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.
Dirty Old Man
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ein kleiner Knilch war,
stand ich immer
an der Milchbar
Dachte nach
über Pubertät
und hab' mich so gewundert,
daß das Ding da
Dann ging ich schnell
wie auf heißen Kohlen
nach Haus
um mir einen runterzu ... (Zensur!)
Und träumte
von 'nem flotten Dreier
Dabei wußte ich kaum
wie'n Einer geht:
als man noch jung war
Girls:
... when we was younger
Und Samstagabend
durfte man ausgehn!
Man wollte
'n bißchen lecker aussehn
Man drückte sich die Pickel aus
und sah so aus wie Peter Kraus
Und stundenlang
vorm Spiegel schwitzen
weil: Die Frisur
sie wollt' nicht richtig sitzen
Und was für'n Streß:
Was nimmt man heut' für 'n T-Shirt?
Man war so verstört
oh Gott,
war man verstört -
als man noch jung war
Girls:
... when he was younger
Now he's a dirty
dirty
dirty Old Man
- what a beauty
beauty
beautiful dirty old man
He's a proud dirty old man
outrageous
extraordinary
dirty dirty old man
He's a real fruitcake ...
Nun kommt man
langsam
in die Jährchen -
verliert das eine
oder andere Härchen
Trägt die Frisur
jetzt in Scheibletten
Braucht ab und zu schon mal Potenztabletten
Doch trotzdem
werden die Zeiten jetzt immer toller
Dolce Vita - je oller, je doller
schöne junge Frauen
und Champagner jede Nacht
ja, so'n älterer Herr
ist schon sehr gefragt
...viel gefragter als damals
Girls:
... when he was younger
Now he's a dirty ...
The song Dirty Old Man by Udo Lindenberg is a humorous and nostalgic account of the process of aging and growing older. The first verse begins with Lindenberg reflecting on his own youth and the confusion and wonder that he felt during puberty. He describes standing at the milk bar, reflecting on the changes happening to his body, and feeling surprised by the sudden appearance and physical reaction of his penis. He then immediately jumps to the topic of masturbation and sexual fantasies, dreaming of a threesome.
The second verse paints a picture of the youth culture of the time. Lindenberg describes the desire to look good and fit in with the trends of the day, spending hours in front of the mirror to perfect one's hairstyle and outfits. The stress of trying to decide what to wear and how to present oneself properly was intense. The chorus then introduces the idea that as he's grown older, he's become a "dirty old man," but instead of being ashamed of it, he revels in his newfound sexual freedom and the ability to have any young woman he desires.
The final verse brings the topic back to aging and acknowledges the challenges that come with it, but also the newfound sense of freedom and the benefits of experience. Despite losing hair and the need for potency pills, life is still getting better for the singer. Dolce vita is even more enjoyable now, with beautiful young women readily available and champagne flowing every night. The song ends with the suggestion that being an older man is more desirable now than in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Als ich noch ein kleiner Knilch war, stand ich immer an der Milchbar
When I was young, I used to stand at the milk bar and wondered about puberty
Dachte nach über Pubertät und hab' mich so gewundert, daß das Ding da plötzlich steht...
I used to think about adolescence and wondered why my body was changing
Dann ging ich schnell wie auf heißen Kohlen nach Haus um mir einen runterzu ... (Zensur!)
Then I used to hurry back home to masturbate
Und träumte von 'nem flotten Dreier Dabei wußte ich kaum wie'n Einer geht: als man noch jung war
I used to dream of having a threesome without even knowing how to have sex
Und Samstagabend durfte man ausgehn! Man wollte'n bißchen lecker aussehn
On a Saturday night, I wanted to look good and go out
Man drückte sich die Pickel aus und sah so aus wie Peter Kraus
I used to squeeze my pimples and hoped to look like Peter Kraus
Die Frisur sie wollt' nicht richtig sitzen Und was für'n Streß: Was nimmt man heut' für 'n T-Shirt? Man war so verstört
I used to struggle to get my hair and outfit right and it was stressful
oh Gott, war man verstört - als man noch jung war
Oh my God, youth was so confusing
Nun kommt man langsam in die Jährchen - verliert das eine oder andere Härchen Trägt die Frisur jetzt in Scheibletten Braucht ab und zu schon mal Potenztabletten
As I'm getting older, I'm losing hair and sometimes need help to maintain my sexual prowess
Doch trotzdem werden die Zeiten jetzt immer toller Dolce Vita - je oller, je doller schöne junge Frauen und Champagner jede Nacht ja, so'n älterer Herr ist schon sehr gefragt ...viel gefragter als damals
However, as I'm aging, life is becoming better with young women and champagne every night. Older men like me are in high demand now than before
Now he's a dirty dirty dirty Old Man - what a beauty beauty beautiful dirty old man He's a proud dirty old man outrageous extraordinary dirty dirty old man He's a real fruitcake ...
Now I'm an older man and considered dirty but proud of my lifestyle with women and other indulgences
Contributed by Anthony P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.