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 ich heisse Schmidt
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Das heißt Schmidt
Hält immer schön die Schnauze und macht alles mit
Ganz egal, worum es geht
Es wird ständig mitmarschiert
Woher der Wind auch weht
Wenn er bloß den Anschluss nicht verliert
Bei jeder Mode ist er immer, immer stramm dabei
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Und ich mache alles mit
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Ich mache alles mit
Der 'Große Bruder' nimmt dich lächelnd
An seine starke Hand
Er dreht dir Fassaden 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 ich mache alles mit
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Ich mache alles mit
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Und ich mache alles mit
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Ich mache alles mit
Jawoll
De de de de de de
Da da de da
De de da da
Da da da da da
De de de de de de
De de de de de de
De de de
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song "Guten Tag ich heiße Schmidt" describe a character named Schmidt who has been around for centuries, always keeping quiet and going along with whatever is happening. Regardless of the situation, Schmidt always manages to stay connected and never loses track of what is going on around him. The song points out the obsession of people always staying up-to-date with all that is popular, so much so that they may slip into a mindless state where they're unaware of what their thoughts really are.
The song paints vivid pictures of an oppressive regime that's responsible for the loss of individual creativity and free thought. The character who asks if you'd like a white jacket in the style of Travolta or a golden safety pin with a revolutionary appeal is reminiscent of manipulation tactics used to make people conform. The "Große Bruder" mentioned in the lyrics is also an allusion to George Orwell's famous novel, 1984, where the all-seeing state was referred to as "Big Brother."
Overall, the song is an indictment of the mindless conformity of society, with a call to individuals to stay true to themselves and refuse to sacrifice their individuality for the sake of fitting in.
Line by Line Meaning
Seit vielen hundert Jahren gibt's ein Wesen
Seit ewigen Zeiten existiert eine Art von Wesen
Das heißt Schmidt
Die Person wird Schmidt genannt
Hält immer schön die Schnauze und macht alles mit
Er behält immer eine ruhige Haltung und folgt allem, was ihm gesagt wird
Ganz egal, worum es geht
Es spielt keine Rolle, um was es geht
Es wird ständig mitmarschiert
Er geht immer mit und folgt der Menge
Woher der Wind auch weht
Er wird sich der Meinung der Mehrheit anschließen, unabhängig davon, was richtig oder falsch ist
Wenn er bloß den Anschluss nicht verliert
Er darf nicht aus der Menge herausstechen oder anders denken als die anderen
Bei jeder Mode ist er immer, immer stramm dabei
Er ist bei jeder Mode dabei und passt sich an, um dazu zu gehören
Vom ersten Tanztee-Tango bis zum letzten Disco-Schrei
Er folgt allen Trends von Anfang bis Ende
Guten Tag, ich heiße Schmidt
Ich stelle mich vor, ich heiße Schmidt
Und ich mache alles mit
Ich folge allem und bin immer dabei
Der 'Große Bruder' nimmt dich lächelnd
Die Autoritätspersonen umgeben dich freundlich
An seine starke Hand
Sie bieten dir ihre Hilfe an
Er dreht dir Fassaden an und klaut dir den Verstand
Sie verändern deine Wahrnehmung und beeinflussen dich, ohne dass du es realisierst
„Hätten Sie gern' ein weißes Jäckchen im Travolta-Stil?
Sie bieten dir trendige Kleidung an, um dich anzupassen
Oder 'ne goldene Sicherheitsnadel mit Revolutionsappeal?“
Oder ein politisches Symbol, um dich rebellischer aussehen zu lassen
Jawoll
Ja, ich werde weiterhin alles mitmachen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Udo Lindenberg, Jean-Jacques Kravetz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind