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.
Extremisten
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
es wäre fest beschlossen
und ich merkte, du hattest die süße Sucht
schon voll in mich reingeschossen
Ich wollte noch schrein:
Für son Mund braucht man doch nen Waffenschein
doch du murmeltest was von "illegal"
dann umarmten wir uns, als wär´s das letzte Mal
So wie du mich berührt hast - so wie du mich verführt hast
und ich sofort in hellen Flammen stand
und als wir uns küßten - radikale Extremisten
wie Verdurstende nach Monaten im heißen Wüstensand
So wie Du mich ansahst
ich merkte sofort
da galten die selben Gesetze für uns
wir waren uns einig - ohne ein Wort
Wenn du was willst, dann gibt´s keine Fragen
dann gehst du los und holst es dir
ich bin genauso
deshalb gehör´ich zu dir - und du zu mir
So wie Du mich verführt hast ...
In Udo Lindenberg's song "Extremisten", the lyrics paint the picture of two individuals who have developed a strong attraction for one another ("schon voll in mich reingeschossen"). Despite the potential consequences and legal implications of their actions, they're drawn to each other like "radical extremists" and seem almost unable to resist. This idea is reinforced by the metaphor of fire ("ich stand sofort in hellen Flammen"), further emphasizing the intense, all-consuming nature of their relationship. The lyrics also touch on the idea of nonverbal communication, suggesting that the two individuals are so attuned to each other's desires that they don't even need to speak ("wir waren uns einig - ohne ein Wort").
Line by Line Meaning
Du sagst: was solln wir noch reden
You say: what else is there to talk about
es wäre fest beschlossen
It would be firmly decided
und ich merkte, du hattest die süße Sucht
And I realized you had a sweet addiction
schon voll in mich reingeschossen
Already fully shot into me
Ich wollte noch schrein: Für son Mund braucht man doch nen Waffenschein
I wanted to scream: You need a gun license for a mouth like that
doch du murmeltest was von 'illegal'
But you muttered something about it being 'illegal'
dann umarmten wir uns, als wär's das letzte Mal
Then we hugged each other as if it was the last time
So wie du mich berührt hast - so wie du mich verführt hast
The way you touched me - the way you seduced me
und ich sofort in hellen Flammen stand
And I immediately stood in bright flames
und als wir uns küßten - radikale Extremisten
And when we kissed - radical extremists
wie Verdurstende nach Monaten im heißen Wüstensand
Like thirsty people after months in the hot desert sand
So wie Du mich ansahst
The way you looked at me
ich merkte sofort
I immediately realized
da galten die selben Gesetze für uns
The same laws applied to both of us
wir waren uns einig - ohne ein Wort
We agreed - without a word
Wenn du was willst, dann gibt´s keine Fragen
When you want something, there are no questions
dann gehst du los und holst es dir
Then you go and get it for yourself
ich bin genauso
I am the same way
deshalb gehör´ich zu dir - und du zu mir
That's why I belong to you - and you to me
So wie Du mich verführt hast ...
The way you seduced me ...
Contributed by Henry D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.