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.
Leider nur ein Vakuum
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und 'ne Zahnbürste ein
Er zieht sich die schnellen Stiefel an
Das ist 'n gutes Gefühl, frei zu sein
Bis Montagmorgen rennt er rum
Zwischendurch kommt er nicht mehr nach Haus
Er sieht sich auf der Szene um
Dö-döp-dödn-dö
Dö-dödn-dö-dö
Und nachts probiert er fremde Betten aus
Normalerweise läuft das sehr gut
Doch manchmal gibt es auch 'ne Pleite
Dann wacht er morgens auf
Und Lady Horror liegt an seiner Seite
Ihr Make-up ist verschmiert
Die Sonne scheint ihr brutal ins Gesicht
Und dass ihm sowas immer noch passiert
Das liegt am Suff und am dunklen Kneipenlicht
Er geht in die Madman-Discothek
Da soll die große Action sein
Da sind zwar jede Menge Leute
Doch er fühlt sich trotzdem sehr allein
Die Musik ist laut, und die Leute sind stumm
Die hängen da rum, und manche gucken sehr dumm
So, als hätten sie in ihren schönen Köpfen
Leider nur ein Vakuum
Dödn-dö-dö
Dö-dö, dö-dö-dö-dö
Leider nur ein Vakuum
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song "Leider nur ein Vakuum" tell the story of a man who leads a double life. On Friday nights, he packs a hundred marks and a toothbrush and heads out, reveling in the feeling of being free. He spends his nights on the scene and tries out different beds, often not coming home until Monday morning. However, sometimes things don't go as planned, and he wakes up next to Lady Horror, whose smeared makeup and the brutal sunlight show the dark side of his lifestyle.
The song portrays the man's life as empty and meaningless, despite the appearance of freedom and adventure. He frequents the Madman-Discothek, where there is supposed to be action, but finds himself feeling alone and isolated amidst the loud music and silent people. The repetition of "Dö-dödn-dö" and "Dö-dö, dö-dö-dö-dö" in the chorus reinforces the feeling of vacancy and echoes the emptiness of the man's life. The line "Leider nur ein Vakuum" means "unfortunately, only a vacuum," emphasizing the lack of substance or meaning in the man's life.
Overall, the song is a critique of the superficiality of a life filled with partying, casual relationships, and the pursuit of pleasure. It paints a vivid picture of the emptiness and loneliness that can lie beneath the surface of a seemingly exciting and free lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Freitags abends steckt er sich hundert Mark
On Friday evenings, he puts a hundred marks and a toothbrush in his pocket
Und 'ne Zahnbürste ein
and a toothbrush
Er zieht sich die schnellen Stiefel an
He puts on his quick boots
Das ist 'n gutes Gefühl, frei zu sein
it feels good to be free
Bis Montagmorgen rennt er rum
He runs around until Monday morning
Zwischendurch kommt er nicht mehr nach Haus
Sometimes he doesn't come home in between
Er sieht sich auf der Szene um
He looks around the scene
Und nachts probiert er fremde Betten aus
And at night, he tries out unfamiliar beds
Dö-döp-dödn-dö
Dö-dödn-dö-dö
Und nachts probiert er fremde Betten aus
And at night, he tries out unfamiliar beds
Normalerweise läuft das sehr gut
Usually, it goes very well
Doch manchmal gibt es auch 'ne Pleite
But sometimes it's a failure
Dann wacht er morgens auf
Then he wakes up in the morning
Und Lady Horror liegt an seiner Seite
And Lady Horror is lying next to him
Ihr Make-up ist verschmiert
Her makeup is smudged
Die Sonne scheint ihr brutal ins Gesicht
The sun is shining brutally in her face
Und dass ihm sowas immer noch passiert
And that something like this still happens to him
Das liegt am Suff und am dunklen Kneipenlicht
It's because of the booze and the dark bar light
Er geht in die Madman-Discothek
He goes to the Madman discotheque
Da soll die große Action sein
Where the big action is supposed to be
Da sind zwar jede Menge Leute
There are a lot of people there
Doch er fühlt sich trotzdem sehr allein
But he still feels very alone
Die Musik ist laut, und die Leute sind stumm
The music is loud, and the people are silent
Die hängen da rum, und manche gucken sehr dumm
They're just hanging out, and some of them look very stupid
So, als hätten sie in ihren schönen Köpfen
As if they have, in their beautiful minds
Leider nur ein Vakuum
Only a vacuum, unfortunately
Dödn-dö-dö
Dö-dö, dö-dö-dö-dö
Leider nur ein Vakuum
Only a vacuum, unfortunately
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Udo Lindenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind