Singer cleared

Press, 19 April 1986, Page 10

Singer cleared

NZPA-Reuter Bonn The Austrian pop singer, Falco, whose hit single, “Amadeus", is riding high in the United States and British charts, scored a victory over censorship yesterday when West Germany refused to ban his controversial song, “Jeanny”.

The Federal Office for the Examination of Youth-Endangering Writings dismissed a charge that the song was a barely disguised depiction of the abduction, rape, and killing of a teen-age girl. The complaint against “Jeanny” was lodged by the Youth Office of the town of Friesing, one of several socially-engaged agencies that took instant exception to its suggestive lyrics when the record was released a few months ago.

"Jeanny” reached the West German Top Ten before radio stations dropped it from play lists because of complaints. A West German spokeswoman said the script and the accompanying video film, which shows Falco lurking under a bridge at night and wearing a raincoat, were too ambiguous to be labelled an incitement to rape. The lyrics say in part: “Come, let’s go. It’s cold here outside in the woods. Where’s your shoe? You’ve lost it as if you were leaving a trail. Noone knows we are together. No-one will find you. You are with me.” It ends with a newsreader announcing matter-of-factly that a teen-age girl is missing and that the police suspect foul play.