The 80s One HIT WONDER that BROKE UP Before They Had THEIR 1 HIT! | Professor of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Coming up, it’s the story of the 1983 Hit Der Kommissar that had two very different lives. First released by a German-speaking 80s star, named Falco, the song went Top 5 in at least 10 different countries. But It crashed and burned in America… Although Falco would have his revenge with a different hit called Rock Me Amadeus a few years later….But then an American ‘prog-rock band gone new wave pop called After the Fire’ got their hands on this song. They translated most of it into English except for a few mysterious lines and released it as a single that same year. And it Crashed and Burned Again!… Deeply in debt, burned out, and at odds with their record company, they decided to break up the band. Then out of nowhere, this track made a run for the top of the US charts just two months later. Was the song’s sudden success enough to get the band back together? Also, what did the mysterious chorus mean when translated into English? Find out next on Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember trying to draw your masterpiece on an etch a sketch as a kid you’ll want to subscribe to this channel right now. Nostalgia all the time. Remember to click the bell so you are notified when our latest interviews and videos drop. Hop in the time machine every day with us…We’re also putting up full interviews and other content on our Patreon. Your support there helps us keep this a daily channel. And you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
It’s time for another edition of our series Bottled Lightning where we celebrate a song or album that was king for a day. Here we honor artists and bands that rocketed up the charts… but for reasons unknown weren’t able to sustain that success. Called by some ‘one-hit wonders’, we celebrate them as lightning in a bottle. On previous episodes we have covered Too Shy by Kajagoogoo, I Melt With You by Modern English, and 99 Luftbalons by German sensation Nena.
Today, we’re featuring another German-language song that was actually a hit twice in the 80s… by two different acts. The first time it didn’t take in America, though its writer would have a huge smash later on in America…. It’s a crazy story… I’m talking about the international smash Der Kommissar, first made famous overseas by Falco and then later here in the US by prog rockers gone pop… After the Fire. So let’s get into it.
One of the most successful pop artists ever to come out of Austria, Johann Hozel, aka Falco, was a musical prodigy. As a child, he received formal classical training. Later he joined the punk band Drahdiwaberl in 1978. But where he really made his mark was as a solo artist. Like in Hinted to earlier, he is best known to American audiences for his 1986 #1 hit Rock Me Amadeus.
But before Amadeus, there was Der Kommissar… which in English translates to “The Commissioner.” Written with the help of songwriter Robert Ponger, Falco actually wasn’t all that confident about the song’s commercial appeal. He thought it would best serve as a b-side for another track he thought was much stronger… ‘Helden von heute’ or ‘Heroes of Today’.
Poll: What is your pick for the greatest bottled lightning classic of the 80s? The best one hit wonder?
"Let's Go All the Way" by Sly Fox
Break My Stride, Mathew Wilder.
Coming Home Major Tom, Peter Schilling.
Ship of Fools by World Party
Wow, this is tough! You have "Mickey" (Toni Basil), "At This Moment" (Bllly Vera & The Beaters), "Come On Eileen" (Dexy's Midnight Runners), "Funkytown" (Lipps, Inc).........
All of those went to #1!!!
I'll nominate "This Beat Goes On / Switchin' to Glide" by The Kings (even though it attained a Billboard peak of only #43. Personally, I think it should've been a lot higher than that).
Can't believe "Der Kommissar" is forty years old-Still sounds great!
Thank you. Now I feel old. :) (I was in college then--I'm 60 now.)
Falco said something really cool once: "If Mozart were alive, he'd be a punk rocker."
Haha, someone needs to do a punk rock cover of one of Mozart’s compositions as proof.
I think that's one of the lyrics in "Rock Me Amadeus." (Er war ein Punker...)"
A great song that was an ‘80s classic! Still love it!!
Of course you have to cover Rock Me Amadeus! Pure 80s magic!
Will do!
Yes, would love this!
@@ProfessorofRock Please feel free to reach out if you want to know how to pronounce Johann Hölzl, Drahdiwaberl etc ;-) I worked for Falco's label at the time he passed. His might have been the only funeral in Austria for which backstage passes had to be issued, it was nuts.
@@eightiesmusic1984 He wasn't on my artist roster, so I only saw him in passing in the office, but there are a lot of anecdotes that are not suitable for the internet ;-) He was a huge talent (underrated bass player actually, some of the basslines from his Hallucination Company days are worth checking out) and knew what he wanted as an artist, but was troubled in his personal life. His death hit my colleague who had worked with him for decades really hard.
That video is glorious.
After The Fire really did the song justice. Both versions are great.
I do agree.
Always liked both versions (I forget which one I heard first -- probably Falco's) but ATF's is a little beefier. Although they were considered a synth band, their guitarist John Russell was very good, and played a big part in their sound.
I prefer ATF's version. When I heard Falco's version years later, I thought it was a demo. Not bad, but missing all the iconic moments of "the original" in my head.
@@keyman6689 ATF version was definitely more polished.
I feel like the original is better to groove to though
At the record store I worked at in the 80s, I'd get people coming in and asking for this song. I'd have to ask them, "The English version or German?" because they rarely knew who sang either. There was a resurgence of the Falco version after his Amadeus and Jeanny hits, and the German 99 Luftballons still fresh in everyone's minds. In the area of town where my record store was, the clientele seemed to prefer Falco.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing. What was the name of the record store?
@@ProfessorofRock Sound Warehouse in Houston.
@@dranet47 I haven't heard that name in a LONG TIME. I used to go to Sound Warehouse in San Antonio in the 80s 👍
The Falco version is far superior to the ATF version in my opinion...
@@dranet47 Loved Sound Warehouse, best record store ever.
YES COVER ROCK ME AMADEUS!!! That was my jam in 6th grade!!
Ha ha. We must be the same age!
...NOOOOOOOO!! 😫.....It took me YEARS to forget that tune existed, don't remind me NOW! ...ha-HAAA!!
@@RBS_ The Simpsons started that for me with, “Doctor Zaius, Doctor Zaius, wooooah, Doctor Zaius.” From their musical version of Planet of the Apes.
I was in the 8th grade. :)
@@joermnyc ...well, It's The Simpsons, they get a pass! ...ha-HAAA!!
ATFs version is pure 80s pop magic. I heard it before Falcos version. I can listen to this one over and over. Yet another example of the great music of this decade.
Pure pop magic is exactly right! Did you have the record Jimmy?
I think Falco’s version is better actually, more authentic, Alles Klar? 😉
I prefer the ATF version, probably because I heard it first though I remember the Falco version and the Laura Branigan "Deep in the Dark" from back then as well, and I had all three albums (ATF, Einzelhaft, and Branigan 2). But now when I listen to it, the one thing that really stands out to me is how long and repetitious the musical breaks are in the ATF version. Still a great song, but the cut down MTV version compared to the album version proves less is more.
It’s really catchy!
The ATF version sounds "right" since it's what I heard first, and honestly, many more times than the original. I really prefer the Falco version, Its more punchy.
A similar thing happened to the British band The Zombies. They recorded the album Odyssey and Oracle, which flopped. The band broke up not long after that. Then a DJ began playing a track from the album, which was Time of the Season. Listeners called in to request the song, and the song became a huge hit. The Zombies eventually reunited years later and were inducted into the RRHOF in 2019.
I love the cover of the album too.
*Odessey
Just stumbled across your video. Thanks for making this great mini-bio. I was at the final ATF show at the Dominion Theatre in London in December '82. It was absolutely unforgettable; the best live show I've ever attended. Little did the enraptured audience know the band were playing their hearts out for the final time until they let the bombshell drop right at the end. It was the best and worst musical night of my life. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Falco ruled in 85! I’d never heard anything like those two albums. Certainly established my taste for German Industrial (KMFDM, Rammstien, Eisbreher etc) in my youth!!! And HELL YA COVER ROCK ME AMADEUS!!!
Ok!
Peter Schilling’s Major Tom (Coming Home) should also get a breakdown from POR.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Love that one. It's so good.
I was/am a big fan of Falco. I had several of his albums on cassette tape. I prefer his version of the song. Great content as usual. Thank you.
Amen to you. I Love Falcos version Much better!!!
His version is great no doubt.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I was in high school in 82 and took German. We were so jazzed about Falco’s version because we understood most of it!
I cannot listen to the English version. First of all it is NOT a translation from the German version. It’s a completely different song to fit Falco’s track.
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar? Is the only thing in the English version that matches the German one.
First, Falco's original did hit the Hot 100, went to, like, #72...but the song was also covered by Laura Branigan as "Deep in the Dark"...
I can remember hearing After the Fire's Der Kommissar nearly every morning on the radio while getting ready for the final months of my senior year in high school. It seemed to be on the radio all the time around then.
You graduated in one of the golden years of all time! Ha ha! Thanks Robert.
My aunt graduated in 1983 as well.
I was in the car with my Mom when this came on. And, just like with Amadeus, I turned to her & said, "Ok, what does this one say?" (Her grandparents came from Germany & she was also a German teacher.)
It was a bonding moment any time those songs & 99 Luftballons came on. It was really special b/c I wasn't *really* rebellious but 16-17 teens are not super in line with Mom.
Mom's been gone for 4 1/2 yrs now and these memories are so special. Many thanks for doing these videos!
Thank you. One of my favorite 80s tunes. I love the mysterious ones. "Don't Pay The Ferryman" also comes to mind. 80's metal and new wave are my loves.
I love the heavy synth dance beat and classic 80s sound! Oh, and you Prof, your deep dives into ‘the story behind’ appeal to the music geek inside me since childhood…😃
Awesome!
Everything about it easily screams the 80s.
I'm a friggen German/American! I grew up with both versions of the song and never realized it wasn't 2x Falco... Thanks for the lesson, Prof.
In my defense, it was the same era when Nena had her huge hit "99 Red Ballons"/"99 Luftballons" and Peter Schilling had his German/English hit "Major Tom". I just thought it was another German speaking artist singing in English. I was just surprised how little you could hear of an accent 🤣
Nope, they wanted to let the world know of their German roots!
Falco, Peter Schilling and Nena are definitely some of the most underrated European rock stars only known for their sole American hit.
Rock me Amadeus and Der Komissar definitely had an infectious beat, even if you didn't understand a word of German!
Oooh! I love Peter Schilling!
Major Tom and 99 Luftballons.
Great video! Being thoroughly ensconced in the 80's myself, my son heard it often. In fact, when he was in high school, one of his teachers would play a version of name that tune using 80's music. My son always won!
Later when he got his own truck decked out with monster sub woofers, we'd go for rides listening to music and he loved playing this song.
As for Rock Me Amadeus, that song was a tour de force in my home town. Like you, I recorded it off the radio. I did, however, by the vinyl album for a girl I had a crush on in high school.
What I learned later in life was that there were several different versions versions. The one the was so hugely popular in my town had a spoken set of lyrics chronicling Mozart's career. To this day, I can't find it.
When the song was popular, my radio station would have what they called Ex-Ex- Extended play Saturday night where they would play longer versions of popular songs. I called the radio station and requested it and asked them to announce the song ahead of time so I could record it. They did, and I got it. What I wouldn't do for that version now.
So please do cover Rock Me Amadeus and discuss the different versions as part of the video.
Many thanks!
OMG I forgot about that version with the spoken words! I had it on vinyl as an extended single with the commercial version on the flip side... 'shamed to say probably went the way of the garage sale as I moved a lot in my 20's. 😟
I’ve had teachers like that in the past!
Definitely cover Falco more. I'd love to hear your info on Rock me Amadeus and Vienna Calling. I loved him back in high school, but couldn't fin out much about him back in the 80's.
He was definitely a mysterious figure to a lot of us.
I had a buddy I worked with years ago (late 90s) and he was the biggest Falco fan I've ever met...in fact, the only Falco fan I've ever met. He had Falco cassette tapes (a whole collection), yet he never played them when we were all hanging out. I guess, he was tired of us goofing on him. I can't ever hear the name "Falco" without thinking of my good buddy, Murph.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Prof.
Hey Adam, I only discovered this channel last week, just want to say how much I'm enjoying your videos. I hooked and have been binge watching all your old ones, really love it and already introduced me to new bands.
I love Falco! Hearing his music brings me back to my youth. Please Professor, more Falco!!
I was in high school learning German when the German wave hit. I bought all of Falco’s albums whenever I could find them. Falco also mixed Viennese German dialect into his songs, so it was a bit difficult to understand at times. Still, it was great to sing along with the lyrics at school dances. Oh the memories!
Me as well, our HS German club was jamming all the "Kraut-Rock" for the 70's & 80's especially Falco, Kraftwerk, and Uli era Scorpions. When I joined the USMC in 86' I was in Germany for a while (base outside of Stuttgart) and it surprised by how most people under 25 spoke with English words sprinkled in German conversation. When I started dating a lovely German woman, she explained the young people spoke like this is because German is a considerably less descriptive language than English. So instead of using a full sentence of German words to express a thought or concept, they just used the proper English word instead. Language always evolves and now most conversational German is peppered with English.
That's funny, because I was taking german classes in college when "99 Luftballons" came out. 😂
Did you show Falco’s music to the German teacher at your school, if there was a German teacher? My high school has one.
@XxLilly_playsXx Kiz my professor was from Berlin.
I joined the army and headed to Germany a few years after I had taken the course.
I'm sure he knew who Falco was. 😄
@@davidgoldstein1526 Gutentag, Herr Kommissaar!
Adam, you are FLAWLESS in every video you put out, my man!!
I definitely like both versions of Der Kommisar, but I like the arrangements on After the Fire's slightly better imho.
Yes, please do a segment on Rock Me Amadeus.
"I had a punk rock aunt"
That should be a song lyric, lol
I'm proud that I WAS the "punk rock aunt" to my nieces and nephews. I'm thinking of going back to my 1982 hairstyle, all spiky and shaved on the sides, dyed purplish-burgundy from a special henna product I found from India at a sari shop in my hometown. I have to figure out how to keep my natural white streaks so I can look like a punk Bride of Frankenstein!
@@LazyIRanch Ooooo.... punk rock silver fox..... ;)
Paging Billy Idol!
That is one of my all time favorite songs. When it came on at the clubs the dance floor would be just packed. We actually use to dance on the speakers back then...man I miss the 80's. I would love to see a breakdown of his other songs. I was very sad when he passed away. The remake was okay but not in the same league as Falco. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
Gio!
I’ve seen videos of 80s nightclubs, and they looked like a blast back then. Cheers 🥂
I was obsessed with Der Kommissar by ATF! Still love it-great beat, moody synths, mysterious lyrics…perfect 80s song!
I completely agree with your take here. I was obsessed with it too back in the day. And I never get tired of it to this day!
I'm a musician in my 40's still chasing that breakthrough hit. In that regard, yes, I want to hear about 'Rock Me Amadeus'. All the inspiration I can get, right? Tragic that Falco passed so early.
My family ate at a German restaurant in San Antonio and they played an endless loop of the Beatles two German language songs ("Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand" and "Sie Liebt Dich"), "99 Luftballoons", and "Der Kommissar."
Ha!
@@eightiesmusic1984 HA!
I have a nauseous feeling that I ate at this San Antonio restaurant, once! Did it have really high ceilings, kind of a barn-looking building? Menu was mostly Kartoffeln und Wurst, but the bier selection was excellent?
My mom tried the sweet white wine called Liebfraumilch which she liked until I told her what it meant (because I'm an A-hole). It's "beloved Lady's milk", in particular, the breast milk from the Virgin Mary.
San Antonio is a place for excellent Mexican, Tex-Mex, and BBQ, but it's best to hop over to nearby Fredericksburg for good German and Czech food and culture.
OMG, that's terrible and hilarious!
What kind of food? My mouth is watering now at the thought of eating German food to these songs…😆
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Some good Bratwurst, potato pancakes, dumplings, I may need to do some cooking soon.
I saw ATF on the Van Halen tour, and they got a standing ovation. They went over great here, and I was so excited when I first saw the Der Kommissar video on MTV (except for the tarantula). I wish we had gotten more from them.
It kinda looked like they were filming inside a haunted house.
Tarantulas are awesome...and so is this song whether by Falco or ATF.
Thank you for all the work you have done on these videos, sharing your knowledge and interviews with groups, their history, music and where they are at now. You're much appreciated! Happy Memorial Day!
Thanks Janes! My pleasure. Any plans for Memorial Day?
@@ProfessorofRock Indoor work, as in painting. LOL Its a good day to do it.
Happy Memorial Day to you Jane.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Same to you, Lilly!
Man I saw your Missing Persons album in the rack behind you, and wanted to ask if you’d ever done an episode on them? I tried to search but didn’t find anything. If you haven’t, I’d love to see you dive into them! What a great band!!
Falco was absolutely brilliant and very underrated in America. Such a fantastic talent. When "Der Kommisar" blew up, MTV would rotate both the Falco and ATF versions because apparently Falco's label wished to capitalize off ATF's version. But yeah, you should definitely feature more Falco. Absolutely. Because he eventually became to loathe "Rock Me Amadeus" because of how A&M Records screwed him over. When Falco learned that "Amadeus" caught fire in the US, he was ecstatic for a split second because he believed he was going done in Billboard and Guinness history as the first white rapper to hit #1 on charts. When that realization hit home, he ran back to his label. Once there, they scrambled to copy the video to "Amadeus" on a Betamax tape, and have it flown overnight to MTV in New York by Airborne Express. Not long after, Falco arrived in the US and learn from Casey Kasem live on the air that the version of "Amadeus" that hit #1 was not the rap version he recorded and sent to MTV. A&M Records cobbled together a version with very little Falco at all featuring a DJ reciting a mini biography of Amadeus and a female singer singing "Baby! Baby-do! Do you rock me?" and Falco became completely unglued. He was livid. He thought he made history. But the first white rapper to hit #1 went to Vanilla Ice a few years later. A&M Records in the 1980s and 90s burned a lot of artists from Falco to Styx ...
That’s a crazy story that Adam should definitely cover!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yup, but that's not all. Falco's covers are also interesting. On the "Falco3" album, he covered "American Girls (Here She Comes)" by The Cars that he retitled "Munich Girls". It sounds exactly like The Cars! He also did a lounge lizard version of Bob Dylan's "It All Over Now, Baby Blue" that I thought was hilarious. By far, his most accessable song for American audiences was his tribute to music itself: 1988's "The Sound Of Muzik" from his "Emotional" album released on Sire/Warner. Again, I love Falco and paid a pretty penny to have all his albums imported. One of his songs "No Time For Revolution" would be the inspiration behind Chris Jericho's WWE entrance theme and his techno-tronic "Push! Push!" is the perfect cardio workout song that sounds like it would belong on the soundtrack to Sony's "Wipeout" racing game series.
Hmmm. From what I recall, both the German version (with the rap) and the English version (the one that tells when Mozart was born and all that) had that "baby baby do it to me rock me" part. (Who sang that part anyway? Sounds like Chaka Khan, but I think if it were someone _that_ famous, we would have all heard about it.)
@@MomLAU Not necessarily. Musical Artists belong to Unions and record companies to avoid getting in hot water with both, they often do uncredited work or invent pseudonyms. Chaka Khan is a great example as she's been doing uncredited singing for years - she was uncredited on the Styx album "Big Bang Theory" but you hear her loud and clear as a backup vocalist on a few tracks such as "It Don't Make Sense (If It Don't Make Peace)" and "Blue Collar Man At 5150" ...
butchering all the work Falco did, that is what i called injustice
I remember seeing the Falco version on early American MTV because I was lucky to be in a household that had original MTV in 1981. Thank you QUBE!
I had a friend translate Jeanne for me- I knew due to the video what the song was all about, but it was excellent to finally hear what was being sung, and how expertly the creepiness and dark story (including the newsflash) were crafted. The video was ahead of it’s time and HUGE step up from Der Kommisar.
Jeannie lebt! It was so funny to read that in German youth magazines when I was over there in 1987. My fellow American friends had no idea what it meant, but I was a full Falco fan at that time.
I picked up Falco 3 for "Rock Me Amadeus" when I was in high school as it was on sale, but when I heard "Jeanny" I was blown away. I didn't know the meaning other than just what I could pick up here and there from the chorus and the newsflash (I figured the missing person angle, but little else, as I don't speak German). I got "Emotional" and "Data De Groove" for their Jeanny sequels, still trying to figure them out. Finally, thanks to RUclips, I was able to see the full translation. ruclips.net/video/E1gkapW-t5c/видео.html
That song is incredible.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 whadya think, @Professor Of Rock?
@@Paul_Simon Great screen name!
While serving the U.S. Army I was stationed in Germany 1983-84 when I first heard ATF's version. I still have that original cassette!
I've gotta go with Falco on this one... it was a hit in the dance clubs even though no one really knew what it meant! Love that silly video too.. I just thought After the Fire was riding his coattails...
That video! Ha ha.
Falco’s video is nerdy as hell in the best way.
I always liked ATF’s better, but Falco’s version has grown on me. Vienna Calling is another great song and video from him.
Sniff and The Tears had a great rocker called Driver's Seat, which was based on a 1973 demo by Sniff drummer Paul Savion and vocalist Paul Roberts which they had pitched unsuccessfully to a French label. They formed Sniff & The Tears in '77 but the song wasn't released until a year later - within weeks of Sniff &The Tears having broken up. Driver's Seat took the rock world by storm and remains a solid standard to this day.
ATF had the better version but I still adore Falco since the 80s and cried like a baby when I heard about his car crash. With the internet I was able to hear more of his music and he was a truly gifted artist. It's terrible we lost him so soon. RIP Falco 💔
I was living in Vienna at the time and I went to his funeral. So sad.
I also love Falco, but there is a documentary floating around on RUclips with interviews from his friends and others that is pretty eye opening about who he was and to what degree the music was actually his creation. Let's just say that Falco 3 and the next several albums were not as much his creations as you may think.
Rock me Amadeus I hated it but my mom loved it.why not feature it 👍
That was very tragic. He deserved all his success and then some.
yeh we lost some great ones recently tina andy in 08 i wax a commuter train manc. local.mate said this is where johnny and andy were from.falco.fiend of mine dj 80s had some of his other euro hits would play in clubs recall.accident he was another talented musician lost way too early he was very talented even as a teen we liked his euro hits more than the mtv ones of course his music was made dor 80s dance clubs one friend worked in was top.notch plus his klisph boomer floor cabinets falcos music best listened to in nice club system
This was the first song I heard (I was 14 when it released) that had a heavy, wall shaking, kicking bass and when I eventually heard Falco's original I was pretty disappointed in it's lack of musicality. The LP was the first album I ever bought with my own money and I still have it to this day. Thank you for covering Der Kommissar Adam.
I always loved the acoustic guitar break in ATFs version. It was on the K-tel Chartbreakers 83. I lost original album but found it a couple months ago in my local record shop. I loved Falco's version as well. I was a Air Force brat who had just moved back to Germany. Falco's Jeanny was amazing.
“Chart Action 83”? Was it that one?
You most definitely should do a show on 'Rock Me Amadeus. ' Falco is a legend, icon, and absolute rock star!
I actually didn't know there were two versions of the song. How fascinating! It's sad that the band broke up right after their cover became a hit, but I totally understand theyir exhaustion, dealing with all of the bureaucratic red tape, travel, and everything else they went through. Thanks so much for another interesting episode, Adam. Have an excellent day.
Being a musician in a rock and roll band is not 100% glorious, so I completely understand.
Missing Persons also covered it.
Der Kommissar is such a cool sounding way of saying the commissioner. And I love the way the album cover designer spooned the s's and mounted the m's. We have all the tools nowadays but there is something about creative old-fashioned lettering.
All is clear, Mr. Officer.
I’m fairly certain spooning the s’s is ß but not familiar with mounting the m’s. Can you explain?
As I recall the radio lin my area at the time (Tampa Bay, FL) played the ATF version first, then started some play of the Falco version.
A few years later, living in Pittsburgh, PA and working on a club, we obtained a copy of “Rock Me Amadeus” and started plying it. Our manager hated it and even mocked it because it mostly cleared the dance floor when played the first time (of course, that happened with any new song in a mainstream club if it had no radio play). “Your ‘Amadeus song’ didn’t go so well” - well, our playing it and another club in town playing it ended up getting the top 40 radio station to add it… and allegedly the song “broke” in the US because of Pittsburgh. I don’t have that in writing, but, I do think it was one of the earliest markets to break it. Incidentally, when the song went to no. 1, the label took out a full-page ad in Billboard magazine. I plopped the magazine, open to the ad, on the manager’s desk and sarcastically said “your Amadeus song didn’t do so well” - he responded “I still hate that song.” 😂
That's hilarious! What station played it? WDVE? (That's pretty much the only Pittsburgh station that we listened to in Altoona--had to go to the top of Cresson Mountain in Cambria County to pick it up, or via cable on the radio.)
Oh man! So were you guys part of the reason why the song hit?
@@mournblade1066 that sounds right - it’s been a long time, and I’ve moved so many times… so my memory is faulty
@@mournblade1066 allegedly!
Nice job Adam, I've always been curious about the back story to this song. As usual, you laid out for us nicely
In Los Angeles the Falco version got a lot of play on the local "New Wave" station (KROQ) well before the English language version was released.
I sort of assumed that ATF was formed *specifically* to cover Der Kommisar since locally it was regarded as a genuine hit.
Miss old KROQ..... And piss off scammer⬆️
I think they also put out a song called Dancing in the Shadows right before they broke up in 1982.
I had the honour of seeing After The Fire open for ELO in 1982 in Paris. They were seriously tight live! Very underrated. I'm glad they got a look in!
Yes, Falco is a foundational 80’s artist. Jeanie is just genius in its creepiness, Emotional is possibly his best. For those of us that were just so sick of hair bands, a new Falco record at the import record store was like striking gold.
I do remember this song because I did a lot of radio listening when I was 12. Always trying to to discover the latest hit. I didn't know what it meant, but the chorus was catchy, "Don't Turn Around, Oh ho ".
Yes! Please cover Rock Me Amadeus. I truly believe Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was like a rock star back in the day. 😊
Will do. Did you have both of these records?
@@ProfessorofRock I don't have these.
After the Fire’s version is super catchy and gets stuck in your head for a while afterwards. Der Kommissaar’s in town! Whoa oh oooooooh!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I hope Adam does a video on Rock Me Amadeus. I'm sure he will.
@@catherine6653 That would be awesome!
I love both versions of this song. And YES please spotlight Rock Me Amadeus!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Happy Memorial Day!
Love After The Fire!
Wish they would have more success.
Der Kommisar. Cheesy video. Of course Falco was cheesy too. 😅
Thanks Professor!
Enjoy your hot dogs and hamburgers today. 🎉
Roger! What are your plan this fine memorial day?
@@ProfessorofRock
Hot dogs and my dog!!
Happy Memorial Day to you as well Roger! I plan to rest and eat some ribs tonight for the occasion. We are spared the school woes too.
This video was awesome! You really did a deep dive into this, MUCH appreciated. Peace !
Der Komissar by After The Fire is my guess. I remember buying a K-Tel collection cassette called "Number 1 on The Streets" that featured this and a number of great extended mixes of them, The Romantics, Greg Kihn, Thompson Twins, Golden Earing, Re-Flex, and others.
Yo got it! thanks Sean!
I was a big Falco fan. I played his album with "Rock Me Amadeus" tons. I also bought the 12" mixes of that song, Jenny and Vienna Calling.
I liked Der Komissar.
All from 1983?
I would like to see you cover Rock Me Amadeus. I always loved that song. I didn’t know Falco had died! What a talent he was. Loved that wig he wore in the video Amadeus. 😂
You mention ATF opening for Van Halen and how it didn't work out so well. Henry Rollins talked about this when he was opening for Iron Maiden. "You are in front of 20,000 fans. They only want to see one band. You are not in that band. You are the irritant. They hate your guts. They have it in their minds that if you weren't there, then Iron Maiden would have been there from 8:00, and you're just blocking them."
That reminds me of an interview I heard years ago with "The GoGo's" when they were just breaking into the charts and had the opportunity to open for "Madness" in their european tour. "Madness" fans, dressed in their Doc Martens and spikes, wanted ska, not some American "girl group". They were not known for being big supporters of women. The Go-Gos were treated horribly at those gigs; spit on, cursed, etc., but they schlepped through the tour anyway.
I have mad respect for them!
That is very valid, sadly.
The tour with Van Halen actually went pretty well for ATF -- they were well-received. It was the aftermath that was problematic.
I always learn something new on this channel! I honestly always thought After the Fire was an English band, not an American one. And yes it'd be good to hear what inspired Rock Me Amadeus. If I remember correctly Falco died in a car accident.
I think you're right; I'm pretty sure ATF were British.
Music schools teach in their business classes about how Falco didn't make a lot of money on Der Kommissar, everyone else did, because he didn't lock down the rights correctly. Amadeus was the song that made him back enough to survive. I believe he left music to become a pilot and flying instructor before he passed.
My guess on today's band was Sheriff ("When I'm With You"). I can't believe I was wrong again! 😂 The band broke up years before the song came out & went to #1.
Der Kommisar was pretty awesome as well. I love when the acoustic guitar comes in strong after the chorus.
It is cool. Which version is your favorite?
@@ProfessorofRock Definitely After The Fire. I listened to Falco's version years ago, and thought it was pretty good, but I guess I'm just used to the version that was a hit in the US.
@@ProfessorofRock The Sheriff/Alias story would be a good one for you to cover.
@@eauhomme I could have sworn that the Professor did dive into that band and song, but then I watch a lot of rock history videos. It's just that our "professor Adam" is by far my favorite. I loved Casey Kasem, and Adam has Casey's energy, devotion and passion for music and is also excellent at interviewing our music legends.
I believe he already covered Freddy Curci and the band last fall.
I was aware the Der Kommissar by ATF was a cover. My crowd was very into alternative music in the early 80s so Falco was known to me. I've always had a soft spot for Falco, and would love if you do a vid on Rock Me Amadeus, one of my all time favourites of my my 80s music days. I remember hearing about Falco's death, in the Dominican Republic if I remember correctly, auto accident.
I’ve never heard this track before, l know his rock me amedaus and had the 12” mixes(uk) .. Any chance you could do the song ‘19’ by Paul Hardcastle?
Got to do his hit “Rock me Amedaus” please Adam.
Hope you are all well.
Sounds good. Thanks Neil. Have a wonderful holiday!
...OH MY GOD, Paul Hardcastle! ...LOVED the Kenny G.-esque "Rain Forest" more, but ,"19" was very risky, back then....Prof. should give it a 'Revelation'....
@@RBS_ The Paul Hardcastle EP was epic! The song _Asylum It's Weird_ was also a great standout track on that album. The _Destruction Mix_ version of _19_ is the best.
Good choice. Wasn’t 19 about the Vietnam War?
I had my 19th birthday while "19" was number one in the charts. I got three copies from relatives as birthday presents. Luckily I liked the track.
This is such an amazing song, I did not know Falco had originated it. Yes please do Rock Me Amadeus!!!
Early eighties i got taken up by CCM, dropped out of mainstream. Adam, i know this wouldn't relate to most, but the band Daniel Amos was my fixation. They were an alt rock big in California.
Where can I find them?
@@ProfessorofRock They're well known in Christian Rock, (CCM stands for Contemporary Christian music). They are worth a listen but wouldn't have gotten airplay on mainstream radio. Daniel Amos is a rare Christian Rock band that has some good music with their own unique sound, and aren't copying other well-known bands.
My sister sent me some of their tapes in the 80s, along with Mark Farner (formerly of Grand Funk but now has a Christian band) when she was trying to get me away from "Devil Music" such as Talking Heads, DEVO, and The Ramones (she was not successful, but I love her for caring about my soul!).
Hey Robert, do you remember “The Daniel Band”….they’re a great CCM band from the 80’s too.
And of course Stryper!!!
@@Stryper1 yeah, the early eighties was a boom for great CCM music. I recall The Daniel band, but Stryper was crazy. Those crazy outfits were rad. Petra, DeGarmo and Key, Darrel Mansfield, Keith Green, so many. Even AD (Kansas break off with Kerry Livgren) with Ronnie James Dio singing on some tunes. I've got a lot on vinyl that have only been played once to record on some high end cassette tape! Good times in CCM days.
Adam I doubt you even see this but I gotta say I just recently found your channel and I was BLOWN AWAY MAN!!! What an awesome and incredible channel. Your passion for music is unmistakable and I have learned so much as I've been binge watching your vids. You have become my favorite RUclips channel sir. Thank u for all the hard work and research you put in for each video!! Great job bro
🤣🤣🤣🤣I'm hearing this American version for the first time, and I'm 51 years old.
It really did escape you for 40 years?
It was huge when I was a kid. You couldn’t escape it for a while.
Rock Me Amadeus is one of my favorite songs. Der Kommissar and Jeanny are great songs, too
Happy Memorial day from Hawaii !!! 🤘👍
Same to you! How's the weather!
Same to you.
So glad u covered this song! Falco’s version is one of my two favorite 80’s songs (other being Twilight Zone by Golden Earring). I’m really surprised it didn’t make noise on the charts becuz MTV sure played it hard for a bit!! The video was fantastic and it being sung in German was just plain cool.. I do remember the English version doing well. But I thought Falco just did a translated version. They actually sound alike. Personally, I like the original.. I always pull the song out when I’m listening to 80’s tunes. Rock Me Amadeus was a great song too. And if there’s a good story behind it, I’d love to hear it.. It was def a tragic day when his car got hit by that bus in the late 90’s. I would have loved to have heard him live.. RIP
“Der Kommissar” means Police Chief 👮🏽♂️
I always thought they were referring to neo-Nazis without being direct. Now I understand a bit more!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Never though that way but it could be actually. Definitely authoritarian controlled freak police
Technically, alles klar, der kommisar literally translates to (is,) everything clear, (der = mister or male form of the, doesn't necessarily mean it's a he) commissioner? Of course, what it means isn't literal. I was taking German classes when this came out and the drug and police references went completely over my then pre-teen head. I did manage to figure out klar/clear meant OK in this context, but the commissioner meaning an officer or police chief, nope.
I had just turned 16 when this song hit the charts, so I associate it with just getting my driver’s license…and such an awesome driving song it was! It’s funny, my friends and I used to debate the meaning of “Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?” And one guy came up with, “It must mean, ‘All is clear, commissioner?’” Ironically, just from the sound of it, he was actually correct!
I much prefer ATF's version, I love the use of instruments versus Falco's reliance on synthesizers. Just my preference.
Same! Love both for different reasons though..
Two words: Suzy Andrews
I love both.
I remember the ATF version being played on the radio a lot, while MTV was showing the Falco video quite a bit. I always liked the song and still listen to it when I can. And to be honest, I kinda forgot about it until it was referenced in The Wedding Singer.
First!!????!!
Holy cow, how’d I manage that on a Professor video?? Hahahahh!
Aw crap I think I was second by like 3 seconds. 😅😂🤣
@@joen8529 You probably have to have "first!" copied to your clipboard, and then keep refreshing his page around 11am Eastern time with 'videos' selected. Then you have to be fast to go there, paste & submit. 😊
Could it be?
@@BillGraper 😂🤣
Here in Chicago we were lucky as R&B/Urban radio stations played both versions enough that 107.5 WGCI FM had an amazing blended remix of the two! ATF's version is my favorite, but credit goes to the original and Falco was in every way an Original!
No, the only Falco song I had translated was "Zuviel Hitze" (Too Much Heat) from that same album/CD. That's about a man who falls in love with a prostitute,not to mention one of his best compositions! Thank you for this video as always, professor! 🐰
I remember how I watched Mtv all day back then, and BOTH versions of Der Kommissar were awesome jams that I couldn't get enough of. Both of the accompanying videos were quirky and fun as well. Particularly the one with Falco (RIP) acting goofy in front of the green screen background of police cars chasing him. ❤❤❤❤
I remember seeing the music video on a weekly TV video show. It ran very late at night. It was the only outlet for music videos for me as a kid. We never were able to have cable TV. The provider stopped laying cable a half mile from my house. So late night weekly video hour had all the kids at school with no cable acces staying up in to the early hours. I've always found it curious, almost enchanting song. Rare radio play had us making mix tapes.
Falco was great. I had the good fortune of seeing him in concert, in 1987, iirc, in Mannheim, Germany.
Hey man …love your programmes. I am probably one of the few Falco Fans in the UK. This one grabbed my interest. But then again all you talks a great…with passion and knowledge…I know not so much about Falco this one :).
I was dancing to Falco’s Der Komissar in the very early 80s.
Classically trained musician turns into punk/dance artist - I LUV IT ! ATFire history xcellent ! As usual - Great segment Prof ! *RIP Falco - had no idea
Professior, YOU BETTER HAVE A VIDEO OF "ROCK ME AMADEUS"!
Plus, don't forget to plug any live speaking engagements! As a fellow Utahian, I would LOVE to be in attendance!
From my German grandmother, I knew what the Falco version was saying . Freaked out kids in school when I translated it for them . Loved the A T F version brought back good memories.
My earliest exposure to this song was from a cassette tape called Chart Action '83 when I was 9. Great track listing. Look it up!
I was that weird kid that asked dad to let me sit in the car in the driveway for hours, listening to the radio and I remember the two main versions… wonderful years… thanks for such an awesome show…
YES!!! Please cover Falco and especially “Rock Me Amadeus”
I had that After The Fire album when it came out. Loved it!
You could do a show just on Falco, for sure. "Rock Me Amadeus" and "Vienna Calling" are both top 100 80's songs in my book. :)
I love how this show gets me to running the youtube trying to find the obscure music we loved, but forget about.
Yes! Please cover "Rock Me Amadeus"! I totally agreed with Falco that Mozart would have definitely been a Rock Star in the 1980s.
I know a guy who named his firstborn son Falco :) Anyway, Rock Me Amadeus and Vienna Calling are another set of songs that yank me straight back to my high school days. Rock Me Amadeus... I loved that song. A girl I knew called me out at school one day because she had seen me in my car very animatedly singing along to the radio the previous afternoon. We had a good laugh about that. Also, both songs were played a lot, on radio and cassette/CD, when my friends were hanging out playing computer games on the Apple //c and C64 after school and on weekends. We had so much fun back then.
There's also a character in Super Smash Bros. called Falco, only I think that one is pronounced "Felko" or something like that.
Even as a child I knew what Alles klar, Herr Kommissar meant. My grandmother and uncles knew some German, so they told me. Also, it sounded like what it meant, so it could easily be worked out. It wasn't until I was older that it was clear the song was about drugs (cocaine, to be specific). I had heard both the German language (Austrian) by Falco, and the English version by After the Fire as a little girl, as both were played on MTV and other music video stations. Personally, I preferred the ATF version because it was a bit more catchy. I do love many of Falco's other hits, such as Rock Me, Amadeus, Jeannie, and Vienna Calling. I was incredibly saddened to hear he had died at such a young age in 1998. He was definitely ahead of his time, and one of a kind. ATF are an English band. I don't recall them having any other hits after this cover song. I did always wonder why they were singing about Zsa Zsa Gabor in the song (yes, I had heard of her as a child). I don't know if they threw her name in because it sounded fancy, or if it actually meant something in German, because I can't remember if Falco added it in his or not. The 80s were a wild and weird time, and I would go back to my childhood in a heartbeat. All of the wonderful musicians we have lost recently would still be with us, giving us their music. Time sure is a b!tch, ain't it?
Thank you! Your accuracy much appreciated, apologies for the late response. Bless Ya! PB
Jeanny is my favorite Falco song. A friend of mine surprised me by having a Falco Greatest Hits album playing in the car. I grew to love that album then delved deeper into his library and it was awesome!
Love the English version, still gets me going in my 50's when I'm on the treadmill!
Hey PoR... please do an episode about the 80s NeueDeutscheWelle. I feel this music (Nena, Trio, Peter Schilling, Falco, the Chicken Dance) all had a huge impact in my life later on learning German, moving to Germany and later permanently to Switzerland.
Yes, please cover Rock Me Amadeus. Classic song from my childhood. 1986 was a good year.
Giuffria-Call to the heart. Saga-On the loose. Frozen Ghost-Should I see. Eddie Grant-Electric Avenue. Marshall Crenshaw-Someday Someway. The Brandos-Gettysburg. George Thoroughgood-Bad to the bone, Shooting Star-Last Chance, and The Rainmakers-Let my people go-go. Really, the 80's had a different one hit wonder every week, and you still want to listen to all of them.