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.
Benjamin
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
von morgens bis abends gut breit
dann hat er meine Mutter getroffen
'n Tag später war Hochzeit
und dann zogen sie mit ein paar Kisten Bier
in irgendein Bretterhaus
sie liebten sich so und hatten nichts zu tun
und dann kamen da 'n paar Kinder bei raus
wir waren die Familie Rattenkönig
Meine Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
darum ist Boxer auch der beste Job für mich
der Champ, der kriegt die lange Kohle
die ich mir jetzt schnellstens hole
die Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
Benjamin heißt der kleine Boxer
und er wohnt in den Ruinen von Berlin
es geht nicht nach vorne, es geht nicht zurück
verlaß dich nicht auf irgendein Glück
es geht nur nach oben und da will er hin
jetzt ist er dreizehn und er wird immer besser
wird schneller, schlauer, schärfer, wie ein Messer
seine Gegner sind nicht zu beneiden
er hat seinen Kopf nicht nur zum Haareschneiden
Meine Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
darum ist Boxer auch der beste Job für mich
Ali: Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee
rumble young man, rumble
I am the greatest champ of all times
Meine Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
darum ist Boxer auch der beste Job für mich
der Champ, der kriegt die lange Asche,
rein damit in meine Tasche
Meine Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
Yeah... Yeha...
Benjamin
Benjamin
The song "Benjamin" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a young boy named Benjamin who lives with his family in the ruins of Berlin after World War II. Benjamin's father is an alcoholic, and his parents got married after a drunken encounter. They live in a small house and struggle to make ends meet, but despite this, they love each other and have children. Benjamin becomes a boxer at a young age and dreams of rising to the top to provide a better life for his parents. The lyrics express the desire for parents to have a better life than their children, which is a reversal of the usual expectations.
The song is a powerful commentary on poverty and the cycle of struggle that is often passed down through generations. The lyrics highlight the resilience and determination of children in difficult circumstances and the sacrifices they make for their families. The use of Muhammad Ali's famous catchphrase adds an element of inspiration to the song, as Benjamin seeks to become a champion like his idol and rise above his difficult situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Mein Vater war dauernd besoffen
My father was constantly drunk
von morgens bis abends gut breit
He was well-drunk from morning to night
dann hat er meine Mutter getroffen
Then he met my mother
'n Tag später war Hochzeit
They got married the next day
und dann zogen sie mit ein paar Kisten Bier
And then they moved with a few cases of beer
in irgendein Bretterhaus
Into some kind of wooden house
sie liebten sich so und hatten nichts zu tun
They loved each other so much and had nothing to do
und dann kamen da 'n paar Kinder bei raus
And then a few children came along
zu Fressen gab's kaum und Kohle war wenig
There was hardly anything to eat and money was scarce
wir waren die Familie Rattenkönig
We were the Rat King family
Meine Eltern solln's mal besser haben als ich
My parents should have a better life than me
darum ist Boxer auch der beste Job für mich
That's why boxing is the best job for me
der Champ, der kriegt die lange Kohle
The champion gets the big bucks
die ich mir jetzt schnellstens hole
Which I'm going to get as soon as possible
Benjamin heißt der kleine Boxer
The little boxer's name is Benjamin
und er wohnt in den Ruinen von Berlin
And he lives in the ruins of Berlin
es geht nicht nach vorne, es geht nicht zurück
He's not moving forward or backward
verlaß dich nicht auf irgendein Glück
Don't rely on any luck
es geht nur nach oben und da will er hin
He's only going up and that's where he wants to be
jetzt ist er dreizehn und er wird immer besser
Now he's thirteen and he's always getting better
wird schneller, schlauer, schärfer, wie ein Messer
He's become faster, smarter, and sharper like a knife
seine Gegner sind nicht zu beneiden
His opponents can't be envied
er hat seinen Kopf nicht nur zum Haareschneiden
He doesn't just use his head for cutting hair
Ali: Float like a butterfly
Ali: Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee
Sting like a bee
rumble young man, rumble
Rumble, young man, rumble
I am the greatest champ of all times
I am the greatest champion of all times
der Champ, der kriegt die lange Asche,
The champion gets the big bucks
rein damit in meine Tasche
Put it straight into my pocket
Yeah... Yeha...
Yeah, yeah
Benjamin
Benjamin
Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.