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.
Germans
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Germans -- in their elegant Mercedes
Germans -- have a country that is scenic
Germans -- drive from Hamburg down to Munich
Germans -- like Fritz and Franz and Edeltraut
Germans -- they eat a lot of sauerkraut
Germans -- they like pretzels with teir wurst
The say 'Guten Tag' and they say 'Auf wiedersehen'
they race down the Autobahn through acid rain
they take lots of Deutsch Marks right out of their pockets
to buy russian vodka and american rockets
Germans -- gave you Goethe, Mann and Schiller
Germans -- and Franz Kafka was a thriller
Germans -- brought you Mozart, Bach and Schumann
Germans -- they're a little superhuman
Germans -- have respect for law and order
Germans -- live on both sides of the border
Germans -- in Berlin they have a wall
Germans -- for playing tennis it't too tall
The blond german Fräulains are pretty, but vain
you say 'Guten Tag' and they say 'Auf wiedersehen'
they're very hard workers, from monday to friday
make love an the weekends, and yodel like Heidi
Jawohl -- living in Germany is very nice
we're masters of war, we've tried it twice
and now we're on standby for World War III
prost and auf wiedersehen, Germany!
Udo Lindenberg's song "Germans" is a satirical ode to the German people and culture, as seen through the eyes of an outsider. The lyrics highlight some of the country's stereotypes, such as their love for luxury cars and hearty food like sauerkraut and pretzels, as well as their reputation for being hardworking and orderly. The song also touches on Germany's darker history with war and the lingering effects of division with the Berlin Wall. However, there is also an overarching sense of pride and fondness for the country's contributions to art and culture, with mentions of Goethe, Mozart, and Kafka.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of Germany as a global power, with references to their purchase of Russian vodka and American rockets, as well as their position as a leader in the European economy. The mention of being "on standby for World War III" adds a layer of cynicism to the song's overall message, as it acknowledges the country's history with aggression while pointing out the current, somewhat absurd state of international tensions.
Overall, "Germans" is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of Germany and its people, while also providing commentary on the country's place in the world and the stereotypes that define it.
Line by Line Meaning
Germans -- go out ridin' with their ladies
Germans enjoy spending time with their significant others and often go for rides in their cars.
Germans -- in their elegant Mercedes
Germans tend to favor luxury vehicles like Mercedes.
Germans -- have a country that is scenic
Germany is a beautiful country with many picturesque landscapes and attractions.
Germans -- drive from Hamburg down to Munich
Germans enjoy road trips throughout their country, with Hamburg and Munich being popular destinations.
Germans -- like Fritz and Franz and Edeltraut
Common German names include Fritz, Franz, and Edeltraut.
Germans -- they eat a lot of sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a popular German dish and a staple in their diet.
Germans -- they like pretzels with their wurst
Germans enjoy eating pretzels with their sausage, or wurst.
Germans -- they drink beer until they burst
Beer is a beloved beverage in Germany and is often consumed in large quantities.
The say 'Guten Tag' and they say 'Auf wiedersehen'
Common German greetings include 'Guten Tag' (good day) and 'Auf Wiedersehen' (goodbye).
They race down the Autobahn through acid rain
Germans are known for driving fast on the country’s famous Autobahn, even when weather conditions may not be optimal (such as when driving through acid rain).
They take lots of Deutsch Marks right out of their pockets
Germans use the Deutsche mark as their currency and often carry large amounts of it in their pockets.
To buy Russian vodka and American rockets
Germans are willing to spend their money on a variety of foreign products, including Russian vodka and American rockets.
Germans -- gave you Goethe, Mann and Schiller
Germany is famous for producing many influential writers and thinkers, including Goethe, Mann, and Schiller.
And Franz Kafka was a thriller
Franz Kafka was a Czech author who wrote in German and is renowned for his unsettling and thought-provoking works.
Germans -- brought you Mozart, Bach and Schumann
Germany has also produced many famous composers, including Mozart, Bach, and Schumann.
Germans -- they're a little superhuman
Germany has made a significant, positive impact on the world in many ways and is often viewed as an influential powerhouse.
Germans -- have respect for law and order
German culture places great importance on obeying laws and maintaining order.
Germans -- live on both sides of the border
Germany is home to many people who live on either side of its borders with other countries.
Germans -- in Berlin they have a wall
The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989 during the Cold War.
Germans -- for playing tennis it's too tall
The Berlin Wall was not suitable for playing tennis due to its height and structure.
The blond german Fräulains are pretty, but vain
Blond German women are often seen as attractive, but some may be self-absorbed or vain.
They're very hard workers, from Monday to Friday
Germans are known for their diligent work ethic and spend their weekdays focused on various job responsibilities.
Make love an the weekends, and yodel like Heidi
On weekends, Germans are more likely to spend time with loved ones and relax. Some may even engage in cultural activities like yodeling.
Jawohl -- living in Germany is very nice
Living in Germany is generally considered to be pleasant and enjoyable.
We're masters of war, we've tried it twice
Germany has been involved in two major world wars and is known for its military might.
And now we're on standby for World War III
Despite the devastation caused by war in the past, some Germans are still prepared for the possibility of future conflicts.
Prost and auf wiedersehen, Germany!
Prost is a German word for cheers or toast. The song ends with a goodbye to Germany.
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brony God
You just gotta love Max Headroom's laugh
TheIdiotfilter
Great track. Takes me back. Those pleasant memories of the days when nuclear war was a genuine prospect. Good times.
Ralph Jackson
Lovely weather for it,too. And that acid rain was pre-Chernobyl acid sleet.
Anna Elizabeth Wade
Takes me back to my German A Level. Life was so much simpler then. And entertaining with Max Headroom... :) #happydays
SlideRulePirate
Just excellent...they don't write'em like that anymore. But then again, they never wrote'em like that before did they!.
Adam Holdsworth
I read some of the lyrics (the part about yodelling like Heidi) in the UK.'s Smash Hits magazine when the track was released. Unfortunately it was never played
in Britain so I always had a completely imaginary - and wrong - idea of what it sounded like. Thank you YouTube for putting me straight! And for the TV series Deutschland 83 for reminding me of the existence of Udo.
DRstaszak
max headroom is the best and this song rocks
Julia Safer
"Germans" is funny. I am often laughed at myself. Irreverant but profound is this song, perhaps. It lifts my spirit. I would like to hear more.
ducklady
I just like 'In Berlin they have a wall'
Ralph Jackson
Es gibt ein Mauer.