Jeanny
Encyclopedia
Jeanny is a song by the Austrian musician Falco
, recorded in 1985 for Falco's album Falco 3
. It was the third song released as a single out of the album in 1986. Controversial due to its lyrics, it nonetheless became a number one hit in numerous European countries.
In 2008 the song re-entered the Austrian Single Charts.
At the time, when it reached number one, critics said that the song glorifies rape
. German TV and radio personality Thomas Gottschalk
made various negative remarks and called the song "rubbish". An outcry in German language
markets caused the song to be banned by some radio broadcasters or played with a preceding warning by others. Typically, the scandal only helped to increase the sales of the single.
The song is sung in a slightly unhinged voice, but the lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Falco argued that it is about the musings of a stalker
.
The part of the Newsflash in the track is spoken by a German newsreader; The newsflash has obvious parallels to the case in the song, but doesn't explicitly mention the girl's name.
Even the back of the first text-Jeanny Part-I singles contained in addition to a comparison with "A bed in the corn field" and the controversy also occurred there a clear statement that Jeanny should be a trilogy.
agreed and didn't play the song "for ethical reasons", while others just played it on their charts shows. In East Germany the song was not on air and playing it in dance clubs was prohibited.
There were also demands to prohibit the song in West Germany, but officials denied the application in April 1986. This angered Dieter Kronzucker
, the news anchorman of the Western German public TV station (whose two teenage daughters had been kidnapped along with their cousin and were held captive during several weeks before being released), and he talked about it in the daily news TV show Heute Journal
. Following this, further radio stations followed the boycott. In the German federal state of Hessen the song was aired accompanied by a warning. In the popular music show Formel Eins cutscenes were aired, as long as the song topped the charts.
and Sweden
. Against expectations, in Austria, Falco reached 4th place in the charts. Musically, the song is more towards ballads and pop music. On the flip side of the single the song Crime Time is found, which is also from the album emotional.
The album "The Spirit Never Dies" was released posthumously in 2009 being a compilation of unpublished songs. The title track "The Spirit Never Dies (Jeanny Final)" was also released as a single and it scored in the top ten in Austria and Germany. The track was found by chance after a water-pipe burst in the archives of the recording studio Mörfelden-Walldorf that was used by Falco's producer Gunther Mende in 1987. Closing the archive the tapes were sent to Mende who had a look at the material which had originally been rejected by Falco's record company Teldec - this was explained by Horst Bork in an interview mentioning that Falco had tried to use a different style of music at the time that the company did not want to support. After digital remastering of the tape the song was edited and published as the official third part of the Jeanny trilogy.
The melancholic song is fully melodic without any spoken word
poetry that had been characteristic for Falco's earlier songs. The video assembles cut scenes from all the earlier of Falco's music videos along with showing Falco's last girl friend Caroline Perron portraying the female voice at the end.
In 1990 the album "Data de Groove" was published that contains a song "Bar Minor 7/11 (Jeanny Dry)". The song uses the setting of a bar with Falco talking to a bar tender but one can only hear Falco's verses not the response from her. A background singer repeats "Give it up!" and the song ends with the text "Tell me, who told you your name was Jeanny? ... That, well, that must have been the boss of my record company then." Except for chart positions in Austria the album was unsuccessful and the Jeanny-themed song was not noticed widely.
Posthumously an internet company offered a song named "Where Are You Now? (Jeanny Part III)" for download in 2000. The company officials said that the tape with the song was sent to them anonymously and as it was unauthorized the download page had to be taken offline shortly later. The music is taken from a period in 1988 when Falco returned to work with Bolland & Bolland
. Soon the theory sprang up that it was a demo tape mixed by Bolland from other studio material with a text from them proposed to Falco however the song idea was dismissed for inclusion on the next album. This explanation was proposed early by Falco's fellow musicians Richard Pettauer and Thomas Rabitsch and it was later confirmed by Bolland and Bolland in a TV show on 5. February 2007.
Given the three possible successors to Part 1 and Part 2 the timeline can be given in different dimensions:
Depending on the enumeration each version may be pointed out as the third part in the series of five songs related to the "Jeanny trilogy".
Falco (musician)
Johann Hölzel , better known by his stage name Falco, was an Austrian pop and rock musician and rapper. He had several international hits: "Der Kommissar", "Rock Me Amadeus", "Vienna Calling", "Jeanny", "The Sound of Musik", "Coming Home " and posthumously, "Out Of The Dark"...
, recorded in 1985 for Falco's album Falco 3
Falco 3
Falco 3 is the third album by Falco, released in 1985.In the U.S. it peaked at number 3 in the Billboard 200 albums charts and at #18 in their Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts....
. It was the third song released as a single out of the album in 1986. Controversial due to its lyrics, it nonetheless became a number one hit in numerous European countries.
In 2008 the song re-entered the Austrian Single Charts.
Lyrics
The song is about a relationship between a man and a girl named Jeanny.At the time, when it reached number one, critics said that the song glorifies rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. German TV and radio personality Thomas Gottschalk
Thomas Gottschalk
Thomas Johannes Gottschalk is a German TV host. He is best-known for hosting the popular show Wetten, dass..?, which he has led to a huge success in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol.-Early life:...
made various negative remarks and called the song "rubbish". An outcry in German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
markets caused the song to be banned by some radio broadcasters or played with a preceding warning by others. Typically, the scandal only helped to increase the sales of the single.
The song is sung in a slightly unhinged voice, but the lyrics don't actually contain any direct reference to the act of rape or abduction. It is left to the listener's imagination. Falco argued that it is about the musings of a stalker
Stalking
Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
.
The part of the Newsflash in the track is spoken by a German newsreader; The newsflash has obvious parallels to the case in the song, but doesn't explicitly mention the girl's name.
Even the back of the first text-Jeanny Part-I singles contained in addition to a comparison with "A bed in the corn field" and the controversy also occurred there a clear statement that Jeanny should be a trilogy.
Boycott
Several feminist associations called for a boycott of the song. Some TV and radio stations in West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
agreed and didn't play the song "for ethical reasons", while others just played it on their charts shows. In East Germany the song was not on air and playing it in dance clubs was prohibited.
There were also demands to prohibit the song in West Germany, but officials denied the application in April 1986. This angered Dieter Kronzucker
Dieter Kronzucker
Dieter Kronzucker is a German journalist and television presenter.- Life :Kronzucker studied at University of Vienna. He works as journalist and television presenter in Germany. His daughter Susanne Kronzucker works also as journalist. From 2001 to 2007 Kronzucker worked as professor at University...
, the news anchorman of the Western German public TV station (whose two teenage daughters had been kidnapped along with their cousin and were held captive during several weeks before being released), and he talked about it in the daily news TV show Heute Journal
Heute Journal
Heute Journal is a television news magazine of ZDF, a national German television network. The name means roughly Today's Journal.The Journal first aired 2 January 1978 as a late weekday evening 20 minute program at one time Monday through Thursday and another on Friday. The broadcast time became...
. Following this, further radio stations followed the boycott. In the German federal state of Hessen the song was aired accompanied by a warning. In the popular music show Formel Eins cutscenes were aired, as long as the song topped the charts.
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 1 |
| Germany | 1 |
| The Netherlands Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, One Year Later)
In 1986, Falco published the single Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, One Year Later) on his album Emotional, in which the possible point of view is strongly relativized. The song was also coupled out and reached the top of the charts in several countries, including for example, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Against expectations, in Austria, Falco reached 4th place in the charts. Musically, the song is more towards ballads and pop music. On the flip side of the single the song Crime Time is found, which is also from the album emotional.
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 4 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Norway | 4 |
| Sweden | 1 |
| Switzerland | 3 |
The Spirit Never Dies (Jeanny Final)
Although marketed as the third part of the Jeanny Trilogy there is no evidence that this song was ever to be planned as the final part. It seems that Horst Bork (Falco's Ex-Manager) had the idea to sell this song, which was originally recorded in 1988 for the "Wiener Blut" Album. There is no hint in the lyrics that this should have anything to do with the Jeanny Saga and therefore the Titel "Jeanny Final" can be considered a clever marketing gag.The album "The Spirit Never Dies" was released posthumously in 2009 being a compilation of unpublished songs. The title track "The Spirit Never Dies (Jeanny Final)" was also released as a single and it scored in the top ten in Austria and Germany. The track was found by chance after a water-pipe burst in the archives of the recording studio Mörfelden-Walldorf that was used by Falco's producer Gunther Mende in 1987. Closing the archive the tapes were sent to Mende who had a look at the material which had originally been rejected by Falco's record company Teldec - this was explained by Horst Bork in an interview mentioning that Falco had tried to use a different style of music at the time that the company did not want to support. After digital remastering of the tape the song was edited and published as the official third part of the Jeanny trilogy.
The melancholic song is fully melodic without any spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
poetry that had been characteristic for Falco's earlier songs. The video assembles cut scenes from all the earlier of Falco's music videos along with showing Falco's last girl friend Caroline Perron portraying the female voice at the end.
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria | 1 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Switzerland | 33 |
Other Trilogy versions
Although the Jeanny theme was planned as a trilogy only "Jeanny" (Part 1) and "Coming Home" (Part 2) have been officially included in the series by Falco.In 1990 the album "Data de Groove" was published that contains a song "Bar Minor 7/11 (Jeanny Dry)". The song uses the setting of a bar with Falco talking to a bar tender but one can only hear Falco's verses not the response from her. A background singer repeats "Give it up!" and the song ends with the text "Tell me, who told you your name was Jeanny? ... That, well, that must have been the boss of my record company then." Except for chart positions in Austria the album was unsuccessful and the Jeanny-themed song was not noticed widely.
Posthumously an internet company offered a song named "Where Are You Now? (Jeanny Part III)" for download in 2000. The company officials said that the tape with the song was sent to them anonymously and as it was unauthorized the download page had to be taken offline shortly later. The music is taken from a period in 1988 when Falco returned to work with Bolland & Bolland
Bolland & Bolland
Bolland & Bolland are two Dutch music producers – the brothers Rob and Ferdi Bolland ....
. Soon the theory sprang up that it was a demo tape mixed by Bolland from other studio material with a text from them proposed to Falco however the song idea was dismissed for inclusion on the next album. This explanation was proposed early by Falco's fellow musicians Richard Pettauer and Thomas Rabitsch and it was later confirmed by Bolland and Bolland in a TV show on 5. February 2007.
Given the three possible successors to Part 1 and Part 2 the timeline can be given in different dimensions:
- enumeration by recording year
- 1. Jeanny (1985) 2. Coming Home (1986) 3. Where Are You Now (1985/1986) 4. The Spirit Never Dies (1987) 5. Bar Minor 7/11 (1990)
- enumeration by production year
- 1. Jeanny (1985) 2. Coming Home (1986) 3. The Spirit Never Dies (1987+2009) 4. Where Are You Now (1988) 5. Bar Minor 7/11 (1990)
- enumeration by publication
- 1. Jeanny (1985) 2. Coming Home (1986) 3. Bar Minor 7/11 (1990) 4. Where Are You Now (2000+2007) 5. The Spirit Never Dies (2009)
Depending on the enumeration each version may be pointed out as the third part in the series of five songs related to the "Jeanny trilogy".
Other Cover versions
- 1986: Jeannie Part 13 (Jennys Rache) - Drahdiwaberl
- 1986: Jeannie (Die reine Wahrheit) - Frank Zander
- 1986: Freedom (Jeanny, Die Antwort) - Jeannie
- 1987: Where Are You Now ? (Jeanny Part 3) - Mix with Falco's voice
- 1996: ...und wer fragt nach Jeanny? (Jeanny Part 4) - Peter Orloff
- 1996: Jeanny - Ich TrojeIch TrojeIch Troje is a Polish pop band.Former members are Magdalena Pokora , Justyna Majkowska , Elli Mücke and Ania Wisniewska ....
- 1999: Jeanny - StahlhammerStahlhammerStahlhammer is a Neue Deutsche Härte band from Austria that formed in 1992. They incorporate elements from hardcore, groove metal, industrial metal and symphonic metal into their songs. The band has to this date produced six albums, where the majority of songs are in German...
(on the album Feind Hört MitFeind Hört MitFeind Hört Mit is an album by Austrian heavy metal band Stahlhammer. It was released on April 27, 1999. The album's text is largely written in a font of Cyrillic letters, though the words are German...
) - 2001: Jeanny - ReamonnReamonnReamonn is a German rock and pop band. They have recorded six albums.-History:In 1997, Rea Garvey left his band The Reckless Pedestrians and home town of Tralee, Ireland to go to Germany with not a lot of money and a demo CD in his pocket...
and Xavier NaidooXavier NaidooXavier Kurt Naidoo is a German singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actor. Born and raised in Mannheim, Naidoo worked in several jobs in the gastronomy and the musical industry before relocating to the United States in the early 1990s, where he released his first full-length English... - 2001: Jeanny (Part 1) - Sara NoxxSara NoxxSara Noxx is a German musician and artist. She is one of the award winners of the 1997 Zillo band contest.Her single "Stupid" reached #2 on Belgium's sales charts.In 2001, after a three year break, Exxtasy was released....
- 2004: Jeanny - MandarynaMandarynaMarta Katarzyna Wiktoria Wiśniewska a.k.a. Mandaryna, born in Łódź 12 March 1978 as Marta Mandrykiewicz is a Polish singer, dancer and actress.- Career :...
- 2005: An Tagen wie diesen by Fettes BrotFettes BrotFettes Brot is a German hip hop group founded in 1992.Fettes Brot is German for fat bread. "Fett" is a German slang term for "excellent" and brot is slang for "hash". The band took the name from a fan who called them "Fettes Brot" after an early gig, which was probably meant as a compliment, but...
and Finkenauer covers the melody of Jeanny - 2010: HurtsHurtsHurts are a British synthpop duo formed in 2009, consisting of singer Theo Hutchcraft and synthesist Adam Anderson . Their debut album Happiness, which was released in September 2010, has reached the Top 10 in 12 European countries, and has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide...
feat. Falco on the 25th anniversary edition of "Falco 3 - 2011: The HungarianHungarianHungarian may refer to:* Hungary, a country in Central Europe* Kingdom of Hungary, state of Hungary, existing from 1000 to 1946* Hungarian people, the ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary...
rap band the Children of Distance and hungarian singer Oláh Ibolya use the sample of the song for their latest single, "Még utoljára".
Trivia
- In Part-I the Jeanny character is portrayed by the 15-year old Theresa Guggenberger, a student from the dance school associated to the Theatre an der Wien. She was selected from a formal job casting prior to the video shoot. Despite the public outcry she never felt anything suspicious about her appearance and she played the role again in Part-II.
- The video of Part-I has a number of references to crime scenes both real and fictional. The "news break" part points to Jack UnterwegerJack UnterwegerJohann "Jack" Unterweger was an Austrian serial killer who murdered prostitutes in several countries. First convicted of a 1974 murder, he was released in 1990 due in part to a campaign by intellectuals and politicians, who regarded Unterweger as an example of rehabilitation...
who was still in jail at the time. The "F" on Falco's trenchcoat refers to to M (1931 film)M (1931 film)M is a 1931 German drama-thriller directed by Fritz Lang and written by Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou. It was Lang's first sound film, although he had directed more than a dozen films previously....
where a blind man marks the murderer with a chalk sign in the same way. The location in the underground canal is the same as for The Third ManThe Third ManThe Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, and Trevor Howard. Many critics rank it as a masterpiece, particularly remembered for its atmospheric cinematography, performances, and unique musical score...
. - The main location in the video of Part-I is the Opernpassage in Vienna. The main location in the video of Part-II is the Gasometer in ViennaGasometer, ViennaThe Gasometers in Vienna are four former gas tanks, each of 90,000 m³ storage capacity, built as part of the Vienna municipal gas works Gaswerk Simmering in 1896–1899. They are located in the 11th district, Simmering. They were used from 1899 to 1984 as gas storage tanks...
.