A song produced by Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) has entered the Austrian single charts at number 20.
The composition titled Immer vorwärts FPÖ! (Always forward FPÖ!) is performed by musical group the John Otti Band, a four-man band that often plays at larger FPÖ events and includes vocals by FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl.
Yesterday, the song’s popularity – following a campaign by the right-wingers on social media – even forced state broadcaster ORF, traditionally a medial bastion of anti-FPÖ sentiment, to play it on its pop music station Ö3 as part of the charts show Austria Top 40.
“These are Austria’s official sales and streaming charts. All that counts is what was bought and streamed most in Austria last week. And this has never happened before in the charts in this form: A new song enters the charts which has been made for a political party,” show host Jana Petrik said of the decision to broadcast the single.
the state broadcaster, though, cut the FPÖ song short after 45 seconds, instead opting to ask political scientist Peter Filzmaier why the party had chosen to produce the song.
“You can appeal to people in a feel-good atmosphere where critical questions are not to be expected. This is what the FPÖ is doing right now. Other parties should really come up with something similar,” Filzmaier said.
The FPÖ did not react to kindly to the treatment of its song on state radio.
FPÖ General Secretary Christian Hafenecker said: “Instead of simply playing the song like all the others, it was cut off after a few seconds and the notorious ‘explainer’ Peter Filzmaier was given the floor.
“Apparently, Austrian patriotism is such a culture shock on Ö3 that they don’t dare to broadcast it without an acoustic package insert,” he added.
The new song celebrates the FPÖ with lyrics: “For justice and peace / We remain patriots / 1956 has begun your great time / You have always stood your ground / Even against superiority”) and its leader Kickl (“Always ready to govern / First the people, then the Chancellor / Herbert Kickl leads the way / With heart, emotion, and common sense”.
The ditty is not the first foray by an FPÖ leader into the musical genre.
Former FPÖ leader Heinz Christian Strache, who led the party from 2005 until 2019, also recorded a number of tunes, including several rap songs.
