The LP Lindenberg (also 1971, and sung in English, already with Steffi Stephan on bass) was likewise unsuccessful. In the following year, the fist LP in German was released: Daumen im Wind (produced by Lindenberg and Thomas Kukuck, who also produced the next five albums together), from which the single "Hoch im Norden" became a radio hit in northern Germany. The year 1973 brought a breakthrough with the album Andrea Doria and its catchy "Alles klar auf der Andrea Doria" and "Cello". Over 100,000 copies sold, and Lindenberg quickly received the largest record deal of any German-language musician up to that time. Lindenberg was earning a special place in the new German-language music of the 70s: Between internationally-oriented Krautrock and pop music, he found his niche. German-language rock had previously been confined to predominantly political message bands whose music was directed at a narrow audience.
Lindenbergs brash style, everyday subject matter ("Bei Onkel Pö…") and his feel for language were an unprecedented combination in German-language music. His pioneering work helped other artists such as Stefan Waggershausen and Marius Müller-Westernhagen get record deals of their own. In 1973 Lindenberg first went on tour with his Panikorchester (Panic Orchestra).
1976 was one of Udo Lindenberg's most productive years. Besides the LP Galaxo Gang he also published under the name Das Waldemar Wunderbar Syndicat I make you feel good, a first Best of Panik Udo and the first in a series of foreign-language publications No Panic, on which Lindenberg translated his songs to English. In the same year (and on another LP: Sister King Kong) with the song "Rock ’n’ Roll Arena in Jena", Lindenberg first mentioned a Panic Orchestra tour in the GDR. In 1976, Lindenberg discovered Ulla Meinecke and produced her first two albums. She was a guest artist and co-author of the 1977 LP Panische Nächte (Panic Nights) and the 1978 Dröhnland Symphonie. On Lindenbergs Rock Revue (1978) Lindenberg and Horst Königstein "Germanized" rock classics from Little Richard to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and went on a big tour. The Nr.-1-Hit "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was also published with German lyrics.
The subsequent Dröhnland-Symphonie-Tour was staged by Peter Zadek as a big multimedia stage show with a plethora of costumed extras. The result was Lindenbergs first live album Livehaftig. In 1979, Der Detektiv was the second Rock Revue, in which more international hits such as "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "My Little Town" and "As Time Goes By" (from the film Casablanca) were "Germanized". Also 1997 was published "Belcanto - Udo Lindenberg & das Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg" which included hits like "Horizont", "Bis ans Ende der Welt" along with a song by Bertold Brecht and Udo's own interpretation of The Windmills of Your Mind - "Under the drunkard moon" ("Unterm Säufermond").
One of his most famous songs is Sonderzug nach Pankow (Special train service to Pankow), an adaptation of Chattanooga Choo Choo, released as a single on 2 February 1983. It originated from the refusal of eastern German authorities to allow Lindenberg a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
On June 3, 2011, Lindenberg performed at Kampnagel unplugged. The recording was later released as an album within the MTV unplugged series. Lindenberg was the 8th German artist in that series. The album became the second No.1 album for Lindenberg declared Platin status for 200,000 sold units after two weeks. The second single from the album "Cello" (feat. Clueso) went No.4 giving Lindenberg the highest chart position in German singles charts ever reached.
Lindenberg has worked collaboratively with various local and international recording artists (Eric Burdon, Helen Schneider, David Bowie, Tom Robinson, Keith Forsey, Gianna Nannini, and Nena) on a number of projects. He currently lives in Hamburg in the Hotel Atlantic (for several years now). His somewhat hoarse voice is the result of too much liquor and cigarettes. In 1989, he survived a heart attack. In 2010, he designed two stamps, themed on his songs "Andrea Doria" and "Sonderzug nach Pankow", for the Deutsche Post.
Americans In Europe
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und auch aus Miami
sie kommen mit Geigerzähler
denn man weiß ja nie
sie kommen mit Pan Am
oder mit B-52's
und dann erst mal aufs Oktoberfest
fuck the Terroristen-Blues
Americans in Europe
Have a coffee with Ghaddafi
or a gin in Berlin
London und Paris
und das Schloß Neutranschwein
und warum ist es überhaupt
am Rhein so fine?
Von Cäsar bis nach Cäsium
das very alte Rom
der schiefe Turm von Pisa
und der Kölner Kondom
Americans in Europe
Have a coffee with Ghaddafi
or a gin in Berlin
have a ball at the wall
Ihr seid 'n echter Hammer
ihr seid 'n echter Hit
nur nehmt jetzt die Raketen doch
einfach wieder mit, hm?
The song "Americans in Europe" by Udo Lindenberg talks about the American tourists visiting Europe, specifically Germany. The song points out how the Americans, with their Geiger counters, and B-52s, travel to European cities like Berlin, London, Paris, and even to the Oktoberfest in Munich. The song also touches on how the Americans often casually interact with political figures like Ghaddafi, while also enjoying the historical and cultural sites like Schloss Neutranschwein, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Cologne Cathedral.
The song appears to criticize the Americans for their nonchalant attitudes towards the serious global issues they are implicated in (i.e the terrorist threat). The song's chorus repeats lines about coffee with Gaddafi, gin in Berlin, and having a ball at the wall. The lyrics of the song imply that the Americans are not taking the situation seriously and only thinking about themselves, oblivious to the damage caused by the global issues they are implicated in.
Overall, "Americans in Europe" is a song that sheds light on the notion of what it means to be an American tourist in Europe today. The song challenges its listeners to take into account the broader implications of their travels.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie kommen aus New York
They come from New York
und auch aus Miami
and also from Miami
sie kommen mit Geigerzähler
they come with Geiger counters
denn man weiß ja nie
because one never knows
sie kommen mit Pan Am
they come with Pan Am
oder mit B-52's
or with B-52's
und dann erst mal aufs Oktoberfest
and then first to Oktoberfest
fuck the Terroristen-Blues
fuck the terrorists blues
London und Paris
London and Paris
und das Schloß Neutranschwein
and the castle Neutranschwein
und warum ist es überhaupt
and why is it in general
am Rhein so fine?
at the Rhein so fine?
Von Cäsar bis nach Cäsium
from Caesar to caesium
das very alte Rom
the very old Rome
der schiefe Turm von Pisa
the leaning tower of Pisa
und der Kölner Kondom
and the Cologne condom
Ihr seid 'n echter Hammer
You are a real hammer
ihr seid 'n echter Hit
you are a real hit
nur nehmt jetzt die Raketen doch
just take the rockets with you now
einfach wieder mit, hm?
simply take them with you again, okay?
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.