Moving on from Berlin in Germany we find ourselves in Vienna the capital of Austria. It is known as the ‘City of Music’due to its musical legacy, as many famous classical musicians such as Beethoven and Mozart called Vienna home. Vienna is also said to be the “City of Dreams” because it was home to the world’s first psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud.
“Vienna” is a song from Billy Joel’s 1977 album The Stranger, released as the B-side to his “Just the Way You Are” single. Despite its initial release as a B-side, the song’s popularity has grown considerably in the decades after its release. As of 2022, it is one of Joel’s most-streamed songs on Spotify. Lyrically, Joel was inspired by visiting the city of Vienna and his father, who left the family when Joel was a child. Joel has stated that Vienna is a metaphor for old age, but also may have been subconsciously about his father.
“Vienna” is a song by English new wave band Ultravox from their 1980 fourth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album’s third single in January 1981 by Chrysalis Records and features Midge Ure singing the lead vocal. The song is regarded as a staple of the synth-pop genre that was popularised in the early 1980s. The song was also performed at the 1985 Live Aid concert in Wembley Stadium. The lyrics, which are about a brief love affair in the city of Vienna, were quickly written by Midge Ure. According to Currie, Ure was hesitant about the overly classical romantic feel of the orchestration, and said: “This means nothing to me”, to which the producer Conny Plank replied: “Well, sing that then.” It remains Ultravox’s signature song, being their most commercially successful release and is often performed live by Ure in solo performances.
“Vienna” is a song by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It is the 8th track from the album Beethoven’s Last Night that was released in 2000. The album is a rock opera. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwigvan Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul. The album features many classical crossover rock songs which are clearly based on melodies from classical music, particularly Beethoven’s works.
“Vienna” is the 9th track from The Fray’s 2005 debut album How to Save a Life. It deals with endings, goodbyes, and lost friends. This song is about the end of a relationship after the couple has tried everything they could to make it work, but in the end, couldn’t make it work out. Yet, the singer remains open: “Is there really no way to reach me, am I already gone?” It’s easy to see on which side of the relationship the problems may have lain on.
“Vienna Calling” is a song by Austrian musician Falco, released in September 1985 (and in 1986 in Anglophone markets) as the second single from his third studio album, Falco 3 (1985). The rapped German-language lyrics tells about Falco’s hometown of Vienna, its development and lifestyle. Falco enjoyed a limited international success with “Vienna Calling” in late 1985, following the worldwide hit of his previous single “Rock Me Amadeus”. In addition to reaching the top 10 in several European countries, it also made the top 20 in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.
“(It’s All Down to) Goodnight Vienna” is a song written by John Lennon, and released by Ringo Starr as the opening title track to his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna. A brief reprise (in which Ringo thanks the band and addresses the listener) closes the album. Released as the third single, this version is a medley combination of the two. The single was released in the US in June 1975. The title song features Lennon on opening count-in and piano, and Billy Preston on clavinet; and the reprise features Lennon’s intro, ‘OK, with gusto, boys, with gusto!’.
