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.
Lolita
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und sah
Und wußte (und wußte)
Wie es kommen
Wie es kommen mußte
Und wie sie dann guckte
Sprach′s aus ihrem Blick
Für den ersten Kuß"
Ihre Augen groß und grün
Unwahrscheinlich schön
Ich hatte keine Chance
Ihr zu widerstehn
Ich war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Er war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Ich frag: "Was willste den mal so werden? eh"
Sie sagt: "Ich bin doch schon, und zwar: gottin auf Erden!
Außerdem weil du bist schlau mann
Werd ich deine Frau, werd ich auf [?]"
Ihre Augen groß und grün
Unwahrscheinlich schön
Ich hatte keine Chance
Ihr zu widerstehn
Ich war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Er war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Ich war so um die 40
Und sie war 15
Wir wollten uns zusammentun
Ja, wo ist'n da das Problem?
Wir zählen die Jahre zusammen
Und teilen das dann durch zwei
Dann sind wir beide ziemlich jung
Und fühl′n uns gut dabei
Das Leben wurde sahnig
So wie 'ne Tortenschnitte
Da plötzlich kamen Männer
Von der deutschen Sitte
Sie sagten Stotter - Stotter
Sie wären von der Polizei
Sie starrten auf mein Zauberweib
Und wurden geil dabei
Ich war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Er war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Ihre Augen groß und grün
Unwahrscheinlich schön
Keiner hatte eine Chance
Ihr zu widerstehn
Ich war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
Er war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
The song "Lolita" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a man who falls in love with a 15-year-old girl named Lolita. The song describes how they meet and quickly form a romantic connection, despite their age difference. The man (who is around 40 years old) finds Lolita's large, green eyes extremely beautiful and cannot resist her charm. They talk about their future together and Lolita says that she wants to become his wife since he is a smart man. However, their happiness is short-lived as the German police, representing the conservative values of German society, intervenes and arrests the man for having a relationship with a minor.
The lyrics are a commentary on the taboo surrounding age differences in romantic relationships and the social stigma associated with them. The song depicts how love can break all social barriers, even when it is seen as immoral by society. While the man tries to justify their relationship using mathematical calculations, the society is more concerned with adhering to conservative morals and principles.
Overall, "Lolita" is a thought-provoking song that addresses a controversial issue in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie kam
A young girl arrived on the scene
Und sah
She looked around, taking in her surroundings
Und wußte (und wußte)
And she knew, she had a plan
Wie es kommen
How it would happen
Wie es kommen mußte
As it was meant to be
Und wie sie dann guckte
And as she looked at me
Sprach′s aus ihrem Blick
Her glance spoke volumes
"Baby, baby mach dich fertig
"Get ready, baby
Für den ersten Kuß"
For our first kiss"
Ihre Augen groß und grün
Her big, green eyes
Unwahrscheinlich schön
Incredibly beautiful
Ich hatte keine Chance
I couldn't resist her
Ihr zu widerstehn
Her allure was too strong
Ich war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
I was on the cusp of being blue
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
And she was on the cusp of womanhood
Er war an der Schwelle zum Blausein
He was on the cusp of being blue
Und sie war an der Schwelle zum Frausein
And she was on the cusp of womanhood
Ich frag: "Was willste den mal so werden? eh"
I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up
Sie sagt: "Ich bin doch schon, und zwar: gottin auf Erden!
She replied, "I already am, a goddess on Earth!
Außerdem weil du bist schlau mann
And also because you're a smart man
Werd ich deine Frau, werd ich auf [?]"
I'll be your wife, I'll take care of you"
Ich war so um die 40
I was around 40 years old
Und sie war 15
And she was 15
Wir wollten uns zusammentun
We wanted to be together
Ja, wo ist'n da das Problem?
So what's the problem?
Wir zählen die Jahre zusammen
We added up our ages
Und teilen das dann durch zwei
And divided it by two
Dann sind wir beide ziemlich jung
Then we're both pretty young
Und fühl′n uns gut dabei
And it feels good
Das Leben wurde sahnig
Life was sweet as icing
So wie 'ne Tortenschnitte
Like a piece of cake
Da plötzlich kamen Männer
But suddenly some men arrived
Von der deutschen Sitte
From the German authorities
Sie sagten Stotter - Stotter
They stuttered and said
Sie wären von der Polizei
They were from the police
Sie starrten auf mein Zauberweib
They gazed at my enchanting woman
Und wurden geil dabei
And they became aroused
Keiner hatte eine Chance
No one could resist her
Ihr zu widerstehn
Her allure was too strong
Writer(s): Andreas Herbig, Udo Lindenberg, Herbert Edgar Boehme
Contributed by Cameron K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.