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.
Guten Tag
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
es heißt Schmidt
hält immer schön die Schnauze
und macht alles mit
ganz egal
worum es geht
Woher der Wind auch weht
wenn er bloß den Anschluß nicht verliert;
bei jeder Mode ist er stramm dabei
vom ersten Tanztee-Tango bis zum letzten Discoschrei.
Guten Tag
ich heiße Schmidt und mache alles mit.
Der große Bruder nimmt dich lächelnd an seine starke Hand
er dreht dir Fassade an und klaut dir den Verstand
hätten sie gern ein weißes Jäckchen im Travolta-Stil
oder 'ne goldene Sicherheitsnadel mit Revolutionsappeal ?
Guten Tag
ich heiße Schmidt
und mach' alles mit
jawohl !
The lyrics to Udo Lindenberg's song "Guten Tag" describe the concept of conformity through the character of Schmidt. Schmidt represents the average person who follows the norm and blindly conforms to societal expectations, regardless of their nature. The first verse describes the long-standing existence of this type of person, who always "keeps their mouth shut and goes along with everything," and "marches with the crowd" without question. However, the lyrics imply that this behaviour is not necessarily driven by a personal belief system, but rather a need for approval and fitting in.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt und mach alles mit" (translation: "Hello, my name is Schmidt and I go along with everything"). It symbolises the idea of an individual losing their identity and soul, becoming a mere puppet of societal norms. The second verse then addresses the manipulative nature of institutions, such as the "big brother", who takes advantage of this behaviour and uses it to their advantage to play with people's minds.
Overall, the song aims to critique conformity and encourage listeners to be true to themselves, rather than following a stampede mentality blindly.
Line by Line Meaning
Seit vielen hundert Jahren gibt's ein Wesen
For many hundreds of years, there has been a being
es heißt Schmidt
it's called Schmidt
hält immer schön die Schnauze
always keeping quiet
und macht alles mit
and goes along with everything
ganz egal
no matter
worum es geht
what it's about
es wird ständig mitmarschiert.
it's constantly marching along
Woher der Wind auch weht
wherever the wind blows
wenn er bloß den Anschluß nicht verliert;
as long as it doesn't lose its connection
bei jeder Mode ist er stramm dabei
it's always involved in every trend
vom ersten Tanztee-Tango bis zum letzten Discoschrei.
from the first dance-tango to the last disco-scream.
Guten Tag
Good day
ich heiße Schmidt und mache alles mit.
I'm called Schmidt and I go along with everything.
Der große Bruder nimmt dich lächelnd an seine starke Hand
The big brother takes you by the hand with a smile
er dreht dir Fassade an und klaut dir den Verstand
he puts up a facade for you and steals your mind
hätten sie gern ein weißes Jäckchen im Travolta-Stil
would you like a white jacket, Travolta-style
oder 'ne goldene Sicherheitsnadel mit Revolutionsappeal ?
or a golden safety pin with revolutionary appeal?
jawohl !
yes!
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.