In remembrance of Falco (Johann (Hans) Hölzel), who would have celebrated his 55th birthday today (he was killed in a car crash in 1998), here are two of his magnificent musical moments...
Henry - that is the first time I ever saw that video. Very strange indeed...
Tony - I am not familiar with the late Miss Previn's work, but I do know she was involved in the music for Valley of the Dolls, and the story of her losing hubbie Andre to Mia Farrow, followed by an album of "revenge" songs is a classic! So at least her camp credentials are complete.
"Jeanny" was very controversial when it was released just before christmas in 1985.
The song is about a relationship between a man and a girl named Jeanny. Severl critics said that the song glorifies rape and violence. An outcry in German language markets caused the song to be banned by some radio broadcasters or played with a preceding warning by others.
Several feminist associations also called for a boycott of the song. Some TV and radio stations in West Germany agreed and didn't play the song "for ethical reasons". In East Germany the song could not be played on radio - it was even banned from the nightclubs!
Typically, the scandal only helped to increase the sales of the single, which went # 1 in Germany and many other countries in Europe.
The lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Of course the controversial video only added gasoline to to flames. Falco argued that it is about the musings of a stalker.
The song became the first part of a trilogy, with the songs "Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, One Year Later)" and "The Spirit Never Dies (Jeanny Final") also becoming big hits.
This one is my Falco fave:
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/Urw-iutHw5E
Love the video too!
Rock Me Amadeus kept Madonna from Number 1 in 1986 …
ReplyDeleteDidn't know he'd died in 98 - he was quite sexy in a strange way.
I've spent most of the last week listening to a singer that died last week, not Whitney Houston but Dory Previn …
xx
Henry - that is the first time I ever saw that video. Very strange indeed...
ReplyDeleteTony - I am not familiar with the late Miss Previn's work, but I do know she was involved in the music for Valley of the Dolls, and the story of her losing hubbie Andre to Mia Farrow, followed by an album of "revenge" songs is a classic! So at least her camp credentials are complete.
And yes, Falco was sexy! RIP.
"Jeanny" was very controversial when it was released just before christmas in 1985.
ReplyDeleteThe song is about a relationship between a man and a girl named Jeanny. Severl critics said that the song glorifies rape and violence. An outcry in German language markets caused the song to be banned by some radio broadcasters or played with a preceding warning by others.
Several feminist associations also called for a boycott of the song. Some TV and radio stations in West Germany agreed and didn't play the song "for ethical reasons". In East Germany the song could not be played on radio - it was even banned from the nightclubs!
Typically, the scandal only helped to increase the sales of the single, which went # 1 in Germany and many other countries in Europe.
The lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Of course the controversial video only added gasoline to to flames.
Falco argued that it is about the musings of a stalker.
The song became the first part of a trilogy, with the songs "Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, One Year Later)" and "The Spirit Never Dies (Jeanny Final") also becoming big hits.
It's no wonder I never heard of it, then - I can't see "Auntie Beeb" playing such a controversial record, so soon after the Relax ban... Jx
ReplyDeletevery bizarre looking video - power over-acting
ReplyDeleteIs it cruel to say, I can see why the song was big in Germany.
I do like Schlager music.