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
Sand am Himalaya
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Das Licht ging aus
Und du dachtest schon dich streift ein Bus
Oder war's ihr Kuss, Twilight Zone
Abgehoben ist die Welt von heute
Ob zu zweit oder
Am Canapé bei Sigmund Freud
Wondering why I'm feeling blue 'cause of you
Der Wahnsinn sucht uns stets zu animieren
Auf neuen Wegen uns zu amüsieren
Wir suchen Sand am Himalaya,
Suchen Schnee am Playa
Das Schicksal ist ein schweres
Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres
(Doch dann)
Das Licht geht an
Und du denkst, oh man
Hat sie dich
Oder hat sie nur das Radio an
Ungeachtet des Geschlechts
Folgt im Tango jedem Schwung
Nach links der Ruck nach rechts
We're drivin' drive' drive overdrive
That's the rhythm of our life, oversized
Doch eins und zwei und drei im Wiegeschritt
Läuft die Zeit dem Geist davon, wer läuft mit?
Wir suchen Sand am Himalaya
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
Das neue Salz des Lebens
Die Politik des Schwebens
Die schrägen Schwebenslagen stimulieren
Wie immer neuen Wahnsinn inszenieren
So schräg wie Sand am Himalaya
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
Das Schicksal ist eines schweres
Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres
Come on, come on
Das neue Salz des Lebens
Die Politik des Schwebens
Die schrägen Schwebenslagen stimulieren
Wie immer neuen Wahnsinn inszenieren
Wir suchen Sand am Himalaya
Suchen Schnee am Playa
Das Schicksal ist eines schweres
Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres
Sand am Himalaya
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Das neue Salz des Lebens)
(Die Politik des Schwebens)
(Sand am Himalaya)
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Das Schicksal ist eines schweres)
(Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres)
(Sand am Himalaya)
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
The song Sand am Himalaya by Falco is a commentary on the current state of society, where people constantly search for new experiences and thrills to escape the monotony of everyday life. The lyrics describe the feeling of being swept up in this world of extravagance and the search for something new and exciting.
The first verse paints a picture of being lost in the moment, where the singer is unsure of what is real and what is not. The line "Das Licht ging aus und du dachtest schon dich streift ein Bus" (The lights went out and you thought a bus was about to hit you) creates a sense of disorientation, as if the listener is experiencing a surreal moment. The mention of the TV show Twilight Zone adds to this feeling of uncertainty. The following lines "Abgehoben ist die Welt von heute, ob zu zweit oder am Canapé bei Sigmund Freud" (Today's world is removed from reality, whether with someone else or on Sigmund Freud's couch) suggest that this feeling of being out of touch with the world is not limited to just one situation but is pervasive throughout society.
The chorus of the song talks about the search for something new and exciting, whether it be sand in the Himalayas or snow on the beach. The mention of "schwebenslagen" (floating positions) and "neuen Wahnsinn inszenieren" (creating new madness) implies the need to be constantly stimulated by new experiences. The song seems to suggest that this constant search for the new and exciting is a form of escapism, but also acknowledges that it is something that is hard to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, come on
Encouraging the listener to engage with the song.
Das Licht ging aus
The lights went out.
Und du dachtest schon dich streift ein Bus
And you already thought a bus was going to hit you.
Oder war's ihr Kuss, Twilight Zone
Or was it her kiss, Twilight Zone?
Abgehoben ist die Welt von heute
The world today is lifted.
Ob zu zweit oder
Whether alone or with someone else.
Am Canapé bei Sigmund Freud
On the couch with Sigmund Freud.
Zu, zu immer zu
Too, too always too.
Wondering why I'm feeling blue 'cause of you
Wondering why you make me feel sad.
Der Wahnsinn sucht uns stets zu animieren
Madness always tries to animate us.
Auf neuen Wegen uns zu amüsieren
To entertain us in new ways.
Wir suchen Sand am Himalaya,
We are looking for sand in the Himalayas.
Suchen Schnee am Playa
Searching for snow on the beach.
Das Schicksal ist ein schweres
Fate is heavy.
Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres
A treasure at the bottom of the sea.
(Doch dann) Das Licht geht an
(But then) The lights come on.
Und du denkst, oh man
And you think, oh man.
Hat sie dich
Did she get you?
Oder hat sie nur das Radio an
Or did she just turn on the radio?
Ungeachtet des Geschlechts
Regardless of gender.
Folgt im Tango jedem Schwung
In tango, follow every swing.
Nach links der Ruck nach rechts
Swing to the left, then to the right.
We're drivin' drive' drive overdrive
We're driving, driving, driving beyond.
That's the rhythm of our life, oversized
That's the rhythm of our lives, oversized.
Doch eins und zwei und drei im Wiegeschritt
But one and two and three in a rocking motion.
Läuft die Zeit dem Geist davon, wer läuft mit?
Time runs away from the mind, who runs with it?
Das neue Salz des Lebens
The new salt of life.
Die Politik des Schwebens
The policy of floating.
Die schrägen Schwebenslagen stimulieren
The strange floating positions stimulate.
Wie immer neuen Wahnsinn inszenieren
As always, staging new madness.
So schräg wie Sand am Himalaya
As weird as sand in the Himalayas.
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Searching for snow on the beach).
(Das Schicksal ist eines schweres)
(Fate is heavy).
(Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres)
(A treasure at the bottom of the sea).
Sand am Himalaya
Sand in the Himalayas.
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Searching for snow on the beach).
(Das neue Salz des Lebens)
(The new salt of life).
(Die Politik des Schwebens)
(The policy of floating).
(Sand am Himalaya)
(Sand in the Himalayas).
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Searching for snow on the beach).
(Das Schicksal ist eines schweres)
(Fate is heavy).
(Ein Schatz am Grund des Meeres)
(A treasure at the bottom of the sea).
Sand am Himalaya
Sand in the Himalayas.
(Suchen Schnee am Playa)
(Searching for snow on the beach).
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johann Hoelzel, Gunther Mende, Alexander C. Derouge, Gerd Plez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael McParland
Absolutely adore this song. One of my very favorites. Weiner Blut was a great album that's just never gotten its recognition and credit until a long time after release just like Junge Romer.
Shinichi Kanna
It's definitely my favorite from Weiner Blut. It's light and playful and very witty (which a very basic translation will show) and it's one of those songs I'll happily listen to again and again.
salvatore con cuore
diesen super,super Song habe ich rauf und runter in voller Lautsprecher im Auto gehört....Wooow welch ein Genuss Falco ich verneige mich vor deiner Musik!!Du bist einzigartig!!!
Yves Nyfeler Ph.D.
Mein Beileid
Michael McParland
This song always cheers me up and gets me moving. :)
Evelyn Lenze
❤️❤️ klasse Stimme mit sehr viel Gefühl DANKE FALCO für deine echt geile Musik
LoxyMusic
Eines seiner genialsten Lieder mit echt schönem Text!
Evelyn Lenze
Falco hat das gewisse „ etwas „ in seiner Stimme, höre ich auch in 2019 gerne, bei Falco stimmte einfach alles
France Mary
hallo Evelyn, Falco ist immer da....
Elif E.
I love this piece but I don't know how and why I love.