Multi Track Demo #4 – FALCO – Vienna Calling

Listen to the tracks by operating the mixer. Click on play button to start! You can also mute and solo the tracks as you wish. Enjoy!

© 1985 A&M Records

«Vienna Calling» is a song by Austrian musician Falco, released in September 1985 (and in 1986 in Anglophone markets) as the second single from his third studio album, Falco 3 (1985).

Background

The song was written by Falco and Dutch music producers Bolland & Bolland.

The rapped German-language lyrics tells about Falco’s hometown of Vienna, its development and lifestyle. On the one hand, reference is made to the increasingly international environment of the city and the telephone as a rapid means of communication; the question «where are your wives?» («wohin sind deine Frau’n?») is also asked, suggesting that they are elsewhere; this culminates at the end of the song with the alarm being «red» and «Vienna in need» («Wien in Not»). For example, the first verse tells of a woman named Stella who «sits» in Rio and «lies» in Tokyo, to indicate that she is not at home when she is called.

The fast pop-rap song is accompanied by a flute motif and a bluesy, clean guitar. Some samples («hello») are also used, which support the telephone theme. At the end the flute plays a solo.

Falco enjoyed a limited international success with «Vienna Calling» in late 1985, following the worldwide hit of his previous single «Rock Me Amadeus«. In addition to reaching the top 10 in several European countries, it also made the top 20 in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.