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.
Bist Du Vom KGB...?
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich hätt' dich beinah nicht geseh'n
Man kennt die schönen, scheuen Frau'n
Die gern in dunklen Ecken stehn
Ich denk', ich geh' mal rüber
...Ist die toll?!
Und sprech' mit ihr mal drüber
Bist du vom KGB
oder vom MAD
oder vom CIA?
Man weiß es nicht genau...
geheimnisvolle Frau...
weil du so cool bist...
Prinzessin Eisenherz
im dunkelroten Licht
Komm, nimm die Maske ab
und zeig mir dein Gesicht
Jetzt wirst du wachgeküst -
weil du so cool bist...
Umgeben von Spionen
die stehn da rum des Nachts um vier
Ganz coole Observanten
die schweigen nur
- und trinken Bier
'ne eisig harte Schale -
doch darunter, das ist klar,
ein großes Herz voll Sehnsucht
und nun bin ich endlich da,
ja
Bist du vom KGB...
RAP
Biste vom KGB oder vom CIA oder
BK....A...A...oder BND...? Hier
weiss ja keiner mehr Bescheid...
weil du so cool bist... Vielleicht bin
ich vom TIA oder DLRG, DGB, MIS,
CIA, FBI...
The song "Bist Du Vom KGB...?" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a man who meets a mysterious, beautiful woman in a park cafe. He almost didn't see her because she was standing in a dark corner, but he decides to approach her and ask how things are going between them. He then asks her if she's a spy from the KGB, MAD, or CIA because of her mysterious nature. Despite her enigmatic presence, he is drawn to her and asks her to remove her mask and reveal her true identity. He realizes that she has been surrounded by spies all this time and she finally found someone who is not one of them. The lyrics are also punctuated by a rap segment where Lindenberg speculates about the various organizations the woman could be affiliated with.
The song is an enigmatic tribute to espionage and the beauty of mystery. It is a romantic song that speaks of someone who is drawn to the enigmatic, mysterious aspects of a person. The song is unique in that it mixes romanticism with lyrics that are seemingly ripped from a spy novel. The rap segment adds an element of playfulness to the song, and it serves as a nod to Lindenberg's versatility as a musician.
Line by Line Meaning
Wir trafen uns im Park-Cafe
We met at the park cafe.
Ich hätt' dich beinah nicht geseh'n
I almost didn't see you.
Man kennt die schönen, scheuen Frau'n
One knows the beautiful, shy women.
Die gern in dunklen Ecken stehn
Who like to stand in dark corners.
Ich denk', ich geh' mal rüber
I think I'll go over there.
...Ist die toll?!
...Is she great?
Und sprech' mit ihr mal drüber
And talk to her about how things will go with us.
wie das jetzt mit uns laufen soll?
About how things will go between us.
Bist du vom KGB
Are you from the KGB?
oder vom MAD
Or from the MAD?
oder vom CIA?
Or from the CIA?
Man weiß es nicht genau...
One doesn't know for sure...
geheimnisvolle Frau...
Mysterious woman...
weil du so cool bist...
Because you're so cool...
Prinzessin Eisenherz
Princess Iron Heart
im dunkelroten Licht
In the dark red light
Komm, nimm die Maske ab
Come, take off your mask
und zeig mir dein Gesicht
And show me your face
Jetzt wirst du wachgeküst -
Now you're being awakened by my kiss -
weil du so cool bist...
Because you're so cool...
Umgeben von Spionen
Surrounded by spies
die stehn da rum des Nachts um vier
Standing around at four in the morning
Ganz coole Observanten
Very cool observers
die schweigen nur
Who only remain silent
- und trinken Bier
- and drink beer
'ne eisig harte Schale -
An icy hard shell -
doch darunter, das ist klar,
But underneath, that's clear,
ein großes Herz voll Sehnsucht
A big heart full of longing
und nun bin ich endlich da,
And now I'm finally here,
ja
Yes
RAP
RAP
Biste vom KGB oder vom CIA oder
Are you from the KGB or the CIA,
BK....A...A...oder BND...? Hier
BK....A...A...or BND...? Here,
weiss ja keiner mehr Bescheid...
No one really knows anymore...
weil du so cool bist... Vielleicht bin
Because you're so cool... Maybe I'm
ich vom TIA oder DLRG, DGB, MIS,
From the TIA or DLRG, DGB, MIS,
CIA, FBI...
CIA, FBI...
Contributed by Mia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.