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.
Fäuste aus Stahl
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raus aus der Halle - rein in den Benz
Weltmeistertitel, Millionen Fans
meine Promoter zählen die Gage
hysterische Frauen auf der Hoteletage
und ich wußte einer wird lachen
und ich wußte einer wird weinen
und jetzt hör ich noch mal
Oh - o - oh
Ich bin der Champ - wieder mal
und meine Fäuste sind aus Stahl
Schmerz in den Knochen und auf der Haut
Krieg und Terror bis zum Knock Out
ausgepowert und leer
trotz Ruhm und Geld
manchmal bin ich der einsamste Boxer der Welt
Und ich wußte einer wird lachen
und ich wußte einer wird weinen
und jetzt hör ich nochmal
die ganze Halle schreien
Oh - oh - oh
Ich bin der Champ wieder mal
und meine Fäuste sind aus Stahl
Ich bin der Champ wieder mal
Fieber, Wahnsinn, Fäuste aus Stahl
Jetzt bin ich ganz oben
und atme die Luft
voll Blut, Schweiß und Tränen
die Luft hier oben ist dünn,
wo soll ich jetzt noch hin ?
Ich bin der Champ wieder mal
und meine Fäuste sind aus Stahl
ausgepowert trotz Ruhm und Geld
Manchmal bin ich der einsamste Fighter der Welt
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song "Fäuste aus Stahl" explore the life of a champion boxer, describing the exhilaration of winning a fight and achieving worldwide recognition, but also the loneliness and emptiness that can come with fame. The boxer is proud of his accomplishments, but acknowledges that they come at a physical and emotional cost - his body is wracked with pain, and he experiences both war and terror in the ring. Despite his success, he is haunted by the knowledge that someone will always be laughing while another is crying, and he is acutely aware of his own isolation.
The lyrics convey the powerful emotions that accompany a life dedicated to fighting, as well as the toll that such a life can take on a person. They also suggest the complex relationship between masculinity, violence, and fame - the boxer is celebrated for his physical prowess, but is also trapped by it, unable to escape the fighter persona that defines him. Ultimately, the song paints a portrait of a man who has achieved his dreams but is struggling to cope with the aftermath.
Line by Line Meaning
Boxer: I did it again - I am the heavy weight champion
The singer, portraying as a boxer, expresses that he has once again become the champion of a heavyweight boxing match.
Raus aus der Halle - rein in den Benz
The boxer has left the boxing hall and entered his car, a Benz.
Weltmeistertitel, Millionen Fans
meine Promoter zählen die Gage
The boxer has won the world title, and his promoters are counting the money he has earned. He has also gained millions of fans.
hysterische Frauen auf der Hoteletage
The boxer has some female fans who are going crazy on the hotel floor where he is staying.
und ich wußte einer wird lachen
und ich wußte einer wird weinen
und jetzt hör ich noch mal
die ganze Halle schreien
The singer knew that one person would be happy with his win, while another would be sad. He now hears the entire hall scream once more.
Oh - o - oh
Ich bin der Champ - wieder mal
und meine Fäuste sind aus Stahl
The singer repeats that he is the champion, and his fists are made of steel.
Schmerz in den Knochen und auf der Haut
Krieg und Terror bis zum Knock Out
Despite the victory, the boxer is feeling pain in his bones and on his skin. He feels like he's been through a war and has been knocked out.
ausgepowert und leer
trotz Ruhm und Geld
Despite the fame and money he has earned, the boxer feels exhausted and empty.
manchmal bin ich der einsamste Boxer der Welt
Sometimes, the singer feels like he is the loneliest boxer in the world despite all the fame and adoration.
Fieber, Wahnsinn, Fäuste aus Stahl
The singer repeats that he has a fever and is feeling insane, and his fists are made of steel.
Jetzt bin ich ganz oben
und atme die Luft
voll Blut, Schweiß und Tränen
die Luft hier oben ist dünn,
wo soll ich jetzt noch hin?
The singer has reached the top, but the air he breathes is full of blood, sweat, and tears. He feels like the air at the top is thin and wonders where he should go next.
Ich bin der Champ wieder mal
The singer repeats that he is the champion once again.
ausgepowert trotz Ruhm und Geld
Manchmal bin ich der einsamste Fighter der Welt
Despite all the fame and money he has earned, the singer feels exhausted and empty. He sometimes feels like he is the loneliest fighter in the world.
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.