Rock Me Amadeus – Falco | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1 for 3 weeks); 1986
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Rock Me Amadeus was the strangest #1 of 1986, even out-weirding Walk Like An Egyptian. At least MTV’s favorite girl band, the Bangles recorded Egyptian.
But, Falco?! Our story begins with the birth of one Johann Holzel in Mozart’s native Austria. Holzel’s parents wanted him to become a doctor, yet, music called, and he found himself singing in a West Berlin jazz-rock band.
As fate would have it, Holzel spied skier Falko Weissflog on television, and “Falco” was born. (Well, actually Falco Sturmer, then Falco Guttehrer, then…) In 1981, Falco made the German hit list with Der Kommissar, only to see a cover by Britain’s After The Fire steal his thunder in America.
Looking for another hit, Falco was struck by the movie, Amadeus, a contemporary spin on Mozart’s life, and co-wrote/recorded a composer-as-rock star tribute of his own.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bolland & Bolland
Lyrics Written by:
- Falco
- Rob Bolland
- Ferdi Bolland
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).