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.
Dr. Jekill
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wohnt ein Mann - sehr chic
Sehr charmant, mit Grandesse
dirigiert er sein Business
Eine Ehre ihn zu kennen
Namen wollen wir nicht nennen
Nicht zu unterscheiden von ´nem besseren Herrn
wenn da nicht diese abgrundtiefen Nächte wär´n
Dann liegt er wach, vom Heimweh gequält
denn etwas fehlt ...
Ja mitunter, ja mitunter
muß die Ratte wieder in den Gulli runter
ja zuweilen, ja zuweilen
muß sie sich wieder in den Untergrund abseilen
Dem Abgrund in die Augen schauen
dem Wahnsinn einmal blind vertrauen
Und das alles rattenbreit
und das nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit
wie Dr. Jekill und Mr. Hyde !
Doch dann erscheint im Morgenlicht
wieder sein anderes Gesicht
und Mr. Hyde - den gab´s gar nicht
Im Hotel Pacific
wohnt ein Mann - sehr chic
Nadelstreifen - sehr elegant
hält er die Fäden in der Hand
Ist alles gemanaged und der Abend ist da
geht er zu Goffredo an die Bar
Er hebt galant das Glas und spricht:
Ein wirklich feiner Herr verleugnet seine Herkunft nicht
Also mix mir den Drink, den Zaubersaft
der das Gute will und das Böse schafft
Ja mitunter, ja mitunter ...
Durch Katakomben zieht er dann
läßt sich treiben vom süßen Wahn
Dr. Jekill und Mr. Heyde
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song "Dr. Jekill" describe the dual personality of a wealthy and powerful man who is staying at the Hotel Pacific. During the day, he is charming and elegant, managing his business with grandeur and finesse. However, at night, he is plagued by a deep homesickness and a feeling that something is missing. This triggers his alter ego, Mr. Hyde, who is willing to go to extreme lengths to satisfy his desires, even if it means descending into the depths of the city's underworld.
The song alludes to the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a story about a man who creates a potion that transforms him into a violent and depraved alter ego. The lyrics suggest that the man's dual personality is not only a product of his own internal struggles but also a reflection of the darker side of society that lurks beneath the surface.
The song's melody is melancholic and reflective, mirroring the man's inner turmoil and the duality of his character. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man torn between his desire for respectability and his darker impulses. Ultimately, the song suggests that we are all capable of transforming into our own "Mr. Hyde" if we give in to our deepest fears and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Im Hotel Pezific
In the Pacific Hotel
wohnt ein Mann - sehr chic
Lives a man - very chic
Sehr charmant, mit Grandesse
Very charming, with grandeur
dirigiert er sein Business
He directs his business
Eine Ehre ihn zu kennen
An honor to know him
Namen wollen wir nicht nennen
We don't want to name names
Nicht zu unterscheiden von ´nem besseren Herrn
Not distinguishable from a better man
wenn da nicht diese abgrundtiefen Nächte wär´n
If it weren't for these abyssal nights
Dann liegt er wach, vom Heimweh gequält
Then he lies awake, tormented by homesickness
denn etwas fehlt ...
Because something is missing ...
Ja mitunter, ja mitunter
Yes sometimes, yes sometimes
muß die Ratte wieder in den Gulli runter
The rat must go back down into the gutter
ja zuweilen, ja zuweilen
Yes sometimes, yes sometimes
muß sie sich wieder in den Untergrund abseilen
It must abseil back into the underground
Dem Abgrund in die Augen schauen
Look into the abyss
dem Wahnsinn einmal blind vertrauen
Trust the madness blindly once
Und das alles rattenbreit
And all of it as wide as a rat
und das nicht nur zur Weihnachtszeit
And not just at Christmas time
wie Dr. Jekill und Mr. Hyde !
Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!
Doch dann erscheint im Morgenlicht
But then in the morning light appears
wieder sein anderes Gesicht
His other face again
und Mr. Hyde - den gab´s gar nicht
And Mr. Hyde - he didn't really exist
Nadelstreifen - sehr elegant
Pinstriped - very elegant
hält er die Fäden in der Hand
He holds the strings in his hand
Ist alles gemanaged und der Abend ist da
Everything is managed and the evening is here
geht er zu Goffredo an die Bar
He goes to Goffredo at the bar
Er hebt galant das Glas und spricht:
He gallantly raises the glass and says:
Ein wirklich feiner Herr verleugnet seine Herkunft nicht
A truly fine gentleman does not deny his origins
Also mix mir den Drink, den Zaubersaft
So mix me the drink, the magic elixir
der das Gute will und das Böse schafft
That wants the good and creates the evil
Durch Katakomben zieht er dann
He then moves through catacombs
läßt sich treiben vom süßen Wahn
He lets himself be carried away by sweet delusion
Dr. Jekill und Mr. Heyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Contributed by Lily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.