungel)
Täglich im Nightlife bis zu später Stunde (später Stunde)
Egal, was kommt, ja, Mami bleibt stolz auf ihren Jungen (yeah)
Sie singen die Lieder von Deutschland bis Dom Rep, Kolumbien
Yo, immer noch beliebt bei den Ladys
Yo, spiel' jeden Tag, doch der Glückswert low
Jibbit in der Fresse mit Amnezia, yo
Flieg' durch die Nacht mit erhöhtem IQ
King of the eighties wie Falco
Eigentlich smooth, doch heute Macho
Niño a malo, immer loco, ja, oh, nana
Baby, ja, du weißt, ich werd' mal ganz, ganz groß
Shows von Wien bis Prag und auch in Tokyo
Keine Zeit für Haters oder Interviews
Captain Nightlife ohne Tabus
Nenn mich den König der eighties
Seh' nur schwarz, doch neuer Mercedes
Ohh, genug Para in der Bank, bin sorgenlos
Oh, Macho, Macho
Oh, Jeanny, Falco
Macho, Macho
I don't like your style
Macho Macho
You'll be floatin' on the river Nile
Macho Macho
So get down on your knees and pray
Macho Macho
I'm gonna blow your Macho Macho mind away
Von Stadt zu Stadt
Oh-ja, von Ort zu Ort
Reise durch die Welt, mir genügen Chicks und Bong
Oh-ja, Private-Jet, danach Wassersport
Illegale Gedanken, doch keine Cops vor Ort
Ein Leben, oh-ja, eine Chance (eine Chance)
Noch so viel zu sehen, deshalb täglich in Trance (yeah)
Über'm Gesetz, jaja, ohne Balance
Doch Baby, ich will mehr, ich will mehr, ja
Baby, ja, du weißt, ich werd' mal ganz, ganz groß
Shows von Wien bis Prag und auch in Tokyo
Keine Zeit für Haters oder Interviews
Captain Nightlife ohne Tabus
Nenn mich den König der eighties
Seh' nur schwarz, doch neuer Mercedes
Ohh, genug Para in der Bank, bin sorgenlos
Oh, Macho, Macho
Oh, Jeanny, Falco
Macho, Macho
I don't like your style
Macho Macho
You'll be floatin' on the river Nile
Macho Macho
So get down on your knees and pray
Macho Macho
I'm gonna blow your Macho Macho mind away
Macho Macho
A-away
Macho Macho
And the boys are singin'
Macho Macho
Hip, hip
Macho Macho
The song "Macho Macho" by Falco is about a confident and ambitious man who aims to become a big star. He travels from one city to another performing his shows and enjoying the night life, with no time for haters or interviews. He considers himself the king of the 80s, driving a new Mercedes and having enough money saved in the bank to live a stress-free life. The song is full of self-praise, as he expresses his goals of becoming very popular and known around the world.
The lyrics take a sarcastic tone towards the end when he turns towards the macho culture, disliking its style and claiming to blow their minds away. The song highlights the theme of overconfidence where the singer is lost in his self-image and aspirations. Falco's song carries a strong message of not getting carried away with superficial worldly goals but to stay grounded and humble.
Line by Line Meaning
Da-da-di-da, da-di-da, da-di-da
The opening sound is repeated three times.
Falco, Falco, Falco, RIO
The singer introduces himself as Falco.
Baby, ja, du weißt, ich werd' mal ganz, ganz groß
I am going to be really famous one day, you know it, baby.
Shows von Wien bis Prag und auch in Tokyo
I will perform shows in many cities including Vienna, Prague, and Tokyo.
Keine Zeit für Haters oder Interviews
I don't have time for haters or interviews.
Jeden Tag im Nightlife ohne Tabus
Every day, I enjoy the nightlife without any boundaries or restrictions.
Nenn mich den König der eighties
I am the king of the eighties.
Seh' nur schwarz, doch neuer Mercedes
I only see black, but I have a new Mercedes.
Oh, genug Para in der Bank, bin sorgenlos
Oh, I have enough money in the bank, so I am carefree.
Oh, Macho, Macho
Oh, Jeanny, Falco
The singer repeats the words 'Macho, Macho' and 'Jeanny, Falco'.
Macho, Macho
I don't like your style
Macho Macho
You'll be floatin' on the river Nile
Macho Macho
So get down on your knees and pray
Macho Macho
I'm gonna blow your Macho Macho mind away
The chorus repeats and the singer warns an unknown person that they better change their ways, or else they will suffer the consequences.
Von der Kleinstadt in den Großstadtdschungel
I moved from a small town to the city jungle.
Täglich im Nightlife bis zu später Stunde
Every day, I am out in the nightlife until late.
Egal, was kommt, ja, Mami bleibt stolz auf ihren Jungen
No matter what happens, my mom remains proud of her son.
Sie singen die Lieder von Deutschland bis Dom Rep, Kolumbien
People sing my songs in many countries including Germany, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia.
Yo, immer noch beliebt bei den Ladys
Yo, spiel' jeden Tag, doch der Glückswert low
Jibbit in der Fresse mit Amnezia, yo
Flieg' durch die Nacht mit erhöhtem IQ
King of the eighties wie Falco
Eigentlich smooth, doch heute Macho
Niño a malo, immer loco, ja, oh, nana
The singer boasts about his popularity with women, his outgoing lifestyle, and his rebellious attitude. He calls himself the king of the eighties, and describes himself as usually smooth, but today he is being Macho.
Von Stadt zu Stadt
Oh-ja, von Ort zu Ort
Reise durch die Welt, mir genügen Chicks und Bong
Oh-ja, Private-Jet, danach Wassersport
Illegale Gedanken, doch keine Cops vor Ort
Ein Leben, oh-ja, eine Chance (eine Chance)
Noch so viel zu sehen, deshalb täglich in Trance (yeah)
Über'm Gesetz, jaja, ohne Balance
Doch Baby, ich will mehr, ich will mehr, ja
The singer talks about his travels across different cities and countries while enjoying women and drugs. He flies on a private jet and engages in water sports. He admits having illegal thoughts but no cops come. He has one life and wants to see more, although he is above the law and has no balance.
Macho Macho
A-away
Macho Macho
And the boys are singin'
Macho Macho
Hip, hip
Macho Macho
The chorus is repeated again, and it appears that the boys are singing along with the singer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ferdi Bolland, Rob Bolland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Libor Synthesizer
on Out of the Dark
super muzika ,nádhera