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.
Jonny Gigolo
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und bei ihm zog nie ein Hoch auf
gerade das machte manche Frau so stürmisch
und sie flog drauf
Ja, immer wieder wurd er in Versuchung gebracht
dabei wußte doch wohl jede
dieser Typ ist kein Mann für eine Nacht
denn 'ne Nacht ist ihm zu lange
das artet ihm zu oft
in wirklich schwerste Arbeit aus
Lieber nur 'ne halbe Stunde
'n Quicki ist doch auch ganz schön
da kann er nämlich hinterher
noch andere glücklich machen gehn
Er war nur ein Jonny
und er flippte um die Welt
er war ein Gigolo, doch niemals nahm er Geld
ob blond, ob schwarz, ob braun, ob Henna
und manchmal stand er auch auf Männer
Früher war ich öfter krampfig
denn da wußte ich noch nicht:
Prickelfit entspannt dich
und zwar augenblicklich
Man fragte mich auch mal,
ob ich vom anderen Ufer bin
nein, ich bin der Fluß selber,
und ich fließe stolz dahin
und gelegentlich Probleme
mit den klerikalen Cliquen
ob er sich den nicht was schäme
unaufhörlich rumzumachen
Urbi - Orbi - Amen - Amen
wie machen's nur die Klosterdamen
denn Bumsen oder Onanie
ist verboten - und zwar wie!
Halleluja
Er war nur ein Jonny
und er flippte um die Welt
er war ein Gigolo, doch niemals nahm er Geld
Und bist du von den Flexibel-Betrieben
dann kannst du dich auch mal in Jungs verlieben
The song "Jonny Gigolo" by German singer Udo Lindenberg talks about the life of a gigolo named Jonny who is not interested in money and doesn't want to have long commitments with the women he spends time with. Despite his reluctance to get involved in anything serious, women find him very attractive and are drawn to his personality. The song highlights how his desire for quick encounters often leads to complications and unpleasant situations. Jonny is portrayed as a free-spirited individual who is not afraid to explore different aspects of his sexuality.
The lyrics also touch on societal norms and how they can be oppressive for individuals like Jonny who don't conform to traditional gender roles. He faces criticism and judgment from others who don't understand his lifestyle and beliefs. The song hints at the hypocrisy of religious institutions that condemn sexual activities but are often involved in their own immoral behavior.
Overall, "Jonny Gigolo" is a commentary on the fluid nature of sexuality and the importance of being true to oneself, even when it goes against societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Er war ein richtig keuscher Junge
He was a really chaste boy
und bei ihm zog nie ein Hoch auf
And he never got high with anyone
gerade das machte manche Frau so stürmisch
This is what made some women so passionate about him
und sie flog drauf
And they fell for him
Ja, immer wieder wurd er in Versuchung gebracht
Yes, he was tempted again and again
dabei wußte doch wohl jede
Even though everyone knew
dieser Typ ist kein Mann für eine Nacht
That he was not a one-night stand type of guy
denn 'ne Nacht ist ihm zu lange
Because one night was too long for him
und er sagt es frei heraus
And he said it straight up
das artet ihm zu oft in wirklich schwerste Arbeit aus
That kind of thing always turned into really difficult work for him
Lieber nur 'ne halbe Stunde
He'd rather just have half an hour
'n Quicki ist doch auch ganz schön
A quickie is also pretty nice
da kann er nämlich hinterher noch andere glücklich machen gehn
Because then he could go make other people happy afterwards
Er war nur ein Jonny
He was just a Jonny
und er flippte um die Welt
And he traveled the world
er war ein Gigolo, doch niemals nahm er Geld
He was a gigolo, but he never took money
ob blond, ob schwarz, ob braun, ob Henna
Whether blonde, black, brown, or Henna
und manchmal stand er auch auf Männer
And sometimes he was also into men
Früher war ich öfter krampfig
Before, I used to be more tense
denn da wußte ich noch nicht:
Because I didn't know yet:
Prickelfit entspannt dich
Getting your juices flowing relaxes you
und zwar augenblicklich
And instantly
Man fragte mich auch mal, ob ich vom anderen Ufer bin
Someone once asked me if I was gay
nein, ich bin der Fluß selber, und ich fließe stolz dahin
But no, I am the river itself, and I flow proudly
und gelegentlich Probleme mit den klerikalen Cliquen
And occasionally I have problems with the clerical cliques
ob er sich den nicht was schäme unaufhörlich rumzumachen
If he didn't feel ashamed for making out non-stop
Urbi - Orbi - Amen - Amen
Urbi - Orbi - Amen - Amen
wie machen's nur die Klosterdamen
How do the nuns do it?
denn Bumsen oder Onanie ist verboten - und zwar wie!
Because sex or masturbation is forbidden - and how!
Halleluja
Hallelujah
Und bist du von den Flexibel-Betrieben
And if you work for a flexible company
dann kannst du dich auch mal in Jungs verlieben
Then you can also fall in love with guys
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.