Lindenberg (born May 17, 1946 in Gronau) started his musical career as a dr… Read Full Bio ↴Lindenberg (born May 17, 1946 in Gronau) started his musical career as a drummer. In 1969 Lindenberg founded his first band Free Orbit and also appeared as a studio and guest musician (with Michael Naura, Knut Kiesewetter). In 1970 he collaborated as a drummer with jazz-saxophonist Klaus Doldinger in Munich. In 1971, a band founded by Lindenberg, Passport put out its first album, with Lindenberg on drums. He also played drums for the theme music for the German TV series Tatort. The first LP of the Jazz rock group Emergency was released in 1971 but met with little commercial success.

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.

Gutes tun
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics

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Kondome nicht ins Klo
Keine Drogen - sowieso
Weniger fernsehen
Öfter zu Fuß gehen
Auch mal an die im Abseits denken
Gebrauchte Pornos dem Altersheim schenken

Bewusster atmen

Gesunde Sachen essen
Mit Nazis diskutieren
Und Jesus nicht vergessen
Auch mal fremden Hundekot entfernen
Den Islam näher kennenlernen

Gutes tun ist gar nicht schwer
man kann soviel gutes tun
Gutes tun fällt gar nicht schwer
Gutes tun - bitte sehr
Gutes tun ist gar nicht schwer
Gutes tun - bitte sehr

Keine Pitbulls mehr züchten
Nicht in Steuerparadiese flüchten
Sich öfter mal nach Kleingeld bücken
Und nicht so oft mit der Nachbarin f.. lirten
Nicht bei Rot über die Straße laufen
Keinen französischen Champus
und keine japanischen Autos mehr kaufen

Gutes tun...

Overall Meaning

Udo Lindenberg's song "Gutes tun" encourages listeners to do good in their everyday lives. The lyrics offer various examples of simple actions that anyone can take to become a better person and make a positive impact on the world. The song begins with practical advice such as not flushing condoms down the toilet, avoiding drugs, watching less TV, and walking more often. It also encourages people to think about those who may be marginalized, such as donating used pornography to a retirement home or picking up stray dog poop.

The song then moves on to more philosophical teachings, such as the benefits of conscious breathing, eating healthier foods, and engaging in dialogue with people with opposing views, including Nazis. The lyrics also suggest that individuals should take the time to learn about different religions, including the Islam. The final verse offers more small, everyday actions such as not jaywalking, avoiding luxury purchases, and not flirting with married neighbors, all aimed at doing good in the world.

Overall, the song emphasizes the idea that doing good is not difficult, and that even the smallest actions can have a positive impact. Lindenberg's lyrics encourage listeners to become more mindful in their everyday actions, and to consider how their actions can affect others.

Line by Line Meaning

Kondome nicht ins Klo
Do not flush condoms down the toilet

Keine Drogen - sowieso
Do not take drugs - ever

Weniger fernsehen
Watch less TV

Öfter zu Fuß gehen
Walk more often

Auch mal an die im Abseits denken
Think of those who are marginalized

Gebrauchte Pornos dem Altersheim schenken
Donate used porn magazines to nursing homes

Bewusster atmen
Breathe more mindfully

Gesunde Sachen essen
Eat healthy foods

Mit Nazis diskutieren
Have discussions with Nazis

Und Jesus nicht vergessen
And do not forget Jesus

Auch mal fremden Hundekot entfernen
Pick up someone else's dog poop