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.
I Love Me Selber
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
genau der Typ, auf den ich steh'
verläßt mich nie - hat mich so gern
ist immer für mich da - tut mir niemals weh
dieser Typ, der bin ich
ewiger Schwur - ich liebe mich
ich halt' die Versprechen, die ich mir gebe
und bleib' bei mir, so lange ich lebe
Wenn ich früher eine richtig göttlich fand
gab ich mich voll und ganz in ihre Hand
wie 'n Klammeraffe hing ich dann
voll süchtig an der Dame dran
und wenn dann wieder mal Ende war
auf der Sterbematratze, plötzlich wurd' mir klar
das totale Tilt darf es niemals mehr geben
künftig geb' ich mein Herz, aber nicht mehr mein Leben
Da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber - I love me
ich lieb' mich einfach unverstellbar - I love me
drum prüfe, bevor man sich so radikalo bindet
daß man sich selber erstmal spitze findet
da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber - I love me - I love me
Liebe ist wie'n Kartenhaus
wenn's togehter bricht, knockt mich das aus
und dann zählen sie: 7, 8, 9, 10
und ich denk', ich kann niemals wieder aufsteh'n
nein, ich muß der Trumpf sein, die wichtigste Karte
auf der das alles steht
und die kann mir keiner wegzieh'n
indem er schmählich von mir geht
Da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber, - I love me
ich lieb' mich einfach unvorstellbar - I love me
drum prüfe, bevor man sich so radikalo bindet
daß man sich selber erstmal spitze findet
da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber - I love me - I love me
ja, der Trick ist, das begreif ich schnell
nicht hetero-, nicht homo-, sondern autosexuell
I love me - he loves he
ja, der Trick ist, das begreif ich schnell
nicht hetero-, nicht homo-, sondern autosexuell
I love me - he loves he
The song "I Love Me Selber" by Udo Lindenberg speaks about the importance of self-love and self-acceptance. The first verse talks about how the singer's ideal partner is someone who never leaves them and is always there for them, but in reality, that person is themselves. The singer swears eternal love to themselves and promises to keep the commitments they make to themselves. Through this, the song promotes the idea that one must learn to love and cherish themselves before they can love anyone else.
The second verse describes the singer's past experiences with unhealthy relationships, in which they became too dependent on their partners and lost themselves in the process. The singer realizes that they must not give their whole life to someone else, and instead, they must value themselves more. The chorus repeats that self-love is fundamental and essential before committing to any relationship.
The final verse shows how being self-assured and self-loving makes the person invincible. Even though the singer acknowledges that love is fragile like a house of cards, they believe that they are the most important card in their life. The song concludes with a clever play of words, stating that the singer is not heterosexual or homosexual but "autosexual," as in they love themselves.
Overall, the song conveys a powerful message about the importance of self-love and acceptance. It encourages people to value themselves more and learn to be confident in their own skin before they consider loving someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich hab 'ne Loveaffair mit einem Herrn
I am in a love affair with a gentleman
genau der Typ, auf den ich steh'
Exactly the type of person I desire
verläßt mich nie - hat mich so gern
Never leaves me - loves me so much
ist immer für mich da - tut mir niemals weh
Always there for me - never harms me
dieser Typ, der bin ich
This type of person is me
ewiger Schwur - ich liebe mich
Eternal oath - I love myself
ich halt' die Versprechen, die ich mir gebe
I keep the promises I make to myself
und bleib' bei mir, so lange ich lebe
And stay with myself for as long as I live
Wenn ich früher eine richtig göttlich fand
When I used to find someone divine
gab ich mich voll und ganz in ihre Hand
I gave myself completely to them
wie 'n Klammeraffe hing ich dann
Like a clingy monkey, I hung on
voll süchtig an der Dame dran
Addicted to the lady
und wenn dann wieder mal Ende war
And when it came to an end again
auf der Sterbematratze, plötzlich wurd' mir klar
On the deathbed, suddenly it became clear to me
das totale Tilt darf es niemals mehr geben
There should never again be a total breakdown
künftig geb' ich mein Herz, aber nicht mehr mein Leben
In the future, I will give my heart, but not my life
da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber - I love me
That's why I love myself first - I love me
ich lieb' mich einfach unverstellbar - I love me
I simply love myself unbelievably - I love me
drum prüfe, bevor man sich so radikalo bindet
So, before one gets involved so radically
daß man sich selber erstmal spitze findet
Make sure to find yourself great first
da lieb' ich mich doch erstmal selber - I love me - I love me
That's why I love myself first - I love me - I love me
Liebe ist wie'n Kartenhaus
Love is like a house of cards
wenn's togehter bricht, knockt mich das aus
If it falls apart, it knocks me down
und dann zählen sie: 7, 8, 9, 10
And then they count: 7, 8, 9, 10
und ich denk', ich kann niemals wieder aufsteh'n
And I think I can never get up again
nein, ich muß der Trumpf sein, die wichtigste Karte
No, I have to be the trump card, the most important card
auf der das alles steht
On which everything is based
und die kann mir keiner wegzieh'n
And no one can take that away from me
indem er schmählich von mir geht
By leaving me shamefully
ja, der Trick ist, das begreif ich schnell
Yes, the trick is, I quickly understand that
nicht hetero-, nicht homo-, sondern autosexuell
Not heterosexual, not homosexual, but autosexual
I love me - he loves he
I love me - he loves he
Contributed by Callie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.