“Rock Me Amadeus” made Falco the first performer with a primarily German-language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
The Austrian singer released the song in 1985 as a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Its lyrics reference Mozart’s fame, flamboyance and reputation as a musical celebrity, while the production combines synth-pop, rock and rap-like spoken delivery. The song became an international success and was Falco’s best-known recording.
In the United States, “Rock Me Amadeus” reached No. 1 in April 1986. It remains the only primarily German-language song to top the American Hot 100. Falco thus achieved a rare crossover in a market dominated by English-language releases.
The distinction is about the song’s language, not Falco’s nationality: he was Austrian, while Mozart was also born in Salzburg. “99 Luftballons,” another major German-language international hit, reached the U.S. top five but did not reach No. 1.