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.
Hermine
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ein Schnellzug nach Berlin
und da sitzt sie ganz alleine
Ums Herz ist ihr ein bißchen bang
und die Reise ist so lang
1930 - Hermine ist ihr Name
Sie ist aus Gronau, eine kleine Stadt
in der man viele Träume hat
Und ihre Augen sind groß
und der Kopf ist ganz wirr
die Lichter von Berlin, die zeigen ihr:
arme Gesichter und noble Fratzen
stoßen und fallen und suchen und hetzen ...
Sie geht über helle Straßen
die Großstadt blendet ihr Gesicht
Sie schaut in hohe Säale
Tangotänzer in blauem Licht
An den Bars schlaue Männer
und mondän maskierte Frauen
Niemals hätte sie gedacht
dass das schöneLeben so einsam macht
Und ihre Augen sind groß ...
Sie möcht´so gerne leben
Sie möcht´so gerne lachen
Mit dem Koffer in der Hand
steht sie vorm Vaterland
"Det is nur wat für die Fremden ...
Meechen, komm mit
anderswo ist deen Glick"
Sein Haar glänzt schwarz
die Augen sind ganz wach
"Gutsv heeß ick -
und det, det is dein Tach"
The song "Hermine" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a young woman named Hermine who takes a train from her small town of Gronau to the big city of Berlin in 1930. The journey is long and daunting for Hermine, but she is determined to explore the exciting and glamorous world of the city. As she arrives, the bright lights of the city blur her vision and she finds herself overwhelmed by poverty, grandeur, and apathy. She visits grand halls and watches tango dancers in blue lights, and sees smart men and trendy women at bars. Hermine finds herself both fascinated and disillusioned by the beauty of Berlin. She realizes that the beautiful life she dreamed of is also a lonely one.
The lyrics describe the inner conflict that Hermine feels as she tries to adapt to her new life, to the point where her hopes and dreams are being questioned. Through Hermine's eyes, the song provides a thoughtful commentary on the social climate and harsh realities of life in pre-WWII Germany. The significance of the song lies in its portrayal of a person who could easily be one of us trying to explore new adventures and find their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Es fährt
ein Schnellzug nach Berlin
There is a fast train heading to Berlin.
und da sitzt sie ganz alleine
And she is sitting all alone.
Ums Herz ist ihr ein bißchen bang
She is feeling a little anxious in her heart.
und die Reise ist so lang
And the journey is so long.
1930 - Hermine ist ihr Name
Her name is Hermine and it's 1930.
Sie ist aus Gronau, eine kleine Stadt
in der man viele Träume hat
She is from Gronau, a small town where there are many dreams.
Und ihre Augen sind groß
und der Kopf ist ganz wirr
Her eyes are wide, and her mind is in a state of confusion.
die Lichter von Berlin, die zeigen ihr:
arme Gesichter und noble Fratzen
stoßen und fallen und suchen und hetzen ...
The lights of Berlin show her poor faces and noble masks, pushing, falling, seeking, and rushing about.
Sie geht über helle Straßen
die Großstadt blendet ihr Gesicht
Sie schaut in hohe Säale
Tangotänzer in blauem Licht
She walks on bright streets, the city blurs her face. She looks into high halls with tango dancers in blue light.
An den Bars schlaue Männer
und mondän maskierte Frauen
Niemals hätte sie gedacht
dass das schöne Leben so einsam macht
There are clever men and fashionable masked women at the bars. She never thought that the beautiful life could be so lonely.
Und ihre Augen sind groß ...
Her eyes are still wide ...
Sie möcht´so gerne leben
Sie möcht´so gerne lachen
Mit dem Koffer in der Hand
steht sie vorm Vaterland
She wants to live so badly, she wants to laugh so badly. With her suitcase in hand, she stands in front of the fatherland.
"Det is nur wat für die Fremden ...
Meechen, komm mit
anderswo ist deen Glick"
"This is only for foreigners... Little girl, come with me, your luck is elsewhere."
Sein Haar glänzt schwarz
die Augen sind ganz wach
"Gutsv heeß ick -
und det, det is dein Tach"
His hair shines black, his eyes are wide open. "My name is Gutsv - and this, this is your day."
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.