Today’s video of the day is Falco – “Der Kommissar” released in 1981.
Falco released Der Kommissar in 1981. The song, written by Robert Ponger and Falco, became a huge hit across Europe. It appeared on Falco’s debut album, Einzelhaft, in 1982. Two official music videos exist for Der Kommissar. The U.S. version features Falco against a blue screen. Behind him, Austrian police cars drive through the night. He lip-syncs, dances, and runs in place, mimicking an escape. The European version takes a different approach. Falco, wearing a white suit, sits in an interrogation room, smoking. This setting adds a mysterious, noir-like feel.
Producer Robert Ponger originally wrote the music for Reinhold Bilgeri, who declined it. Falco then added his lyrics to the instrumental. His record label chose Der Kommissar over Helden von heute as the A-side. The decision paid off when the song reached No. 1 in Germany and Austria in early 1982. The song’s bassline drew inspiration from Rick James’ Super Freak. Falco, however, wanted Helden von heute as the lead single. That track, a tribute to David Bowie’s Heroes, reflected Falco’s admiration for Bowie’s Berlin-era sound.
Though Der Kommissar didn’t chart in the U.S., a 1982 English cover by After the Fire became a hit there. Falco later gained international fame with Rock Me Amadeus from Falco 3 in 1985. He revisited Der Kommissar with remixes in 1991, 1998, and posthumously in 2008. The Der Kommissar video captures the song’s rebellious energy. Whether in a police chase or an interrogation, Falco’s charisma shines. This hit set the stage for his later success and remains a synth-pop classic.
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