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. Kimbel auf der Flucht (Stompin' At The Savoy
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
der sich's erlauben kann
der jetzt das Weite sucht
Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht
Und Fräulein Drosselbart
in sehr charmanter Art
leckt ihm das Ohr ganz zart
Und sie sagen immer
es wird immer schlimmer
und sie stöhnen alle
wir sitzen in der Atombombenfalle
Die Paranoia-Emigranten
sie raffen ihre Diamanten
der atomare Nervenkitzel
wird uns zu viel - Auf Wiederschnitzel
Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht
und Fräulein Drosselbart packt ihre Klunker
in den australischen Tiefseebunker
Und sie sagen immer
es wird immer schlimmer
doch im Land der Kängeruhs
kennen wir keinen solchen Blues
Und dann in Neuseeland
Champagnerflaschen in der Hand
sehen sie - im TV
wie Deutschland knallt und raucht und zischt
und sie sagen: Prost, uns hat's nicht erwischt
Und sie liegen in der Südsee in den Bambusbetten
und giftige Killerwolken über deutschen Städten
sie tanzen Hulahula im Tropenwald
und zu Haus Millionen Leichen auf dem Asphalt
Pervers!
The song "Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht" by Udo Lindenberg is a satirical take on the paranoia surrounding the threat of nuclear war during the Cold War. Dr. Kimbel, who is introduced as a wealthy man who can afford to flee, is on the run along with Fräulein Drosselbart, who is fondling his ear and carrying gold bars. The song suggests that the fear of atomic destruction and the resulting escape can cause people to abandon their morals and values. The lyrics also criticize the emigrants who are focused on their wealth and diamonds while the rest of the world is facing the risk of death from nuclear war. The repeated phrase "und sie sagen immer, es wird immer schlimmer" (and they always say it's getting worse) highlights the sentiment of despair that permeated society during the Cold War.
The apocalyptic vision painted in the song is contrasted with the idyllic South Pacific islands, where the characters have escaped to. They are far removed from the fear and misery of their homeland and are able to enjoy themselves by "dancing Hula Hula in the tropical forest" while millions of dead bodies lay in the streets back home. The song ends on a note of disgust at the absurdity of the situation with the word "Pervers!" (perverse!).
Overall, "Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht" is a biting critique of the fear-mongering and the moral decadence that the threat of nuclear war entailed during the Cold War.
Line by Line Meaning
Er ist ein reicher Mann
Dr. Kimbel is a wealthy man
der sich's erlauben kann
who can afford to do what he wants
der jetzt das Weite sucht
and is now fleeing
Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht
This is Dr. Kimbel on the run
Und Fräulein Drosselbart
And Ms. Drosselbart
in sehr charmanter Art
in a very charming way
leckt ihm das Ohr ganz zart
gently licks his ear
uh, die Goldbarren in der Tasche sind so hart
oh, the gold bars in his pocket are so hard
Und sie sagen immer
And they always say
es wird immer schlimmer
It's always getting worse
und sie stöhnen alle
And everyone groans
wir sitzen in der Atombombenfalle
We're trapped in the atomic bomb trap
Die Paranoia-Emigranten
The paranoia emigrants
sie raffen ihre Diamanten
They're collecting their diamonds
der atomare Nervenkitzel
The atomic thrill
wird uns zu viel - Auf Wiederschnitzel
is too much for us - goodbye
Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel auf der Flucht
Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel - Dr. Kimbel on the run
und Fräulein Drosselbart packt ihre Klunker
And Ms. Drosselbart packs her jewels
in den australischen Tiefseebunker
In the Australian deep sea bunker
Und sie sagen immer
And they always say
es wird immer schlimmer
It's always getting worse
doch im Land der Kängeruhs
But in the land of kangaroos
kennen wir keinen solchen Blues
We don't have such blues
Und dann in Neuseeland
And then in New Zealand
Champagnerflaschen in der Hand
With champagne bottles in hand
sehen sie - im TV
They see - on TV
wie Deutschland knallt und raucht und zischt
How Germany explodes and smokes and hisses
und sie sagen: Prost, uns hat's nicht erwischt
And they say: Cheers, it didn't happen to us
Und sie liegen in der Südsee in den Bambusbetten
And they lie in bamboo beds in the South Seas
und giftige Killerwolken über deutschen Städten
And poisonous killer clouds over German cities
sie tanzen Hulahula im Tropenwald
They dance hula in the tropical forest
und zu Haus Millionen Leichen auf dem Asphalt
And at home, millions of corpses on the asphalt
Pervers!
Perverted!
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.