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
Rock Me Amadeus
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock me, Amadeus
Do it, do it
Rock me all the time to the top
Er war ein Punker
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden, denn er trank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Und jede rief
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War 'n Rockidol
Und alles rief
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Ey
Es war um 1780
Und es war in Wien
No plastic money anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
Woher die Schulden kamen
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Er war Superstar
Er war so populär
Er war zu exaltiert
Genau das war sein Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War 'n Rockidol
Und alles ruft noch heute
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Come and rock me, Amadeus
Now, come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus, oh, oh, oh Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus, Amadeus
Come on, rock me
Come and rock me to the top
Amadeus
Ama-, Ama-, Amadeus
Now come and, now come and rock me, Amadeus
Amadeus
The song “Rock Me Amadeus” by Austrian singer and songwriter Falco is an upbeat and catchy tribute to the iconic Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The lyrics describe a punker living in Vienna who is in debt and spends his time drinking, but is adored by women who call out for him to “rock” them like Mozart. Falco sings about how Mozart was a superstar and virtuoso, known for his exalted and flamboyant personality, and how he continues to be loved and celebrated to this day. The lyrics also describe the historical context of Mozart’s life, including his financial troubles and the state of the banking system during his time in Vienna.
The song uses repetition to emphasize the title character’s name, “Amadeus,” and the chorus provides a simple yet memorable hook that is easy to sing along to. The use of English in the lyrics has also helped to make the song more accessible and increase its international appeal. Overall, “Rock Me Amadeus” is a fun and energetic song that celebrates the legacy of one of Austria’s most famous historical figures, while also appealing to fans of pop and rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock me, rock me, rock me, rock me
Repeatedly make me feel the thrill and excitement of rock music
Rock me, Amadeus
Perform rock music in the distinctive style of Amadeus and evoke his legendary aura
Do it, do it
Encourage the musician to play their music with passion and intensity
Rock me all the time to the top
Continuously provide thrilling rock music that takes one's exhilaration to the highest level
Er war ein Punker
He was a nonconformist and a rebel who didn't follow the established norms of society
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
He lived in a big city where he found more freedom to express himself
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
He resided in the Austrian capital city called Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Where he did everything he wanted to do
Er hatte Schulden, denn er trank
He was in debt because he spent a lot of money on drinking
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Despite his flaws, all women loved him for his unique personality and charm
Und jede rief
Every woman called out to him
„Come and rock me Amadeus“
They wanted him to play his rock music with Amadeus' style and make them feel excited
Er war Superstar
He was a famous person loved by many
Er war populär
He was widely recognized and admired
Er war so exaltiert
He was temperamental, energetic, and charismatic
Because er hatte Flair
Because he had a unique and admirable quality
Er war ein Virtuose
He was a highly skilled performer and artist
War 'n Rockidol
He was an idol for rock music fans
Und alles rief noch heute
And people still call out to him even now
Amadeus, Amadeus, Amadeus
His name became a popular chant among fans
Oh, oh, oh Amadeus
His name became a source of excitement and pleasure for fans
Ey
Hey
Es war um 1780
It was around the year 1780
Und es war in Wien
And it was in Vienna
No plastic money anymore
There was no modern money system like we have today, only traditional currency
Die Banken gegen ihn
The banks were against him and his debts
Woher die Schulden kamen
Everybody knew where his debts came from
War wohl jedermann bekannt
It was probably known to everyone
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
He was a ladies' man loved by many women
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Women loved his rebellious and nonconformist attitude
Und alles ruft noch heute
And people still call out to him even now
Ama-, Ama-, Amadeus
A shortened version of his name that becomes a more memorable chant
Now come and, now come and rock me, Amadeus
A request to perform rock music in Amadeus' style and make the audience feel thrilled and excited
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ferdinand D. Bolland, Robert J. Bolland, Johann Hoelzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shawnbennet432
Dude rapping in German in the 80's...epic.
@sunplaying2273
Dude la enn malad🤘
@lessgo5214
Yeah. German Rap nowadays is trash.
@t.vampiro4800
He's singing about hot sauce
@lessgo5214
@@t.vampiro4800 Austrias musician
@t.vampiro4800
@@lessgo5214 I'm gonna pretend that's not true. I say tapatio. 🤣
@horsepower523
Eminem: I'm the best rapper ever
Falco: Hold my Apfelstrudel
@moonstruckmisfit3525
LMFAO
@theycallmejens4980
Kaiserschmarn*
@Wiena-ce2nm
@@theycallmejens4980 Wiener schmakal