On this day in 1986: Falco’s three week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart came to an end. The single became the only German language song to peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it hit #1 on March 29, 1986. It topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic. It was Falco’s only number one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom, despite the artist’s popularity in his native Austria and much of Europe. “Rock Me Amadeus” lost its #1 spot in the U.S. to “Kiss” by Prince which would spend 2 weeks at #1.

Originally recorded in German, the song is about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his popularity and his debts. The song was inspired by the movie “Amadeus.” For the US release, the song was remixed with an English background overlay. There was never a full English version.