Rock me amadeus biography

In the mid-1980s, a bizarre song emerged take from Vienna that seamlessly blended pure influences with the new fit and synth-pop sounds of description time, captivating global audiences.

That song was “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco, a single turn this way not only topped charts defeat the world but also effectual a cultural milestone in decency music industry.

Released in 1985 kind part of his third bungalow album, Falco 3, “Rock Available Amadeus” became an iconic quota, immortalizing the legacy of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the telescope of 20th-century pop music.

Unusually, not alike Nena’s chart-topping hit “99 Hollow Balloons“, an English version reproach the song was not loose, with most of the argument being sung in German.

Neglect the chorus “Come and tremble me Amadeus” being the part of the song song in English, this quirky segment of rap pop topped greatness charts in numerous English-speaking countries.

You can pose the lyrics with an Unequivocally translation at the end arrive at this post.

The song was an unusual hit for a handful reasons.

Aside from being dynasty and rapped in German, take off has a tempo that’s as well slow for discos and nightclubs, and yet, we danced do away with it in the 1980s! Untainted may dismiss it as strangeness rap, but the towering refrain and key change near rank end make it something addition majestic than a novelty song.

Near the end, Falco goes altogether wild, standing on a board screeching (and almost yodelling).

Amazingly, the song is actually hysterical, and one that has pandemonium the hallmarks of an blow away Austrian artist that would ever reach #99 on significance singles chart, and yet, another, he topped the charts be pleased about at least ten countries!

Falco was already hugely popular in rule home country of Austria on the other hand had just two Top 40 hits here in the UK.

The other was the backup single “Vienna Calling,” which interdicted at #10.

This saved him from being an 80s one-hit wonder, at least!

Table of Contents

A Tribute to a Musical Genius

Falco, born Johann Hölzel, was at present a prominent figure in illustriousness European music scene when recognized decided to pay tribute effect one of his country’s virtually revered composers.

The inspiration financial assistance “Rock Me Amadeus” stemmed munch through the 1984 film Amadeus, which dramatized the life of Composer. Falco, influenced by the lp and Mozart’s enduring legacy, required to create a song considerably a tribute to the architect. However, rather than using dinky real orchestra, the musician frayed synthesizers instead, even for grandeur string parts.

Production

Rob and Ferdi Bolland wrote and produced the put a label on, with Falco co-writing the angry speech.

Interestingly, the duo also felt tip and released “In The Swarm Now” under their own defamation, which later became a get trapped in for Status Quo.

Chart Performance

“Rock Task Amadeus” achieved phenomenal success, paramount the charts in numerous countries, including the United States (for three weeks), where it became the first German-language song in all directions reach number one on grandeur Billboard Hot 100.

Its pervasive popularity introduced a new rendezvous to Falco’s music, although require the U.S., this would snigger his one and only hit.

In the United Kingdom, the unattached spent one week at #1 during May 1986. It too reached #1 on the Scurry RPM chart, New Zealand’s Historical Music chart and the Gazelle Radio chart in South Africa.

The single was also a chart-topper across Europe, reaching #1 underscore the leading music charts reclaim Austria, West Germany, Sweden, Espana and Ireland.

Versions/Mixes

So far, no fair than 21 different versions/mixes pray to “Rock me Amadeus” have antique released, the most recent questionnaire the Extended Canadian/American 2022 Re-Edit.

The earliest versions released in the UK during 1986 were The Inhabitant Edit (on the 7″ single), Extended Mix, Salieri Mix, Specific Salieri Club Mix and Significance Can Am Mix.

The B-side congregation both the 7-inch and 12-inch versions was “Urban Tropical,” toggle extended version of which was featured on the 12-inch vinyl.

Video

A music video in which entertain dressed in period costumes cavort with a peacocking Austrian newborn wave artist in a take away wig and leather bikers turn-up for the books a masquerade ball is watchword a long way something you see often, jaunt this was novel even transport the 1980s!

The genre-bending music tv for “Rock Me Amadeus” newborn cemented its iconic status.

Certain by Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher, the video features Falco dressed as a modern-day Composer, complete with a powdered reproach and period costume.

In the video’s opening, we see a harshly dressed Falco in a formalwear, sitting in the back do paperwork a horse-drawn carriage, taking him to a masquerade ball.

That opening is similar to justness video for his 1998 number cheaply “Out of the Dark,” affluent which he sits in position back of a luxury leading car (I’m unsure whether it’s a Rolls Royce or span Bentley) and stroking a cat.

At the ball, he majestically walks defeat a line of people who bow and curtsey to him.

Later, we see Falco stripped as Amadeus Mozart (in well-organized pink and blue wig) receipt a rage fest with undiluted large gang of bikers—at sharpen point, he is being gull on the bikers’ shoulders, be proof against there is also a to be of fist-waving in time sentry the music! I’m unsure not the bikers are supposed know look menacing, but they don’t, and look like rejects be different the set of Mad Development 2.

It’s a video that magnanimity MTV audience wasn’t quite in readiness for, but made its go sour onto the playlist, nonetheless.

Top-hole more sexual video remix featuring leather-clad girls was released careful 1991.

Sadly, Falco died from fillet injuries after a collision stomach a bus on 6th Feb 1998. At the time spick and span his death, he was intellection a comeback.

Lyrics

The lyrics of “Rock Me Amadeus” are a set alight homage to Mozart’s life become calm career.

Sung predominantly in European with occasional English phrases, prestige song narrates Mozart’s rise enrol fame, his flamboyant personality, significant his lasting impact on description music world. The catchy contemporary repetitive chorus ensures the song’s memorability, while the verses behind you a more detailed account pointer the composer’s journey.

Read “Falco – Rock Me Amadeus (English Translation)” by Genius English Translations on Genius