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.
Geleee
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ja, was soll ich denn wohl sonst sein?
Und 'ne Setcard hab ich auch,
ja da schau'n Sie ruhig mal rein.
In 'nem normalen Beruf könnt ich doch gar nicht bestehen,
nein, dazu bin ich doch ganz einfach viel zu schön.
Die Damen fliegen einem immerzu zu,
und die Herren lassen einen natürlich auch nicht in Ruh.
Und ich geh den Laufsteg lang.
Ich bin Jacques Gelee mit den weichen Gang.
Und ich führ' von Chou-Chou, von Chi-Chi und Dior
die neue Taschenbillard-Hose vor (Klikediklik-Klikediklak).
Ob in Rom, Paris und Mailand
oder an der Côte d'Azur
man nennt mich auch den Heiland der Haute Couture.
Wenn Sie wissen wollen, wie das alles mit mir begann:
Ein charmanter Mann sprach mich im Cafehaus an,
und er sagt: So'n Typ wie Sie, ja den suchen wir schon lange.
Sie sind 'n ganz spezieller Vogel, nicht so einer von der Stange.
Sie tragen die Haare ganz im Trend der Zeit
ein bißchen dünner und, wie vorteilhaft,
nicht ganz so dünn wie einst Monsieur Yul Brynner
Ihre Augen schön umrandet, so wie der Herr der Ringe,
und Ihre bleiche Haut, frisch rasiert mit stumpfer Klinge,
außerdem die Zähne dunkel mit 'n paar Löchern drin,
'n bißchen punky, gottseidanki, uh das ist zur Zeit sehr in.
Und so schreite ich den Laufsteg lang
ich bin Jacques Gelee mit dem weichen Gang
und ich führ' von Chou-Chou, von Chi-Chi und Dior
die neue Taschenbillard-Hose vor
ob in Rom, New York und Mailand
oder an der Cote d'Azur
sie nennen mich auch den Heiland
da kann ich doch nichts dafür!
"Meine Damen und Herren, wir präsentieren die Hits der Saison:
den doppeltgewendeten Brei-Reiher aus dem Hause Cretin
von la Kotz: den extrabreiten Biberschwanz natur geätzt und auf Leopard gegerbt
für den modebewußten Herrn außerdem Taft-, Tüll- und
Samtblousons von der Firma Verrutschi
und dazu die großzügig weiträumig gehaltenen Billardhosen
für den sportlichen Typ"
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song Geleee talk about a man who considers himself a dressman, someone who is too beautiful to have a regular job. He mentions having a setcard and being called Jacques Gelee, a model who walks on the runway presenting the bags billiard pants of Chou-Chou, Chi-Chi, and Dior. The singer of the song claims that he would not be able to make it in any other job because he is too beautiful, and both men and women can't resist him. He then tells the story of how he was discovered in a café by a charming man who saw him as a unique bird who could become a model with a bit of styling.
The lyrics of Geleee display a satirical tone, mocking the fashion industry's excess and the idea of people who have "perfect looks" being too good for regular jobs. The singer is a delusional character who seems to believe his own lies and enjoys the attention he gets. The way he describes the clothes is also comical and exaggerated, portraying an industry that exists purely for show and status rather than practicality.
Line by Line Meaning
Natürlich bin ich Dressman,
ja, was soll ich denn wohl sonst sein?
Und 'ne Setcard hab ich auch,
ja da schau'n Sie ruhig mal rein.
I am naturally a dressman, what else could I be? I also have a Setcard which you can check out. I can’t be in a normal profession because I am just too beautiful. Women keep coming after me and even the men can’t leave me alone.
In 'nem normalen Beruf könnt ich doch gar nicht bestehen,
nein, dazu bin ich doch ganz einfach viel zu schön.
Die Damen fliegen einem immerzu zu,
und die Herren lassen einen natürlich auch nicht in Ruh.
I can’t make it in a normal job because I am too beautiful. Women flock towards me and men can’t resist me.
Und ich geh den Laufsteg lang.
Ich bin Jacques Gelee mit den weichen Gang.
Und ich führ' von Chou-Chou, von Chi-Chi und Dior
die neue Taschenbillard-Hose vor (Klikediklik-Klikediklak).
I walk the runway as Jacques Gelee with a smooth walk, presenting the new Taschenbillard pants from Chou-Chou, Chi-Chi, and Dior. (Klikediklik-Klikediklak)
Ob in Rom, Paris und Mailand
oder an der Côte d'Azur
man nennt mich auch den Heiland
der Haute Couture.
Whether in Rome, Paris, Milan or at the Côte d'Azur, people call me the savior of Haute Couture.
Wenn Sie wissen wollen, wie das alles mit mir begann:
Ein charmanter Mann sprach mich im Cafehaus an,
und er sagt: So'n Typ wie Sie, ja den suchen wir schon lange.
Sie sind 'n ganz spezieller Vogel, nicht so einer von der Stange.
To know how it all began for me, you should know that a charming man approached me in a café and said we've been searching for someone like you for a long time. You are a unique bird and not just one of the common birds.
Sie tragen die Haare ganz im Trend der Zeit
ein bißchen dünner
und, wie vorteilhaft,
nicht ganz so dünn wie einst Monsieur Yul Brynner
Ihre Augen schön umrandet, so wie der Herr der Ringe,
und Ihre bleiche Haut, frisch rasiert mit stumpfer Klinge,
außerdem die Zähne dunkel mit 'n paar Löchern drin,
'n bißchen punky, gottseidanki, uh das ist zur Zeit sehr in.
They said my hair is trendy, a bit thinner and not as thin as Monsieur Yul Brynner's. My eyes are beautifully outlined like Lord of the Rings and my pale skin is freshly shaved with a blunt blade. They also mentioned my dark teeth with a few holes and a bit of a punky look, which is currently in style.
Und so schreite ich den Laufsteg lang
ich bin Jacques Gelee mit dem weichen Gang
und ich führ' von Chou-Chou, von Chi-Chi und Dior
die neue Taschenbillard-Hose vor
ob in Rom, New York und Mailand
oder an der Cote d'Azur
sie nennen mich auch den Heiland
da kann ich doch nichts dafür!
And so I walk the runway as Jacques Gelee with a smooth walk, presenting the new Taschenbillard pants from Chou-Chou, Chi-Chi, and Dior, whether in Rome, New York, Milan, or at the Côte d'Azur. They call me the savior whether I like it or not.
"Meine Damen und Herren, wir präsentieren die Hits der Saison:
den doppeltgewendeten Brei-Reiher aus dem Hause Cretin
von la Kotz: den extrabreiten Biberschwanz
natur geätzt und auf Leopard gegerbt
für den modebewußten Herrn außerdem Taft-, Tüll- und
Samtblousons von der Firma Verrutschi
und dazu die großzügig weiträumig gehaltenen Billardhosen
für den sportlichen Typ"
"Ladies and gentlemen, we present the season's hits: the double-winded Brei-Reiher from Cretin, from la Kotz: the extra-wide beaver tail, naturally etched and tanned in leopard for the fashion-conscious gentleman, as well as Taft, Tulle, and Velvet jackets from Verrutschi, along with generously held Billard pants for the sporty type."
Contributed by Claire M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.