Before Conchita Wurst, Austria’s biggest popular music export was Falco. A new wave singer songwriter who had several international hits before dying in a car crash in the Dominican Republic at the age of 40.
Thirty-one years after his death, Falco’s music still pops up in the soundtracks of TV series and movies occasionally. Including this week, when Falco’s ‘Jeanny‘ was featured in the first episode of the second season of the hit Netflix series Dark — Season 2, Episode 1, “Anfänge und Enden” (Beginnings and Endings).
The song is the track that was playing on the radio as Magnus goes into the camper van.
Falco’s ‘Jeanny‘ was the third single from his studio album Falco 3.
Released at the end of 1985, the track was originally banned from many radio stations, as feminist groups said the lyrics glorified rape.
Falco himself said the lyrics were nothing more than the thoughts of a stalker.
Interestingly too, the lyrics are very tame compared to what is often written nowadays for the lyrics of hit songs.
More than likely due to the song’s boycott, however, it hit the charts in Austria in the top spot, and also in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
After all, that is what tends to happen with a music boycott. More attention is shown to the song than it probably otherwise would have received.
Listen to Falco’s ‘Jeanny‘ in the official music video below.
His album Falco 3, the 25th Anniversary Edition can also be heard in full in the Spotify widget below that.
Related songs: Listen to Agnes Obel’s ‘It’s Happening Again‘ from Dark — Season 2, Episode 1