Top 10 Best Trackshittaz Songs
Trackshittaz were an Austrian music duo consisting of Lukas Plöchl and Manuel Hoffelner that formed in 2010 and disbanded in 2015. During that time, they released four studio albums and one compilation. Two of their albums (Oidaah pumpn muas's and Prolettn feian längaah) and two of their singles (Oida taunz! and Guuugarutz) topped the Austrian charts. Trackshittaz participated as the Austrian entry in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Woki mit deim Popo but finished in last place.Their music was a mix of club-oriented electronica and hip-hop, with lyrics typically revolving around partying and tame sexual content. They combined this with elements of Austrian culture and performed in the Mühlviertel dialect, which was unusual for this type of modern music. On their fourth album, #TS4, their topics became more varied, including critical commentary on consumerism and pop culture. They occasionally incorporated rock elements, such as electric guitars, and used Autotune in some tracks. In general, their tone was self-ironic and did not take itself too seriously. While the press often categorized them as hip-hop, neither the duo nor the German hip-hop scene agreed with this classification.
Not only their musical style but also their visual style was similar to that of the American "scene" subculture. They wore bright neon clothes, including fan shirts, chains, and caps, and one of them sported an emo-esque haircut. However, they were not directly inspired by the scene subculture, which was largely unknown in German-speaking Europe at the time. It is more likely that the short-lived Austrian Krocha movement, which was similar in visual style, was their main inspiration. This movement emerged from the growing popularity of techno subgenres like hardstyle or jumpstyle and German-language hip-hop.
The group's music received solid, often positive reviews in German-speaking territories. While critics agreed that their sound was trashy and simple, they also acknowledged that this was precisely what made it entertaining and effective as party music. The duo's proudly showcased weirdness, party attitude, and mindlessly simple melodies and lyrics were seen as more fun than other German-language pop stars who took themselves too seriously. Their decision to rap in a local dialect rather than neutral German was also praised. This was particularly notable in Germany, where they had minor success. In Austria, however, they became a pop-cultural phenomenon and received coverage in all kinds of magazines and newspapers, both serious and tabloid.
When their song Woki mit deim Popo gained international attention through its participation in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, the reception outside Austria was far harsher. Many viewers were embarrassed and described the song as terrible. Critics who translated the lyrics argued they were too sexual for Eurovision. The title translates to "wiggle your butt," but this was quite tame for German-speaking media, where daytime TV often features nudity and mild sexual content. Austrian parents were hardly shocked by Trackshittaz, as it takes much more than that to cause a stir. This was simply a case of cultural differences.
Finally, it is worth noting that Trackshittaz, alongside Conchita Wurst who is a respected and accomplished singer, represent a unique part of Austria's Generation Y. They spread positive vibes and showcased a lifestyle where individuality and "freakiness" were celebrated. They did not take themselves too seriously, even though the duo demonstrated sharp awareness in interviews and in their music. This is particularly evident on their final album, which includes songs criticizing the commercial nature of modern radio.
Trackshittaz represented a generation without strict boundaries in style, identity, or taste. Cliques were not defined by such things, and in Austria, a hip-hop fan, a sports enthusiast, and a goth could easily be best friends. Their music was not made for outcasts or a niche audience but was universally embraced by Austrian teens and even many adults. On that note, it is fair to say that more Austrian adults may have adapted to the younger generation's style, such as dyeing their hair pink or blue, than their American counterparts.
May I present to you: the Austrian Breathe Carolina.
"Dude, Dance!," as the title translates to, turned the Austrian music scene upside down overnight. Their debut single immediately became a number one hit.
If anybody asks you what the cultural differences between Austria and the US are, just tell them this:
This self-ironic autotuned electro-rap song about a man's aroused penis ("Guuugarutz" is Austrian German for "corncob," get the metaphor?) topped the Austrian charts and received positive reviews. This is also the closest Austria ever got to its own Brokencyde, and the nation absolutely loved it.
This song features Rainhard Fendrich giving a rendition of his legendary classic "Haben Sie Wien schon bei Nacht gesehen?" Fendrich is one of the, let's say, five most legendary and groundbreaking Austrian musicians of all time and is universally seen as one of the greatest.
Their 2012 Eurovision Song Contest entry. Really, this song won over Conchita Wurst in the national pre-selection, an astounding singer and drag queen who later won the ESC in 2014. Since then, she has become by far the biggest recent Austrian celebrity nationally (she was known before, but Trackshittaz were much more popular back then).
I like Trackshittaz, but this was the wrong decision. Since their American counterpart Brokencyde gets panned worldwide, it was predictable the Austrian version wouldn't do great abroad either.