Er war ein Rockidol
February 6, 2019 1:49 PM Subscribe
Today we are pleased to have the exclusive premiere of Front Line Assembly's re-work of the storied "Rock Me Amadeus" originally by Falco.
"Maybe it's the relentlessly oscillating bass line, maybe it's the cheeky overtures to a long-dead master, maybe it's the half-rapped, half-sneered verses in German, and maybe it's just that Teutonic cool. Whatever it is, there's no electronic musician – or fan of electronic music – who can resist 'Amadeus'." Via. From upcoming album Wake Up the Coma. [bandcamp]
"Maybe it's the relentlessly oscillating bass line, maybe it's the cheeky overtures to a long-dead master, maybe it's the half-rapped, half-sneered verses in German, and maybe it's just that Teutonic cool. Whatever it is, there's no electronic musician – or fan of electronic music – who can resist 'Amadeus'." Via. From upcoming album Wake Up the Coma. [bandcamp]
something something something Vancouver Canada
posted by Cosine at 2:17 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Cosine at 2:17 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
Try this for a direct link to the video if you're having the same difficulty I had in finding it.
posted by gusottertrout at 2:19 PM on February 6, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 2:19 PM on February 6, 2019 [4 favorites]
I ❤️ Falco and wish he were still around!
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:21 PM on February 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:21 PM on February 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
something something = Tucson, Arizona (you know--one of those standard cities every pop song gives shoutouts too...)
Thanks for the link, gusottertrout.
posted by ropeladder at 2:26 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the link, gusottertrout.
posted by ropeladder at 2:26 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Subbed in that link for the non-working one.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:28 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:28 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
This baebel site is Agressively User Hostile, wow
posted by boo_radley at 2:43 PM on February 6, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 2:43 PM on February 6, 2019 [14 favorites]
I think I heard a background scream very similar to the original, nice touch.
Remakes of 80's classics seem to be the rage what with the new Weezer album out a couple weeks ago. Honestly it's a little slavish for my liking, although the counterpoint is that the original was good enough for all time, so why try to improve it.
Well, the only thing that could improve it would be didactic spoken-word voiceover.
But fin to see FLA back at it.
posted by GuyZero at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2019
Remakes of 80's classics seem to be the rage what with the new Weezer album out a couple weeks ago. Honestly it's a little slavish for my liking, although the counterpoint is that the original was good enough for all time, so why try to improve it.
Well, the only thing that could improve it would be didactic spoken-word voiceover.
But fin to see FLA back at it.
posted by GuyZero at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2019
This is so vaporwave, and so... nice.
posted by egypturnash at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by egypturnash at 2:45 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
Aw, crumbs. Thanks gusottertrout and LobsterMitten.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:57 PM on February 6, 2019
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:57 PM on February 6, 2019
I had to fire up Microsoft Edge--MICROSOFT EDGE--to get that to play.
But, eh, I like their New Year's Day with Tiffany much better.
posted by crush at 3:05 PM on February 6, 2019
But, eh, I like their New Year's Day with Tiffany much better.
posted by crush at 3:05 PM on February 6, 2019
I ❤️ Falco and wish he were still around!
Falco 3 was, purposefully, the first CD I ever bought. Had all the albums, and, importantly in the case of Rock Me Amadeus, and singles I could find in the US.
(The single of Rock Me Amadeus is necessary because that version of the song has the spoken timeline of the highlights of Mozart's life, with dates for his birth, significant compositions, marriage, death, concluding with with "In 1985 Austrian rock singer Falco records Rock Me Amadeus". No, not just concluding with, triumphantly culminating in, as Mozart's had finally been given the fullness of meaning to which he was entitled.)
To be honest though, I came to be more of an Emotional man myself. Though Vienna Calling, America, Jeanny, Junge Römer his covers of It's All Over Now Baby Blue, and Do It Again, and of course Der Kommisar all managed to hit that sweet spot of being just shy of being too, too much and falling completely into camp, while also being just excessive enough to provide a bit of an amusing thrill for how they pushed things beyond conventional taste. Falco's manner matched the songs for that, almost seeming an absurdist pose, but just managing to hang back enough to keep himself convincing as a handsome star singer justified in his self regard because out of the certainty people recognize him as such.
Sorry for going on a bit, but it ain't like I get a lot of chances to have reason for sharing my enthusiasm for Falco.
posted by gusottertrout at 3:23 PM on February 6, 2019 [22 favorites]
Falco 3 was, purposefully, the first CD I ever bought. Had all the albums, and, importantly in the case of Rock Me Amadeus, and singles I could find in the US.
(The single of Rock Me Amadeus is necessary because that version of the song has the spoken timeline of the highlights of Mozart's life, with dates for his birth, significant compositions, marriage, death, concluding with with "In 1985 Austrian rock singer Falco records Rock Me Amadeus". No, not just concluding with, triumphantly culminating in, as Mozart's had finally been given the fullness of meaning to which he was entitled.)
To be honest though, I came to be more of an Emotional man myself. Though Vienna Calling, America, Jeanny, Junge Römer his covers of It's All Over Now Baby Blue, and Do It Again, and of course Der Kommisar all managed to hit that sweet spot of being just shy of being too, too much and falling completely into camp, while also being just excessive enough to provide a bit of an amusing thrill for how they pushed things beyond conventional taste. Falco's manner matched the songs for that, almost seeming an absurdist pose, but just managing to hang back enough to keep himself convincing as a handsome star singer justified in his self regard because out of the certainty people recognize him as such.
Sorry for going on a bit, but it ain't like I get a lot of chances to have reason for sharing my enthusiasm for Falco.
posted by gusottertrout at 3:23 PM on February 6, 2019 [22 favorites]
Here’s a YouTube link (original link would not work for me on mobile)
posted by Enemy of Joy at 4:10 PM on February 6, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Enemy of Joy at 4:10 PM on February 6, 2019 [6 favorites]
I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-a to chimpanzee
posted by stevil at 4:34 PM on February 6, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by stevil at 4:34 PM on February 6, 2019 [4 favorites]
I really like the homage to Max Headroom.
posted by Autumnheart at 4:36 PM on February 6, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 4:36 PM on February 6, 2019 [5 favorites]
gusottertrout: "(The single of Rock Me Amadeus is necessary because that version of the song has the spoken timeline of the highlights of Mozart's life, with dates for his birth, significant compositions, marriage, death, concluding with with "In 1985 Austrian rock singer Falco records Rock Me Amadeus". No, not just concluding with, triumphantly culminating in, as Mozart's had finally been given the fullness of meaning to which he was entitled.)"
Yes! I don't know why they never play this version on the radio.
They always play the wrong version of "Safety Dance," too.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:22 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yes! I don't know why they never play this version on the radio.
They always play the wrong version of "Safety Dance," too.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:22 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was quite surprised at how straight a cover it was, but the video's appropriation of a million different vapo(u)rwave microsubgenre's aesthetics was a delight. They move through liquid transparencies!
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:15 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 6:15 PM on February 6, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sorry for going on a bit, but it ain't like I get a lot of chances to have reason for sharing my enthusiasm for Falco.
I recently picked up the vinyl of his "Falco 60" album, sort of a greatest hits celebrating what would've been his 60th birthday. Lovely listening.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:00 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
I recently picked up the vinyl of his "Falco 60" album, sort of a greatest hits celebrating what would've been his 60th birthday. Lovely listening.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:00 PM on February 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
I loved this! I thought it was interesting that they removed the most memorable thing about the original video, which was the heavy use of exotic, archaic clothing styles -- but of course they didn't do any such thing, they just moved from 1780s to 1980s.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 9:48 PM on February 6, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 9:48 PM on February 6, 2019 [6 favorites]
I believe the single version which has reduced German lyrics, more vocal samples, and the timeline of Mozart's life was the Extended Salieri Version, but I'd have to dig through my iTunes library to know for certain.
There've been a lot of different remixes of the song over the years, so it's hard to remember which versions are which from the distance of many years. The Salieri version linked above definitely has the timeline. What I know for sure is that there was a three and a halfish minute version of the song that didn't include the timeline and matched the video and a four something minute version that had the timeline and was better. It's possible that I bought the single and found it to be the shorter version which prompted me to buy the album, not the other way around as my memory first had it.
posted by gusottertrout at 10:37 PM on February 6, 2019
There've been a lot of different remixes of the song over the years, so it's hard to remember which versions are which from the distance of many years. The Salieri version linked above definitely has the timeline. What I know for sure is that there was a three and a halfish minute version of the song that didn't include the timeline and matched the video and a four something minute version that had the timeline and was better. It's possible that I bought the single and found it to be the shorter version which prompted me to buy the album, not the other way around as my memory first had it.
posted by gusottertrout at 10:37 PM on February 6, 2019
I think there is an entire field of study about the kind of ego and expression that Falco presented in the world.
I was so pleased to see the post since I gave away my album collection years ago and haven't listened to Falco in quite a while and it's great to be reminded of how much I enjoy him.
The thing that really works for me about his presentation of self/masculinity is that it always carries a bit of the tongue in cheek about it, which you can see in the videos, but doesn't stoop to full mockery, allowing you to both accept the emotions of the song while also allowing for awareness of the indulgence, keeping the feelings "real" but accepting they're also a bit ridiculous for the intensity of them. It keeps them contained instead of allowing the pose to metastasize into something more toxic as in, say, the Craig Kilborn or Man Show model of male irony that feigns denial of the attitudes they wallowed in by pretending to be above it all.
posted by gusottertrout at 11:49 PM on February 6, 2019
I was so pleased to see the post since I gave away my album collection years ago and haven't listened to Falco in quite a while and it's great to be reminded of how much I enjoy him.
The thing that really works for me about his presentation of self/masculinity is that it always carries a bit of the tongue in cheek about it, which you can see in the videos, but doesn't stoop to full mockery, allowing you to both accept the emotions of the song while also allowing for awareness of the indulgence, keeping the feelings "real" but accepting they're also a bit ridiculous for the intensity of them. It keeps them contained instead of allowing the pose to metastasize into something more toxic as in, say, the Craig Kilborn or Man Show model of male irony that feigns denial of the attitudes they wallowed in by pretending to be above it all.
posted by gusottertrout at 11:49 PM on February 6, 2019
Yup, there was even a remix of Dr. Zaius that was catchy and chill. It's a good song! It came up in the music identification round at pub quiz last night, and with the first notes we all lunged for the answer pad.
posted by Pronoiac at 12:36 AM on February 7, 2019
posted by Pronoiac at 12:36 AM on February 7, 2019
Well I'm pretty excited about a new frontline album!!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:34 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:34 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'm just a dilettante when it comes to creating art... I cannot even comprehend how Bill Leeb has been at it for so many decades, and had the amount of excellent output that he has with so many groups. I am so, so pleased with the way FLA keeps evolving.
posted by heatvision at 3:52 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by heatvision at 3:52 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
Falco did this single in 1985, and the multiple-oscar-winning Amadeus film based on the play by Peter Shaffer came out in 1984. I imagine this is not a coincidence and Falco was probably inspired by the film. In an alternate universe, Rock Me Amadeus would have fitted into the soundtrack quite well, possibly as the obligatory closing credits pop song. The movie is very good, much more rock-and-roll than you would expect a biopic of an 18th century composer to be, and if anyone hasn't ever seen it, its well worth searching out. There are several different versions. For the purists, the DVD version released in 1998 running 153 minutes is closest to the original theatrical version and is widely available on ebay.
posted by memebake at 4:04 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by memebake at 4:04 AM on February 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
I was quite surprised at how straight a cover it was
I didn't think this felt very FLA, and with the guest vocalist I had to look it up to make sure that Bill Leeb is still with them. Maybe a bit unfair since their style has changed so much and so many times over the years, but that's the impression I got.
Somehow the "New Years' Day" cover still felt like FLA even though it was a U2 song with Tiffany as the guest vocalist, but this doesn't.
posted by Foosnark at 5:53 AM on February 7, 2019
I didn't think this felt very FLA, and with the guest vocalist I had to look it up to make sure that Bill Leeb is still with them. Maybe a bit unfair since their style has changed so much and so many times over the years, but that's the impression I got.
Somehow the "New Years' Day" cover still felt like FLA even though it was a U2 song with Tiffany as the guest vocalist, but this doesn't.
posted by Foosnark at 5:53 AM on February 7, 2019
gusottertrout: "(The single of Rock Me Amadeus is necessary because that version of the song has the spoken timeline of the highlights of Mozart's life, with dates for his birth, significant compositions, marriage, death, concluding with with "In 1985 Austrian rock singer Falco records Rock Me Amadeus". No, not just concluding with, triumphantly culminating in, as Mozart's had finally been given the fullness of meaning to which he was entitled.)
"
This is the version I remember and nicely the version on Spotify.
posted by Mitheral at 6:14 AM on February 7, 2019
"
This is the version I remember and nicely the version on Spotify.
posted by Mitheral at 6:14 AM on February 7, 2019
Der Kommisar was written by Falco and isn't a cover.
I seem to recall that the After the Fire version was super-popular in the US, probably overshadowing its Falco origins.
posted by Slothrup at 6:37 AM on February 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
I seem to recall that the After the Fire version was super-popular in the US, probably overshadowing its Falco origins.
posted by Slothrup at 6:37 AM on February 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
The "rapping" in "Der Kommisar" fulfills coolness horseshoe theory. It's dorky and it doesn't even care how dorky it is that which loops it around the back and lands on super cool again.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:16 PM on February 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:16 PM on February 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
But, eh, I like their New Year's Day with Tiffany much better.
posted by crush at 5:05 PM on February 6 [+] [!]
"And I said, what about New Years Day with Tiffany,
She said I don't know what the hell you're talking about.
I said I mean the song by Frontline Assembly,
but somehow you're confusing it
with a song sung by DB Something!"
posted by symbioid at 4:06 PM on February 7, 2019
posted by crush at 5:05 PM on February 6 [+] [!]
"And I said, what about New Years Day with Tiffany,
She said I don't know what the hell you're talking about.
I said I mean the song by Frontline Assembly,
but somehow you're confusing it
with a song sung by DB Something!"
posted by symbioid at 4:06 PM on February 7, 2019
Also if we're talking super teen pop star + underground cred don't forget Debra Gibson and Circle Jerks "I wanna destroy you"
posted by symbioid at 4:08 PM on February 7, 2019
posted by symbioid at 4:08 PM on February 7, 2019
FLA keeps releasing more videos for this album. It's great to see them doing more videos than they used to.
Mesmerized
Living a Lie
Structures
Eye on You (this one is fan-made but mindphaser is serving it)
Love this album. The title track is brilliant.
posted by heatvision at 4:31 AM on March 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Mesmerized
Living a Lie
Structures
Eye on You (this one is fan-made but mindphaser is serving it)
Love this album. The title track is brilliant.
posted by heatvision at 4:31 AM on March 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
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