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.
Datenbank
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mit 'ner großen Nummer, falls ich mal vergeß, wie ich heiß
so 'ne Nummer ist sehr praktisch und auch individuell
denn wenn du Schmidt heißt oder Müller zum Beispiel
verwechseln man dich schnell
und viele heißen Udo oder Dave oder Karl-Heinz
ne, da heiße ich doch lieber D-471 81 61
auf 'm Flughafen zum Beispiel zück' ich meine ID-Card
der Hiwi schiebt das Ding 'rein und der Computer, ja was tut er
eer macht ratter, ratter, ratter
und da krieg' ich auch schon den Tatter
denn das Flugzeug macht schon knatter, knatter
und ich sag: Die Zeit wird knapp-
Doch der Röntgologe liest die ganzen Daten erst noch ab
Ich sag: Bitte taken Sie's easy, man weiß doch, was da steht
daß die Republik an solchen Vögeln wie mir sowieso demnächst zugrunde geht
In Udo Lindenberg's song "Datenbank," the singer discusses the practicality and individuality of identification numbers, which he deems preferable to names like Schmidt or Müller that are common and easily confused. The singer, who travels frequently, uses his ID-card at airports to quickly pass through security. However, he becomes frustrated when the X-ray operator takes too long to read his data, which causes him to worry about missing his flight. Finally, the singer expresses cynicism towards the state and its treatment of "birds" like him, suggesting its inevitable downfall.
The lyrics of "Datenbank" criticize modern society's reliance on personal identification numbers, and the dehumanization that they represent. The singer suggests that people are reduced to a mere set of numbers, losing their individuality in the process. This idea is reinforced by the contrast between the cold, mechanical processing described by the singer and the warm, personal touch of human interaction. The singer's use of humor helps to underscore the absurdity of the overly bureaucratic system that restricts his freedoms and delays his travels.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich hab 'n schönen Identitätsausweis
I possess a nice identity card
mit 'ner großen Nummer, falls ich mal vergeß, wie ich heiß
It has a big number in case I forget my own name
so 'ne Nummer ist sehr praktisch und auch individuell
Such a number is really handy and unique
denn wenn du Schmidt heißt oder Müller zum Beispiel
Because if you're named Schmidt, Müller or such
verwechseln man dich schnell
People can mix you up easily
und viele heißen Udo oder Dave oder Karl-Heinz
And many are named Udo, Dave or Karl-Heinz
ne, da heiße ich doch lieber D-471 81 61
So I prefer to be called D-471 81 61
Ich bin viel auf Reisen, hisch und husch auf großer Fahrt
I travel a lot, always on the go
auf 'm Flughafen zum Beispiel zück' ich meine ID-Card
At the airport, I pull out my identity card
der Hiwi schiebt das Ding 'rein und der Computer, ja was tut er
The assistant slots it in and the computer, what does it do
eer macht ratter, ratter, ratter
It makes a rattling noise
und da krieg' ich auch schon den Tatter
And I get a bit nervous
denn das Flugzeug macht schon knatter, knatter
Because the plane is already making noise
und ich sag: Die Zeit wird knapp-
And I say: time is running out
Doch der Röntgologe liest die ganzen Daten erst noch ab
But the radiologist reads all the data first
Ich sag: Bitte taken Sie's easy, man weiß doch, was da steht
I say: Please take it easy, you know what's written there
daß die Republik an solchen Vögeln wie mir sowieso demnächst zugrunde geht
That the Republic will soon come to ruin because of birds like me
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.