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.
Fliesenlied
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und dein Vibrato tropfte von den Fliesen
doch jetzt wasch es ab, das Zurückhaltefeeling
in den Abfluß mit den Komplexen, diesen miesen
Jerry Lee Lewis zündet auch kein Klavier mehr an
und die Undergroundhelden, die wüsten
jetzt sind sie zahm
komm, wir müssen mal wieder richtig
den Original-Orkan loslassen!
In Udo Lindenberg's song Fliesenlied, the lyrics speak to the idea of letting go of one's self-doubts and inhibitions. The first stanza describes a person who has been singing for a long time in the bathtub, letting their emotions and insecurities out through their voice. However, the lyrics suggest that it's time to wash away those feelings and get rid of the "miesen" (bad) complexes that have been holding them back. The second stanza references Jerry Lee Lewis and other "underground heroes" who were once wild but have become tamed over time. Lindenberg calls for a return to the original, passionate energy that inspired these artists in the first place.
The song can be seen as a call to action for anyone who feels stuck or held back by their fears and doubts. Lindenberg encourages listeners to let go of their inhibitions and embrace their inner creativity and passion. The metaphor of the person singing in the bathtub is a powerful one, suggesting that we all have a private space where we can express ourselves freely - but that we must also learn to bring that energy out into the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Du sangst lange genug in der Badewanne
You've been singing for a long time in the bathtub
und dein Vibrato tropfte von den Fliesen
Your vibrato resonated off the tiles
doch jetzt wasch es ab, das Zurückhaltefeeling
But now wash away that feeling of holding back
in den Abfluß mit den Komplexen, diesen miesen
Flush those wretched complexes down the drain
Jerry Lee Lewis zündet auch kein Klavier mehr an
Even Jerry Lee Lewis doesn't set pianos on fire anymore
und die Undergroundhelden, die wüsten jetzt sind sie zahm
And the wild underground heroes, they're tame now
und die Himbeerbubenkapellen, die sind mir zu lahm
And the raspberry boys' bands, they're too slow for me
komm, wir müssen mal wieder richtig den Original-Orkan loslassen!
Come on, we need to unleash the original hurricane again!
Contributed by Vivian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.