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.
Die Bühne ist angerichtet
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hinter der Bühne steh'
Und mir durchs kleine Loch im Vorhang
Das große Publikum anseh'
Wenn's dann plötzlich mulmig im Magen rumort
Und der Lampenfieber-Vampir mich voll durchbohrt
Wenn ich, obwohl ich sonst so easy bin
Total vibrier'
Dann wär' ich lieber einer von euch da unten
Da hinten, zehnte Reihe links
Ich würde denken, na Popstar
Wollen wir doch mal sehen, ob du das bringst
Ich würde locker wie ein Rocker
Im Sessel hängen
Und lauschte wie berauscht diesen Infernogesängen
Das einzige Problem, das ich mir vorstellen kann
Wie verkraftet meine Freundin
So 'n erotisches Programm?
Die Flasche mit dem Kicherwasser
Kreist von Mann zu Mann
Ja, die Jungs von der Kapelle
Knallen sich tierisch an
Ein letzter Blick in den Spiegel
Weil man auf Schönheit nicht gern verzichtet
Und dann sagt Controlletti
„Signore, die Bühne ist angerichtet"
Udo Lindenberg's song "Die Bühne ist angerichtet" is about the nervousness and excitement that comes before a big performance. The lyrics speak about the artist's pre-show jitters and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the audience. The opening lines describe how the artist stands behind the stage, looking through a small hole in the curtain at the audience, feeling nervous and excited at the same time. He feels a sudden rush of nervousness and feels like he is being stabbed by a "Lampenfieber-Vampir" (stage fright vampire).
As the song continues, Udo presents a hypothetical scenario where he imagines himself in the audience rather than on stage. He imagines himself in the 10th row, nonchalantly sipping a drink and enjoying the music with ease. He wonders how his girlfriend would cope seeing him perform an "erotic" show on stage. The song concludes with the band members getting ready for the performance, taking shots of alcohol to calm their nerves while the stage manager gives them the cue to get on stage.
Overall, "Die Bühne ist angerichtet" is a song about the pressure performers feel before a show and the need to overcome the nervousness and deliver a good performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Wenn ich fünf Minuten vor dem Auftritt
Hinter der Bühne steh'
When I stand behind the stage five minutes before my performance
Und mir durchs kleine Loch im Vorhang
Das große Publikum anseh'
And look at the large audience through the small hole in the curtain
Wenn's dann plötzlich mulmig im Magen rumort
Und der Lampenfieber-Vampir mich voll durchbohrt
When suddenly there is an uneasy feeling in my stomach and the anxiety vampire pierces through me
Wenn ich, obwohl ich sonst so easy bin
Total vibrier'
When, although I am usually easygoing, I vibrate completely
Und der Roadie bringt mir schnell noch 'n Beruhigungsbier
And the roadie quickly brings me a calming beer
Dann wär' ich lieber einer von euch da unten
Da hinten, zehnte Reihe links
Then I would rather be one of you down there, in the back, tenth row left
Ich würde denken, na Popstar
Wollen wir doch mal sehen, ob du das bringst
I would think, well pop star, let's see if you can deliver
Ich würde locker wie ein Rocker
Im Sessel hängen
I would sit back relaxed like a rocker
Und lauschte wie berauscht diesen Infernogesängen
And listen like intoxicated to these inferno songs
Das einzige Problem, das ich mir vorstellen kann
Wie verkraftet meine Freundin
So 'n erotisches Programm?
The only problem I can imagine is how my girlfriend will cope with such an erotic program?
Die Flasche mit dem Kicherwasser
Kreist von Mann zu Mann
The bottle of giggle water passes from hand to hand
Ja, die Jungs von der Kapelle
Knallen sich tierisch an
Yes, the boys from the band get really high
Ein letzter Blick in den Spiegel
Weil man auf Schönheit nicht gern verzichtet
One last look in the mirror because we don't like to give up on beauty
Und dann sagt Controlletti
„Signore, die Bühne ist angerichtet"
And then Controlletti says: "Sir, the stage is set"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: UDO LINDENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind