Andreas Gabalier is an Austrian singer-songwriter whose blend of traditional Alpine folk and contemporary country-rock has led to immense regional success and an Arnold Schwarzenegger collaboration.
• Gabalier and his three siblings grew up in Graz, Austria. In addition to singing and writing songs, he plays the accordion.
• While studying law, Gabalier released his 2009 debut, Da komm’ ich her.
• Gabalier’s father and sister Elisabeth died from suicide within two years of one another. The tragedies inspired 2009’s “Amoi seg’ ma uns wieder,” translating to “one day we’ll meet again.”
• Andreas’ 2015 album Mountain Man topped the German charts. The LP includes “Hulapalu,” a Gabalier-penned yodeling song with more than 200 million streams.
• His traditional style extends to his performances. His legions of fans often show up to concerts in dirndls and lederhosen.
• As of 2021, six of the singer’s albums—including 2020’s A Volks-Rock'n'Roll Christmas—have reached No. 1 on the Austrian charts.
• The singer is a staunch supporter of traditional Austrian values, and some have labeled him nationalistic, chauvensitic, and homophobic. Some critics even claim there are hidden right-wing messages in his lyrics and album artwork.
• In 2019, Gabalier released a motivational collaboration with another famous Austrian, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Performed in English, “Pump It Up (The Motivation Song)” features various popular catchphrases from the movie star’s career.