Der Kommissar by Falco Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Cryptic 80s Cultural Phenomenon
Lyrics
Two, three, four
Eins, zwei drei
Na, es is’ nix dabei
Na, wenn ich eich erzähl’ die G’schicht’
Nichts desto trotz
Ich bin es schon gewohnt
Im TV-Funk da läuft es nicht
Ja, sie war jung
Das Herz so rein und weiß
Und jede Nacht hat ihren Preis
Sie sagt: „Sugar Sweet
You got me rappin’ to the heat!“
Ich verstehe, sie ist heiß
Sie sagt: „Babe, you know
I miss my funky friends“
Sie meint Jack und Joe und Jill
Mein Funkverständnis
Ja, das reicht zur Not
Ich überreiß, was sie jetzt will
Ich überleg’ bei mir
Ihr Nas’n spricht dafür
Währenddessen ich noch rauch’
Die Special Places sind ihr wohlbekannt
Ich mein’, sie fährt ja U-Bahn auch
Dort singen’s
„Drah’ di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh
Er wird di anschauen
Und du weißt warum
Die Lebenslust bringt dich um“
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
Hey wanna buy some stuff, man?
How did you ever rap that thing, Jack?
So rap it to the beat
Wir treffen Jill and Joe
Und dessen Bruder Hip
Und auch den Rest der coolen Gang
Sie rappen hin, sie rappen her
Dazwischen kratzen’s ab die Wänd’
Dieser Fall ist klar
Lieber Herr Kommissar
Auch wenn sie and’rer Meinung sind
Den Schnee auf dem wir alle talwärts fahren
Kennt heute jedes Kind
Jetzt das Kinderlied
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh
Er hat die Kraft und wir san klein und dumm
Und dieser Frust macht uns stumm“
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh“
Wenn er di anspricht
Und du weißt warum
Sag eahm
Dein Leben bringt di um
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh
Er hat die Kraft und wir san klein und dumm
Und dieser Frust macht uns stumm“
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh“
Wenn er di anspricht
Und du weißt warum
Sag eahm
Dein Leben bringt dich um
La la la la la la
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh“
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh“
„Drah di net um, oh oh oh
Schau, schau, der Kommissar geht um, oh oh oh“
In 1982, Austrian musician Falco released ‘Der Kommissar’, a single that swiftly became emblematic of the 80s soundscape, etching a permanent place in pop culture. Its rapid, pulsating beat accompanied by enigmatic, snappy lyricism, this song transcended language barriers and lodged itself into the fabric of a decade known for its excess and transformation.
As we snatch the magnifying glass and examine the gritty details hidden in the grooves of this infectious track, we uncover the layers of meaning nested within Falco’s narrative. What at first might seem like a quirky Euro-pop number, ‘Der Kommissar’ harbors deeper allusions to societal issues, personal freedom, and the ominous presence of authority.
A Sonic Portrait of Vienna’s Underbelly
With a gritty synth riff and a driving dance beat, ‘Der Kommissar’ feels at home in the dark, smoke-filled clubs of early 80s Vienna. Falco, channeling the pulse of his native city, weaves a sonic tapestry that reflects the urban nightlife. It peeks into the world of party-goers and subcultures thriving under the glistening lights and shadowy corners.
The lyrics hint at joviality and decadence, a thinly veiled dance around the era’s societal norms. Music aficionados often note how the track effortlessly encapsulates the tension between the neon glow of the discotheque and the somber realities that awaited outside.
The Enigmatic Commissioner: Falco’s Cipher for Control
The title character of ‘Der Kommissar’ is an omnipresent figure — an authority that prompts the repeated haunting chorus, ‘Don’t turn around, oh oh oh / Look, look, the Kommissar is out there, oh oh oh.’ The Kommissar personifies the watchful eye of society’s guardians, stirring anxiety and caution among the youth.
This imposing figure, known as ‘the commissioner’ in English, serves both as a literal specter of law enforcement and a metaphor for the oppressive forces that push against personal expression and the pursuit of pleasure amidst the conservative winds of the time.
The Lingua Franca of Rebellion and Rap
‘Sie sagt: ‘Sugar Sweet, You got me rappin’ to the heat!’ Falco integrates the raw energy of rap—a genre still burgeoning and brimming with counterculture potency. The song not only nods to the influence of hip-hop on European music scenes but also celebrates defiance and youth culture’s dance with subversion.
‘Jack und Joe und Jill,’ represent the everyman, the individual faces in the crowd, leveraging the universality of music, and rap specifically, as a tool for connection and escape. It’s a cultural handshake between continents; a Vienna-born artist tipping his hat to the American-born art form.
Catchy Refrains Concealing Darker Truths
The oft-repeated lines ‘The life of delight can bring you down’ expose the duality within ‘Der Kommissar.’ While the outer shell of the song enchants with its hook, these words are a stark reminder that the search for happiness comes with risks—risks that the watchful Kommissar waits to pounce upon.
It’s a cautionary tale of excess and the harsh come-down that follows the high. The song alludes to the use of substances, seen in ‘the snow on which we all ski down,’ a metaphor for cocaine that was rapidly infiltrating the luxurious and the destitute strata of society alike.
An Anthem of Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Falco’s ‘Der Kommissar’ ultimately becomes an anarchic hymn. It calls for resilience against the forces that seek to silence or suppress. The act of turning around, a symbol of defiance, is nonetheless cautioned against. Dancing the line between rebellion and survival, the song suggests discretion as the better part of valor in the era’s socio-political landscape.
With ‘Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?’—translated to ‘Everything alright, Mr. Commissioner?’—the repeated question becomes a cheeky taunt, a way of asking, ‘Are you satisfied with stifling our joy?’ It’s a subtle snub at the establishment, wrapped in pop-rock allure that continues to resonate with audiences even as it remains deceptively simple.
