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.
Meer der Träume
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poseidon weist mir den Weg
ein Abend an Deck der Titanic
eine Nacht auf Atlantis
Ich treibe mit der Strömung
zu Neptuns Nixenhaus
da treffe ich eine Schöne
Ein Walfisch bringt Jonas und mich
an den Osterinselstrand
und plötzlich ergreift mich Aeolos
mit seiner Wolkenhand
Ich schwebe auf goldenen Flügeln
den Flügeln vom Sonnenwind
und besuch' meine kleine Geliebte
das Venuskind
The song "Meer der Träume" by Udo Lindenberg talks about the journey of the singer through various dreams that he experiences while asleep. He metaphorically uses the theme of the sea and the mythical creatures associated with it to describe the unique aspects of each dream that he explores. Poseidon, the god of the sea, is mentioned as a symbol of guidance, leading the singer through this journey. In one of his dreams, he refers to the legendary Titanic, and in another, he mentions Atlantis, the mythical city that sank into the ocean.
The singer then comes across Neptune's underwater palace and meets a beautiful mermaid who entices him towards her, represented by the line "die zieht die Schuppen aus" (she takes off her scales). Continuing with the aquatic theme, he talks about a whale taking him and Jonas to the Easter Island beach. Suddenly, Aeolos, the god of winds, takes over and influences the singer's journey with his clouds. Finally, he finds himself in the arms of Venus, the goddess of love, while flying on golden wings made of sunlight.
The song portrays the boundless imagination of a dreamer, who travels through different dimensions of the unconscious mind, letting go of reason and reality. Each dream is unique, yet connected by the theme of the sea and its underlying symbolism, representing the subconscious mind of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich tauche im Meer der Träume
I am immersed in a sea of dreams.
Poseidon weist mir den Weg
Poseidon guides me on my journey.
ein Abend an Deck der Titanic
An evening on the deck of the Titanic.
eine Nacht auf Atlantis
A night on Atlantis.
Ich treibe mit der Strömung
I am drifting with the current.
zu Neptuns Nixenhaus
To Neptune's mermaid house.
da treffe ich eine Schöne
There I meet a beauty.
die zieht die Schuppen aus
She removes her scales.
Ein Walfisch bringt Jonas und mich
A whale brings Jonas and me.
an den Osterinselstrand
To the Easter Island beach.
und plötzlich ergreift mich Aeolos
And suddenly Aeolus grabs me.
mit seiner Wolkenhand
With his cloud hand.
Ich schwebe auf goldenen Flügeln
I float on golden wings.
den Flügeln vom Sonnenwind
Wings made of solar wind.
und besuch' meine kleine Geliebte
I visit my little lover.
das Venuskind
The child of Venus.
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.