Welcome to the Heart of Europe

Guess what, it is time for a song! No, please spare me the honour to hear you sing. Just remember those old tunes including... the best Pop Music in Austrian dialect between Scheibbs and Nebraska!

Best Of... Soundtrack of the Youth

Hard of Hearing. Determining whether a workshop audience could still follow from the back rows, a colleague would admit side effects from youthful transgressions: "My hearing is not great to begin with. Too many Rock'n'Roll headphones as a kid." Soundtrack of my Life... is usually a good name for a CD compilation, a record collecting greatest hits, compiling successes and sometimes surprises. And so this article is also about some of my favourite songs, the "Sountrack of my Youth" to start with. Our wide range of music taste would include almost everything from children's nursery rhymes to killer rock.

Big City Nights. School days as many other periods in life may be accompanied by music. There is a handful of songs, whenever I hear them by coincidence or not, they remind me of those ol' times. Which is why I'd regard them as part of or even soundtrack of my youth back then (not talking about preservation efforts nor a familiar fountain of the latter now). One song is "Soldier of Fortune," then something close to a day dream of whatever may still come in life. Another for sure "Moonlight Shadow" for its election in a music lesson as "favourite song" by the majority of the class. And yet another to mention is "Vienna Calling," then unknown anticipation of what would follow in life, leaving for the big city. Just a fine tune played on a cassette recorder at a garden party on the occasion of a birthday (and the only song I missed in a Falco musical some 20 years later). Of course, the motto of the graduation parties had been "Come with us and waste your time." Later, "Oceans apart day after day and I slowly go insane!" took the words right out of my mouth. Lyrics of the ultimate long-distance relationship-hymn "Right Here Waiting." And there had been plenty of other songs, but they wouldn't come back right now any more. Here is yet another piece before I close: "Let me take you far away, you'd like a holiday." It reminds me of travelling, going away, while still holding the Iron City in high esteem. In the meantime we are far away from those days and life for sure ain't no holiday always, sometimes not even during vacation time. But motivation is all, a goal, a smile, especially coming up when occasionally listening to these old, old songs. Nuff said (for now).

Austropop Classics (like us)

Overseas Translation. Many things I might have mentioned in one way or the other in another place of this website. Let me try now to put them into order, the same sequence I have listened to some of my favourite songs so often already. Made in Austria (like me), most of them I did originally compile for an ill friend to entertain him when he was driving down to Styria for a few weeks of rehabilitation. I remember playing the same songs on my way to Chicago, translating them to my Asian colleagues, trying to share the statements they make as well as some background and feelings that may come up, when listening to them.

Reunion at a Concert. These songs include "Jeder Tag zaehlt - Every day counts" by the Styrian Trio STS, describing the situation of a car accident which makes the driver think about the value of life. After a collision on the highway I had similar thoughts. As a colleague put it, "but if something like that happens, it is important that nobody gets hurt," which was luckily the case. "Most people live their life on a trial basis, as if they could repeat it all," as Danzer reflected in "Mein Leben (gehoert mir) - My Life (belongs to me)." In the end it is important to be ready any time, able to look back proudly with not too many things left to straighten out, when there is no more chance to. Some old friends though, it would be nice to see them one last time. I will always remember the sweet surprise (a word play) during a STS concert in the Vienna city hall, where I found a friend from school days again. Georg Danzer's "Wieder in Wien - In Vienna again" marked his return from the bigger German market to the Austrian homeland and dialect, nice to listen to when returning from travels on your own. Wolfgang Ambros is in search of an old friend in "Wo is da Peppe - Where is Pepe," a nickname for Joseph (or Jose). "Langer - long one" is typically addressing a tall guy in the same song.

Asylum Admission. Emergency "Lasst's mi aus (Steinhof, das Narrenhaus von Wien) - Let me out (Stone court, the madhouse of Vienna)" is the funny story of a guy going downstairs in his pyjamas to buy cigarettes, when a police patrol picks him up. By mistake, they believe he escaped from the open asylum with the infamous address "Am Steinhof - At the stone court." In the song "America," Falco admits that he misses the United States and says, he wouldn't be offended, if they would continue to buy his records. At one point he is imitating an American tourist ordering a Wiener Schnitzel at a hot dog stand and in return being served a sandwich with Polish sausage instead of the Viennese cutlet.

The title "New Double German Wave" is a mixture between the term "New German Wave" for the 1980's boom of pop music in local language and the "Doppeldeutsch (Double German) card deck" typical for "Bauernschnapsen (Farmer-Schnappsing?)", a card game supposedly played among farmers for a round of spirits.

Surprise in Cola Land. In "Kein Coke in Coke's Own Country - No Coke in Coke's Own Country" STS describes the shock of ordering the real stuff after arriving at JFK airport in New York City, only to find out they are out of Coke and offer Sprite instead. Disappointed, they question everything they heard of God's Own Country. Maybe the White House is black in reality, Clinton not as potent and Uncle Scrooge bankrupt. Danzer reactivates an old phrase for "anywhere" in his relaxed song "Von Scheibbs bis Nebraska - From Scheibbs to Nebraska" about a Lower Austrian policeman dreaming of being a respected Sheriff in the US. Ostbahn Kurti (East Railroad Curt) does a very original cover version of Bruce Springsteen's "Feuer - Fire" about a boy and a girl literally burning for each other like Romeo and Juliet, when he drives her home. Gert Steinbaecker, a third of STS, remembers touring Eastern Germany before the fall of the wall, when people could only dream to be free to travel the world "Einmal im Leben - Once in the life." STS' "Wohin die Reise - Where to the trip" denounces the unhappiness of those having everything. There are lots of brand-new cars with unhappy faces in them. Everything just becomes more and faster. On TV, commercials are the main program, the only friend alone at home. At night, the father usually surfs the Internet, instead of talking to his children. Complaining is all we can do! Just where will this all lead to?

Final Sunrise. "Girl, hold me tight and hold me warm, hold me deeply hidden in your arms" - is the beginning of Danzer's "Lass mich einmal noch die Sonne aufgehen sehen - Let me just see the sunrise one more time." He admits having made many mistakes, having cried too much instead of laughing. Christina Stuermer cries out "Ich lebe - I live" for he is her breath, her water when she is thirsty, her second I. Peter Cornelius compares himself with a ball in "Flipper - Pinball machine," getting always rolled - dialect for being made fun of - and going in circles, in the end falling into a dark hole. Ambros' "Heidenspass - Huge fun (pagan fun, in direct translation)" is another play with words when he says, he feels like Jesus for his back hurts so much (in German also called cross). Danzer brings back reality with "Stau auf der Tangente - Traffic jam on the tangent" (the Vienna city highway I would take every day to work). Remembering that girl hitchhiking on the traffic circle in the 10th district, longing for her years later, still thinking of the small crack in her jeans above the left knee, while telling his wife about the usual traffic jam on the tangent highway only.

Taxi Crossing. Rainhard Fendrich reflects "Weihnachten daheim - Chirstmas at home." When even a taxi driver lets him cross the road, he knows it is the season of advent. Disillusioned, he describes those flying away for vacation in the warmer south, others buying a lot, exchanging tons of presents and then watching TV for the rest of Christmas Eve. Only the kids still wait for a star. "Man is being replaced by a metal box" in Ambros' "Schaffnerlos - Conductor-less" is actually about the installation of ticket machines in streetcars in the 1970's, prior further automation using computers. When you punch the ticket no one says "Thank you" or "Please proceed forward." "Stada del Sole - Street of the Sun" had been Fendrich's first hit in the early 1980's. The story of vacation in Italy, with a charming Italian "bello ragazzo" (pretty boy) on the beach pinching his girlfriend, while pick pockets rid him of his money and papers.

Tomorrow's Resolution. The comedy-combo Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung or First General Uninsurance composed the hymn "Morgen - Tomorrow," echoing a husband's false promise to start a new life tomorrow, while ending up coming home drunk every night. Until the wife promises to search for a new partner - starting tomorrow. Fendrich's "Maennersache - Men's domain" addresses that men are expected to keep silent, not show their despair they feel without her, even if they secretly weep into their pillow at night. It is time to go to my pillow now...

Revisiting Austropop classics, "All the time in the World" is a live record from a Fendrich concert tour that is stuck in my mind. It marked more or less the beginning of my interest in collecting Austrian pop music. The lyrics approximately translate as following: "We all have kept well and we are still the same, is what we tell. But each white hair reveals the truth there."

More Austropop Classics (much more)

School's Out Open Air. Catching up with my Greatest Hits described earlier, it just felt like the right time for another potpourri of music notes, key text lines and thoughts. A mixture, a goulash or compote of Austropop songs that had crossed my path and stuck, for whatever reason. My first pop concert was probably a school end open air in my hometown's soccer stadium. The one named after its linden tree, which had to be cut down later. Where we had cheered "Hier regiert der SCE - Here rules the SCE!" Then it was closed as the soccer club went bankrupt and the tribune would fall into disrepair. However, Fendrich released a live album after the same tour, Satchmo-eske titled "Alle Zeit der Welt - All the time in the world," where he would admit: "We have all kept very well and believe we are still the same. Every white hair tells me, it is not true!" The project "Austria for Africa" assembled most local pop singers, contributing to the 1985 Band Aid charity event to help fight hunger in Ethiopia with the hit record "Warum, fragt sich die ganze Welt - The whole world is asking: Why?" A few years later, I went to an Ethiopian restaurant in Washington D.C., and I didn't feel comfortable, rather like eating up their last food. For "Alt und jung - Old and young" Ambros managed to assemble Danzer, Steinbaecker and East Railroad Curt, who had all been around the local music business for ages. The song contains the wise statement: "Glaub' nicht dass Du 'was besonderes bist, dann wirst 'was besonderes sein - Don't believe that you are special, then you will be truly special!" As a very funny Spanish lesson I would regard Danzer's "Strandbrunzer Tango - Beach-Pisser Tango," climaxing in the explanation "Yo soy de Austria!" STS' Greek vacation must have been outstanding, if it lead them to compose "Irgendwann bleib i dann dort - Someday I'll just stay there," a motivation to try something new somewhere else.

Big Things. "Die Rosen - The Roses" he planted back then reminded Fendrich of his deep sorrow about the death of his infant daughter, whose time to go hadn't come yet. "Nur a klana Bua im Winter - Just a little boy in winter" is one of the most personal songs Georg Danzer left as part of his musical heritage. How often have we said "Is schon gut Mama - It's alright Mom" ourselves, here the story of a teenager seeing a motorcycle accident and deciding never to risk his life unnecessarily on two wheels. And which boy didn't dream of achieving "Grosse Dinge - Big Things," like saving a princess or just slapping the neighbour kid?

Grandfather's Pint. STS' hymn "Grossvater - Grandfather" is on my mind for comforting a friend after the death of his own grandfather. At another occasion, we had sung it along in a disco, where they actually played such songs back then. A biting protest song confronts supporters of the death penalty, as a son asks his mother to be happy for soon there will be "Ein Verbrecher weniger auf der Welt - A criminal less on earth." And so he wears a shirt without a collar, why is obvious. Synonymous for life elixir, there is "Ein Gulasch und ein Seidl Bier - A goulash and a small beer." A bread with lard ("Schmalzbrot") and a glass of wine can be the last rescue just. Some say, two large beers (here called "Kruegel") replace a full meal, which is why people would go out and order three beers - for you also have to have a beer with your meal, don't you?

Greetings, Mrs Compote. Hansi Lang's "Fraeulein Josefine - Miss Josephine," short Finni, is one of these girls almost making a man lose his mind, although others don't know how she can kiss, how she can lie. Do you know that feeling "Zwischen 1 und 4 - Between 1 and 4 AM," in the hand a glass of wine (maybe just one for the road, called "Fluchachtel - getaway eighth"), it won't be the last for tonight... It was pitch dark when a friend and I were cross-cutting through the park, in the so called Sigh-Alley singing "I steh auf a Alte - I am fond of that ol' girl." An early Ambros song about attempts to turn a girl, while accidentally drawing the affections of a dubious Opera singer. My uncle used to sing the fairly unknown "Gruess Gott, Frau Kompott - Hello Ms Compote (that was for the hair, that's clear)" along, about spilling food while serving, prepared for nothing in the end, as many other initiatives. Finally, you don't even give a whistle on it (as we say in German instead of swearing).

"I dreamed of white horses, wild white horses on a beach..." is the beginning of a Danzer song with Mediterranean influence and Spanish rhythm. Friends used to sit in a beer garden or a wine tavern and play cards, while listening to songs like Ambros' "Long Live the Central Cemetery."

No-No at Wine Taverns. Hearing someone say "Geh Alter, hearst, des kannst doch net mach'n - Come on buddy, listen, you just can't do that" may make you aware of one of those no-no's: How dare you drink Coke at a Heuriger-Wine Tavern? The old Danzer song "Leo Langbein - Leo Long-leg" will forever remind me of a friend of same name. Even if it is about a dancer, a ladies' man, who gets into deep trouble and "falls on his face." Qualities we never had, but imagination is all, isn't it? "Fuer immer jung - Forever Young" marked the climax of Ambros' Dylan translations, this time performed as a duet with action artist Andre Heller. Anyway, if you want it, if you really, really want it, you'll stay forever young! Ambros and Fendrich followed in the footsteps of Moser and Hoerbiger (the dynamic duo of Austrian post war movies), when they performed the Heurigen-song "s'Naserl - the Nosey" and laughed: My nose is so red for I'm so blue (in German meaning tipsy). "Pass auf auf Dich - Take care of yourself" is a song Danzer dedicated to Ambros on the occasion of another stage anniversary, his buddy from the early days of Austropop. "Schlafengeh'n - Going to sleep" is a song by Fendrich about one of those nights, when he couldn't think of a song. Quite ironic, as was the comment of an anti-Austropop mother, suggesting that he should have better gone to bed!

As for Music, there is more on Austria 3.