Rock me Amadeus...

Falco was a pop, rock and hip hop rapper and music artiste hailing from Austria. His songs were mostly in German mixed with English lyrics. I was barely 7 years when my brother will blast his tracks non-stop, in particular these two epic tracks :

1) Rock Me Amadeus

This stunning track rocked my world as a young kid and over 20 years on, it still rock my senses like no other song can. Recorded in German laced with english verses and about the classic composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this was a very successful single that top the charts in UK, USA and most parts of Europe in 1986. Absolutely singalong, though i don't understand a single word of German but each time when the chorus hits, it just brings me home. With a brilliant MTV featuring the charismatic and flamboyant Falco in different shades of dressing-up as Mozart, it is just a joy to watch. Larger than life, this is music and showmanship as its absolute best.

2) Jeanny

This second major hit by Falco is a very fine ballad. Featuring spoken lyrics in German, Falco's voice breaks out emotionally with stunning choruses sung in English. 3/4 way into the song, a newscaster spoken speech with a police siren adds an intelligent touch to a perfect song. This single was controversial at its point of release as it was said to be written from the point of a rapist or murderer. Because i don't understand German, i have always interpreted this song as a guy mourning over a lost love or death. The beauty of music is such you don't need to know a single word in a song and yet it touches a chord in your heart. It is about that connectedness between you and the song. The MTV is also brilliant and classy.

Falco had other hits such as 'Vienna Calling' and 'Der Kommissar'. Tragically, he died in a car accident in 1998 at the age of 40 and was due for a music comeback.

If i am only given a limited choice of songs to bring me to the after-life, these two songs will undoubtedly be in my list. In any case, they are already deeply entrenched in my heart.

'Jeanny, quit living on dreams
Jeanny, life is not what it seems
Such a lonely little girl in a cold cold world
There's someone who needs you...'

R.I.P Falco

Blind But He Sees Everything...

I discovered The Jeff Healey Band somewhere in the mid 90s while i was attending college. At first look at their album cover "See The Light", nothing seems special except for a band pose. Look closer and you see the frontman (Jeff Healey himself) holding his guitar on his lap. Me and my music peers then later discovered he was actually blind and had his eyes removed due to cancer while he was only eight months old. Against all odds, he found his unique way of playing the guitar on his lap and developing his own guitar techniques. It was said that because he could use all his fingers on the fretboard, that way he could use his thumb to reach notes beyond that of normal guitarists. Take a look at one of his live performance here... simply remarkable and nothing short of respect.

I first heard Jeff Healey Band's 'Angel Eyes' and a solid cover version of The Beatles 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' before tracing back the band's catalogue. Jeff Healey's raw voice along with a bluesy touch and skill on on the guitar makes for a great listen.

Check out these tracks too - 'Lost In Your Eyes', 'I Need To Be Loved', 'I Tried' and another great remake of The Beatles 'Yer Blues'.

I only discovered in the week before while surfing through the internet that Jeff Healey had passed away in March this year, due to a recurrence of the cancer. He was only 41. Blind he may be all his life but i believe he sees only a world of good and beauty through the eyes of music. Maybe it is a blessing too he did not get to see all the ugly side of the world we lived in, the wars, killing, terrorism and all that shit going around these days.

At times, we only need to look at inspirational stories like these to get us through any difficult times. I do believe that a fervent love for music, perseverance and a spirit of not giving in and giving up propelled Jeff Healey to such musical excellence. We should all embrace such spirit likewise too...