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.
Einmal küssen und dann sterben
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wünschte mir so sehr
So'n feuerrotes Auto
Danach kommt gar nichts mehr
Als das Ding dann da war
Mann, war ich verknallt
Doch nach ein paar Tagen schon
ließ es mich ziemlich kalt
Wie einmal küssen und dann sterben
Weil danach nichts mehr kommen kann
Doch dann fängt schon wieder was ganz neues an
Einmal küssen und dann sterben
Selbst nach der schärfsten Sensation
Ist noch lange nicht Schluß - nein da seh' ich schon
Die nächste Wahnsinns-Dimension
Dann die erste Liebe
Mensch, hab' ich gebrannt
Ich war sooo angetörnt
Nur noch im Fünfeck 'rumgerannt
Wir hatten große Zeiten
Doch dann wurd' es hart
Das Ende einer Liebe ist wie'n Tod
Aber auch ein neuer Start
Sie einmal küssen und dann sterben
Weil danach nichts mehr kommen kann
Doch dann fängt schon wieder was ganz neues an
Einmal küssen und dann sterben
Selbst nach der schärfsten Sensation
Ist noch lange nicht Schluß - nein da seh' ich schon
Die nächste Wahnsinns-Dimension
Und irgendwann als alter Indianer
Wenn ich denk, ich hab's gecheckt
Und den einzig richtigen Weg entdeckt
Die Weisheit küssen und dann sterben
Weil danach nichts mehr kommen kann
Doch dann fängt schon wieder was ganz neues an
Einmal küssen und dann sterben
Selbst nach der schärfsten Sensation
Ist noch lange nicht Schluß - nein da seh' ich schon
Die nächste Wahnsinns-Dimension
The song Einmal küssen und dann sterben by Udo Lindenberg talks about the idea of living life to the fullest, experiencing new things, and not being afraid of change. The lyrics describe the feelings of the singer when he was a child, and how he wanted a red car more than anything. When he finally got it, it lost its attraction after a few days. This is something that the singer thinks is universal: people desire things, but once they achieve them, they lose interest quickly. The song then goes on to talk about the first love and how intense it was. There were good times, but it ended horribly. Despite this, the singer still believes that after every great experience, there is always something new waiting to be discovered.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Einmal küssen und dann sterben," which translates to "Kiss once and then die." The phrase is not meant to be taken literally but rather metaphorically. The idea is that you should enjoy every moment of your life, as if it were your last. The song suggests that every experience should be treated as a new start and that there is no end to what can be discovered in life. Even when the singer becomes an old Indian and thinks he has found the perfect way to live, he realizes that there is always something new to learn and experience.
Overall, Einmal küssen und dann sterben is a song that encourages people to take risks, try new things, and not be afraid of change. It suggests that life is full of possibilities, and there is always something new waiting to be discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
War ein kleiner Junge
When I was a young boy
Wünschte mir so sehr
I wished so much
So'n feuerrotes Auto
For a bright red car
Danach kommt gar nichts mehr
But afterwards, there's nothing else
Als das Ding dann da war
When that thing was actually there
Mann, war ich verknallt
Man, I was in love
Doch nach ein paar Tagen schon
But after just a few days
ließ es mich ziemlich kalt
I became indifferent towards it
Eh kennst du das?
You know what I mean, right?
Wie einmal küssen und dann sterben
Like kissing once and then dying
Weil danach nichts mehr kommen kann
Because there can be nothing more after that
Doch dann fängt schon wieder was ganz neues an
But then something completely new begins
Einmal küssen und dann sterben
Kissing once and then dying
Selbst nach der schärfsten Sensation
Even after the most intense sensation
Ist noch lange nicht Schluß - nein da seh' ich schon
It's not over yet - in fact, I already see
Die nächste Wahnsinns-Dimension
The next insane dimension
Dann die erste Liebe
Then the first love
Mensch, hab' ich gebrannt
Man, did I burn for it
Ich war sooo angetörnt
I was soo excited
Nur noch im Fünfeck 'rumgerannt
Just running around in circles
Wir hatten große Zeiten
We had great times
Doch dann wurd' es hart
But then it got difficult
Das Ende einer Liebe ist wie'n Tod
The end of a love is like a death
Aber auch ein neuer Start
But also a new beginning
Und irgendwann als alter Indianer
And someday as an old Indian
Wenn ich denk, ich hab's gecheckt
When I think, I've figured it out
Und den einzig richtigen Weg entdeckt
And discovered the only correct path
Die Weisheit küssen und dann sterben
Kissing wisdom and then dying
Doch dann fängt schon wieder was ganz neues an
But then something completely new begins
Selbst nach der schärfsten Sensation
Even after the most intense sensation
Ist noch lange nicht Schluß - nein da seh' ich schon
It's not over yet - in fact, I already see
Die nächste Wahnsinns-Dimension
The next insane dimension
Contributed by Emma S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.