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.
Mackie Messer
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und die trägt er im Gesicht
Und der Mackie hat ein Messer
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht
Ach, es sind des Haifisch's Flossen
Rot, wenn dieser Blut vergießt
Mackie Messer trägt 'nen Handschuh
An 'mem Schönen blauen Sonntag
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke
Den man Meckie Messer nennt
Und die minderjährige Witwe
deren Namen keiner weiß
wachte auf und war geschändet
Mackie, welches war dein Preis
Und der Haifisch...
The lyrics to Udo Lindenberg's song Mackie Messer describe the infamous character of Mackie Messer, also known as Mack the Knife, who is a notorious criminal with a hidden weapon. The first stanza speaks of the "Haifisch," or shark, who has teeth in his face, while Mackie carries a knife that cannot be seen. This sets up the feeling of danger and unpredictability surrounding the character of Mackie Messer.
The second stanza continues to paint a picture of violence and bloodshed, with the shark's fins turning red when he spills blood. Mackie himself wears a glove that hides any wrongdoing he may commit. The final stanza tells of a dead man on the beach and a person named Mackie Messer walking the streets, both of which add to the ominous and dangerous atmosphere of the song. The mention of a violated widow and the question of what price Mackie paid for his actions add a layer of unsettling mystery to the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne
The shark has sharp teeth
Und die trägt er im Gesicht
And he wears them on his face
Und der Mackie hat ein Messer
And Mackie has a knife
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht
Though the knife is not in sight
Ach, es sind des Haifisch's Flossen
Ah, it's the shark's fins
Rot, wenn dieser Blut vergießt
That turn red when he spills blood
Mackie Messer trägt 'nen Handschuh
Mackie Messer wears a glove
Drauf man keine Untat sieht
There's no wrongdoing visible
An 'mem Schönen blauen Sonntag
On one beautiful blue Sunday
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand
There lies a dead man on the beach
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke
And a man walks around the corner
Den man Meckie Messer nennt
Who is known as Mackie Messer
Und die minderjährige Witwe
And the underaged widow
deren Namen keiner weiß
Whose name no one knows
wachte auf und war geschändet
Woke up and had been violated
Mackie, welches war dein Preis
Mackie, what was your price?
Contributed by Hannah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.