For this week’s Thursday Inspiration prompt, Jim Adams has given us the word “away,” and suggests we write about a song written in a foreign language and then became a hit in English.
One of my favorite songs- sung by one of the hottest looking men from the 8o’s music scene was Austrian artist Falco (Johann Hölzel)
” Rock Me Amadeus ” was released in German and became a hit in German. It was also released in English but it lost a little something in the translation, so I still prefer to listen to it in German. I had friends who were from Germany so I knew what the song was about and I left it at that.
Falco was a complicated person, but he had a great voice and I loved his music. He died in a car crash in 1998
Rock me Amadeus
Rock me Amadeus
Rock me rock me rock meAmadeusRock me all the time to the top
Er war ein Punker
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Es war Wien, war Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden denn er trank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Und jede rief:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
because er hatte Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War ein Rockidol
Und alles rief:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
Es war um 1780
Und es war in Wien
No plastic money anymore
Die Banken gegen ihn
Woher die Schulden kamen
War wohl jedermann bekannt
Er war ein Mann der Frauen
Frauen liebten seinen Punk
Er war Superstar
Er war populär
Er war so exaltiert
Genau das war sein Flair
Er war ein Virtuose
War ein Rockidol
Und alles ruft noch heute:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
Come and rock me Amadeus….
Rock me rock me rock meAmadeusRock me all the time to the top
He was a punk
And he lived in the big city
It was Vienna, was Vienna
Where he did everything
He was in debt because he drank
But he was loved by all women
And each one shouted:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so effusive
Because he had flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rock idol
And everyone shouted:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
It was around 1780
And it was in Vienna
No plastic money anymore
The banks against him
Where the debts came from
Was known by every one
He was a man of women
Women loved his punk
He was a superstar
He was popular
He was so effusive
Just this was his flair
He was a virtuoso
Was a rock idol
And even nowadays everyone shouts:
Come on and rock me Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus, Amadeus
Amadeus Amadeus,
oh oh oh Amadeus
Come and rock me Amadeus….
The only German-language song to ever hit #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart is “Rock Me Amadeus” by the Austrian artist Falco (Johann Hölzel)
While it is commonly categorized under the broader umbrella of 1980s pop, rap, and new wave, its prominent rock guitars and stylized theme—reimagining classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a modern-day rock star—helped it achieve cross-genre success. It reached the top spot on March 29, 1986.
If you are going to ask me for the first thing that pops into my head when you say the word ” waddle ” I’m going to flash on my then 3 year old ( he’s now pushing 40) son singing
Honk, honk, waddle, waddle
duckies really stink
Honk honk waddle, waddle
skiddy mahrinky dink
Honk honk waddle waddle
duckies really stink
Oh!
Honk, waddle waddle song says
duckies really
stink
Photographer Unknown
All I know is that this is that he had a tape called ” We Sing Silly Songs ” and that all he got right was “Honk, honk waddle waddle” and based on a youtube clip he got the melody right, but the lyrics were his own. In fact, I liked Julio’s version so much, I never did go out of my way to hear the ‘real’ version.
This is the way the song goes for real- complete with a kid to sing it for you:
” Where were you on the last Black Moon ? ” I asked my Grandmother as she stood at her kitchen counter carving the first of the many Halloween Pumpkins that would line our walkways and decorate the stairs that led to our front door.
She looked up and shrugged. ” Oh. Here and there. ”
She sounded vague.
Preoccupied.
I was worried.
I watched her place the tip of the carving knife against the pumpkin’s dark orange flesh. ” Oh wait, ” her shoulder dropped just a little, there was a smooth quick flick of her wrist and the smell pumpkin innards wafted up into the air. ” I remember where I was. Silly me. ”
She turned around with the knife in her hand. ” You must think I’m getting soft Valentina, I do remember where I was at.”
” I thought you might. ” I said firmly, trying to mask the sound of relief that was in my voice.
She tapped the business end of the knife against the side of her head. ” But I’m not getting soft Valentina, Not even a little bit.”
I nodded. ” So if you remember where you were- ” I began
” Yes, yes Valentina. Not to worry. I remember where I was and what I was doing. ”
Grandmother reached down into the cupboard near her knees and popped it open.
Inside was her elegant black dress, her veil and her shoes. ” And when it’s time to send you back we won’t have any problems. Now run along dear and …” she reached down and then stood up.
