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
Nuevo Africano
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the Getty isn't ready wir sind wieder ganz allein
Höre Worte, meidet Orte die allein im Schatten stehn!
Für Stimmung sorgt die Schwarze Schwingung doch zu sehen reicht es nicht
But der Voodoo-Jive zieht fester dich an sich
The Spirit and the Celebration hält dich fest, lässt dich nicht gehn
(It doesn't make you think about it)
(All the different systems Go-Go)
Dancin' on a Voodoo-Beat
(You're gonna pull and leave it out it)
It just blow my sleep
(And you can call it psychic)
Cause I'm in too deep
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
It's written in your sheet
Heres the one you need
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Heres the one you know
Who will move you, so
Zeichen, Zeichen doch den Raub der Saiten schlägst du in den Wind
Du folgst der Spur, verlierst Gefühl für Zeit und Raum
Bist so nah am Pulsschlag, dass es dir den Atem nimmt
Und du denkst es wäre der Weg zu neuer Dimension
Doch der Voodoo-Jive zieht fester dich an sich
Hörst die Worte: "Meide Orte, die allein im Schatten stehn!"
(It doesn't make you think about it)
It doesn't make me weak
(All the different systems Go-Go)
It's another a Voodoo-Beat
(You're gonna pull and leave it out it)
It just blow my sleep
(And you can call it psychic)
Cause I'm in too deep
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano (Call me Africano)
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Written in your sheet
Heres the one you need
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Heres the one you know
Who will move you, so
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
In Falco's song "Nuevo Africano", he sings about the power of the Voodoo-Jive, which is so strong that it can pull you in and hold you back from leaving. The lyrics speak about the need to understand the true meaning of things and not be swayed by appearances and stereotypes. Falco advises people to avoid places that stand alone in the shadows and to follow the beat of the music, which is a "black vibration" that can create a spirit of celebration that will hold you tight and not let you go. The refrain of the song repeats the words "Eyo Eyo", which is the song's title and means "new African" in Spanish, suggesting a call to a new era of cultural mixing and understanding.
Throughout the song, Falco uses metaphors and imagery to evoke the power of the Voodoo-Jive and its impact on people. He compares it to a thief who steals away the strings of the guitar and makes you lose touch with time and space. The Voodoo-Jive is also depicted as a force that is so strong it takes your breath away, and it's presented as a way to reach a new dimension of understanding and connection.
Overall, "Nuevo Africano" seems to be about finding a connection with a cultural tradition that is often overlooked and misunderstood. The song encourages listeners to embrace the power of Voodoo-Jive and to dance to a new rhythm that will bring them closer to a deeper sense of self-awareness and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Zeichen, Zeichen, doch Verstand um durchzusehen wie es wirklich ist
Signs, signs, but you need your mind to see the truth
But the Getty isn't ready wir sind wieder ganz allein
But the establishment isn't prepared, so we're alone again
Höre Worte, meidet Orte die allein im Schatten stehn!
Listen to words, avoid places that stand alone in the shadows!
Für Stimmung sorgt die Schwarze Schwingung doch zu sehen reicht es nicht
The black vibes create a mood, but seeing isn't enough
But der Voodoo-Jive zieht fester dich an sich
But the voodoo-jive pulls you in tighter
The Spirit and the Celebration hält dich fest, lässt dich nicht gehn
The spirit and the celebration hold you tight, don't let you go
(It doesn't make you think about it)
(It doesn't make you think about it)
It tends to make you weak
It tends to weaken you
(All the different systems Go-Go)
(All the different systems go-go)
Dancin' on a Voodoo-Beat
Dancing on a voodoo-beat
(You're gonna pull and leave it out it)
(You're going to pull and leave it out)
It just blow my sleep
It disturbs my sleep
(And you can call it psychic)
(And you can call it psychic)
Cause I'm in too deep
Because I'm in too deep
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Hey, hey, call me African
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Hey, hey, new African
It's written in your sheet
It's written in your destiny
Heres the one you need
Here's the one you need
Zeichen, Zeichen doch den Raub der Saiten schlägst du in den Wind
Signs, signs, but the theft of strings you brush off
Du folgst der Spur, verlierst Gefühl für Zeit und Raum
You follow the trail, lose your sense of time and space
Bist so nah am Pulsschlag, dass es dir den Atem nimmt
You're so close to the heartbeat, it takes your breath away
Und du denkst es wäre der Weg zu neuer Dimension
And you think it's the path to a new dimension
Hörst die Worte: 'Meide Orte, die allein im Schatten stehn!'
Hear the words: 'Avoid places that stand alone in the shadows!'
It doesn't make me weak
It doesn't make me weak
It's another a Voodoo-Beat
It's another voodoo-beat
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano (Call me Africano)
Hey, hey, call me African (call me African)
Written in your sheet
Written in your destiny
Here's the one you need
Here's the one you need
Who will move you, so
Who will move you, so
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Hey, hey, call me African
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Hey, hey, new African
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Hey, hey, call me African
Eyo, Eyo, Call me Africano
Hey, hey, call me African
Eyo, Eyo, Nuevo Africano
Hey, hey, new African
Writer(s): FALCO, GUNTHER MENDE, CLINIC M D, ALEXANDER C. DEROUGE
Contributed by William H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael McParland
A truly great great song.
Andrés Terán
Falco the Great!!
Hans Hölzel
really Good music!
lukasz stankiewicz
Cool 👍👍👍👍
Melcy B
Just come across this song.Weirdly catchy
Daniel Kristen
😍😍😍
Александр Копытенко
RIP