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.
Fremde in der Nacht
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
die stehn sich gegenüber
in der Nacht
vor einer Disco
und fragen sich auf einmal
ja, spinnen wir jetzt total
Fremde in der Nacht
und ein schnelles Glück
gehn wir zu mir oder gehen wir zu Dir
oder ein Kuß gleich hier
zitternd vor der Tür
ein erstes Visavis
so mit den Nerven fertig
war man ja noch nie
schwer irritiert -
das sieht nach Schicksal aus
Du läßt den Coolen raus
Ein Blick, der noch ganz schüchtern zwar
aber auch nicht mehr
ganz nüchtern war
Fremde in der Nacht
die stehn sich gegenüber
in der Nacht
ginge man vorüber -
das wäre doch gelacht
Was hat man zu verlier'n
in dieser Nacht
Ein erstes Hallo
Hallöchen Schöne - wie geht es dir denn so?
Schwer irritiert
das sieht nach Schicksal aus
Du läßt den Coolen raus
Ein Blick, der noch ganz schüchtern zwar
aber auch nicht mehr
ganz nüchtern war
Fremde in der Nacht
Die Luft vibrierte
Einsam in der Nacht
was dann passierte...
Ich hab's noch nie gemacht
mit fremden in der Nacht
In the night
I feel your body close
hold me tight
expecting your caress
like a dove taking flight
in the night... in the night
you hold me like a stranger
I fell no sight of danger
Stranger in the night
exchanging glances
something in your eyes was so inviting
stranger in the night
I love you
hold me tight
two lonely people in the night...
"Fremde in der Nacht" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of two strangers standing in front of a disco at night, asking themselves if they are crazy to be considering going home together. They are nervous and excited, wondering if they should go to his place or hers, or just stay where they are and share a kiss. The lyrics suggest that their meeting is fate and that they are both willing to take a chance on a night of passion with a total stranger.
The song explores the themes of adventure, risk-taking, and passion. It tells the story of two people who are willing to let their guards down and take a chance on love and lust, even if it means going home with a stranger. The lyrics are a celebration of the thrill and excitement that comes with meeting someone new and indulging in a fleeting moment of passion without fear or inhibition.
Line by Line Meaning
Fremde in der Nacht
Two strangers meet in the night
die stehn sich gegenüber
They stand facing each other
in der Nacht
Under the cover of night
vor einer Disco
In front of a nightclub
und fragen sich auf einmal
Suddenly they ask themselves
ja, spinnen wir jetzt total
Are we completely crazy?
Fieber im Blick
A feverish look in their eyes
und ein schnelles Glück
Seeking a moment of quick happiness
gehn wir zu mir oder gehen wir zu Dir
Do we go to my place or yours?
oder ein Kuß gleich hier
Or do we kiss right here?
zitternd vor der Tür
Trembling in front of the door
ein erstes Visavis
A first encounter
so mit den Nerven fertig
So nervous and on edge
war man ja noch nie
Never feeling like this before
schwer irritiert -
Feeling deeply confused
das sieht nach Schicksal aus
It looks like fate
Du läßt den Coolen raus
You're trying to play it cool
Ein Blick, der noch ganz schüchtern zwar
A look that's still very shy
aber auch nicht mehr
But it's changing
ganz nüchtern war
Not quite sober
Die Luft vibrierte
The air was charged
Einsam in der Nacht
Two lonely souls in the night
was dann passierte...
What happened next...
Ich hab's noch nie gemacht
I've never done this before
mit fremden in der Nacht
With strangers in the night
Ein erstes Hallo
A first hello
Hallöchen Schöne - wie geht es dir denn so?
Hey there beautiful - how are you?
Die Luft vibrierte
The air was charged
Schwer irritiert
Feeling deeply confused
Ich hab's noch nie gemacht
I've never done this before
mit fremden in der Nacht
With strangers in the night
Stranger in the night
A stranger in the night
exchanging glances
Exchanging long looks
something in your eyes was so inviting
Something in your eyes drew me in
I love you
I'm falling for you
hold me tight
Wrap your arms around me
two lonely people in the night...
Two lonely people seeking connection in the night
Contributed by Austin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.