falco, “Macho Macho”
from: falco 3, 1985
Johann “Hans” Hölzel, was born 19 February 1957 in Vienna, Austria. His mom Maria’s dizygotic pregnancy with triplets resulted in a miscarriage of the twins at three months. The artist we know today as Falco survived to term and beyond.
A gifted musician, Johann played bass guitar in several bands in and around Vienna in the ‘70s. During that time he created the stage name of Falco. Cocky and handsome, Falco added Ray-Ban sunglasses and tailored suits to his repertoire and set his sights on bigger things for himself.
His “Der Kommissar” became an international hit in ’81, but the American market was not quite ready for Viennese rap music. In ‘83 the British band After the Fire covered “Der Kommissar” with English lyrics, rising to number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Not quite the British Invasion but word got out about Falco.
In ‘86 Falco hit it big with “Rock Me Amadeus”. (The Falco Biography Mix) version is available on YouTube. The biographic commentary incorporated into the music is a nice supplement to this post.
Reportedly, “drugs, alcohol and personal problems” complicated his attempt at crossing over into the U.S. market in the late ‘80’s. Perhaps not the best team player? Regarding personal problems, dig this from wiki:
“While Falco was in a relationship with Isabella Vitkovic, she gave birth to a baby girl, Katharina, in 1986. The couple married in 1988, but it was a "love–hate" relationship, as Katharina describes it, and the marriage was short-lived. He believed that Katharina was his own daughter until a paternity test proved otherwise when she was seven years old. After this, Katharina's relationship with him became strained.”
Personal problems indeed.
Falco attempted to sustain his career by moving to the Dominican Republic in the ‘90’s, dying there in a car crash in 1998. He was 40 years old. No second act or posthumous revival, but fondly remembered in his native Vienna. He was a great performer who seemed to know too well it had to be all about him.
Lesser known among his hits, “Macho Macho” is my favorite. Check it out.
-Steve Hart-
“Whether we wish it or not we are involved in the world’s problems, and all the winds of heaven blow through our land.”