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
The Kiss of Kathleen Turner
Falco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going to Brasil City
Well, at this hour of the day, I'm not too well humored
'Cause life doesn't show any pity
You're always complaining 'bout yourself
And putting things down in the world
Just take a good look at Kathleen Turner
Now there's one heck of a girl
I've been to hell and back but I'm alright Jack
Now I know what love is about
Under the seven moons
I made a solemn vow
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now
Smack! In the middle
Female voice on telephone: "Hello?"
"Oh it's me, I know it's late
But I just had to call you
I'll be over real soon"
"Kathleen Kathleen"
Is this a dream, or is it real
Is this really happening to me
Or is this just fantasy?
In this world there's only one woman
Who can make my dreams my dreams come true
And that woman Kathleen
It's you
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
He wants a kiss
Not just one, I want lots of kisses
He wants a kiss
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
He wants a kiss
Hallelujah, he's in love
Hallelujah, glory, glory
Issos
Cannae
Katalaunische Felder
Mount Greek
Austerlitz
Waterloo
Verdun
Stalingrad
Hiroshima
Nagasaki
Harrisburg
Brokdorf
Zwentendorf
Cattenom
Wackersdorf
Tschernobyl
Kathleen, can you hear me babe
Kathleen, do you know what I'm talking about
I'm just talking about
Not the first kiss of my life
I'm talking about, our planet
Kathleen!
Falco's "The Kiss of Kathleen Turner" is a song about unrequited love for Hollywood actress Kathleen Turner. Falco, a commuter on the early morning train to Brasil City, feels dejected and unhappy with life. He then starts reminiscing about his past love experiences and proclaims that he knows what love is all about. He then declares his love for Kathleen Turner, stating that there is no other woman that can make his dreams come true. The song, sprinkled with train sounds, coughing, and a female voice on the phone, creates a surreal ambiance, as Falco wonders whether his love for Kathleen Turner is a dream or a reality.
The lines, "I've been to hell and back but I'm alright Jack" convey the idea that the singer has endured significant pain in his past relationships, but he has learned to deal with the situation. He then takes the solemn vow to himself that he needs the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now. The song mixes contemporary pop lyrics with historical events such as the "issos," "Cannae," "Hiroshima," and "Nagasaki," indicating the gravity of the situation. The song's ending signals a collective call for love and understanding, urging Kathleen to "hear me, babe" and understand that the singer's desire for her is not just about the first kiss of his life but about the entire planet.
Line by Line Meaning
Train sounds and coughing I always take the 7:30 AM train
I'm not in a very good mood this morning on my way to Brasil City as I have to face the regular train sounds and coughing.
Going to Brasil City
I'm heading to Brasil City.
Well, at this hour of the day, I'm not too well humored
I'm not feeling too good at this time of the day.
'Cause life doesn't show any pity
I feel life is pretty tough and doesn't care for anyone.
You're always complaining 'bout yourself
You always have something to complain about yourself.
And putting things down in the world
Your negative attitude makes things worse.
Just take a good look at Kathleen Turner
Take a good look at Kathleen Turner and be inspired.
Now there's one heck of a girl
Kathleen Turner is really something special.
I've been to hell and back but I'm alright Jack
I have been through a lot of hardships but I am still okay.
Now I know what love is about
I have finally found out what love is.
Under the seven moons
Under the moonlight.
I made a solemn vow
I made a serious promise to myself.
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now.
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now
I need the kiss of Kathleen Turner right now.
Smack! In the middle
Right in the middle - on the lips.
Female voice on telephone: "Hello?"
Receiving a call from a woman.
"Oh it's me, I know it's late
But I just had to call you
I'll be over real soon"
I'm calling you late to tell you that I am coming over shortly.
"Kathleen Kathleen"
Calling out your name repeatedly.
Is this a dream, or is it real
I am not sure if this is a dream or a reality.
Is this really happening to me
I can't believe it's happening to me.
Or is this just fantasy?
Or is it just a figment of my imagination?
In this world there's only one woman
There's only one woman in this world I am interested in.
Who can make my dreams my dreams come true
Only you can make my dreams come true.
And that woman Kathleen
And that woman is Kathleen.
It's you
It's you that I want.
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Watching all the girls passing by on the street corner.
He wants a kiss
I want a kiss from one of them.
Not just one, I want lots of kisses
I want to have lots of kisses from different women.
He wants a kiss
I still want a kiss.
Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Still watching all the girls passing by on the street corner.
He wants a kiss
I still want a kiss.
Hallelujah, he's in love
I am in love - hallelujah!
Hallelujah, glory, glory
Hallelujah! Glory to love!
Issos
Cannae
Katalaunische Felder
Mount Greek
Austerlitz
Waterloo
Verdun
Stalingrad
Hiroshima
Nagasaki
Harrisburg
Brokdorf
Zwentendorf
Cattenom
Wackersdorf
Tschernobyl
A list of places or events, possibly indicating the significance of Kathleen Turner in comparison to historical events and places.
Kathleen, can you hear me babe
Asking Kathleen if she can hear me.
Kathleen, do you know what I'm talking about
Asking Kathleen if she understands what I am trying to say.
I'm just talking about
I'm just discussing something.
Not the first kiss of my life
Not the first time I've kissed someone.
I'm talking about, our planet
I'm talking about the future of our planet as well as my love for Kathleen.
Kathleen!
Calling out for Kathleen again.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FERDINAND BOLLAND, JOHANN HOELZEL, ROBERT BOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Libor Synthesizer
on Out of the Dark
super muzika ,nádhera