Music publisher Thomas Meisel wasn’t too enthusiastic when Frank Farian introduced his works to him in the 1970s. The cleaner caused the tipping point.
Frank Farian publishes his songs
The year is 1975. At the beginning of the 1970s, the majority of the current artists of the German success scene were under contract, and a young singer Frank Farian knocked on the door. He works in the office of Hansa Musikverlag President Thomas Mizell and plays him several songs that he would like to publish with his publisher.
However, the compositions did not cause a storm of enthusiasm from the head of the publishing house. Despair permeates Frank Farian. Yes, he still has that one song in his bags. It’s called “Rocky”.
The head of the publishing house also does not react enthusiastically to this proposal.
Cleaning lady tears
Just at that moment, the cleaning lady passes by, still calling her:
Please stay here for a moment!
The cleaning lady followed the order and Frank Farian released his song “Rocky” again.
What happened next – the head of the publishing house, Thomas Meisel, did not foresee. The cleaning lady bursts into tears. What’s the matter he wants to know, and she replies, “A wonderful song!”
After a short minute’s silence, publisher Thomas Maisel told Frank Farian, “We have to talk.” They talked and negotiated the contract. It is quickly signed and “Rocky” is pressed to vinyl.
“The Hygiene Test”
In the spring of 1976, “Rocky” climbed to #3 in the Swiss Hit Parade. In Germany, the song reached number one. She was a great success. And only thanks to the cleaning lady’s judgment. Without it, the publisher might have rejected the song.
In the successful world, the so-called “cleaning lady test” has gone down in history. Pop star Bernhard Brink revealed all of this in his autobiography. He, too, was present at the music publisher’s office on that fateful day.
Only what has been touched works
For SRF pop expert Roger De Winne, the story is also evidence of a very specific musical reality. Only what has been touched works. And the song “Rocky” is almost too touching. It is about the love of a young man, the creation of a family, and the tragic end of an unexpected happiness.
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