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.
It Is Allright Again
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
is it me, is it another man
many answers I can find
is it me, is it another mind
I'm sittin' here and I feel so free
the only thing that bothers me
is a yellow spotted venus-man
but else it is allright again
Watch the people passing by
see them running, they almost fly
I keep smiling, I stay cool
when they call me 'useless fool'
I'm sittin' here and I feel so free
the only thing that bothers me
is a crazy grinnin' pelican
but else it is allright again
Udo Lindenberg's song "It Is Allright Again" is a celebration of freedom and individuality, despite the challenges that come with it. The opening lines, "Legs are moving I look at them, is it me, is it another man?" suggest a sense of disorientation and questioning of identity. This is followed by the acknowledgement that there are many answers to be found - perhaps suggesting that there are many possible paths to follow in life, but ultimately it is up to the individual to decide which one to take. The lyrics also touch on the theme of acceptance and tolerance, with the line "the only thing that bothers me is a yellow spotted venus-man" - suggesting that there may be things or people that we don't understand or can't relate to, but we can still find a way to live alongside them.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "but else it is allright again", reinforces the idea of finding a way to embrace life despite its challenges. In the second verse, the focus shifts to the people around the singer - who sees them "running, they almost fly" and is called a "useless fool" by some. However, he remains "smiling" and "cool" - suggesting a resilience in the face of adversity. The final line, "is a crazy grinnin' pelican, but else it is allright again", once again highlights the idea that there may be things in life that seem strange or incomprehensible, but life is still worth living.
Overall, "It Is Allright Again" is an uplifting song that encourages us to be true to ourselves, embrace life as it comes and find joy in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Legs are moving I look at them
I am observing my legs in motion
is it me, is it another man
I am questioning whether these legs belong to me or someone else
many answers I can find
I have countless possible answers to my question
is it me, is it another mind
I am wondering if this is a mental or physical phenomenon
I'm sittin' here and I feel so free
Despite my confusion, I feel liberated
the only thing that bothers me
The sole issue that concerns me
is a yellow spotted venus-man
Is a strange, possibly alien creature
but else it is allright again
Otherwise, everything is back to normal
Watch the people passing by
I am observing the crowd around me
see them running, they almost fly
I notice how quickly and eagerly they are moving along
I keep smiling, I stay cool
I maintain a positive and composed demeanor
when they call me 'useless fool'
Despite any insults or criticism thrown my way
is a crazy grinnin' pelican
The only thing that truly bothers me is a bizarre, smiling bird
but else it is allright again
Overall, things are still okay
Contributed by Jake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.